The Bird Thread

I am sure there are kids specific id guides but I think the Crossley ID guide would be quite good, it uses photo composites so you can see the birds in all different positions and variations to aid id but I think makes it quite engaging to look at

Good suggestion.
I've frequently pondered that the best field guide for birds should show pictures of them flying away, at various angles.

That looks much better than our RSPB pocket guide, thanks!

I shall be off to the local reservoirs at the weekend with my eBay bargain X.1.4 teleconverter. Oh how I used to laugh at the chaps with their over-compensating lenses and now I've become one, my wife won't be seen within twenty yards of me if I'm carrying it.

my wife won't be seen within twenty yards of me if I'm carrying it

At least you'll still be able to capture a full frame portrait

It’s a braver man than I that points a zoom lens in her general direction.

Black swan and mandarin ducks in Hyde Park yesterday

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Great Northern Diver at Carsington Water today along with some barnacle geese and oystercatcher. Also first willow warbler for the year of me, sadly no willow tit though which is normally an easy find there.

Willow tits are virtually extinct down here. There’s only one known site in the whole of Berkshire. I hope your birds haven’t gone the same way.

I think they are in massive decline everywhere and mainly gone from the south, fortunately these ones have been reported fairly regularly recently as they come to feeders in the carpark, it is a good site as at the opposite end of the reservoir they get marsh tits on the feeders. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker appear to have gone from the county at last, at least haven't seen any reported this year, still in reliable numbers across the border in Notts though for now.

Nothing exotic or endangered here, but a quick (11 minute) snapshot of robin, blackbird and song thrush action just now. A tawny owl did call while I was recording but I am not sure it is audible here.
https://soundcloud.com/user-143636955/robin-and-blackbirds-06-04-23?si=be4bc7f07f9e4786aa9d08bbc1f971e5&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Very low light unfortunately but the Mandarin Ducks were right by where the river passes my place about 7pm

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Also got a Cormorant flyby slightly blurred silhouette

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Couple of yellowhammer were the best of a good afternoon stroll

Just spent a hilarious half hour trying to photograph the bats zooming above our garden against a lovely sunset. Total fail on the picture front but an engaged child so net win.
Bats count in this thread I hope, don’t make me start a bat thread.
Edit: holy shit, there already is one.

At RSBP Rainham Marshes, there's been both male and female marsh harriers hunting all day, loads of warblers too. Apparently there are spoonbills somewhere.

Distant Garganey earlier at a local former gravel pits, not much else but a pleasant few minutes watching sand martins wizz over the Trent and come and go from their burrows in the bank

Collard Dove just landed about 8ft from where I'm sat in the garden. 10x zoom for the grainy pic, obvs.

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Larking about this morning

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Ever since we moved to our street on the edge of the marshes two years ago I've semi-regularly heard a strange sounding bird in the middle of the night (2-4am ish, and only at night). It seems to be on our road but I've never seen anything, just heard it. It's quite loud.

I've been through this RSPB list and listened to them but it's definitely not any of them:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/birdwatching/bird-behaviour/why-do-birds-sing-at-night/

This morning the other half was watching an Instagram reel of a toucan being petted and it honestly sounds a bit like it - a bit like a squeaky toy (obviously I don't think it's a toucan though!):
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnU5Zk0jmFm/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Any ideas what it might be?

It's not a fox, which obviously I realise can also make noises like that!

We have also got the biggest inland colony of cormorants close by, but I'm pretty sure it's not them, and a lot of geese, but they just make geese noises at night.

Merlin Bird ID app is your friend.

First question is where did you see the bird, second is how big was it - I haven't seen it!

Then third what colour, so I don't think that's going to work unfortunately.

Merlin got more repetition in call no?

I’m not following, just use the Song ID part non? It will require getting out of bed at 2am I guess…

Yep. Also it always tends to be slightly down the street (like it's avoiding me) so not sure phone mike would pick it up.

Was hoping someone might happen to know the answer!