The Bird Thread

A yellow browed in January? Remarkable

There was one in Oxford almost exactly a year ago

Yes, just in a ditch in a tiny village in Leicestershire, no idea how people find these things in uncommon locations

Perfect twitch for me, close to home, three other people stood smiling watching a YBW sit in the undergrowth eating worms versus the current water thrush in Essex which apparently had 450 grumpy old men crowded around a ditch for hours yesterday

And one in Reading (that I saw hopping around my feet!) in January 2021. I forgot that was January!

Today brought a very early oystercatcher flyover, usual egrets, couple of stonechat, Yellowhammer,fieldfare,redwing and mixed finch flocks a short walk from the front door. Raven carrying nesting material and later raven and buzzard going at it, wouldn't like to say who was mobbing who, song thrush are already singing

naff photo, but exciting visitor in the garden today!

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Yellowhammer

I think these are overtaking Buzzards as my fav birds. I was down Medmerry not to long ago and it was fascinating watching them in the bushes.

They also sell a unique RSPB yellowhammer badge there too that was nice.

Oh my. Where abouts? (Roughly)

So according to twitter there is a raven flying round the CP transmitter, have seen in the past what I thought was a large crow flying higher up than I have ever seen them before so that could have been a raven?
Didn’t realise there were any in London outside the tower?

In a bird park at the moment in New Zealand- Kiwi are a lot larger than I thought they were.

they’re leaving the tower.
End days are here.

One of the ravens went missing from the tower in 2021 (Merlina).

One flew over here before sunrise

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Oh my. Where abouts? (Roughly)

Darn South, just past Petersfield.

Only the 2nd time I've seen one ever!

The field where I most often see barn owls is now full of stonechats and long-tailed tits

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Nice shots

I love buzzards and am always surprised that others aren't excited when they see them.

Our garden is often devoid of birds. I've tried feeders and a bird house to tempt more. We get the odd crow, pidgeon or magpie. There are parakeets, sparrows and starlings around the area, but no in the garden.

In last year's Great British Bird watch, I did not see a single bird for the whole hour. Then not long ago, walked outside the front door, looked up and saw two buzzards together, swirling about, playing almost. Amazing. I hear them often now and see them now and again.

Sunflower hearts and a waiting game, it takes time to poach them from your neighbours. Once they visit, don’t let the feeders run empty or they’ll bugger off again! My neighbours either side often talk to me of their annoyance/envy at seeing all the birds in my garden and not theirs despite numerous feeders. Maybe they don’t notice that I’m the twat out there at 7am topping everything up and using a kettle to melt the water.

Or mealworms if you want a gazillion starlings.

I do

Between us and our neighbour (feeders not more than 3 meters from each other on each side of the fence) we seem to be cultivating a right bunch of yappy sparrows. They can drain a feeders worth of sunflower hearts in less than 2 days. I think the flock must be 20 plus now. They are turning into an expensive good deed!

The starlings are also getting in on the act with four regular attendees. They love to mimic car alarms and it sounds like they are taking the piss out of whoever can't lock their car properly.

Wish we had some more variety in the small bird department. The odd blue tit and very occasional gold finch - but wish they were more regular. I think the sparrows dominate.

I'm down in Kingston and recently found out you can join the local Thames Water nature reserve at Hogsmill for free. You get codes to the gates and access to two bird hides looking over an urban lake (ex sewage treatment I think - the down side is still smelling the current works on the other side of the road). Had a little grebe out on the water and a perched kestral up high on a calm and cold day, but the highlight was 8 or so long tailed tits plus a couple of blue and great tits enjoying the feeder right by the hide. Got a great extended close up. The long tailed are very smart. I've got the codes for access to a similar lake over by Kempton which i'll check out soon.

I love seeing them, it never gets old. Same for red kites. I'm old enough to remember when they were seriously endangered and you'd need a trip to the middle of Wales to see them. The fact that I now see them on most of my bikes rides (and very occasionally above my house) is amazing! Currently my favourite bird although long tailored tits come a close second.

Nice photos, thank you. We had a pair of long tail tits in the local park last year but sadly haven't seen them since. First time having a blackcap on our bird feeders this week though.

Frozen water at the local wetlands meant I could walk where I shouldn't and get in amongst the boggy bits and find some snipe including a couple of jack snipe

So many snipe this morning! Every few yards one or two would fly up, jinking from side to side before circling once they have gained some height.

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