The Bird Thread

A planter filled with rain was well received by the local population of house sparrows.

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Decided to make it a permanent fixture with some florist’s wire bodging. Took them a couple of days but they seem to like it. Quite surprised it hasn’t come down tbh, I think they wanted to suss it out too.

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Went out at 4 this morning, saw some birds and didn’t get chased by cows

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didn’t get chased by cows

Always a bonus int’country.

I couldn't get a picture but have spent the last few days near to a pair of Pied Flycatchers. Lovely little birds. I found decent feather whilst out on a run too.

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what are the first two please?

Hi, they are treecreeper and skylark. The former flitted past and landed deep in that tree and I only realised what it was after taking a photo of the patch where it had landed. The larks are, I think, busy with nests and are not flying as high as I am used to.

Thanks, thought it might be a treecreeper. I've also seen a few larks at lower altitudes descending to their nests recently. On a ride this morning I saw red kite sitting perfectly right at the top of a telephone pole, was a brilliant pose but of course I didn't have my camera

Stopped to watch a skylark singing in a field for a few minute yesterday, was lovely

Wha abat No 3?

Cuckoo.

Mad skillz.

Looks like the love child of a peregrine and a pidgeon.

Also saw a greater spotted woodpecker last week, again without my camera

Female Bullfinch? In the undergrowth in the woods

They are pretty weird birds, even if you ignore their freakish breeding behaviour. Half bee-eater and half sparrowhawk. And noisy round here at the moment.

We've been in Suffolk for a long weekend and we're off to Minsmere today, very excited. Spotted some white throats along the marshes between Manningtree and Flatford yesterday and plenty of kestrels doing their floating thing above the fields around here.

Minsmere is brilliant - I’d not previously been very keen on reserves as I thought they seemed very artificial, and in a way they are, but it’s amazing what happens when a piece of land is tweaked and designed to work for wildlife. I went to Minsmere with my brother and sister a couple of years ago and was blown away by the place. We arrived late in the day in August and pretty much had the place to ourselves. I went with Mrs Ludd and the luddlets last year and we saw a bittern fly over as we arrived.

Anyone been to Dungeness nature reserve? Worth a visit? Have a day away with work next week and don't fancy the drive back to the Midlands the same day so looking for somewhere to visit in Kent or on the M25, M1, M40, A1 corridors

I'd suggest Otmoor if you've not been before. I think that counts as M4o corridor.

Today I saw oyster catchers, marsh harriers, reed warblers, a bittern, avocets, shell ducks, bearded tits and a spoonbill. Marvellous!

I finally (!) saw a songbird (great tit) collecting some of the pet fur that we'd put out for them as nest-building material. Absolutely made my day.

Otmoor is nice. I’ve been several times to see the murmurations in winter but never made it in summer. I’m hoping to get a ride over there soon as the reserve has a few bridleways through it and it’s currently blocking my veloviewer explorer square.

Dungeness is good at migration time or in Winter, there are better at this time of year. Minsmere is fantastic - there are plans to build another power station right alongside, please get involved in the fight against - am fully prepared to glue myself to a JCB or whatever - love the place.

Dungeness is good at migration time or in Winter, there are better at this time of year. Minsmere is fantastic - there are plans to build another power station right alongside, please get involved in the fight against - am fully prepared to glue myself to a JCB or whatever - love the place.

OK, might give it a skip this time then

I'd suggest Otmoor if you've not been before. I think that counts as M4o corridor.

Wow, didn't know this existed (guess I should look at the RSPB website better). Once we are dragged back to the office I will be doing the full length of the M40 weekly so will definitely call in this year at some point

Went for the normal local walk at lunch and the farmer was cutting silage, was fantastic to watch, probably this many raptors again out of shot, sat in trees looking on or following the tractor and some crows and gulls getting in on the action as well, don't think any rodents stood a chance

Osprey and a Reed-warbler on our travels today.