Topic: Bird watch

[kesey]

Ive been hearing a few new bird song the past few days.

[kesey]

Deffo new bird songs of late .

Usually just before sunrise and sunset.

[reddebs]

Deffo new bird songs of late .

Usually just before sunrise and sunset.

All birds have different songs or calls that are used at certain times. 

What you're hearing now is their mating calls, these are totally different to their "songs" which you hear mainly in the summer.

They also have a "call" like a distress call or to call their mate when they're on eggs and hungry or to let their chicks know they're coming with food.

Blackbirds, robins, thrush and most of the tit family are starting nesting now and on eggs by mid to late February.

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[Medellin]

Deffo new bird songs of late .

Usually just before sunrise and sunset.

You don't live somewhere in Transylvania by any chance?

[kesey]

You don't live somewhere in Transylvania by any chance?

Theres a joke there somewhere which I think I get.   

[rob1966]

Anyone heard about the three hundred Starlings which are said to have fallen out of the sky? Reports that hundreds of birds have been found dead along the road in Anglesey. There are rumours that it has happened before in the same place. 

Been solved. Doing a Murmuration and some failed to pull out of the dive and hit the tarmac

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51880855

[Dr. Beaker]

04.30 this morning goes out the front door to work and there is this massively loud and clear two note bird call which I have never heard before. It sounded like something massive, but turns out to be a black-capped chickadee - thank god for YouTube, and what a little star.

[kesey]

Oh and how they sing .

It's so spiritual and healing.

[jillcwhomever]

Been solved. Doing a Murmuration and some failed to pull out of the dive and hit the tarmac

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51880855

Only just seen this, wow that's the harshness of nature I guess. 

[kesey]

The first owl of the night .

Pink Full Moon too.

[Crosby Nick]

I can hear a woodpecker at the moment when I sit in our garden. Nearest trees must be about 70 yards away but pretty sure what’s what the noise is!

[liverbloke]

Saw my first ever Cetti's Warbler yesterday down at Lunt!

Birders know these little buggers are hard to see as they skulk around in the bushes - you hear them (quite a recognisable call) but before you get the chance they've dived back into the bushes.

Well, I heard this guy in the bushes about 5 yards in front of me so I just walked slowly over and just stood still and waited and waited - like a friggin statue - and he popped up right in front of me and sang and then was gone.

Absolute magic 

I can hear a woodpecker at the moment when I sit in our garden. Nearest trees must be about 70 yards away but pretty sure what’s what the noise is!

A little trick with Woodys is to mimic their knocking as closely as you can on a tree or on your fence is it's wooden, and the Woody will think it has a rival in its territory and will come and have a look - so you'll get great views of him.

Just make sure you don't do any sudden movements.

[butchersdog]

I've noticed the birds singing a lot more recently, think it's because it's so much quieter when you do go outside. Starting to get to know the different songs too. Blackbirds and tits are quite easy to spot song wise. There's a green woodpecker that lives at the back, wrens in the hedge, and an inquisitive robin knocking about. I bought an RSPB book of British Birds last summer, it's quite interesting flicking through and seeing the differences. They're giving me a bit of comfort and calm through the pandemic.

[Crosby Nick]

We’ve got tons of magpies around us at the moment causing aggro. And a murder of crows! Get some colour from a small flock of parakeets that swoop around in a group making plenty of noise. Heard a bit of a commotion the other day and a few were right outside an upstairs window, resting on the ledge for a bit. I think wildlife in general are probably enjoying the lockdown!

[reddebs]

Saw my first ever Cetti's Warbler yesterday down at Lunt!

Birders know these little buggers are hard to see as they skulk around in the bushes - you hear them (quite a recognisable call) but before you get the chance they've dived back into the bushes.

Well, I heard this guy in the bushes about 5 yards in front of me so I just walked slowly over and just stood still and waited and waited - like a friggin statue - and he popped up right in front of me and sang and then was gone.

Absolute magic 


A little trick with Woodys is to mimic their knocking as closely as you can on a tree or on your fence is it's wooden, and the Woody will think it has a rival in its territory and will come and have a look - so you'll get great views of him.

Just make sure you don't do any sudden movements.

That's a rare spot you've made there mate as all warblers are notoriously difficult to spot.

I hear reed warblers a lot when out with the dogs but seeing one is a different thing altogether.

Saw a kingfisher yesterday morning which is quite normal round me as there's so many waterways for then to fish in and the main riverbanks have lovely steep, sandy banks for thei nest sights.

Just waiting for the Martins, Swallows and then the Swifts to arrive and summer really has arrived.

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[liverbloke]

That's a rare spot you've made there mate as all warblers are notoriously difficult to spot.

I hear reed warblers a lot when out with the dogs but seeing one is a different thing altogether.

Saw a kingfisher yesterday morning which is quite normal round me as there's so many waterways for then to fish in and the main riverbanks have lovely steep, sandy banks for thei nest sights.

Just waiting for the Martins, Swallows and then the Swifts to arrive and summer really has arrived.

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Yeh Reedys are a pain to see.

My advice is to hone in on their song and just stare at the reeds - or nearby bushes/grasses etc - that the song is coming from and eventually you'll see some movement. But best to have some bins with you or a long lens.

Here's a photo of a typical example of a Reedy I was watching who was well-hidden and then another photo when he jumped out of the reeds and onto a branch (my second photo is still cropped and sharpened though  )

[reddebs]

Yeh Reedys are a pain to see.

My advice is to hone in on their song and just stare at the reeds - or nearby bushes/grasses etc - that the song is coming from and eventually you'll see some movement. But best to have some bins with you or a long lens.

Here's a photo of a typical example of a Reedy I was watching who was well-hidden and then another photo when he jumped out of the reeds and onto a branch (my second photo is still cropped and sharpened though  )

Wow that's a fab pic you've got mate.  At one time I'd always have my bins with me but since I've started wearing glasses permanently I need some new one specifically for my eyes.

I'm lucky in having lots of reed beds close to my walks so I do see them quite often but I know what I'm looking for.  To anyone else they look like mice running up and down the reeds, till they fly off [emoji16]

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[liverbloke]

Wow that's a fab pic you've got mate.  At one time I'd always have my bins with me but since I've started wearing glasses permanently I need some new one specifically for my eyes.

I'm lucky in having lots of reed beds close to my walks so I do see them quite often but I know what I'm looking for.  To anyone else they look like mice running up and down the reeds, till they fly off [emoji16]

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Yeh, and their song is amazing too 

[reddebs]

Yeh, and their song is amazing too 

Nobody else agrees but I always think of their song as cheeky monkeys chattering [emoji2356]

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[liverbloke]

Nobody else agrees but I always think of their song as cheeky monkeys chattering [emoji2356]

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Hey, you've just reminded me of a joke so I'm off to the joke thread to make more people miserable 

[Red-Soldier]

I've got 2 nest boxes (homemade) in the garden that are both being used by great tits at the moment.

Also got a window feeder that the robins love.  The birdsong has been great since the lockdown started.

[zero zero]

I've seen a Red Kite hunting from our flat in Surbiton two days running now

[rob1966]

Saw a huge Buzzard out hunting yesterday, gorgeous sight

[reddebs]

Best keep the bunnies in guys [emoji16]

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[jillcwhomever]

I've got 2 nest boxes (homemade) in the garden that are both being used by great tits at the moment.

Also got a window feeder that the robins love. The birdsong has been great since the lockdown started.

More people should make an effort at listening to birdsong, one of the great highlights in life especially this time of year.

[Chakan]

Just saw a big Turkey Vulture land in the tree outside my window.

[jillcwhomever]

Just saw a big Turkey Vulture land in the tree outside my window.

A Vulture? I bet that made the tree shake. 

[Chakan]

A Vulture? I bet that made the tree shake. 

yeah they're huge!!

[Chakan]

And now a red shouldered hawk in the tree for a second! I guess its the day for big birds

[CHOPPER]

We’ve got tons of magpies around us at the moment causing aggro. And a murder of crows! Get some colour from a small flock of parakeets that swoop around in a group making plenty of noise. Heard a bit of a commotion the other day and a few were right outside an upstairs window, resting on the ledge for a bit. I think wildlife in general are probably enjoying the lockdown!

Think you'll find its called a Parliament. Not, tons.

[jillcwhomever]

This is fantastic.

https://youtu.be/rYoZgpAEkFs

[ToneLa]

 cute!!

my best mate I taught zen to saw two robins lately, she wished on them for good luck

1st was on a tree, she said it was cute but a coincidence

2nd was a steel badge design of a fat robin she found stuck in the bottom of her shoe when she got in

Since then?...

I seen 2 robins lad

[Lad]

We’ve got tons of magpies around us at the moment causing aggro. And a murder of crows! Get some colour from a small flock of parakeets that swoop around in a group making plenty of noise. Heard a bit of a commotion the other day and a few were right outside an upstairs window, resting on the ledge for a bit. I think wildlife in general are probably enjoying the lockdown!

Is there a more loathsome bird than the magpie ? When I was  kid in north Liverpool in the 70's there weren't any round here. Would only be when we got the Ribble bus out to Lydiate to fish in the canal that you would maybe see a couple. Proper bird spotters me and my mate were. Started out with other lads who were egg robbers but I just tagged along and hated it really. One lad climbed this huge tree in Freshfield woods to a Kestrel nest once, but to give him some credit he only took one egg and left the rest.

So two of us broke away and formed a bird spotting group instead. Which brings me back to magpies. It was a decent tick in the notepad if you saw one.

But now, jeez you can't move for them. I'm now a train driver daan sarf and they are all I see all day. Horrible birds they are, raiding the nests of smaller species and just being general annoying arseholes And they make a horrible noise too. Rant over.

[Lad]

There's a park ten minutes walk from my house called Nonsuch. Last autumn me and the missus were out for an early evening walk and there was two blokes with long photo lenses cameras. Asked them what they were looking at and it turns out it was a pair of Hobby's that had raised two chicks who were now hunting for themselves.

Well, that was a first for me. Stood there for ages to get an occasional spot of the adult birds on the wing. One bloke showed me a photo of the Hobby eating a swift it had caught ! How fast must it be to catch one of them ? Any way they told me they would be flying off to Africa soon (the birds) for the winter.

So I reckon the park distance qualifies as local enough for the lockdown daily walk, I'll be keeping an eye out for their return maybe soon.

[Red-Soldier]

So far this year, I have had robin, great tit, long-tailed tit, blackbird, house sparrow, greenfinch, dunnock, wren, wood pigeon and magpie in the garden.

On my daily walk, I have seen buzzard, starling, goldfinch, greenfinch, goldcrest, treecreeper, robin, blackbird, great tit, blue tit and song thrush.

[Lad]

So far this year, I have had robin, great tit, long-tailed tit, blackbird, house sparrow, greenfinch, dunnock, wren, wood pigeon and magpie in the garden.

On my daily walk, I have seen buzzard, starling, goldfinch, greenfinch, goldcrest, treecreeper, robin, blackbird, great tit, blue tit and song thrush.

The only one of those that you get in your garden that I don’t get in my mine is greenfinch. In fact I don’t see them anywhere at all in my area and it’s quite green around here. I think they are definitely a bird in decline. Loads of goldfinches though.

[Red-Soldier]

The only one of those that you get in your garden that I don’t get in my mine is greenfinch. In fact I don’t see them anywhere at all in my area and it’s quite green around here. I think they are definitely a bird in decline. Loads of goldfinches though.

Yep, they are in decline, and its mainly down to this:

Greenfinches and Trichomonosis


Perhaps one of the least widely understood mechanisms of population change is the role that disease plays. An important part of population dynamics strategy is to increase our understanding of the impact that diseases can have.

Work by the BTO in collaboration with colleagues from the Institute of Zoology through the Garden Bird Health initiative has shown just how important these can be (Robinson et al. 2010). In 2005, we started to receive the first reports of a new disease that seemed to affect particularly Greenfinches but also Chaffinches. Trichomonosis is a common disease in pigeons and doves but seems to have ‘jumped’ species to devastating effect. We combined data from Garden BirdWatch volunteers and the Breeding Bird Survey to show that trichomonosis was responsible for the death of perhaps half a million birds in 2006 alone. Since then BBS has shown that the Greenfinch population has continued to decline even further (see trend). The disease is spread by saliva from infected individuals but maintaining good garden hygiene can help.

https://www.bto.org/our-science/population-dynamics/greenfinches-and-trichomonosis

[Lad]

Ta. Yeah that’s sad. Not just humans suffering then.

[jillcwhomever]

Yep, they are in decline, and its mainly down to this:

Greenfinches and Trichomonosis


Perhaps one of the least widely understood mechanisms of population change is the role that disease plays. An important part of population dynamics strategy is to increase our understanding of the impact that diseases can have.

Work by the BTO in collaboration with colleagues from the Institute of Zoology through the Garden Bird Health initiative has shown just how important these can be (Robinson et al. 2010). In 2005, we started to receive the first reports of a new disease that seemed to affect particularly Greenfinches but also Chaffinches. Trichomonosis is a common disease in pigeons and doves but seems to have ‘jumped’ species to devastating effect. We combined data from Garden BirdWatch volunteers and the Breeding Bird Survey to show that trichomonosis was responsible for the death of perhaps half a million birds in 2006 alone. Since then BBS has shown that the Greenfinch population has continued to decline even further (see trend). The disease is spread by saliva from infected individuals but maintaining good garden hygiene can help.

https://www.bto.org/our-science/population-dynamics/greenfinches-and-trichomonosis

It has really decimated the Greenfinches, we used to get loads in our old place but then they stopped coming. I used to do the BTO Bird Garden Watch, and it really became a hot topic at the time as we would get some of the reports the BTO did on the health of individual birds. The first report was really harrowing as that disease really makes the bird suffer.

[jillcwhomever]

Is there a more loathsome bird than the magpie ? When I was  kid in north Liverpool in the 70's there weren't any round here. Would only be when we got the Ribble bus out to Lydiate to fish in the canal that you would maybe see a couple. Proper bird spotters me and my mate were. Started out with other lads who were egg robbers but I just tagged along and hated it really. One lad climbed this huge tree in Freshfield woods to a Kestrel nest once, but to give him some credit he only took one egg and left the rest.

So two of us broke away and formed a bird spotting group instead. Which brings me back to magpies. It was a decent tick in the notepad if you saw one.

But now, jeez you can't move for them. I'm now a train driver daan sarf and they are all I see all day. Horrible birds they are, raiding the nests of smaller species and just being general annoying arseholes And they make a horrible noise too. Rant over.

I don't like Magpies either, though they are highly intelligent birds. There used to be a running battle between our Blackbirds and the Magpies in our old place, the Blackbirds would get so stressed at nesting time and just screech the whole time. We even found a couple of empty eggs in the garden once and we swore it was the Magpies, although it could have been a cat maybe.