Topic: Bird watch

[CHOPPER]

I saw a couple of Common shelducks down Otterspool Prom today sitting on the mud banks with the tide out.
Never seen them down there before.
(not my picture)

I saw a Ruddy Duck down there last week.


An’a fucking pigeon.

[duvva 💅]

Fuck me it’s a lesser spotted CHOPPER

[liverbloke]

some of your best work there chakan mate 

[Chakan]

some of your best work there chakan mate 

Thank you, had a lot of fun with that session.

[John C]

I saw a Ruddy Duck down there last week.
An’a fucking pigeon.

Hello mate, I saw two Herons standing at the edge of a low Mersey this morning, never seen Herons in the river. Boss sight.
The Shelducks were there again and I actually saw a pair of Mallards

Smashing.

[Red-Soldier]

I saw a Ruddy Duck down there last week.


An’a fucking pigeon.

They're an alien invasive species - there's been a big effort to erradicate them across the country, and the wider continent.

[Dim Glas]

Love that red shouldered hawk 

[Dim Glas]

Saw one of the barred owls that live on the trail near me today, I absolutely LOVE owls.

[liverbloke]

Saw one of the barred owls that live on the trail near me today, I absolutely LOVE owls.

...

nice them mate - watching owls in flight is always ethereal

[Crosby Nick 128]

nice them mate - watching owls in flight is always ethereal

Play that Hodgson walking through different scenes video…

[jillcwhomever]

Wow, a bit of action tonight. Something flew into the kitchen window when I went to look there was a Peregrine Falcon sitting on the fence, he was there for a good few minutes. I was wondering if it was him that flew into the window while attacking a bird. Who needs television? 

[Elmo!]

Went down to a place called Fowlsheugh south of Aberdeen yesterday. It's an RSPB Nature Reserve, where thousands of sea birds live on the cliffs. Unfortunately didn't see any puffins, but plenty of guillemots and gulls, including some young ones.

Wish I had brought my better camera, and had better photography skills! Was having to lean over the cliff edge basically to get the close ups on my phone.

Bumped into someone from the RSPB who was doing some observation, said they were actually having a good couple of years and numbers were building up after some really bad years before that, but numbers still way off what they can reach.

The stink of bird shit was pretty bad despite the wind. 

[Yorkykopite]

Parliament debates an important bill next week to make swift bricks/boxes compulsory on new builds. I understand that the decline in the population of these marvellous birds is complex, but that a shortage of nesting sites is a key factor. This solution seems obvious:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/30/swift-bricks-petition-campaigners-halt-decline-migratory-birds-aoe

[liverbloke]

Parliament debates an important bill next week to make swift bricks/boxes compulsory on new builds. I understand that the decline in the population of these marvellous birds is complex, but that a shortage of nesting sites is a key factor. This solution seems obvious:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/30/swift-bricks-petition-campaigners-halt-decline-migratory-birds-aoe

hope it's successful

we already have bland gardens only fit for garden parties and bbqs

resin driveways and artificial grass - though i think there could be progress on that soon

perfect houses for barbies and kens - plastic

[Armand9]

I saw a Ruddy Duck down there last week.


An’a fucking pigeon.

was that a joke/play on words or you actually saw a Ruddy Duck?

rare bird now in britain after they fucking shot them all

[reddebs]

We've had a family of wrens feeding in the garden this morning.  We see the odd one occasionally but never a whole family so that's been really lovely ☺️

[liverbloke]

^ aw nice that

was walking through lunt next to a long hedge and a group of long-tailed tits where sweeping along the hedge looking for food accompanying me on my way - and they stayed with me right until the hedge ended 

you cannot buy that - fantastic experience

[reddebs]

^ aw nice that

was walking through lunt next to a long hedge and a group of long-tailed tits where sweeping along the hedge looking for food accompanying me on my way - and they stayed with me right until the hedge ended 

you cannot buy that - fantastic experience

They're very friendly birds and always focused on feeding.  I'd always get them fluttering round me when I was weeding in borders where the feeders are.

We've stopped putting feed out this summer as there's more than enough natural food in the garden for the little ones. 

The only ones that have stopped visiting in numbers are the pheasants, pigeons and collared doves which is fine.

[jillcwhomever]

The Guardian is doing a podcast exposing the persecution of the hen harriers on the grouse moors. I have put the link below for those interested, though I warn there are some not very nice descriptions but it's a necessary issue to be bringing to a wider audience, who may be unaware of what goes on. I will put the second part down when it becomes available.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/audio/2023/aug/15/killing-the-skydancer-episode-one-susies-chicks

Part 2 is here. https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2023/aug/16/killing-the-skydancer-episode-2-the-perfect-podcast

[duvva 💅]

The Guardian is doing a podcast exposing the persecution of the hen harriers on the grouse moors. I have put the link below for those interested, though I warn there are some not very nice descriptions but it's a necessary issue to be bringing to a wider audience, who may be unaware of what goes on. I will put the second part down when it becomes available.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/audio/2023/aug/15/killing-the-skydancer-episode-one-susies-chicks

Yeah it’s pretty horrible what goes on. I get retweets from Chris Packham from a group to do with raptor persecution. A lot of these go missing (are killed) in (not so) mysterious circumstances.

[jillcwhomever]

Yeah it’s pretty horrible what goes on. I get retweets from Chris Packham from a group to do with raptor persecution. A lot of these go missing (are killed) in (not so) mysterious circumstances.

Is it this group, Ruth is the one she is travelling with in the podcast and she runs the Raptors Persecution group who have done some great work in highlighting it.

http://raptorpersecutionuk.org/

[duvva 💅]

Is it this group, Ruth is the one she is travelling with in the podcast and she runs the Raptors Persecution group who have done some great work in highlighting it.

http://raptorpersecutionuk.org/

Yep hadn’t read your link when I replied. Do you get the monthly Wild Justice newsletter? Ruth, Chris and another chap are the directors there was a link in that to the guardian podcast but I never get around to watching podcasts

[jillcwhomever]

Yep hadn’t read your link when I replied. Do you get the monthly Wild Justice newsletter? Ruth, Chris and another chap are the directors there was a link in that to the guardian podcast but I never get around to watching podcasts

Yes, I do follow Wild Justice on twitter they are doing a lot of good stuff.

[Yorkykopite]

The sky above the house is empty of swifts now. We've had them since May 2nd. Can't help but feel a pang of sadness when this happens.

[butchersdog]

Found one of our regular female Bullfinches dead in the garden at the weekend. Don’t understand what killed her as she didn’t have a mark on her, so don’t think it was a cat or other predator. Was sad hearing the male calling for the rest of the day. They have been eating berries from one of our bushes, I wonder if it was that.

In happier news, I’ve been enjoying watching the spotted woodpecker feeding its ‘chick’ on our fence.

[jillcwhomever]

I have just had a young Sparrow Hawk in the garden, he was sitting on the fence for ages and I was happily admiring him from afar. Then one of the baby sparrows broke rank and went to the feeders and suddenly I was one baby Sparrow less! But wow, that bird is quick on the attack and hopefully the youngster didn't know anything about it. 

[Armand9]

Found one of our regular female Bullfinches dead in the garden at the weekend. Don’t understand what killed her as she didn’t have a mark on her, so don’t think it was a cat or other predator. Was sad hearing the male calling for the rest of the day. They have been eating berries from one of our bushes, I wonder if it was that.

In happier news, I’ve been enjoying watching the spotted woodpecker feeding its ‘chick’ on our fence.

the average life span of a bullfinch is around two years

my favourite common species

[reddebs]

Rescued a juvenile chiffchaff or willow warbler (yeah you try and differentiate them) this morning that had flown into the conservatory. 

Poor thing was really stunned and sat on my hand for a good few minutes, even when I put it on one of the fence posts it stayed for a while, eventually flying off when I approached it again.

[jillcwhomever]

Rescued a juvenile chiffchaff or willow warbler (yeah you try and differentiate them) this morning that had flown into the conservatory. 

Poor thing was really stunned and sat on my hand for a good few minutes, even when I put it on one of the fence posts it stayed for a while, eventually flying off when I approached it again.

It's horrible when that happens. I remember two juvenile thrushes flew into our window, amazing that both of them recovered but they did. Birds are quite hardy.

[reddebs]

It's horrible when that happens. I remember two juvenile thrushes flew into our window, amazing that both of them recovered but they did. Birds are quite hardy.

We've had quite a few die from flying into the windows which is heartbreaking so I was so happy when it eventually flew off 😁

[Chakan]

My hummingbirds just won't play nice together. I see all these videos and whatnot of like 10 hummingbirds around a feeder all drinking and stuff, and I get 3 and they all just fight with each other.

[jillcwhomever]

My hummingbirds just won't play nice together. I see all these videos and whatnot of like 10 hummingbirds around a feeder all drinking and stuff, and I get 3 and they all just fight with each other.

I would like to see hummingbirds fighting in my garden. We have starlings who definitely like a fight around the fat balls, even the goldfinches can be quite violent towards one another. I guess its the survival instinct kicking in.

[Chakan]

I would like to see hummingbirds fighting in my garden. We have starlings who definitely like a fight around the fat balls, even the goldfinches can be quite violent towards one another. I guess its the survival instinct kicking in.

They are quite persistent, the one starts drinking and the other one will dive bomb it and then chase it away and fly back to start drinking and then the cycle just repeats itself, so far i've never seen 2 hummingbirds on my feeder at one time.

[jillcwhomever]

They are quite persistent, the one starts drinking and the other one will dive bomb it and then chase it away and fly back to start drinking and then the cycle just repeats itself, so far i've never seen 2 hummingbirds on my feeder at one time.

A familiar tactic mate, probably seen on bird feeders across the world. It weird over here the Blue, Great and Coal Tits seems really mild mannered at the feeders but the Finches are totally different, multiple fights every where. There seems to be a definite pecking order within the finches and starlings.

[Chakan]

A familiar tactic mate, probably seen on bird feeders across the world. It weird over here the Blue, Great and Coal Tits seems really mild mannered at the feeders but the Finches are totally different, multiple fights every where. There seems to be a definite pecking order within the finches and starlings.

Yup seen it a few times with other birds on the seed feeder, although they usually try go after the squirrels as well.

But the hummingbirds have their own feeder, just wondered how everyone else in the video gets them to play nicely. Fascinating to watch though. I was cleaning out a gutter right above the feeder today (removed the feeder first) and a hummingbird flew like within 5 feet from my face looking for the feeder.

I saw a video on tiktok or somewhere where they were hand feeding the hummingbird with a bottle cap full of liquid. Wonder if that might be an option. Would be a great experience.

[Armand9]

Rescued a juvenile chiffchaff or willow warbler (yeah you try and differentiate them) this morning that had flown into the conservatory. 

Poor thing was really stunned and sat on my hand for a good few minutes, even when I put it on one of the fence posts it stayed for a while, eventually flying off when I approached it again.

yeah tricky birds if not singing (call is different too but that takes a lil practice)

they do have a number of differences if you make a point of getting familiar with them, i get it that some dont care to go to that degree, but for those who might want to the most reliable and key character to focus in on is the Primary Projection - this is the wing tip that extends beyond the rest of the wing (and often coloured darker than accompanying feathers)

Willow Warbler on the right - long primary projection; chiffchaff on the left - short primary projection


it can seem daunting at first but if you practice in the field it eventually all comes together and you'll pick up on other differences as well (facial character being a good one, Willow Warbler having a more distinctive look with a stronger supercillium and mottled look to the cheek, chiffchaffs generally appear plainer in the face overall). In time you just know what you're looking at and a quick check of characters will confirm (or it'll call/sing confirming).

the way they fly is also revealing, which can seem an ambitious approach but once realized is actually one of the easiest ways to tell them apart. Think how a Blue Tit flies, not strong and kinda fluffy - Chiffchaffs are similar in this respect. Now think about something like a Spotted Flycatcher with its strong direct dashing flight and this is Willow Warbler like. This is the longer wings of Willow Warbler showing in flight action over the weaker shorter winged Chiffchaff. This character is extremely consistent as it's anatomical, literally how the different speices are built and thus reflected in their flight.

When starting out the best approach is to find a singing bird so you know what you're looking at. Now that you know for sure what you have, you can check characters etc confident that what you're seeing actually reflects the speices. I promise anyone who wishes to put the time in, you'll grow in ability and confidence until that LBJ is very doable if views allow.

[reddebs]

yeah tricky birds if not singing (call is different too but that takes a lil practice)

they do have a number of differences if you make a point of getting familiar with them, i get it that some dont care to go to that degree, but for those who might want to the most reliable and key character to focus in on is the Primary Projection - this is the wing tip that extends beyond the rest of the wing (and often coloured darker than accompanying feathers)

Willow Warbler on the right - long primary projection; chiffchaff on the left - short primary projection


it can seem daunting at first but if you practice in the field it eventually all comes together and you'll pick up on other differences as well (facial character being a good one, Willow Warbler having a more distinctive look with a stronger supercillium and mottled look to the cheek, chiffchaffs generally appear plainer in the face overall). In time you just know what you're looking at and a quick check of characters will confirm (or it'll call/sing confirming).

the way they fly is also revealing, which can seem an ambitious approach but once realized is actually one of the easiest ways to tell them apart. Think how a Blue Tit flies, not strong and kinda fluffy - Chiffchaffs are similar in this respect. Now think about something like a Spotted Flycatcher with its strong direct dashing flight and this is Willow Warbler like. This is the longer wings of Willow Warbler showing in flight action over the weaker shorter winged Chiffchaff. This character is extremely consistent as it's anatomical, literally how the different speices are built and thus reflected in their flight.

When starting out the best approach is to find a singing bird so you know what you're looking at. Now that you know for sure what you have, you can check characters etc confident that what you're seeing actually reflects the speices. I promise anyone who wishes to put the time in, you'll grow in ability and confidence until that LBJ is very doable if views allows.

I used to ring for the BTO so know about the wing feathers I just couldn't remember which it applied to plus it was so dazed and shocked I didn't want to stress it more than necessary.

Defo a chiffchaff going off those photos 👍

[Armand9]

this is the time of year when the highly prized, and often very beautiful, american passerines are the stuff of dreams for a birder to find and well, a weather system coming across the atlantic dumped an insane number of them along the west of the UK from the Western Isles down to the Isles of Scilly, but particularly west wales (focused around pembrokeshire) - now officially the best run of yanks ever recorded

so far

the most prized of all - american wood warblers (just one of these is usually considered a birder's highlight of the autumn!)
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Tennessee Warbler 2
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler (found before this particular weather front occured)
Yellow Warbler
Canada Warbler


Bay-breasted Warbler - 2nd for UK and first twitchable one (friend of mine has just seen this and is currently heading for the Canada Warbler, which is around the same place he saw the Magnolia Warbler yesterday  )


Magnolia Warbler (3rd record? first real twitchable one tho, being on the mainland)


other american passerines etc also from this weather system mainly but some found before
Bobolink 2
Red-eyed Vireo c.20
Philadelphia Vireo
Cliff Swallow 8
Baltimore Oriole 3
Empidonax Flycather 2 (very difficult to seperate members of this family but one appears to be an Alder Flycatcher, the other one not ID to species yet)
Buff-bellied Pipit 3

this is absolutely insane, with more species being added daily at this point

im in my 60s now and in the 70/80s there were the 'stuff of dreams' autumns, espcially on the Isles of Scilly, of legendary tales regarding yanks, like a Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the same tree but this fall of american passerines blows all of those out of the water!

up to this point the autumn had been noteable for an exceptional season for seabirds, the amazing occurence of a Red-footed Booby and a Brown Booby sat on Bishop Lighthouse between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly being the highlight (closely followed by a South Polar Skua) (fyi - there's a Brown Booby in Cleveland that's been around for two weeks and still there, hangs around on buoys in the Tees estuary)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/wrh0d2DpHOM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/wrh0d2DpHOM</a>

fuck knows what else is going to get found, you can bet birders will be putting in the time over the weekend hoping for one of these american beauts. and if the weather remains mild thru the winter, there's every chance a yank warbler will turn up on someone's patch - we've had this before with winter yanks being found at bird feeders or roaming around with a tit flock, exciting times

oh, and Glossy Ibis has bred in the UK for the first time ever this year, somewhere near cambridge