Topic: Bird watch

[rob1966]

Noticed there has been a decline in the numbers of magpies by me and a corresponding rise in the numbers of smaller birds. Seeing Sparrows, Tits and other birds I have no clue to what they are - nice to see these and not just maggies and pigeons.

[liverbloke]

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.

They are intelligent - they're a member of the Corvid family, no not the Covid family 

Those eggs would more than likely been the result of magpies (see my attached photo taken through the window).

They have to feed their chicks just the same as any other bird but they can be quite cruel and 'bullying' to other birds - but we have to remember that they don't understand, as we do, the meaning of cruelty or bullying so are just being animals.

I hate their calls though - horrible and grating 

NOTE: Just seen a Ringed Plover down at Lunt on my exercise walk.

[jillcwhomever]

They are intelligent - they're a member of the Corvid family, no not the Covid family 

Those eggs would more than likely been the result of magpies (see my attached photo taken through the window).

They have to feed their chicks just the same as any other bird but they can be quite cruel and 'bullying' to other birds - but we have to remember that they don't understand, as we do, the meaning of cruelty or bullying so are just being animals.

I hate their calls though - horrible and grating 

NOTE: Just seen a Ringed Plover down at Lunt on my exercise walk.

Very topical. 

Yes I had read about how intelligent Magpies are, you are also right to say they don't know they are being cruel, what's the saying nature tooth and claw. I guess we are all hypocritical at a time like this, I love raptors and falcons and of course they take loads of little birds as well. I can still picture this Sparrow hawk in my other place plucking a Starling in front of me, feathers everywhere. It doesn't help that every time I see a Magpie I think of that damned nursery rhyme, in fact I saw just one the other day and thought it was going to bring me bad luck, but it didn't. 

Ringed Plovers are beautiful birds.

[rob1966]

Looked out of the bedroom window before and there was a beautiful Goldfinch sat on the phone wire right outside, got a great close up view.

[jillcwhomever]

Looked out of the bedroom window before and there was a beautiful Goldfinch sat on the phone wire right outside, got a great close up view.

Goldfinches are fantastic especially when you see them in a group moving around full of chatter. They used to wait to get on the nyger seed feeder I had in my back, all along the telephone wires, they were very well behaved, until the evening when it was a free for all. 

[Chakan]

Remember that hawk I told you about yesterday??

Not 5 min ago, best I could get on my stupid cell phone.

[jillcwhomever]

Remember that hawk I told you about yesterday??

Not 5 min ago, best I could get on my stupid cell phone.

Wow, well done that is stunning.

[liverbloke]

Remember that hawk I told you about yesterday??

Not 5 min ago, best I could get on my stupid cell phone.

Nice 

[rob1966]

Remember that hawk I told you about yesterday??

Not 5 min ago, best I could get on my stupid cell phone.

Lovely

[reddebs]

Remember that hawk I told you about yesterday??

Not 5 min ago, best I could get on my stupid cell phone.

Wow beauty that mate.

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[zero zero]

Remember that hawk I told you about yesterday??

Not 5 min ago, best I could get on my stupid cell phone.

Very cool Chakan. Hope you're holding up alright fella.

Went out with my boy on our bikes along the Thames and near Hampton court. Heard and saw a wonderful Skylark

[Chakan]

Very cool Chakan. Hope you're holding up alright fella.

Went out with my boy on our bikes along the Thames and near Hampton court. Heard and saw a wonderful Skylark

Thanks ZZ, all good here so far! Just staying inside for the most part and trying to keep safe.

Hope all is good with you!

[Red-Soldier]

Remember that hawk I told you about yesterday??

Not 5 min ago, best I could get on my stupid cell phone.

Great pics 

[Red-Soldier]

Saw a couple of goldfinch in the garden today.  I've got a very large, mature oak at the bottom of the garden, its like a bird magnet.

[jillcwhomever]

Saw a couple of goldfinch in the garden today.  I've got a very large, mature oak at the bottom of the garden, its like a bird magnet.

They are wonderful trying to get them back to my little garden. There were loads hanging around Morrisons of all places, zooming around.

[Son of Spion]

They are wonderful trying to get them back to my little garden. There were loads hanging around Morrisons of all places, zooming around.

No doubt they were panic-buying all the birdseed. 

We've had a pair of Long-Tailed Tits in the Cherry Blossom tree and on the bird feeder today. Little cuties. 

[jillcwhomever]

No doubt they were panic-buying all the birdseed. 

We've had a pair of Long-Tailed Tits in the Cherry Blossom tree and on the bird feeder today. Little cuties. 

I think there was a contest between them and the Starlings. 

My sister lives in Derbyshire now, she get loads of Long-Tailed Tits they all move around in little groups they are lovely and you usually hear them before you see them.

[Son of Spion]

I think there was a contest between them and the Starlings. 

My sister lives in Derbyshire now, she get loads of Long-Tailed Tits they all move around in little groups they are lovely and you usually hear them before you see them.

I was stuck in a very long queue for Asda the other week and was stood under a blossom tree in the car park when I heard a little bird tweeting away above my head. I looked up and there was a Longy playing about in the tree. 

[reddebs]

Seen a small flock of black cap this evening.  Males and females flitting around on the top of some hawthorn.

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[jillcwhomever]

I was stuck in a very long queue for Asda the other week and was stood under a blossom tree in the car park when I heard a little bird tweeting away above my head. I looked up and there was a Longy playing about in the tree. 

They are following you around. 

Seen a small flock of black cap this evening.  Males and females flitting around on the top of some hawthorn.

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They are lovely singers Blackcaps, remember getting a pair a few years ago and they were a delight.

[reddebs]

I've rung plenty of them with the BTO Jill but never actually seen them as a flock or socialising together.  They were no more than 10ft away so was able to get a good look and listen.

Finally saw the woodpeckers this morning too.  We heard them first and stopped to see if we could spot them and there were 3 or 4 of them, again flitting from tree to tree.

Unfortunately they were too high up to see if they were greater or lesser spotted but most likely greater.



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[jillcwhomever]

I've rung plenty of them with the BTO Jill but never actually seen them as a flock or socialising together.  They were no more than 10ft away so was able to get a good look and listen.

Finally saw the woodpeckers this morning too.  We heard them first and stopped to see if we could spot them and there were 3 or 4 of them, again flitting from tree to tree.

Unfortunately they were too high up to see if they were greater or lesser spotted but most likely greater.



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You did pretty well on that walk, Blackcaps and Woodpeckers. The Woodpeckers always surprise me, as they're never as big as I expect them to be. One used to go to our old place that was a Lesser Spotted one, he was very distinctive that one. I was amazed how close the Blackbird came to me today, he must have only been two feet away from my feet but seemed happy enough.

[reddebs]

You did pretty well on that walk, Blackcaps and Woodpeckers. The Woodpeckers always surprise me, as they're never as big as I expect them to be. One used to go to our old place that was a Lesser Spotted one, he was very distinctive that one. I was amazed how close the Blackbird came to me today, he must have only been two feet away from my feet but seemed happy enough.

Not sure whether I'm noticing more wildlife or I've got more time to notice it or if it's due to less traffic noise so I'm hearing more birds but it's been great this spring.

I even managed to get some good videos of murmurations on my phone last month.

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[Red-Soldier]

I live right next to the Dorset Heaths, so I get to go out looking for Dartford Warbler, Woodlark, Stonechat, Linnet, Green/greater spotted woodpecker and tree pipit.

I have surveyed for the RSPB in the past.

I actually really like magpies, they are highly intelligent and are one of the few bird species to use tools.

[John C]

I live right next to the Dorset Heaths, so I get to go out looking for Dartford Warbler, Woodlark, Stonechat, Linnet, Green/greater spotted woodpecker and tree pipit.

It's a long time since I've seen a Linnet in South Liverpool mate, lovely little birds but not so common round these parts.

[reddebs]

It's a long time since I've seen a Linnet in South Liverpool mate, lovely little birds but not so common round these parts.

You need gorse bushes John, that's their natural nesting habitat so they'll move on once that goes.

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[Red-Soldier]

It's a long time since I've seen a Linnet in South Liverpool mate, lovely little birds but not so common round these parts.

They are lovely little birds, and their song is amazing too.

We are very lucky to still have a great amount of bird life round here, but sadly, many are declining across the UK.

[Red-Soldier]

You need gorse bushes John, that's their natural nesting habitat so they'll move on once that goes.

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Yeah, any kind of scrub like that.

[liverbloke]

Loads of Linnets around here, Seaforth down at the front and all along the canal.

Just saw a Nuthatch and a Goldcrest in Crocky Park - great 

[reddebs]

Loads of Linnets around here, Seaforth down at the front and all along the canal.

Just saw a Nuthatch and a Goldcrest in Crocky Park - great 

My sister used to get nuthatches in her garden all the time.  So beautiful watching them feed close up and their black eyeliner is to die for [emoji7]

[Lad]

My sister used to get nuthatches in her garden all the time.  So beautiful watching them feed close up and their black eyeliner is to die for [emoji7]

Had them on the feeder at my previous house. Unique in that they always eat the nuts upside down.

[reddebs]

Had them on the feeder at my previous house. Unique in that they always eat the nuts upside down.

They do mate.

I've actually heard a Bittern booming this morning.  Never heard one before even though I walk close to their breeding sites regularly and always keep my ears tuned for them.



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[Red-Soldier]

They do mate.

I've actually heard a Bittern booming this morning.  Never heard one before even though I walk close to their breeding sites regularly and always keep my ears tuned for them.



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Amazing sound they have.

[Red-Soldier]

Saw a song and mistle thrush today, no singing though.

[jillcwhomever]

They do mate.

I've actually heard a Bittern booming this morning.  Never heard one before even though I walk close to their breeding sites regularly and always keep my ears tuned for them.



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Aren't Bitterns quite rare?

[reddebs]

Aren't Bitterns quite rare?

Yes very Jill. 

We were down to just 11 males in 1997 but by 2016 those numbers were up to 160 and they continue to grow thanks to the creation of hundreds of acres of protected reedbeds.

The RSPB near me has a secure section of wetland and reedbeds that is separate from the main site and is now renowned for the numbers of breeding pairs.

I took these pics last autumn and if you watched bbc springwatch last year they did a feature on the work they've done at Old Moor.

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[reddebs]

Amazing sound they have.

Very distinct if you know what the sound is but it's very easy to miss if you aren't aware.

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[jillcwhomever]

Yes very Jill. 

We were down to just 11 males in 1997 but by 2016 those numbers were up to 160 and they continue to grow thanks to the creation of hundreds of acres of protected reedbeds.

The RSPB near me has a secure section of wetland and reedbeds that is separate from the main site and is now renowned for the numbers of breeding pairs.

I took these pics last autumn and if you watched bbc springwatch last year they did a feature on the work they've done at Old Moor.

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That fabulous news, that their numbers are increasing. So much of nature is coming under pressure at the moment, its nice to hear about a relative success for a change. Lovely photos.

[reddebs]

That fabulous news, that their numbers are increasing. So much of nature is coming under pressure at the moment, its nice to hear about a relative success for a change. Lovely photos.

We're fortunate round here that when the pits closed, although there were huge areas set aside for housing and commercial redevelopment, what was left has gradually been bought and taken over by conservation groups, though it's mainly managed by the RSPB. 

There's only a very tiny section of it that is paid access which is Old Moor, the rest is public green space.  You could literally walk for hours and not see a soul as it's not easily accessible and it's mainly scrub with no proper paths.

A lot of it up top (old slag heaps) is mainly used by offroaders, quad bikes, scramblers and before they blocked vehicular access, it's where cars went to die. 

Lot's of burnt out wrecks still litter the landscape which I used to look upon as an eyesore but now they're almost works of art. 

I took these pics last week, it's the first time I'd been up there since last year as it's been too wet.  The dogs love it but god do they get filthy [emoji23]



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[jillcwhomever]

We're fortunate round here that when the pits closed, although there were huge areas set aside for housing and commercial redevelopment, what was left has gradually been bought and taken over by conservation groups, though it's mainly managed by the RSPB. 

There's only a very tiny section of it that is paid access which is Old Moor, the rest is public green space.  You could literally walk for hours and not see a soul as it's not easily accessible and it's mainly scrub with no proper paths.

A lot of it up top (old slag heaps) is mainly used by offroaders, quad bikes, scramblers and before they blocked vehicular access, it's where cars went to die. 

Lot's of burnt out wrecks still litter the landscape which I used to look upon as an eyesore but now they're almost works of art. 

I took these pics last week, it's the first time I'd been up there since last year as it's been too wet.  The dogs love it but god do they get filthy [emoji23]



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It's amazing how many former industrial sites have been turned over to nature now, the death of one industry, is now bringing life to something else, a kind of progress I suppose. But at least more people are using these places, which I suspect will become a real life escape for many.

I saw some really strange behaviour on the feeders before. One of the Great Tits ganging up on the Blue Tit, never seen that before as they are usually very tolerant of one another. Not that he took a blind bit of notice, which I'm quite happy about.