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Wilf
Jul Member 2019

Wilf

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3 Starlings at home last year had 2 at the beginning of the year.

Kestrel and Mistle Thrush are the only other slightly interesting birds for me, but there has been a couple of rare ones fairly locally.

29-Dec-2014 16:17:52

Bernadette
Dec Member 2021

Bernadette

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I think I saw a cuckoo sitting in a hedgerow today. It was a little distance away and at first I thought it was a sparrow hawk but there were a lot of little birds flitting around, I don't think they would have been so happy if it had been a bird of prey.

Other than that we have had all the regulars at the feeders plus a green woodpecker pecking the grass further down the garden. The only excitement I saw was when two robins decided to visit at the same time.
One man's Truth is another man's Lie

30-Dec-2014 00:22:27

Gobledegoop

Gobledegoop

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What gear do you use?
My eyes :)
Best find?
i've seen a eagle before.. not sure which one probably a bald eagle, definatly not a gold :p
Latest Sightings?
spotted woodpeckers, finches, long tail titts, pheasants :') haha not much tbh

as you can tell im not a serious bird watcher but i still love looking at them, i do have a book so i would know if i saw something rare or just special, but im just not in the right sort of area for it ;) wouldnt mind living in cornwall :D
Feed birds at Home?
not anymore, used to do it all the time ;)

anyway good post/ thread whatever, hope everyone had a great christmas, have a great new year :D
Goble

30-Dec-2014 05:43:55

Wilf
Jul Member 2019

Wilf

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Bernadette said :
I think I saw a cuckoo sitting in a hedgerow today. It was a little distance away and at first I thought it was a sparrow hawk but there were a lot of little birds flitting around, I don't think they would have been so happy if it had been a bird of prey.

Other than that we have had all the regulars at the feeders plus a green woodpecker pecking the grass further down the garden. The only excitement I saw was when two robins decided to visit at the same time.


They do look similar but based on the time of year I personally would go sparrowhawk, I also think they'd associate a Cuckoo as a bird of prey for the same reason you couldn't decide. If you could hear the birds they'd probably be making loud alarm calls that makes other birds aware and as such reduce the chance of being killed.

There is good article if you search "C***** bird of prey" that goes toward explaining the similarity. They also get mobbed at least by host species but don't know about ones they don't use.

30-Dec-2014 17:09:29

Wilf
Jul Member 2019

Wilf

Posts: 17,032 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
@Vedi
I think Nuthatches are quite funny as they scuttle about.


@Goble
Good stuff :) and nope you don't need to be that serious to appreciate them.



Walk today got me a species I'd been looking out for which was nice and later on when driving I saw a lot of common species that makes my count of 3 tiny.

In the fields were a bunch of Redwing, Fieldfare (first ones this winter) and Starling.
Plenty of the common birds about the rest of the walk: Robin,Wren various ****. In the distance a group of gulls circling, but too far away for any sort of ID, and on way back a Buzzard.

Later on I saw loads of Starlings must have been at least a thousand the lines were full and a tree was full and there were still loads flying about. Might go a bit earlier tomorrow and see if there is a small murmuration.

30-Dec-2014 17:19:04

Bernadette
Dec Member 2021

Bernadette

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I need to keep some binocs in the front of the car as there are often birds sitting in the hedgerow as we drive up the farm road.

Jealous of your starlings - I never seem to see more than 20 or so together.

I can hear a Little Owl in the trees out the back, but I can't see it :(
One man's Truth is another man's Lie

30-Dec-2014 17:26:03 - Last edited on 31-Dec-2014 00:05:45 by Bernadette

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