BS: Birdwatching 2010

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:58 AM

We have families of crows where I work and that is where they stay. It is virtually safe from cats and anything else predatory. There are a fair number of trees for them so the habitat is ideal. However because of the nature of the place they are pretty tame and never in any rush to fly away. The oldest one we had, we called him 'Albert' had been around here for quite a number of years and he became such a personality. He was a huge clever bird with a very deep crow would walk up the steps with everyone else to get from A to B. He knew the shape of a triangle sandwich wrapper as opposed to anything else and would pluck it out of the bins. If he couldn't manage it especially in summer he would make a bee-line for the people eating their lunch under the tree and just stand there with his head cocked waiting but he knew he would get something. Standing in the bus-shelter he would land on the bin with a heavy clatter just to let you know he was there. I haven't seen him at all this year and think he may have gone to the big Rookery in the sky. But waiting for a bus at the end of the summer a big black crow landed with a thud on the bin slightly smaller but still pretty large. Perhaps it is the son of Albert, I keep watching out for him just in case.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 07:56 AM

In between two parts of our building at work (ex-WW2 hospital building if you know the type) there is a patch of grass about 20 feet by 50 feet. For the past five days or so we have had a snipe there continualy.
The piece of land is not used by anyone, but the bird seems quite happy to move rght up close to the walls with observes only a couple of feet away watching though the windows.
It arrived in the snow and has stayed there since, presumably feeding on worms as it is active most of the time probing the soil.
I've not seen it fly or attempt to stretch its wings more than half way so it may be injured, but it seems active and healthy otherwise.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 10:16 AM

The (sparrowhawk) event was captured on film by a local press photographer who happened to be passing - now how lucky is that?

Unfortunately, his knowledge of bird species is obviously less than his photograpic expertise, though you will note that he has already been corrected on that point in the comments section (not by me, BTW!).

Sparrrowhawk devours pigeon

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 11:25 AM

I can believe it the hawk/pigeon scenario. If they were both raptors, probably not, but pigeons aren't the sharpest knifes in the drawer and seem to be food on the wing/hoof for a lot of predators.

I put up the bird feeders over the weekend and have traffic already. Not the full compliment yet, but there have been regular bird visits, here to see if the feeders were up yet, so it didn't take them long to discover the feeders. And this morning I scattered some seed on the ground that compliments all sorts of seed left over from the garden. I've had birds poking around where the basil grew and were the tomatoes grew, I'm sure there is a lot of seed on the ground.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 11:02 AM

"Their [sparrowhawks] diet is predominantly small birds; the size difference between sexes means that the female often preys on larger birds, like thrushes and starlings and occasionally pigeons, while the male preys on smaller birds like tits, finches and sparrows."

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: maeve
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 10:54 AM

I'm not sure I understand the difficulty believing a sparrowhawk could catch and eat a pigeon. Are we all talking about the same bird?

A quick Google search would seem to support EBarnacle's assertion:
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&expIds=17259,27586,27761,27796,27868,27937&sugexp=leprodsca4&xhr=t&q=Sparrowhawk+devouring+a+pigeon

Cordially,

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 10:27 AM

Sparrowhawk killing a pigeon more than twice it's size? Unlikely.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: EBarnacle
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 10:02 AM

This Saturday, as I was walking to an event in Manhatten, I heard a tapping sound a spotted a small black woodpecker, similar to a blackback. It continued its tapping until it was frightened away--for about 5 minutes.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 08:54 AM

Just spent 30 glorious minutes watching a Sparrowhawk devouring a pigeon it had just killed - right in the busy town centre. I was 8 feet away, but shoppers were passing much closer. It didn't bat an eyelid.

Probably a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Janie
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 01:00 AM

Sometime in mid June life got too hectic to keep the feeders filled and I just started filling them again about 3 weeks ago. Needless to say, the bird population dropped dramatically. They have slowly been rediscovering the feeders. I previously worked near a birder store where I could readily stop by to get suet and nuggets laced with hot pepper. Changed jobs this summer and an not do that anymore. Bought hot pepper oil to mix with the nuggets but it is very messy and washes out with the rain, unlike the nuggets and suet I bought that were generously laced with powered hot pepper...so the squirrels keep taking down the nugget feeder and emptying the contents.

Oh well.

We had a little snow Saturday - unusual for this part of the world this early - and are in for a bout of unseasonably cold temps with wind over the next few days. The weather has begun to bring in the birds again. Today the nuthatches and woodpeckers returned, and a northern flicker appeared - haven't seen one of them on this little piece of heaven before. And one Bluebird has shown up, though I have not yet seen it on the suet.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 04:46 PM

I hope here is the full picture that was cropped from.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 04:27 PM

The usual here this year. Tit of different sorts, wood pigeons, collard dove, gold and green finches, etc. and a magipe and jays...

Yesterday, Pip did report seeing another of these around. This one from the year (or two?) before taken by me in Pip's hand. It had bumped itself of a window but got better quickly treecreeped

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 03:57 PM

Beer... coulda captioned that, "Scuse me while I kiss the sky."

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Beer
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 02:27 PM

Good one Gnu.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 11:24 AM

Found a pic of a drunk robin. Mum's apple tree.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Beer
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 08:05 AM

Well thank you Maeve. I do think it was the Black Backed Female. I have done a lot of reading on this specie this morning and the thing I was hoping to find was the unusual diving it was doing but found nothing written on this behavior. Thanks again.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: maeve
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 11:15 PM

Here are three possibilities, Adrien:

Northern Flicker

Black Backed Woodpecker

American Three Toed Woodpecker

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Beer
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 09:31 PM

I'm getting ready to take the feeder in as well.
However,
this morning I saw a woodpecker behaving very strangely. It was flying in it's normal up and down motion but when it finished checking at a tree it would take a 90 degree dive to-wards the ground than up again to another tree. Then it would do it again. I have never seen this behavior before. I took out the bioc. and could not identify the specie. I know my Downey,Red Heads, Pileated, and Hairy, but this one was totally gray/blackish. Then it took off. I am stumped.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 11:00 AM

Early September, the Hummers were gone. I took the feeder down about a week ago.

Yesterday morn, I walked around the corner of the garage and a Hummer was feeding on the hanging fuscia and I frightened it off. I told Mum and gave me that look and said, "He must have gotten blown off course by Hurricane Earl."

BUT, this morning, she saw it and watched it feeding on the hanging plants for a half hour. I was thrilled to hear her account and see trhe pleasant look on her face.

I asked if it had a parka on... 6C and windy this morn.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 02:49 PM

Mum is in Hummingbird heaven. The King has returned and I expect he'll rule her backyard for the remainder of the season. He's been between the flowers, feeder, clothesline, shrubs and apple tree since daylight.

I just hope the wife and kids join him soon. That is really good fun as the young ones are in flight school now. Two years ago there were three families in her yard at once. Fascinating.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 11:19 AM

Saw my first water rail this week, patrolling the ornamental lake at Ickworthe House, Suffolk. Rather like a thin, brown moorhen.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 06:31 PM

I get a weekly email newsletter from Jim Conrad, a naturalist who spends a lot of time living in Mexico. This week, he sent me a link to a video of some Melodious Blackbirds. Here is his info on the birds, I thought they were just delightful:

MELODIOUS BLACKBIRDS COOPERATIVELY SINGING

I've mentioned how Melodious Blackbirds often sing in
pairs, each bird pumping his or her body while
alternately issuing part of the loud call. From a
distance it sounds as if only one bird were calling
but when they're doing it you can clearly see how two
birds cooperate in the effort.

Having no tripod, I've pretty much given up on making
videos with my little handheld digital camera because
the images bounce around too much. However, this week
I couldn't pass up showing you how the blackbirds
serenade me each morning during breakfast. Though the
resulting image is as bouncy as ever, at least you can
see them taking turns pumping their bodies and
calling.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 05:54 PM

Thanks Cap, they are spectacular, I noticed one go over before the cutting so they are starting to spread their wings as it were.
Perhaps buzzards here near Gatwick earlier this year.
The Great spotted woodpeckers babies are on the nuts three plus their parents. Plenty of Nuthatches, a few wrens, lots of blue and great tits.
Kingfishers in the stream. A lovely year for bird watching.
No sign of the Gold crests sadly.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST,CAP
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 09:47 AM

Yes Alan they are indeed red kites, it is a lovey spot to watch them but as the motorway signes say-Pleases watch the road not the birds. These beautiful birds of prey have now reached north essex- buzzerds also appear to be making a appearance here as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 04:47 AM

After you have driven through the cutting on the M40 going towards High Wycombe there is a long fence with what looks to be a wood behind it.
I have been past this spot a few times recently and on each occasion have seen a flock of birds of prey, about ten to fifteen birds rising from that area. Any idea what they are ? Red Kites perhaps ?
Thanks
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 02:28 AM

Saw a Yellowhammer ('A little bit of bread & no cheese' song) in the Burren near Carron on Sat, they are becominging increasingly rare. Not sure whether it's habitat or predatory birds, maybe a bit of both!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 02:06 PM

I was worried I had scared him off but after delivering some grub to Mum, I went in her backyard and stood there for about 10 seconds and he zoomed around the trhe corner of the garage and started feeding on the same plant... 8' away from me. I guess he has forgiven me.

Mum finally got to see the second hummer this year. Made my day!!!

I still am perplexed about their abscence. Same thing in many other areas from reading forums at The Garden Web.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 01:41 PM

I saw ONE hummer back in May. My neighbour saw ONE two weeks ago.

Mum asked me yesterday why I was bothering to put fresh stuff in the feeder. I replied, "I am not giving up hope."

Odd how some things happen! We had a good rain this AM and I just went to check my hanging pots to see if they had gotten enough water. I lifted the first one, the bottom of which is about 6' above ground. A hummer darted out of it and stopped about four feet away, facing me. I don't know who was more surprised.

He then lit on the clothesline and chirped for about ten seconds... I can only assume what he was "telling me".

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: JohnB
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 07:36 PM

Just had a Pileated Woodpecker on a tree about 30ft from the window where the computer sits, I did have to get up to have a proper look though.
JohnB

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 06:52 AM

maeve sent me this link about eagles "swimming".

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: ragdall
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 02:28 AM

A flock of Cedar Waxwings have been enjoying the remainder of the bounty of Mountain Ash berries, now dried, which the Bohemian Waxwings were not able to devour during the winter.

I noticed that two birds seemed to be passing a single berry back and forth between themselves. This activity was repeated many times by other pairs of the birds. It's so cute!

I uploaded a 30 second video to Youtube of one pair engaging in this activity. There's is a photo on my Flickr as well.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: GUEST,CAP
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 08:30 AM

Just spent the weekend at Bempton Cliffs (Yorkshire u.k.) :- Puffins, Razor Bills, Guillimots,Gannetts, Sky Larks & Tree Sparrows. While back home :- Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Robin, Blackbird, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit & Coal Tit. Until a few weeks ago we had a Reed Bunting. The Sparrow Hawk speeds through sometimes also Longtailed Tits. Appear to have lost our Wren. Our feeders are near shrubs & trees, seed, nuts & fat balls,luckly not many cats & no squirrels. Just make sure fo& tod fresh & topped up daily & the bird bath cleaned & topped up as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Eiseley
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 10:01 PM

AAAAAAAAAaack! Bird mites!

Whew, the cat's clean, but the thought is making me itch.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 12:29 AM

Check the cat and the house for bird mites, and consider it a good thing that you have a well-fed cat. Birds as toys instead of meals.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Eiseley
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 04:16 PM

Spring is really here! I saw ten Lazuli Buntings on the feeder Friday, then today about six Western Tanagers flew from the ash tree to the spruce as I walked up the steps.

The darn cat got out and brought an Evening Grosbeak into the house, scattering feathers everywhere. I was able to gently pick up the bird in a soft dishcloth and take it out to the porch. Young Will, who was crying to see the cat with the bird, was consoled when Tom came running in and said the bird flew away.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Janie
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 02:52 PM

The birds have been very active and noisy all day, especially the titmice and chickadees, which appear to be at various stages of either teaching and feeding fledglings, or running juveniles off to fend for themselves.

The house and goldfinches are squabbling both among themselves, and each other.

The birdbathes have been very busy with any number of species.

The neat thing about the weekends is I get to see what the patterns are throughout the day, instead of just what happens or just who shows up first light and last light.

Haven't seen the starling for a couple of weeks. I think the nest got washed out of the gutter by the rain.

A pair of robins nested on top of the privacy fence about 10 feet from my office door. The eggs hatched Friday.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Santa
Date: 24 May 10 - 05:05 PM

When we find a circle of feathers it is not our two cats to blame but a visiting sparrowhawk. Saw him on the ground a few days back, walking into the bushes beside the fence, near one of the feeders. I suspect he thought some tasty morsel had fled for shelter in there. No joy if so.

My wife/resident birdfeeder is a regular visitor to Leighton Moss and Marton Mere, but is just back from a trip to Anglesey to show friend what massed seabirds look like. She thought the lighthouse trip well worthwhile but that Holyhead was shut.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Stu
Date: 24 May 10 - 05:57 AM

Willow Warbler in the tree in the back garden over the weekend - a first for us here!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 23 May 10 - 03:52 PM

"that one was supposed to stay out"... hahahahaa!

We definitely have one or more hungry hummers at the feeders in Mum's yard. Never seen the feeders go down this fast since we had a family of them in the apple tree.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 10 - 03:49 PM

I heard a ruckus outside this morning, and knew that when the birds were that worked up that someone must have fallen out of a nest. I replaced a baby back into the hole in the wall on the front of my house.

Interesting in that I've been trying to get a good look at the birds that are actually nesting there, but the parents have stayed, scolding, in the top of the vitex when I'm outside. After putting the baby back, and then showering and washing my clothes because the little bugger was covered with bird mites, I walked outside again. Where upon one of the parent birds hoped down out of the vitex onto the roof, hopped along the edge a bit, turned and faced me and chattered up a storm. Do you suppose it was a "thank you" or "that one was supposed to stay out" or "did you see my other one? Two went missing?" (I found a bird squashed in the street just now, might have been one of these guys, but it was larger than the one I handled.) They look like some kind of chickadee or little gray finch. Not sure what they are, but there is some black on the head and it's a little bigger than a chickadee.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 21 May 10 - 04:55 PM

FIRST HUMMER! A half hour ago, Mum saw a Hummer at the feeders, flitting back and forth to the apple tree.

I had taken down the three hanging pots off the garage eave as there is a risk of frost tonight.

I do hope he takes up residence in the apple tree but I suppose that will be up to his bride when she arrives in a couple of weeks.

Sayyyy... last time any hummers nested in her apple tree was when robins had a nest in it. But, I had a problem with a branch and removed it in late fall, exsposing the robin's nesting site. I wonder? You preen my feathers and...?

Then again, I have seen robins gang up on a hummer and try to put the boots to him. Bad move. He literally kicked their collective asses. That's one of the reasons I marvel at "The King of Birds".

Whatever... when Mum called me, it was such a joy to hear her say, "Hummer alert!" It's one of the few joys she can still enjoy.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 10 - 07:31 PM

Amusing! I once caught an escaped parakeet in my back yard. Ended up giving it to a woman at the local garden center.

I was out back, and this bird flew past low, kept trying to get my attention, and when I walked close to the fence to take a look it didn't fly off. I went into the house to pick up a container of seed, and approached the fence with it. He was interested and hopped into the cup to eat. I covered it with my hand and took him into the house, then made arrangements to borrow a cage from that garden center (they have several store pet birds there). I took the cage back with the bird--as a cat owner at the time, getting a bird didn't seem like a good idea. Poor little guy had probably been looking for a human to notice him for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 20 May 10 - 02:32 PM

Upon arriving home four days ago, I noticed that the white splotches on my driveway were increasing. The splotches were directly under where my engine would be when my truck is parked. Odd.

I parked further down in the driveway and walked around the corner of the house and a pigeon walked quickly under my utility trailer. I walked a ways down the lawn and looked. Sure enough, one wing was askew. I have been feeding "Wingrat" since, in hopes I might catch him. Nobody wants him (SPCA, etc), so I really only have two options if I catch him. Let a predator take him or kill him. I have a feeling I should kill him as it would (might?) be more humane as it only takes several seconds but I don't have the cold heart that I used to have in such matters.

Any thoughts?

Now, the other part of the story. Two days ago, whilst feeding Wingrat, a young looking robin landed on a sawhorse about ten feet away and watched and chirped at me. Same thing yesterday... three times. Today, I was standing between the truck and my house watching the hummingbird feeders to see if maybe there were any around yet.

"Red" flew out of one of my maples and landed near the back of the truck and chirped at me and cocked his head. I replied, "Hey Buddy." Red hopped a couple of feet closer and this was repeated until he was about four feet from me. Then he put up a fuss. I asked, "What?" He flew under the truck and I could hear fluttering and red squawking that shrill squawk. Out from under the truck comes Wingrat making a beeline for the backyard. Red came out from under the truck and chirped at me loudly and flew off.

Nope, not a drop... I swear.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 10 - 11:58 AM

I've put up the bird feeders in the front yard to distract the mockingbird and cardinal from attacking my strawberries in the side yard garden. They drag them around with such gusto - I've caught them at it now several times.

Lots of birds eating bugs in the front yard, and a finch of some sort is nesting in a hole on the rock front of my house. Once they fledge I'll find a new rock and get some mortar and seal that spot.

I haven't heard the woodpeckers (flickers) yet this year. They're usually here about now. I wonder if just enough of the woods across the road was knocked down by the housing builders to make our woods no longer desirable?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Stu
Date: 20 May 10 - 05:24 AM

Two cormorants fisihing in the reservoir a mile or so from my house, plus two goldcrests gorging themselves on dandelion seeds the other day.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: ragdall
Date: 20 May 10 - 01:48 AM

Alan,
Do you have ospreys over there?

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: My guru always said
Date: 19 May 10 - 11:13 AM

Just had a juvenile Goldcrest in my birdbath yesterday!!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: Janie
Date: 18 May 10 - 11:46 PM

At some point, I have forgotten to keep track of the species this year, but don't think I have seen anything different.

The common grackles returned about 3 weeks ago. They wipe out a suet cake faster than the starlings. The bluebirds disappeared for awhile after I stopped putting out suet, but are back again - after bugs in the lawn.

Got a family with 3 recently fledged Carolina Wrens who love the carport and the top of the window unit AC, and one fledging Carolina Chickadee. Can hear all manner of nestlings calling for MORE FOOD from daylight to dark. From all the racket up in an oak tonight, it appears that someone got et. could have been either a bird or a squirrel nest that got raided.   Didn't see the predator. Are there predator birds other than owls that might feed at night?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 03:07 PM

Cool hummer vid.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2010
From: gnu
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 02:39 PM

Cool! One of my favs. The King of Birds!