BS: US bird visits London

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 03:57 PM

American Robin

European Robin

Not much chance of confusing them really.

In these days of bird-flu panics I don't imagine the poor little bugger would have a chance of making it alive through customs going back home.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: BobtheBirder
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 02:09 PM

The last American Robin to visit Britain was on the Pyewipe Industrial Estate in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. It lasted for several weeks having been kindly fed apples etc. It's demise was by was of a Sparrowhawk. Many of the bird vagrants to Britain, being of a colourful nature, are sadly taken by raptors of various types, but most frequently by cats - bless them - always too quick for me to kick them!

This is the third American Robin to reach our shores in the last 2 years - the first one being in Cornwall.

And to reiterate many before me - no this bird is not like OUR ROBIN in any way shape or form - other than it is covered in feathers of course - providing the cat hasn't played with it first!

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 12:18 PM

This is what happened to last American Robin to visit here

yum yum

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Once Famous
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 12:10 AM

Arne, is your acne acting up again?

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 12:08 AM

It is time to make a clean breast of it...

(art)

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: GUEST,Van
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 09:12 AM

"The American name for the Tit is the Chickadee." That probably explains why they didn't make Carry On films. A fine pair of chickadees doesn't have the same ring to it, or does it?

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 08:25 AM

The only latin name I can remember for any bird is Troglodytes Troglodytes.

The American name for the Tit is the Chickadee.

Blackbirds and Robins throw their young out of their nests before they can fly and we have to stop out cat eating them. 2 of the stupid animals have drowned themselves in flower pots:-(

Here ends the sum of the Gnomes useless facts about birds.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Arnie
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 06:48 AM

Apparently the reason this thrush-like visitor to Peckham is called a robin, is because the Pilgrim fathers, or some such early US settlers were feeling homesick. In an attempt to make their new country feel a bit more like home, they named the first red-breasted bird they saw a robin. It's not related in any way, shape or form to the European robin but I suppose it made a good subsitute. Are there any European robins (Erithacus rubecula)in the US?? Looks like the US and UK blackbird are also two entirely different species - the one thing they have in common is a tendency to attack the American robin!!

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 02:04 AM

why can't it breed with the locals - is it frigid or something? the GI's had no trouble.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: The Shambles
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 02:02 AM

Look!

The big thrush that those in North America call a Robin - is not a Robin at all. Even the current visitor carries a quiver full of arrows or wears tights and a mask - it is NOT a Robin.

This is what a Robin looks like

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 01:58 AM

I thought this might have been a 'Joan Rivers' thread.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 09:42 PM

I'm surprised at you. You all have missed the point completely...

Robin is looking for Sherwood!!! He'll be right at home there.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 05:46 PM

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4980id.html

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Becca72
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 04:49 PM

Batman will be along directly.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 04:42 PM

One of our "local boys" just flew a light airplane non-stop and unrefueled 1.3 x around the globe. The trade winds must be good enough that maybe this voyager will show up somewhere in China next. If they'll let him re-emigrate, he could make it back West-to-East from the East eventually. If Robins live that long??????

Does he need a Visa to leave?

John

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: MMario
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 04:09 PM

the American Robin and the European Blackbird are both 'Turdus' species...

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Janie
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 04:02 PM

Ebbie--I think that may be a different bird. Looking at bird ID sites, the blackbird Shambles has noted appears to be a European bird.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: gnu
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 03:30 PM

Aw. What a shame. They are quite entertaining to watch. A mating pair can defend a nest rather well, putting the run on much larger birds.

Better keep an eye on it though... it might be a forward scout.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 02:47 PM

Incidentally, the blackbird doesn't appear in southeast Alaska. I don't know whether it does farther north.

In Oregon's Willamette Valley the blackbird is probably the most ubiquitous bird. It frequently nests in the tall grasses alongside driveways and it is aggressively territorial. Many a human has been divebombed those little birds.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Peace
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 02:47 PM

"I was listening to the six o'clock newscast
When the weatherman mentioned snow
Soon as I heard that four-letter word
I was packin' my bags to go
I'd rather be in sunny Spain
I ain't got no dough
But I'd build a bridge and walk there
To get away from all this snow"

(Hope I haven't pooched Jesse's lyrics.)

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 02:31 PM

Del boy will sell it.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 11:08 AM

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/b/blackbird/index.asp

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 11:07 AM

Could it not walk to Missouri?
G.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 10:59 AM

Is a blackbird a thrush? It is my understanding that the American robin is a thrush.

In fact, the varied thrush looks like a gussied-up, going-out-on-the town robin.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 10:29 AM

Those are different blackbirds altogether. In fact the American Robin in build and in the similar niche it occupies - IS a European Blackbird.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 10:28 AM

Just show it Mary Poppins if it's lonely. That's got American robins in it rather than proper robins.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: MMario
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 09:36 AM

blackbirds harass them on this side of the pond too.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 09:19 AM

Maybe we should send you another one so they can happily reproduce. Maybe you'll like them as much as you like American gray squirrels.

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: beardedbruce
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 08:58 AM

"It's already being harassed by the local blackbirds who seem to have a bit of an anti-American attitude."

Subject: RE: BS: US bird visits London
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 08:54 AM

gas mark 6, 20 minutes a pound.

Subject: BS: US bird visits London
From: Arnie
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 08:35 AM

Just read today that an American robin (unlikely Latin name Turdus migratorius)has taken up residence in Peckham, South London! It seems to have been blown a bit off course whilst migrating from Canada to the States. Now these may be common birds in the States, but are rarely seen in the UK and this one has the twitchers twitching like never before. Unfortunately, it is destined to spend the rest of it's days on this side of the pond as it cannot recross the Atlantic against the prevailing winds. It's already being harassed by the local blackbirds who seem to have a bit of an anti-American attitude. As it's arrived alone, it will never have a mate and must be a bit homesick by now - our worms probably just do not taste the same as the ones back home! Perhaps some visiting US Mudcatter would like to take it back in their luggage?