What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[kernelbogey]

There surely is some overlap between the food of Robins and Blackbirds - worms to name just one - but I have never heard of the two species competing with each other for territory. Might the Robin have been conserving energy by deliberately not singing against the Blackbird? After all, there's no point in singing if your efforts are going to be drowned out. But that's only a wild guess.

Thank you Richard and Vox H. I also found it incredible, but there they were, singing turn and turn about. I think your idea is a good one that the Robin may well have been 'conserving energy'. TBH it's not often I notice the behaviour of my birds here, but maybe this is a new aspect of being in the garden!

[Richard Tarleton]

I have observed three Orange Tips in my garden this year (from garden CCTV). I don't understand why three, I've only observed them in pairs down the years.

All males?

We're wondering if there is an asynchronicity this year between them and their preferred foodplants, as the adults seem to have emerged relatively early, not a lot to interest them is in flower and they are doing a great deal of flying about without settling. Trying to get a photo of one hopeless - one was trying to feed on a bluebell in desperation.

[Serial_Apologist]

Forgive my intrusion - especially given that I rarely post on this thread - but I was thinking of starting a Progress of the Seasons thread, dealing with aspects of seasonal change other (perhaps) than the ornithological. There is one in being on UKWeatherWorld, and it attracts fascinating and often in-depth contributions from around the country. What do people feel, particularly on this thread? I would not proceed were such an initiative to be seen as muscling in.

[Richard Tarleton]

Excellent idea, I'd say, S_A - I'm particularly interested (not least as a birder) in seasonal progression, how the seasons seem to be shifting (forwards), and the effect of this on all sorts of things - I referred earlier today to what appears to me to be an asynchronicity in the appearance of orange tips and their food plants..... I haven't seen the one you refer to, only so many websites one can keep pace with.....

So yes, go for it!

[Bryn]

Forgive my intrusion - especially given that I rarely post on this thread - but I was thinking of starting a Progress of the Seasons thread, dealing with aspects of seasonal change other (perhaps) than the ornithological. There is one in being on UKWeatherWorld, and it attracts fascinating and often in-depth contributions from around the country. What do people feel, particularly on this thread? I would not proceed were such an initiative to be seen as muscling in.

I would think a new dedicated Platform 3 thread would be better suited. The occasional lepidopteran diversion here seems fine but perhaps it should not be widened too far.

[Serial_Apologist]

I would think a new dedicated Platform 3 thread would be better suited. The occasional lepidopteran diversion here seems fine but perhaps it should not be widened too far.

I was thinking along the same lines, Bryn. Thanks - and to Richard. I'll bide awhile and see what others feel.

[Richard Tarleton]

I was thinking along the same lines, Bryn. Thanks - and to Richard. I'll bide awhile and see what others feel.

I may have started it, with St Mark's flies - closely followed by jayne's lepidoptera - but yes most naturalists amateur and otherwise have an interest in phenology whether or not they call it that. Gardeners too, I daresay.

[Mal]

Saw a swan sitting on a nest in my local park today. Hopefully a flock of cygnets soon! (Or is it a squabble of cygnets?)

[ardcarp]

Not much squabbling here...how about 'a huddle' ?

A few moments later, Mum (or was it Dad?) reached up to take some bred from my fingers...and they all fell out.

[Bryn]

Saw a swan sitting on a nest in my local park today. Hopefully a flock of cygnets soon! (Or is it a squabble of cygnets?)

Bevy?

[kernelbogey]

The Lepidopteran Diversion sounds like a good title for a John le Carre novel.

[vinteuil]

Saw a swan sitting on a nest in my local park today. Hopefully a flock of cygnets soon! (Or is it a squabble of cygnets?)

... I'm not sure whether there is an agreed collective noun for cygnets - the collective for swans is a gaggle - praps a giggle of cygnets?

https://www.britishbirdlovers.co.uk/articles/collective-nouns-for-birds

... actually I don't think that list is right : a gaggle of geese, surely.

Here is another list, which looks 'sounder' (ho ho)

https://www.adducation.info/mankind-nature-general-knowledge/collective-nouns-for-birds/

They provide for swans :

a bevy, drift, herd, eyrar, game, sownder, team, whiting, lamentation or wedge of swans (flying in V formation), a bank of swans (on the ground)

.

.

[HighlandDougie]

.and they all fell out.

And I hope that they all got in again! Along with that magnificent recent pic of the Barn Owl (for which, many thanks, Richard T), this gets my nomination as the cheeriest post of the year. Even better than the sparrows. More, please!

[ardcarp]

Thanks HD. On the subject of collective nouns, I believe the words 'herd' and 'herder' are used in connection with the famous swannery at Abbotsbury, Dorset.

https://www.alamy.com/a-herd-of-swans-descend-for-feeding-at-abbotsbury-in-dorset-image218684176.html

[Mal]

http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Pointless/AnimalGroups.html

I like "a gulp of swallows". Based on the reaction when you see a flock (sorry, a gulp) moving at full speed?

A congregation of alligators :) Where did that come from? Local reaction to missionaries? I imagine a native ironist shouting, "How do you like that congregation" after throwing the evangelist in the river.