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

[gradus]

The field next door is being ploughed and I don't recall seeing as many herring gulls on a field for sometime, there must be hundreds.

[Vox Humana]

The field next door is being ploughed and I don't recall seeing as many herring gulls on a field for sometime, there must be hundreds.

Waterlogged soil driving worms to the surface perhaps?

Lunchtime was interesting today. The local Sparrowhawk appeared briefly in our apple tree before disappearing over the neighbouring rooves. Shortly afterwards two Buzzards appeared to chase each other across the valley. Not sure what the latter was about.

[gradus]

There is a 'family' of 4 on a friend's land - 2 with deeper mews and 2 with higher and they to fly/play together sometimes. The vocal pitch differences are quite marked.

[cloughie]

A fleeting visit this morning from a few long-tailed tits. What lovely birds they are!

[Richard Tarleton]

A fleeting visit this morning from a few long-tailed tits. What lovely birds they are!

Aren't they just! They generally arrive mob handed - at least 10 in this photo (there may be another one round the back)



This one is on its own

[Vox Humana]

Two Robins flew into the garden more or less together just now. One went straight to the basket of dried mealworms while the other perched nearby, watching. Having grabbed a mealworm the first flew off and the other went to the bird table. Odd that there was no aggression whatsoever. Surely it's a bit early to be pairing up?

[Padraig]

Two Robins flew into the garden

I enjoy your observations V H.

Change robins to magpies: a magpie flew in and perched on a tree above some chopped bacon rinds not long thrown on the lawn; at the same time a second magpie zoomed in at ground level and scooped up most of the bits and flew off. The first dropped down and made the best of what remained. Survival of the fittest?

[Vox Humana]

I enjoy your observations V H.

Change robins to magpies: a magpie flew in and perched on a tree above some chopped bacon rinds not long thrown on the lawn; at the same time a second magpie zoomed in at ground level and scooped up most of the bits and flew off. The first dropped down and made the best of what remained. Survival of the fittest?

Thanks, Padraig. All crows are both wary and opportunistic. I guess the opportunism was stronger in the second of your Magpies - or its judgement was keener. It could end up being the difference between life and death.

[Joseph K]

Earlier three birds swooped so low above my head, I felt the need to duck!

[Maclintick]

An inundated Otmoor last Tue -- blue skies reflected in flooded meadows. Huge flocks of lapwings & golden plovers periodically erupting from the reed beds. Yellowhammers, reed buntings, linnets, chaffinches feeding outside the large hide, long-tailed tits wheeling along the hedgerows, a few surface-feeders on the lagoon, widgeon & gadwall. A pair of red kites patrolling the banks, & the usual suspects on the feeders nearest the car park -- in late afternoon alarmed by the arrival of what I, with my rudimentary ornithological knowledge, now think was a juvenile male sparrowhawk, which had rather lost the element of surprise by perching on the feeder...

[Richard Tarleton]

A very happy Christmas to everyone. I took this just the other day. He was beautifully fluffed up against the cold. I think he rather expected a reward, sadly I didn't have anything on me.

[Andy Freude]

Splendid photo, but he does look as if he's going to chase you orf his land at any moment!

[Joseph K]

Splendid photo

Agreed. I do like a chunky little Robin.

[Constantbee]

'Two turtle doves ... ' seen at a local national park visitor centre during the summer, a success for a Heritage Lottery funded local conservation project that managed to get local farmers on its side. Saw the photo but not the birds. One of my bogey species, I'm afraid

[ardcarp]

A neighbour of ours has a dovecote, home to around a dozen white doves. They do some spectacular formation flying around our house from time to time, especially glorious when the Winter morning sun [yes we had some yesterday] lights them from below as they twist and turn.