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

[Vox Humana]

Ducks for cover.

Probably a good idea. People might snipe and grouse.

[oddoneout]

Probably a good idea. People might snipe and grouse.

Better they should just duck down.
Mention of snipe and grouse reminds me of a previous house which was one of those described as an 'over the passage mid terrace', ie there is a passage between the houses at ground floor level and a larger first floor because it goes over the passage. The entrance to the passage was a reasonable height(especially once I'd cleared out all the earth that had accumulated over the years) so folks would sail in quite happily and not bother looking ahead. Admittedly they were sizeable houses and the passage was quite long and dark. Unfortunately a feature of the house was that the chimneys of both houses were designed to be cleaned from outside(dashed clever these Victorians) so there were two arches,(with metal doors for accessing the chimney with brushes) spanning the interior of the passage, which were at a lower level than the entrance. When we were likely to be having people round who would be using the passage to go straight through to the garden I used to put up a notice saying 'Duck or Grouse'. They didn't always understand at first but at least when it was read it slowed the speed of impact with the interior arches...

[Vox Humana]

I used to put up a notice saying 'Duck or Grouse'.

There's a old pub near here with a low doorway that carries that message.

[ardcarp]

Short conversation between Leda and Tyndareus

Leda: O Tyndareus, last night I dreamed I was ravished by a swam.
Tyndareus: Down in the dumps, dear?
Leda: Down everywhere!

[LMcD]

Over the last few months I've noticed that there seem to be several groups of house sparrows in the neighbourhood (unless it's one group cunningly anticipating my movements). I now read that it came top in the recent RSPB Birdwatch survey. Nice to hear their cheerful chirping again after what seemed like a prolonged absence.

[Bryn]

Over the last few months I've noticed that there seem to be several groups of house sparrows in the neighbourhood (unless it's one group cunningly anticipating my movements). I now read that it came top in the recent RSPB Birdwatch survey. Nice to hear their cheerful chirping again after what seemed like a prolonged absence.

I used to pass the Waterman's Arms in Eton on a near-daily basis until a couple of years ago. Throughout this century, a small 'colony' of house sparrows held out there, nesting in the bushes to the side of the pub/restaurant's bear garden. It was always reassuring to hear their chirruping.

[Padraig]

It was always reassuring to hear their chirruping.

Sparrows are rare here, though I've seen the report of their return. There have been none in our garden in my time. However, we don't lack small birds: the Goldfinches now rule the roost - we often have 12 at a time on the feeder and on the ground; Tits and Chaffinches next; an occasional Green Finch; two pairs of blackbirds, the same of Robins; one dunnock is all I've seen this year, and one wren. Various Magpies, Crows, Pigeons are regular visitors, and I'm currently engaged in 'taming' a white Pigeon. The Pied Wagtail returned several times since first appearing recently, once with a partner. We have no thrushes this year so far.

[Sir Velo]

I'm afraid I shoot pigeons on sight in these parts - with a jet spray I hasten to add before anyone calls the RSPB!

[Vox Humana]

Locked-down birding isn't particular rewarding here. The feeders are attracting up to five Goldfinches and a regular pair of Greenfinches - which is nice since they were all but wiped out down here by trichomaniasis several years ago. Nice to see them beginning to recover now. Chaffinches have returned to the wood across the road, as have most of the regular flock of Long-tailed Tits, although a couple of those are still visiting - I think they are nesting somewhere near. A pair of Blackbirds and a trio of Dunnocks (it's always a trio - in my next life I'm coming back as a Dunnock) ditto. I'm spending a fortune trying to feed the Long-tailed tits. but actually feeding Rooks, Jackdaws and Woodpigeons. The lawn was littered with them the other day.

I'm staying optimistic, though. Here's proof that interesitng birds can still be seen, even from your window.

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2020_14.aspx?s_id=726916761

[DracoM]

Pair of sparrows hi-jacking a swallow nesting box under the eaves of a house across the road!!

[LezLee]

The BTO weekly Garden Birdwatch top 20 percentage of garden visitors 2019 is as follows:

1. Blue tit
2. Woodpigeon
3. Blackbird
4. Robin
5. Great tit
6. Dunnock
7. House sparrow
8. Goldfinch
9. Magpie
10. Collared dove
11. Chaffinch
12. Coal tit
13. Starling
14. Jackdaw
15. Greenfinch
16. Carrion crow
17. Wren
18. Long-tailed tit
19. Gt. spotted woodpecker
20. Nuthatch

[kernelbogey]

The blackbird pair nesting about 2 metres from my back door occasionally perch on a fence opposite their nest. Each has now eyeballed me laconically from that perch as I stand barely a metre from the perch. So they are getting used to me and apparently not threatened. I feel quite privileged to be treated thus. They both had squirming grubs in the beak, and as they seem to alternate on the nest I assume that they are sharing sitting on eggs and each foray out for a beakful of nosh to eat while sitting.

[oddoneout]

Locked-down birding isn't particular rewarding here. The feeders are attracting up to five Goldfinches and a regular pair of Greenfinches - which is nice since they were all but wiped out down here by trichomaniasis several years ago. Nice to see them beginning to recover now. Chaffinches have returned to the wood across the road, as have most of the regular flock of Long-tailed Tits, although a couple of those are still visiting - I think they are nesting somewhere near. A pair of Blackbirds and a trio of Dunnocks (it's always a trio - in my next life I'm coming back as a Dunnock) ditto. I'm spending a fortune trying to feed the Long-tailed tits. but actually feeding Rooks, Jackdaws and Woodpigeons. The lawn was littered with them the other day.

I'm staying optimistic, though. Here's proof that interesitng birds can still be seen, even from your window.
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/C...s_id=726916761

But better than having nothing?

[Maclintick]

On our regular self-distancing evening woodland walk we've been serenaded by one or more blackcaps, singing from the same clump of trees -- rich and flutey warbling deserving of the sobriquet "Northern Nightingale". The spot of the day, though, a robin-sized grey-headed jobbie fixing beadily black eyes & pointing its sharp dark little bill directly at us from a hedgetop about 6 ft away perplexed us until we scoured field guides and birding websites. By a process of elimination we reckon a female black redstart -- never seen one before.

[Vox Humana]

But better than having nothing?

Oh, absolutely!.