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

[LezLee]

A visit from some of my favourite birds today. 3 bullfinches in my apple tree in amongst the blossom. 2 male, 1 female. Can't work out the family dynamic - a ménage à trois perhaps?

[gradus]

How lucky, we have lost bullfinches from our garden for some years but we have no shortage of magpies -swaps?

[LezLee]

No way! Last year I had a magpie raiding a blackbird's nest. Hearing the little ones was heartbreaking. Other years I've had up to 14 young magpies making one hell of a row. I loathe the buggers with a vengeance!

[Serial_Apologist]

No way! Last year I had a magpie raiding a blackbird's nest. Hearing the little ones was heartbreaking. Other years I've had up to 14 young magpies making one hell of a row. I loathe the buggers with a vengeance!

I do know what you mean, Lez. And yet magpies always look so magnificent; they seem to be becoming more brazen too, strutting as they now do along London pavements, not particularly caring about passers by, chancing it between traffic to take quick pecks at any roadkill.

[LezLee]

I was amazed when an Australian poster on another forum said how much she enjoyed the magpies' song. But they're really different, not at all our 'football rattle' sound.

https://youtu.be/7OqsePnrOSo

[Bryn]

I was amazed when an Australian poster on another forum said how much she enjoyed the magpies' song. But they're really different, not at all our 'football rattle' sound.

https://youtu.be/7OqsePnrOSo

As to our own, I find it difficult to choose between the 'song' of magpies and that of ring-necked parakeets.

[LezLee]

We don't have parakeets up here.

[Bryn]

We don't have parakeets up here.

One or two are pleasant enough. It's the 'swarms' that get a bit much. Oh, and regarding your not having them. Give it time.

[LMcD]

One or two are pleasant enough. It's the 'swarms' that get a bit much. Oh, and regarding your not having them. Give it time.

There's a well-established colony in Victoria Park in Glasgow and there have been occasional sightings well north of there.

[gradus]

On an A12 roundabout today, my attention was seized by a kestrel hovering at about six feet above the central reservation on the exit road seemingly oblivious to the traffic all around.

[LMcD]

On an A12 roundabout today, my attention was seized by a kestrel hovering at about six feet above the central reservation on the exit road seemingly oblivious to the traffic all around.

Perhaps it was taking part in the Eastern Region heat of the 'British Birds of Prey Dominic Cummings Impression' competition.

[gradus]

Perhaps it was taking part in the Eastern Region heat of the 'British Birds of Prey Dominic Cummings Impression' competition.

I think the bird escaped unharmed rather like ...

[ardcarp]

I don't know why but "a kestrel for a knave" springs to mind.

[ardcarp]

Every cloud has a silver lining. Springwatch on BBC 2 is far better in its 'socially distanced' format. None of this sitting around a faux campfire and giggling stupidly. Absence of giggly Michaela helps, but partly absent also is that enforced 'how-presenters-have-to-behave-on-TV'. One lovely clip sent in by a viewer was of a coot being given twigs by a person on shore, taking them to build its its nest and paddling back for more.

[LMcD]

I actually saw a song thrush this morning - I say 'actually' because I can't remember how long it's been since I saw one.