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

[oddoneout]

I threw out some apple slices for the birds, along with pieces of brown bread and bacon fat. Bread and fat demolished. Apple still alone and palely untouched. A blackbird turned his back as I watched. What bird eats apple - none of ours.?

The blackbirds here like apple generally but during the period when windfalls are available in next door's garden they are less inclined to eat any that I put out - even those that are discards(they don't store well) from the same tree that have fallen in my garden and I've picked up for my use.

[ardcarp]

Large flock of linnets seen (and heard!) at our local wildlife reserve. Lovely birds with reddish markings on breast. How awful to think they were once popular as caged songbirds.

[gradus]

Large flock of linnets seen (and heard!) at our local wildlife reserve. Lovely birds with reddish markings on breast. How awful to think they were once popular as caged songbirds.

Last time I saw one in the garden was 3 years ago, similarly Bullfinches, Greenfinches and Thrushes.

[oddoneout]

Might be of interest

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/cosmo-sheldrake-the-power-of-birdsong-aoe

I was rather surprised this morning to hear a blackbird vocalising sometime before 4-30 am.

[gradus]

Might be of interest

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/cosmo-sheldrake-the-power-of-birdsong-aoe

I was rather surprised this morning to hear a blackbird vocalising sometime before 4-30 am.

Blackbirds can sing very loudly too. A few years ago in Brussels the large central square where I was staying was empty of traffic at about 11pm and a blackbird could be seen and heard very clearly filling the space with song.

[Ian Thumwood]

I have spent the best part of today birdwatching. The first Redwings arrived in my garden this morning and at lunchtime I drove to Alresford pond to see what waterfowl had turned up. I find this site a real frustration because there is one viewing area across what is a private site yet in the local Hampshire Ornithological Society magazine people often report seeing some really interesting birds. It is supposed to be excellent for woodcock yet I have never seen one. However, I was rewarded with the site of two Marsh Harriers putting on an aerial display.

[oddoneout]

I put the garden blackbirds to work today. Yesterday I found that a large pot of sedum was looking tatty not because of the recent hard frost but because it had lost all its roots to vine weevil grubs. I've retrieved what I can to pot up as cuttings and hope they take and then this morning spread the compost out onto a patch of bare soil where I am renovating a small border. Sure enough several blackies spent some time rootling around and have taken probably most of the wretched wreckers. I'll stir it around over the next couple of days to make sure and then leave the material to work down into the soil.
It's a method I also use when I find clumps of ant eggs, or maggots from some small animal's death in the compost heap.

[AmpH]

Went for a longish walk ( c 9 miles ) in North Hants as it was an absolutely beautiful crisp and sunny day. Plently of Bird highlights included flocks of goldfinches, long tailed tits and delightful Siskins which I love, together with Winter Thrushes, Red Kites, Little Owl, Kingfisher, Water Rail, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Firecrest. Many others out walking as well with cheery Xmas greetings all round ..... except that is from the two couples wearing Santa headgear who steadfastly ignored my greetings and looked the other way .... ah well !!

[vinteuil]

.

... nine magpies among the tv aerials on one house on Loftus Road behind us. Never seen so many all at once




.

[ardcarp]

This morning Mrs A spotted a blackcap nicking berries off our mistletoe. (It's a big round ball of mistletoe established on one of our apple trees.) Each time it flew off to a nearby wall covered with ivy and other stuff to consume its treasure. It kept on doing it long enough for me to have a look too with binoculars. I gather birds often have trouble with the sticky contents of mistletoe berries which involves much beak-wiping. This little fella obviously had the problem sorted as he must have made half a dozen trips in about 3 to 4 minutes.

[cloughie]

Has anyone else seen birds washing in a birdbath? We have a blackbird which, even in this cold weather calls in regularly.

[Joseph K]

Has anyone else seen birds washing in a birdbath? We have a blackbird which, even in this cold weather calls in regularly.

Saw a female blackbird bathing in a puddle when I was out on a walk - got quite close too.

[HighlandDougie]

.

... nine magpies among the tv aerials on one house on Loftus Road behind us. Never seen so many all at once




.

A sighting which portends either a kiss - or the Devil himself. Take your pick ....

[oddoneout]

A sighting which portends either a kiss - or the Devil himself. Take your pick ....

They could be one and the same.
The two dustbin lid birdbaths in my garden are still being regularly used, but the levels of cleanliness suggest not by the pigeons thank heavens. Their feathers leave a thick floury coating on the water and they always manage to dump one of their mega poops in the water, quite apart from their excess size pushing much of the water over the side.

[jayne lee wilson]

How often do two dreams come true in one day?

Out to the far woods this afternoon, bitter frost and hardened mud under a bright sky, I'd already seen two Buzzards sweeping around the treetops, flocks of Redwings crossing each clearing to the next copse... but Cindy, the impossibly cute Golden Shetland Pony (with the champagne mane) wasn't in her usual paddock across the private land. Back in the stable, too cold? I'd longed to visit her one day, get up close......

I pressed on deeper into the woods and at the next clearing - another bird of prey: but a different jizz, longer tailed and leaner - perhaps a Harrier? Focussing in I saw it - that unmistakeable forked tail - a Kite, a Red Kite! Here at last, in my own NW patch of country. After so many years envious of those for whom they have become commonplace further south. It disappeared quickly across the trees, as another Buzzard took off from a nearby Oak.

Turning for home onto the rough track back to the road and stable, I saw something approaching. A keeper leading a horse, and two little girls taking turns to ride it. Could it really be? Yes! It was Cindy, this gorgeous animal I had only admired from a distance before, only knowing about her name from Twitter. Soon I was rubbing her nose and learning more about her. I was dazed, almost dizzy in wonder and admiration. Those huge, serene eyes! A wonderful beast, friendly and docile, almost a living version of My Little Pony.
They all overtook me on their way back, showing off at a trot!

I hope to visit her and her friend Bob the Donkey (often in the same field), when those recurrent restrictions allow...perhaps I'll go back to riding after all these years.... but probably not on Cindy .