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

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  • cloughie
    Full Member
    • Dec 2011
    • 22115

    This morning in the garden almost a prelude to Christmas - a robin and a collared dove!

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    • Padraig
      Full Member
      • Feb 2013
      • 4231

      Originally posted by cloughie View Post
      This morning in the garden almost a prelude to Christmas - a robin and a collared dove!
      It is a prelude, cloughie. Lucky 13.

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      • RichardB
        Banned
        • Nov 2021
        • 2170

        There is what I think I've accurately identified as a green woodpecker outside in the garden. I don't think I've seen one before (but I'm not often looking out into a garden). However, it's pecking at the lawn, presumably for insects. Shouldn't it be called a groundpecker?

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        • Bryn
          Banned
          • Mar 2007
          • 24688

          Originally posted by RichardB View Post
          There is what I think I've accurately identified as a green woodpecker outside in the garden. I don't think I've seen one before (but I'm not often looking out into a garden). However, it's pecking at the lawn, presumably for insects. Shouldn't it be called a groundpecker?
          What a laugh. Ants are favourites with Green Woodpeckers.

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          • Padraig
            Full Member
            • Feb 2013
            • 4231

            Originally posted by RichardB View Post
            However, it's pecking at the lawn, presumably for insects. Shouldn't it be called a groundpecker?
            I don't know if it's common usage, but I remember pigeons being called streetpeckers, a name I thought brilliantly descriptive (and quite inoffensive, considering. .)

            Obviously, though, there is a hierarchy of peckers in birdland.

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            • ardcarp
              Late member
              • Nov 2010
              • 11102

              Did anyone see in the press that there has been a rare sighting of the American Shaggy-crested belted kingfisher. Near Preston. Blown well off-course,
              poor thing.

              The belted kingfisher has only been officially recorded on UK shores three times previously.

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              • Serial_Apologist
                Full Member
                • Dec 2010
                • 37617

                Is it solely in London that carrion crows are becoming much less fearful of humans of late? I've noticed of late while on my regular walks passing within a metre of these birds and they have at most moved a couple of hops further away.

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                • oddoneout
                  Full Member
                  • Nov 2015
                  • 9150

                  Originally posted by RichardB View Post
                  There is what I think I've accurately identified as a green woodpecker outside in the garden. I don't think I've seen one before (but I'm not often looking out into a garden). However, it's pecking at the lawn, presumably for insects. Shouldn't it be called a groundpecker?
                  A common alternative name is "yaffle" for the laughing call (my mother always called them this), but apparently laughing Betsy and nicker pecker(!) are others according to this https://www.discoverwildlife.com/ani...en-woodpecker/ which also says that the beak isn't as strong as other woodpeckers. Is that a result of adapting to a different source of insect food?
                  They used to be a common sight on the allotment site where I had my plots as there were areas of long grass in which sizable ant colonies developed - always a bit of a shock when one suddenly erupted from the ground when disturbed as they are so very brightly coloured and also well hidden until they take off.

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                  • Serial_Apologist
                    Full Member
                    • Dec 2010
                    • 37617

                    Originally posted by cloughie View Post
                    This morning in the garden almost a prelude to Christmas - a robin and a collared dove!
                    You mean an arrested peace campaigner?

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                    • Bryn
                      Banned
                      • Mar 2007
                      • 24688

                      Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
                      You mean an arrested peace campaigner?
                      Nothing very peaceful about collared doves. They're right bruisers, even chasing off magpies.

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                      • oddoneout
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2015
                        • 9150

                        Originally posted by Bryn View Post
                        Nothing very peaceful about collared doves. They're right bruisers, even chasing off magpies.
                        I wish the ones round here were more assertive. Their numbers have declined in the past 2 or 3 years, until it was just one itinerant pair occasionally appearing in the garden last summer and constantly losing out to the real thugs that are wood pigeons. Their call is monotonous but they are much more likable birds and have the added advantage of not wrecking my garden, not least as they are that much smaller.

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                        • gradus
                          Full Member
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 5606

                          Driving home along an unlit lane suddenly in the headlamps the white wings of a barn owl (?) appeared from nowhere and disappeared as quickly into the dark.

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                          • cloughie
                            Full Member
                            • Dec 2011
                            • 22115

                            Originally posted by Bryn View Post
                            Nothing very peaceful about collared doves. They're right bruisers, even chasing off magpies.
                            Yes I think magpies for all their size and bluster are just opportunist, cowardy custards!

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                            • ardcarp
                              Late member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 11102

                              I think being successful opportunists is how evolution works (long term of course) so may we they admire their demeanour.

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                              • cloughie
                                Full Member
                                • Dec 2011
                                • 22115

                                Originally posted by ardcarp View Post
                                I think being successful opportunists is how evolution works (long term of course) so may we they admire their demeanour.
                                …but egg-nicking is pretty nasty!

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