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

[cloughie]

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

[Padraig]

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

It is a prelude, cloughie. Lucky 13.

[RichardB]

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?

[Bryn]

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.

[Padraig]

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.

[ardcarp]

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.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-59880364

[Serial_Apologist]

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.

[oddoneout]

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.

[Serial_Apologist]

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

You mean an arrested peace campaigner?

[Bryn]

You mean an arrested peace campaigner?

Nothing very peaceful about collared doves. They're right bruisers, even chasing off magpies.

[oddoneout]

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.

[gradus]

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.

[cloughie]

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!

[ardcarp]

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

[cloughie]

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!