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

[amateur51]

Swallows, swifts, buzzards, kites ... not in NW2 you understand, for I've been in France

[Richard Tarleton]

Swallows, swifts, buzzards, kites ... not in NW2 you understand, for I've been in France

Doubtless you were seeing both red and black kites, ams. My knowledge of those parts limited to walking GR5 southwards from Briançon.

[amateur51]

Doubtless you were seeing both red and black kites, ams. My knowledge of those parts limited to walking GR5 southwards from Briançon.

Confirmed red and black kites, RT

[greenilex]

This morning the famous So'ton Common tame robin redbreast was partaking of apple pie with custard at our table, in spite of hand flapping from self and friend. He too has a large youngster which may grow up to share his addiction to custard. But it leads to much beak and foot cleaning, so I hope he doesn't try jam.

[Anna]

I've never heard of a custard loving Robin!

They are cutting silage here and it was amazing, about 5 minutes after the tractor started up to suddenly see a flock of around 15-20 seagulls following it, whirling and swooping, such a display of high speed flying it’s a wonder they didn’t collide. They were dropping down right behind the cutter at times which seemed dangerous – were they just after grubs or looking out for small mammals? I always wonder why there are seagulls here but I guess some have just adapted to inland living.

Also, ‘my’ bullfinch came back and brought his girlfriend for lunch! Well, it was a female, a dusky pink breast, unless it was a juvenile? They stayed a long time amongst the herb robert (I have a patch which has been left for anything which ‘appears’, so there are also lots of foxgloves, wild flowers, wild strawberries etc.) I then find via google that bullfinches particularly love the seeds and flowers of herb robert so I’m really pleased about that.

[Serial_Apologist]

Also, ‘my’ bullfinch came back and brought his girlfriend for lunch! Well, it was a female, a dusky pink breast, unless it was a juvenile?

According to my Observer's Book of Birds, "The female is duller, lacking the rosy breast" - so it looks like either it could be a youngster or chaffinch - adding, "both birds have noticeable white rumps".

I must look up Herb Robert - sounds like a Country 'n' Western singer!

[Richard Tarleton]

Anna, the juvenile lacks the black crown and "face" of the adult (both sexes) - juvenile head entirely grey-brown. See illustrations down the page here.

S_A, you need to get yourself a decent bird book. I recommend the RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Holden and Cleeves for use on the home front. The Observer's Book is completely useless. I ditched mine in the 1960s when I discovered the (then) Collins by Peterson, Mountfort and Hollom. These days - for Britain and Europe - it's the Collins, by Svenson, Mullarney and Zetterstrom. If you want something wallet-sized for home use, then it's the Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guide by Peter Hayman.

[Serial_Apologist]

Anna, the juvenile lacks the black crown and "face" of the adult (both sexes) - juvenile head entirely grey-brown. See illustrations down the page here.

S_A, you need to get yourself a decent bird book. I recommend the RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Holden and Cleeves for use on the home front. The Observer's Book is completely useless. I ditched mine in the 1960s when I discovered the (then) Collins by Peterson, Mountfort and Hollom. These days - for Britain and Europe - it's the Collins, by Svenson, Mullarney and Zetterstrom. If you want something wallet-sized for home use, then it's the Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guide by Peter Hayman.

Thanks RT - I'll look out for those.

[Padraig]

These days - for Britain and Europe - it's the Collins, by Svenson, Mullarney and Zetterstrom. If you want something wallet-sized for home use, then it's the Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guide by Peter Hayman.

The book I use is The Kingfisher Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe, John Gooders/Alan Harris.The illustrations for the bullfinch there are of similar quality to your example. It is quite bulky for carrying around, but ideal for my window sill. It can fit easily enough into my 'swimming bag', and I intend to use it thus soon, as I am about to widen my horizons. Half an hour away is Inch Reserve -

http://www.visitinishowen.com/things_to_see_and_do/1/7/24/39/Inishowen_Wildlife_Club

You probably remember it Richard. If you look over your shoulder you will soon find Grianan, the scene of your boyhood climbing exploits!

[Richard Tarleton]

I do indeed - and I've been there more recently.

Still on an Irish note, Killian Mullarney, one of the illustrators (along with Dan Zetterstrom) of the newer Collins guide that I mentioned, is one of the greatest bird illustrators in the world - and a most charming guy to meet. I see he even designed a set of Irish stamps, perhaps you used them Padraig? I met him - not that he would remember me - sketching an Elegant Tern, an incredibly rare transatlantic vagrant, on Carlingford Lough, Co Down, in late June 1982......

[Padraig]

I do recall some of the Irish birds stamps, but remember, I don't often need to use them! They're foreign, you know!

I can see though that, like everything else, there's more to watching birds than I thought.

In my dotage I find that I'm taking on more and more of the things I neglected for years - Irish language, traditional Irish music via the tin whistle, birds, gardening, Bruckner - but not yet. And of course none of them are any easier now than when I had the energy to neglect them in the first place.

[ardcarp]

I must look up Herb Robert

A pretty little pink flower very abundant here in our West Country hedgerows. It's a member of the cranesbill family (and related to geraniums, I think).

[HighlandDougie]

My knowledge of those parts limited to walking GR5 southwards from Briançon.

I've walked it the other way - from Nice to Briançon. In numerous climbing and walking forays to various parts of the Alps, the Queyras (just south of Briançon) is the only place I've ever seen Edelweiss growing in the wild.

25 years later, I now find myself living on the opposite side of the Vésubie Valley to GR5 but kites, red or black, have eluded me here. The surrounding area of the Mercantour National Park is very rich in flora - and pretty good for animals (including an increasing number of wolves), butterflies and birds. My garden has several cypress trees (which are like bird hotels) and olive, plum and cherry trees which provide fruit for the numerous blackbirds (and the badger). Blackcaps, goldcrests, cirl buntings, black redstarts and the thuggish greenfinches all seem to have nests somewhere. Eagles (golden and short-toed) are seen quite regularly, as are various other raptors, including a pair of goshawks. I've seen lammergeiers elsewhere in the Mercantour and very occasionally griffin vultures from the house. I should start keeping a list (the most exotic bird I've seen, apart from an escaped parrot, was a lesser grey shrike).

[amateur51]

Thanks RT - I'll look out for those.

+ 1

I remember the thrill of seeing the Peterson, Mountfort & Hollom volume. It was quite revolutionary.

[amateur51]

I do recall some of the Irish birds stamps, but remember, I don't often need to use them! They're foreign, you know!

I can see though that, like everything else, there's more to watching birds than I thought.

In my dotage I find that I'm taking on more and more of the things I neglected for years - Irish language, traditional Irish music via the tin whistle, birds, gardening, Bruckner - but not yet. And of course none of them are any easier now than when I had the energy to neglect them in the first place.

Nicely done Padraig - made me smile & chuckle