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

[Richard Tarleton]

Yes - they said there had been no injuries to the birds in the training thus far. I don't know what species of eagle that all-dark bird was. I imagine there is a danger the criminals will simply resort to shooting at the birds. Also, there have been cases of pigeon fanciers resorting to placing poison on live bait birds to kill peregrines, I imagine there will be a similar development here - exploding drones for example.

[ardcarp]

Interesting programme about disappearing puffins and guillemots on BBC4 last night.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b072wwv9

(probably a repeat)

[ardcarp]

Mrs A plus walking friend saw a red-legged partridge in a West Dorset lane yesterday.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/redleggedpartridge/

Its range is generally further East than this, but I dare say some landowner has bred a load of them for the shoot......

[doversoul1]

A pair of mallard ducks have appeared in the garden and are eating the bird food. Well, they are birds but…

[vinteuil]

A pair of mallard ducks have appeared in the garden and are eating the bird food. Well, they are birds but…

... a very large proportion of the pairs of mallards that we see around here seem to be male/male pairs. Is this a London metrosexual thing, or are mallards often homosexually bonded?

[Richard Tarleton]

... a very large proportion of the pairs of mallards that we see around here seem to be male/male pairs. Is this a London metrosexual thing, or are mallards often homosexually bonded?

"Some males have two mates, and promiscuity and rape are not uncommon" (Holden and Cleeves)
"Pair formation...sometimes not until spring, when unmated females are often chased by several males" (Madge)

I've witnessed mallard gang bangs on numerous occasions Could you be witnessing pairs of males on the prowl for females?

[doversoul1]

... a very large proportion of the pairs of mallards that we see around here seem to be male/male pairs. Is this a London metrosexual thing, or are mallards often homosexually bonded?

(Kentish countryside) pheasant males often go about in pairs outside the non-mating season.

[vinteuil]

"Some males have two mates, and promiscuity and rape are not uncommon" (Holden and Cleeves)
"Pair formation...sometimes not until spring, when unmated females are often chased by several males" (Madge)

I've witnessed mallard gang bangs on numerous occasions Could you be witnessing pairs of males on the prowl for females?

... mallards seem to have a wide range of ways of disporting themselves -

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2005/mar/08/highereducation.research

http://www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl/fileadmin/user_upload/documents-nmr/Persberichten/Persberichten/persberichten_2013/DSA8_243-248.pdf

[Vox Humana]

... mallards seem to have a wide range of ways of disporting themselves -

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2005/mar/08/highereducation.research

http://www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl/fi...A8_243-248.pdf

I remember once reading a short account of a House Sparrow attempting to copulate with a dead congener that had been hit by a car. If I recall correctly, the dead bird was lying belly-down and it was surmised that its posture might have signalled an invitation to mount.

[Richard Tarleton]

... mallards seem to have a wide range of ways of disporting themselves

Good grief. Once you start looking into it, it just gets worse.

[Serial_Apologist]

Good grief. Once you start looking into it, it just gets worse.

I think we're in danger here of losing the thread???

[eighthobstruction]

....sad news....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-36038262....still in Scotland obviously, but....

[Lento]

... mallards seem to have a wide range of ways of disporting themselves -

http://www.theguardian.com/education...ation.research

RIP quacky: It's what he would have wanted.

[Dave2002]

Good grief. Once you start looking into it, it just gets worse.

... more than 15 inches long. ...
erm ....

[Don Petter]

A pair of bullfinches on our bird bath.