|  | | 
11-10-2005, 07:25 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | tiny birds/ideas?
Up late this am (06:30) two very small birds in the shrub outside the lounge window thought they were gold crests (which are in the area) not able to get a photo but they were not wrens either, two light streaks either side of the head I have been waiting to see if they are still around but no sign at present and no pictures in my meager book collection
they were obviously looking for insects around the twisted hazel and castor oil plant |
11-10-2005, 07:51 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 3,492
| | | Could they possibly have been Long-tailed Tits? Picture of same in gallery.
__________________
A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
W.H.Davies |
11-10-2005, 07:53 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | | If they were as small as a Goldcrest you may have a surprising visitor from Siberia in the shape of a Yellow-browed Warbler. There is a mini influx of them at the moment and I found one myself at Porthgwarra (near Lands End) last week. Did they have strong makings on the wings or were they just mainly one colour?
If it was larger than a Goldcrest then a few birds could come into contention. |
11-10-2005, 07:56 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | no too small we have a regular visits by longtailed tits I have just trawled the gallery
They are not in my british bird books wildone |
11-10-2005, 08:15 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | hi john I was too busy being amazed to clock a lot of detail the impression was of a gold crest, which forage in the garden from time to time (i have pics from heligan gardens where they hover around the tree ferns where they nest)the stripes above the eye were light instead of dark |
11-10-2005, 08:18 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | hi john I have just remembered bill oddie was chasing a one off that may look similar in a program 6-7 weeks ago name reminded me of a french car! |
11-10-2005, 04:39 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | pallas?(citroen) I have just seen one so they are still around |
11-10-2005, 07:21 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by nightshade pallas?(citroen) I have just seen one so they are still around | You think you saw a pair of Pallas's Warbler? That would be a hard one to vindicate.
Here is a link to what they look like. http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidli...proregulus.htm
If you still think these are what you saw then get onto your County bird recorder as this is well worth reporting.
I have only ever seen one of these birds myself and haven't really heard of two at a time being said. That being said, you never know what to expect next with birdwatching. |
12-10-2005, 07:47 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | thanks
thanks john but not a pallas's it was the eye-stripe I remembered
when I finally get a pic it will be a terrible anticlimax |
12-10-2005, 09:12 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | | Re: thanks
Quote: |
Originally Posted by nightshade thanks john but not a pallas's it was the eye-stripe I remembered
when I finally get a pic it will be a terrible anticlimax | So none of the links I have given you are the birds you saw?
I can't think what else they could be if they appear to be small warblers. |
12-10-2005, 11:27 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Isn't this thread just the essence of Wild About Britain - I can't wait to hear what this bird turns out to be, common or rare, if it's something new to you it's just as thrilling. And the help from other members is great.
P.S. Hope you like my avatar pic - it illustrates how I feel sometimes!!! |
12-10-2005, 12:13 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: uk
Posts: 924
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Firecrest? |
12-10-2005, 01:50 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 237
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
have to say Firecrest is the first thing that came to mind but could easily be Yellow-Browed Warbler as there seem to be loads around at the mo. Even I've seen one! |
12-10-2005, 02:08 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: uk
Posts: 924
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Pete Even I've seen one! | Wonder's will never cease!  |
12-10-2005, 02:17 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Helen Firecrest? | I have already given him a link to what a Firecrest looks like in No7 reply but Wildone hasn't confirmed that it is. Even so, 2 Firecrests rummaging around together isn't usual in UK gardens. |
12-10-2005, 02:39 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: uk
Posts: 924
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
id'ing from photos/pics is always difficult, as is describing what one sees, especially if one is not an "experienced birder", for want of a better term. (not directed at nightshade either, as I have no idea who nightshade is) All sorts of factors play a role in i.d.ing a bird. Light being one of them, the light can certainly change the perceived appearance of a bird. I also think size is very hard to accurately judge too. Personally I think one of the most important things is jizz. |
12-10-2005, 03:02 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 3,492
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by John I have already given him a link to what a Firecrest looks like in No7 reply but Wildone hasn't confirmed that it is. Even so, 2 Firecrests rummaging around together isn't usual in UK gardens. | Sorry John but you have the wrong person, it is nightshade who saw the birds. I had ruled out firecrest as I didn't think they fed that low down. I suppose '2 rummaging around' might be a pair although I am not sure that they pair for more than a season. Wildone |
12-10-2005, 03:45 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
talking of pairs could they be juveniles? is this why I cannot get a positive i.d. |
12-10-2005, 04:54 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by wildone Sorry John but you have the wrong person, it is nightshade who saw the birds. I had ruled out firecrest as I didn't think they fed that low down. I suppose '2 rummaging around' might be a pair although I am not sure that they pair for more than a season. Wildone | Sorry Wildone
Boy, I'm getting worse as I get older.
I have had Firecrest almost in the leaf litter before now but only singly. I have not met anyone as yet that has seen two together, although last week I had a Firecrest and a Yellow browed Warbler only 5 feet apart and another Firecrest was being reported about 400 yards away at the same time. |
12-10-2005, 04:58 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Helen id'ing from photos/pics is always difficult, as is describing what one sees, especially if one is not an "experienced birder", for want of a better term. (not directed at nightshade either, as I have no idea who nightshade is) All sorts of factors play a role in i.d.ing a bird. Light being one of them, the light can certainly change the perceived appearance of a bird. I also think size is very hard to accurately judge too. Personally I think one of the most important things is jizz. | Your right about identifying by photos but in this instance Nightshade saw enough to denote light streaks at the side of the head. If that could be seen I would have thought that the diagnostic crest on both Fire and Goldcrest would have been seen. Also Nightshade did say that they were two very small birds. I have to go with that description which narrows the field sdown quite a bit. wren was discounted by Nightshade leaving possibly the few links I added. |
12-10-2005, 06:20 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 3,492
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Thanks John. Now I know that I don't have to lie on my back looking up into tall conifers I may have a chance of seeing one. Wildone |
12-10-2005, 07:40 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by wildone Thanks John. Now I know that I don't have to lie on my back looking up into tall conifers I may have a chance of seeing one. Wildone | Most of my Firecrest's have been at eye level or below. In fact last week I had one on the Scillies that was about 2 feet off the ground and in Cornwall I had one at about 4 feet off the ground.
Earlier in the year I was looking for one in Wales and it flew onto a branch at eye level two feet from my face. Mind you I have seen them high up also but mainly at low level. |
15-10-2005, 02:01 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | Re: tiny birds/ideas?
the bird is still around heard but not seen,regarding trees thereare conifers
scots pine cedar etc.quater of a mile down the road but it seems to like the yellow conifer in my neighbours garden next door 15-20foot | | |
| Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | |
| |
