Sutton Park Brum

[tcvarlh]

Common kestrel falco tinnunculus spotted today at Sutton Park Sutton Coldfield Birmingham, well, I say spotted, in actuality it POSED and sat about 3 foot above my head for about twelve minutes, a young male and rather ‘fluffy’, the little chap then gave a demo of how to fly in short bursts. It dropped twice to snatch up insects, one of which was a Demoiselle (not ID-able, unfortunately) and finally engaged in a half-hearted duel with a Carrion Crow which gave up the battle when the crow realised the Kessie wasn’t interested. Noticed a couple of Buzzards too. On one of the paths my daughter Vanja scared up a Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes, which zipped off without posing for a shot. My Daughters and I visited three of the ponds within the Park and I was happy to find two chock-full of Waterfowl, Pochards Aythya ferina, Great Grebes Podiceps cristatus, Mute Swans Cygnus olor, Berwick's Swans Cygnus columbianus, Mallards Anas platyrhynchos, Coots Fulica atra, Moorhens Gallinula chloropus, Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula, Herons Ardea cinerea, Canada Geeses Branta canadensis, Mews Larus canus, Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls Larus fuscus. The dry land gave us sightings of Carrion Crows Corvus corone, Jackdaws Corvus monedula, Green Woodpeckers Picus viridis, Swallows Hirundo rustica, Jays Garrulus glandarius and the ubiquitous Magpies Pica pica. Plus the standard Sparrows and Starlings.
The third pool was a most unhappy place with three damaged Canada Geese and a single footed Mute Swan.
My girls were astounded by the fact they were still in Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield) and walking along heathland and moor, even more astounded about the Kessie, but bitterly disappointed they never got to see the Exmoor Ponies that are supposed to live in the park, the local bathing heifers were fun tho'. I noticed a few frogs and one high speed lizard, all unidentifiable sadly. I also got to walk a bit more of my beloved Icknield street (not the eastern version).
All in all, a really wonderful day. Oh yes, the weather was good too!
h

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by tcvarlh

On one of the paths my daughter Vanja scared up a Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes, which zipped off without posing for a shot. ... My girls were astounded by the fact they were still in Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield)

So would I be with that sighting! Are you sure it wasn't a Starling? Nutcracker would be a very rare vagrant in the UK.

Sounds like you and your daughters had a great day though (despite the lack of ponies)

[Phoebe]

Sounds like the perfect day h, I must admit I misread the Spotted Nutcracker and thought you meant that you had spotted a Nuthatch! I have not heard of a Spotted Nutcracker in England!

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

I have not heard of a Spotted Nutcracker in England!

There's about 8 'sightings' reported a year in the UK and about 400 records have been accepted by BBRC - I think the last accepted record was about 10 years ago!

[tcvarlh]

D'you know I think I may have translated badly, let me check, No, Tannenhäher is the German name and translates to Nutcracker, Definately what we saw, have asked the girls twice and they are adamant 'genau wie bei Oma's, Papa' "Exactly like at Grannie's, Dad". I wondered myself when you questioned but the girls will not budge. So Nutcracker it has to stay! They outnumber me!
Undulating flight and rather undynamic too! It told us off with a krak krak krak krak call. About the size of a Jay, choco brown and dotted.
h

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by tcvarlh

D'you know I think I may have translated badly, let me check, No, Tannenhäher is the German name and translates to Nutcracker, Definately what we saw, have asked the girls twice and they are adamant 'genau wie bei Oma's, Papa' "Exactly like at Grannie's, Dad". I wondered myself when you questioned but the girls will not budge. So Nutcracker it has to stay! They outnumber me!
Undulating flight and rather undynamic too! It told us off with a krak krak krak krak call. About the size of a Jay, choco brown and dotted.
h

I'd trust your girls instincts especially seeing as they are apparently very familiar with Nutcrackers - they can be very tame so so no reason why they shouldn't be very familiar with them - Description is absolutely spot on - as is call description!

I'd contact this telephone no. in the morning (Rare Bird Alert) and let them know - make sure you explain your familiarity with the species too - I'm sure you'll be able to give them enough to put news out as a 'possible' - they will also want the grid ref/location. O1603456789

(You don't have to do all that but it's a blooming great sighting if the girls are correct!)

Ps be prepared to be 'shot down in flames' - birders take some convincing!

Just one more thing - it's worth pointing out that the black and white tail is very visible when the bird flies away from you - it's this feature that always gets me on to them when birding in eastern Europe and this feature that would almost certainly rule out a Common Starling!

[tcvarlh]

Funny, but I'm used to seeing them, so I never thought anything about my post. I will call in the morning as it is so rare, they zip around in Sandl, Austria like butterflies (well, not butterflies, but they do zip around up there)
Well done Vanja!
h

[Phoebe]

Originally Posted by Picidae

There's about 8 'sightings' reported a year in the UK and about 400 records have been accepted by BBRC - I think the last accepted record was about 10 years ago!

Wow Picidae I didn't know that!

H, well done to your daughter let's hope the press get some photos!

[Picidae]

Good luck! They won't officially accept it as a definite British Record without a photo I'm afraid, that's just the way it works. However, by reporting it and putting the news out as a 'possible' (which I'm sure they will if you can convince them it wasn't a Starling!!) it gives a chance for local birders to try and relocate it for you - you of course will get any credit for the initial find. Keep your fingers crossed that someone else will spot it and confirm the ID.

(Phoebe, I had to check the actual number of UK confirmed records I didn't have that number at the top of my head!)

[tcvarlh]

Just asked Ronja and she has confirmed in her own inimitable way the bird was as Vanja said. "Es hot a schwartz-weisses Arsch Papa, wenn's die glaubens mi nit denn die kinnan mi am glei' stell' lecken!" Polite translation runs so, 'it had a black and white bum Dad, if they don't want to believe they can k... my a...'
Birders may take some convincing but doubting my baby daughter and walking away afterwards is not a given !!!!!!

h