Close encounters of the bird kind.

[diggleken]

Its been a quite amazing week for close encounters, not from a hide either.
Goldcrest only 1 yard away when wandering through snowy woods on friday, heron only 10 feet away fishing the frozen pond edge on saturday, Kingfisher at the waters edge only 15ft away friday too, then to cap it all, on the way home from work today, turning the corner past the bins and a sparrowhawk was sat on my brown bin, right next to the passenger side, I stalled the car and we just stared at each other for a couple of mins, then it went.
Fabby stuff.
Previous best was a Bittern at Leighton moss, gently opened the viewing window in the public hide and it was there only 2yds away, looking at the water, I dont know who was more surprised!
Got me into thinking what close encounters you've had in this snowyness when the birds come closer .............?
Cheers
Ken

[2dogs2000]

Mine was also a heron (a few years ago). I was standing by a tree next to a pond at around 5 a.m. hoping to see kingfisher or grey wagtails. Stood for ages then I gave up and as I turned round there was a heron literally on the other side of the tree from me. I was a cursing as I had my camera with me but from shock got no picture whatsoever.

[Farplace]

Not nearly as exciting as yours, but I have had 10 phesants in the garden and jackdaws on my peanut bird feeders.

[Dorts]

It's a bit of a long storey, but I will tell it anyway. I call it 'A Nightingale in my pocket'.

Many years ago (mid 70's), I was working with a civil engineer clearing a long drainage ditch alongside a minor road in Hampshire. It was in late May and we just happened to be in one of the best spots around at that time, for Nightingales.

The guy I was working with had absolutely no interest in natural history, so when I pointed out the Nightingales that were singing around us, he was not impressed. I kept goading him saying 'listen, isn't that song just fantastic?'.
Still not impressed.

One lunchtime we sat ourselves down on a large pile of branches that would later be burnt. I was decoying the Nightingales by whisteling some of their distinctive notes. One of the singing birds started to get closer. I nudged my workmate; slight interest.

Slowly my decoy whisteling brought this bird onto the pile of wood on which we were sitting. Now my mate started to become interested.

This cock bird was now singing his heart out, competing with my rather poor version of his song. He was now graually coming around the wood-pile and soon was no more than a couple of feet away. We both sat in complete dismay at how close he now was.

Up until this time we had not seen the bird, only heard his wonderfully melodic song. Unfortunately what happened next was out of view of my now quite excited companion.

This brave little bird was now right beside me, (I was wearing one of those old 'Donkey-jackets' with big black pockets). I ever so slowly looked round, and there he was, to my complete amazement sitting on the rim of my jacket pocket and still singing.

I knew that if I tried to draw my mates attention to what was happening, the bird would be gone. I turned my head around a little more to get a closer look. It was then the fantastic turned into the unbelievable; the bird jumped into my pocket. And then, in a flash, probably because I was now shaking with excitement, he was gone.

I have a thousand and one stories that I often tell when the conversation turns to amazing encounters, but none, so far, have equalled this one.
Dorts.

[CharlieCreek]

Last week I had a close encounter with two goldcrests.

Was popping over to the woodland team mess hut and as I passed one of the small fruit trees next to the hut, two little flashes came over my left shoulder with one alighting on a branch at head height about 2ft away. I though cheeky robbins (as they usually are robbins) but turned to look and there was a goldcrest.

The same area is great for coal tit as well during the cold weather, they feed a couple of feet away from you loosing all inhibitions when hungry. First time I have seen the goldcrest there though.

[Jackaroo]

This evening, at dusk I was trudging through the snow on my way to Sainsburys (Other Retail Outlets are Available) and I paused to fish my lighter out to relight my roll-up. As I raised it something caught my eye in the shadows of the small trees and shrubbery lining the Dighty Burn which runs through the outskirts of Dundee and I froze. There in an ice bordered pool stood a very handsome heron. He couldn't have been more than 5 yards or so away from me as I looked down the bank straight at him. I knew that if I twitched (no pun intended) he'd be gone, so I stood stock still for what couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes but as I felt the circulation slowly leaving my frosted toes he slowly turned his head toward me and after considering me with that stern head-masterly look they sometimes have,he obviously decided he didn't like the look of me and took of with a leisurely flap and a glide into the gathering gloom. I was left at the roadside with the traffic sloshing past, chilled to the bone but very content. That's as close as I've ever been to a heron which are, as a rule, pretty wary and I doubt I'll ever get that close again.

[thebeard]

great nightingale story dorts! this winter and last years too, there has been a robin at attenborough which will come and stand within inches of you, and follows you down the track. he poses for photos too! other than that i have also had a very close encounter with a goldcrest this year, which was amazing as only the second time i have seen this species

[htcdude]

I usually have very close encounters at Christmas tie, last year I got very close to a Pheasant, other years have been a Turkey, a Chicken, sometimes a Duck of some sort

Nige

[Michelleatiisis]

Put my hand out and stroked a fledgling swallow this year that was sitting on one of my gateposts on the stable yard!

[Mitty]

Why do goldrecrests take no notice of people watching them? They always seem to carry on business as usual when people encounter them.

Is it because we are so big and slow (maybe just me) compared to them?