Bird of the day!

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Noticed a small pile of feathers by the arbour this morning. I was 2 steps out of the door to investigate and look who flew down in front of me....



He was quite happy sitting there for a few minutes, then he jumped down and just casually wandered about under the bushes for 10 mins or so. After he'd gone I had a look at the feathers and they were just brown so true to his name I think he got a sparrow.

It is a male isn't it?

Male I would say Cazzie, nice shot as well
Roger

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by sheffielder

Great Kingfisher shot, also Long Tailed Tits are my fav uk birds.

Here's my bird of the day in our back garden this morning.



Andrew

Great bird for the back garden Andrew. Well done
Roger

[Ollie]

Here is my bird of the day. It's only a little Dunnock, we had a regular one all last winter but I haven't seen one in the garden for months until today.
Roger

[Run rabbit]

Thats a lovely picture of the Dunnock, I've been trying to spot one here in Yorkshire but hadn't been able to from the book pictures I have. I'm told there are plenty about and I'm just not picking them out, so hopefully your splendid picture will help.

I probably don't need to add that i'm quite new at this and its much easier to identify the more obvious birds than the little brown ones

[Cazzie]

Thanks Ollie - thought it was a male

What do you mean 'only' a dunnock! They're lovely birds and often overlooked. I am very fortunate to have a couple of regulars and I love having them visit me. That's a cracking shot btw

Run rabbit - I find my dunnocks on the ground 99% of the time as they don't seem to like perching for some reason. Never seen them on the feeders either, just underneath them instead picking up bits of fallen food

[WestLothian]

I have resident Dunnocks and they are very confident now.(A very nice shot there)

I would be delighted to see a local woodpecker that I have been hearing for years.

The Long-Tailed Tits have "just" now visited the back garden to examine the feeders
it seems impossible that they have followed me home it must be a new flock in the area.

[Ollie]

Thanks for the comments Run rabbit and West Lothian. Run rabbit, you will soon get the hang of ID'ing these little brown birds. It does help if you recognise the song or call when you hear it.

Cazzie, Our regular Dunnock used to use the old bird table, although he/she did spend a lot of time on the ground. The Collared doves throw enough around to keep the ground feeders happy in any case. Will be interesting to see if this Dunnock ventures onto the new feeders.
Roger

[glsammy]

My bird of the day which was actually taken yesterday, is this Starling. It's one of a pair that have been raised from our neighbours roof, but we've supplied a substantial part of the diet for both the adults and the two youngsters.
I've been trying for ages to get a half decent shot of them, I think these two just about sum up the characteristics of these birds, that apple is his/hers and no other bird had better try and take it!

[seamusagleann]

my bird of the day has to be the golden eagle i saw ....from a helicopter. we were doing fire training today and flying in glen dubh ,barcaldine and one flew along the hillside with us.i had the camera with me but because the doors were open the pilot told us we could not have any loose objects in the cabin, so it had to stay in my pocket .but seeing this was fantastic.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by seamusagleann

my bird of the day has to be the golden eagle i saw ....from a helicopter. we were doing fire training today and flying in glen dubh ,barcaldine and one flew along the hillside with us.i had the camera with me but because the doors were open the pilot told us we could not have any loose objects in the cabin, so it had to stay in my pocket .but seeing this was fantastic.

Pretty impressive stuff- I've seen a fair number of these wonderful birds here + abroad, but never from a helicopter. Given the only helicopters I've been in are across to Scilly from Penzance not much chance of me seeing one from a chopper!