Bird of the day!

cherrybee · #**1381** (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 11:27 AM

Sat at the computer and the garden is swarming with birds.Starlings, Doves,,Woodpigeons House sparrows Blue Tits,Crows.But the most exciting one for me is the Song Thrush.It landed just outside the window.A very first for me in my garden Unfortunately by the time I got the camera they all vanished

Dan Salter · #**1382** (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 12:09 PM

Looked out the window into the garden to check the snow earlier and saw a female Great Spotted Woodpecker then a Treecreeper scuttering up a tree!....nice.

rlchew · #**1383** (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlet Pimpernel

Happy New Year one and all...

Decided to travel to Rye Harbour and Dungeness today and had some splendid birds, a total of 79 with a few special birds. These included Hen and Marsh Harrier, Smew, Goosander, Shag, Tundra Bean Goose and I managed to see Mute, Bewick and Whooper. First stop was Rye Harbour and soon located the Shorelark, Grey Partridge were also a nice surprise here too.

Then travelled up the coast to Scotney GP and found the 2 Long-tailed Ducks. So carried on to the A.R.C. Pit opposite the Dungeness Reserve and saw Gadwall, Goldeneye, Ruddy duck etc.

Then we got onto the reserve and found the Shag, Smew (8 fem, 2 male), Goosander (1 male, 3 fem), and a bonus Kingfisher. We then decided to go to Long Pit for the Red-necked Grebe...

And finally we went across to Walland Marsh and on route saw these delightful Corn Buntings to finish off a great day.

Cheers Jacob

I saw most of those too at the same locations on the same day .... but didn't spot you or get any photos

.

I started my trip at Bough Beech Reservoir .... c.30 Brambling at the feeding station near the visitor centre.

Richard

glsammy · #**1384** (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 05:16 PM

My bird of the day today is a lovely male SparrowHawk which came down onto the roof of the feeding station at Whisby. I was the only one to see it!

John · #**1385** (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 05:38 PM

I haven't even seen one yet this year.

I noticed it has been ringed.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

My bird of the day today is a lovely male SparrowHawk which came down onto the roof of the feeding station at Whisby. I was the only one to see it!

glsammy · #**1386** (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

I haven't even seen one yet this year.

I noticed it has been ringed.

John

It's the closest I've ever been to one in the wild anyway. This is a full frame shot, no cropping. I managed about six shots before it flew away. I wish I'd saved a few to get it flying away, but my camera buffer was full as I was shooting in RAW. It's proving to be a bit of a hindrance lately, I might have to consider a 40D to get more shots!

aeshna5 · #**1387** (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

My bird of the day today is a lovely male SparrowHawk which came down onto the roof of the feeding station at Whisby. I was the only one to see it!

Excellent shot! I was in Isabella Plantation today in Richmond Park standing watching a tit flock looking for a Treecreeper. As I looked down to my left was a pair of yellow legs about 3 metres away perched low down in a Rhododendron-the legs were all I could see! I stooped down a bit but the bird instantly disappeared deftly backwards through the cover. Even though I didn't really see the bird as such I realised it was a Sparrowhawk from the legs + the behaviour. Amazingly none of the tits saw it flying low through the bush as no alarms were uttered, so the ace predator managed to remain concealed getting away from me!

I did have a proper view of a male in my local country park on Jan 1st towards dusk as the winged assassin flew low in front of me putting up a small group of Wood Pigeons in the scrub, but nothing smaller for him to catch. Still one of my favourite birds!

pressld2 · #**1388** (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 10:28 PM

Buzzards and kestrels for me today. Drove my son back to university and saw three buzzards plus at least a dozen kestrels, including a pair hunting together. No photos as I was driving (and the buzzards were very high anyway) but it goes to show what a haven for wildlife our motorway verges are.

Dave P.