Bird of the day!

[Crow]

A jackdaw that I saw eating a dead greenfinch the other day. Its wings are held low like they are broken but he is capable of flying. He(i pressume) is tame and has been at the back door twice today when I opened it, he just walked away slowly and began pecking the grass. I threw him a few peanuts and he ate them about a metre a half or so away from me. He makes sneezing noises so I think he may be a bit sick, he keeps away from the large groups of jackdaws that come into the garden.

[John]

Hi Cherrybee

You probably don't know this but you have a very rare visitor at Bowling Green Marsh. It is a Long-billed Dowitcher and its been there for a few weeks now.

John

Originally Posted by cherrybee

Well mine are birds of the dayHaven't been out and about a lot lately owing to my hernia returning and getting larger by the week which causes a bit of pain if I walk too long.But yesterday I went to Bowling Green Marsh at Topsham.I haven't been in quite a while.Took my bins with me as well as the camera.Well I saw my first Lapwing or should I say hundreds from the hide.No photos as they were too far off for my camera.At one point a large flock took to the air and moved to another part of the area what a beautiful sight.I then walked down the road to the viewing platform down the road a bit and saw severel Avocets.I was fascinated watching the way the use there bills to sweep from left to right in front of them searching for food.BrilliantThen last but not least back to the hide where I parked my moped.As I was about to put everything under the bike seat and put my helmet on,I heard the most beautiful birdsong and what a range of sounds it was making.It was in a tree near where I was and I went to look along with another couple.We could hear but not see.After 5 minutes squinting up at the tree I finally spotted it and pointed it out to the other couple who like me didn't have a clue what it was.It was a Songthrush.What a wonderful range of different sounds it was making.Again no photo as he was well hidden among the branches but that finished my day out beautifully.

[John]

Nothing exotic today (although I tried to find one). I was a Chasewater, near Brownhills and was fascinated by a pair of displaying Great-crested Grebes. I watched them for ages in the hope that they would do there walking on water routine but they didn't. Still I managed this shot of them.



John

[Barbara]

Looks like you have had a great weekend John, super images

My bird of the day would be some new visitors in the garden in the form of two Siskins who spent most of the day eating the sunflower hearts. First time I have ever seen them and I couldn't believe how colourful they are. Had a quick visit also from a Nuthatch. But the bird of the day in my garden wasn't seen by me but by Greg late this afternoon a Common Redpoll sat amongst the House Sparrows, he managed to get a pic, not brilliant but good enough for an ID.

[Beryl]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Cherrybee

You probably don't know this but you have a very rare visitor at Bowling Green Marsh. It is a Long-billed Dowitcher and its been there for a few weeks now.

John

I have seen the Long-billed Dowitcher John last Friday but only from a distance not neer enough to take a photo. I saw it on two trips . Some of the digiscopers I talk to pointed it out and a Red breasted Merganser on the first trip last month.

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by Beryl

I have seen the Long-billed Dowitcher John last Friday but only from a distance not neer enough to take a photo. I saw it on two trips . Some of the digiscopers I talk to pointed it out and a Red breasted Merganser on the first trip last month.

Thanks John.My Bins are not as good as some and there were an awful lot of birds there on Saturday.I was so thrilled to see the lapwings and Avocet.I dont think I would have recognised it anyway.I tend to ID by photos as I can zoom in a bit if they are distant but so many of the birds were too far off.

[John]

There is also a surf Scoter at dawlish warren that has been there for a while.

If they are all still down there in two weeks time I may come down to find them.

This Saturday I am off to France, hoping to catch a sight of the Wallcreeper that has found its way to the side of Bolougne.

John

Originally Posted by Beryl

I have seen the Long-billed Dowitcher John last Friday but only from a distance not neer enough to take a photo. I saw it on two trips . Some of the digiscopers I talk to pointed it out and a Red breasted Merganser on the first trip last month.

Originally Posted by cherrybee

Thanks John.My Bins are not as good as some and there were an awful lot of birds there on Saturday.I was so thrilled to see the lapwings and Avocet.I dont think I would have recognised it anyway.I tend to ID by photos as I can zoom in a bit if they are distant but so many of the birds were too far off.

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

My bird of the day, well Friday actually is this Yellow Wagtail. He seemed very at home on the River Windrush, when I was looking for water voles.



BWD

[pressld2]

A beautiful little bird BWD, always nice to see them on the riversides. However, it looks more like a grey than a yellow wagtail to me.

Dave P.

[John]

Hi Billy

This is a Grey Wagtail. The Yellows won't be with us for a while yet as they are migrants.

John

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

My bird of the day, well Friday actually is this Yellow Wagtail. He seemed very at home on the River Windrush, when I was looking for water voles.



BWD