Bird of the day!

[John]

Originally Posted by PMG

Is it a universal fact that females are larger and more aggressive than males?

This is also true of sparrowhawks . . . !Oh - you WERE talking about sparrowhawks then!

Sorry just couldn't resist...........

Pauline

Errr!! No comment.

[DaiTheDragon]

My bird of the day (Monday) was a Brambling, a first for me. While my wife was in Tesco's I went for a coffee at the WWT. Some of the locals told me that a Brambling had been on the feeders and as they were telling me it came back. I had no camera or bins with me so someone lent me some bins to have a good look.
Right I thought as soon as the wife has finished shopping i'll be back with the camera. I was back within an hour and the first words I heard was, it has just flown off but will probaly be back. 3 hours later and the WWT was closing, and it didn't come back so no photo but it made my day just seeing it.
I'll be back there today.

Dai

[John]

Early riser I see David.

I hope you get the chance to see the Brambling again and get a photo as well. They are stunning birds and as yet I haven't got a photo of one that I am happy with. Good luck when you do go and hopefully we will see some stunning images of the bird later today.

Is it a male or a female that is visiting?

John

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

My bird of the day (Monday) was a Brambling, a first for me. While my wife was in Tesco's I went for a coffee at the WWT. Some of the locals told me that a Brambling had been on the feeders and as they were telling me it came back. I had no camera or bins with me so someone lent me some bins to have a good look.
Right I thought as soon as the wife has finished shopping i'll be back with the camera. I was back within an hour and the first words I heard was, it has just flown off but will probaly be back. 3 hours later and the WWT was closing, and it didn't come back so no photo but it made my day just seeing it.
I'll be back there today.

Dai

[Nettle Runner]

My bird of the day has to be the woodlarks that accompanied me for part of my walk through Clumber Park (last saturday AM). The song of this bird is sublime as it flies high above for what seems an age.
Les

[DaiTheDragon]

John, it's a Male in eclipse plumage ( no black head). As for photographing, I have to shoot through the cafe window.

Dai

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Nettle Runner

My bird of the day has to be the woodlarks that accompanied me for part of my walk through Clumber Park (last saturday AM). The song of this bird is sublime as it flies high above for what seems an age.
Les

Are there resident woodlark at Clumber park then? Or do you perhaps mean skylarks - which are in full voice around where I live at the moment.

[badgerwatcher]

My bird of the day today turned out to be a tiny wood mouse! Movement on the peanut feeder outside my window, could it be my sweet wren who is visiting all the time lately? But silkily it slid inside the peanut feeder, and silkily out again, tiny cinnamon coloured mouse, up the wire, along the branch, down the buddlia stems, and away. He (or she-Oh, ) did this several times, while bluetits watched open-beaked.

[rlchew]

My bird of the day (well Sunday actually .... I am a bit slow off the mark ) was a Black-necked Grebe at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

This bird has been present for several days and I found it easily when I arrived.

My first view was one of those "does my bum look big in this?" type poses that the smaller grebes tend to show off ....



However, thankfully the bird turned to its better side swimming, diving and eating close to the shore ....





Oh and before anyone questions whether I should deal with the "red eye" in Photoshop, Black-necked Grebes do have a very bright red eye .

I also saw a Grey Wagtail and 2 male and 4 female Goosanders at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir.

After watching the Black-necked Grebe for some time it was a trip to inner Leeds for a small group of Waxwings that have been present for some time. Unfortunately I only saw a single bird and then only briefly so no photos. Finally, I saw at least 5 Red Kites in the vicinity of Harewood House (this is the Yorkshire re-introduction site for this wonderful bird of prey).

Richard

[Nettle Runner]

Hi Gill
Yes they are Woodlarks. (not that that takes anything away from the lovely Skylark).
We are fortunate to have resident Woodlarks in Clumber Park, Sherwood Forest, and on the Budby Common (all quite near to each other), and in late winter/early spring they are a delight to hear and see. The song also travels some distance when they are on the wing, so can be heard well before you reach their territory.
Les

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Nettle Runner

Hi Gill
Yes they are Woodlarks. (not that that takes anything away from the lovely Skylark).
We are fortunate to have resident Woodlarks in Clumber Park, Sherwood Forest, and on the Budby Common (all quite near to each other), and in late winter/early spring they are a delight to hear and see. The song also travels some distance when they are on the wing, so can be heard well before you reach their territory.
Les

Wow I had no idea, I thought they were just a southern or eastern species and that the eastern populaton only 'summered' at best.......
Clearly more reading to be done for me!!