Bird of the day!

wyevilla · #1 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 04:45 PM

After having a nijer feeder in the garden for 4 months (unsuccessfully), I decided last week that it had to go. Anyway, I decided to clean out the old, damp germinating seed, wash it out and put it away. However I then found in the back of the shed a half bag of seed that seemed to have escaped the mice. I decided to use it up. I refilled the specialised feeder and added a few leftover nijer seeds to the bird table and other seed feeders.

I raised the nijer feeder higher than before into a young beech tree and started to forget about it. Today, you guessed it, 2 Goldfinches on it this morning and one again at lunchtime. Unbelievable. Yes, my bird of the day but also a tip to all those disillusioned with the nijer feeder - keep it clean and fresh and high enough for the birds to find it!

dav56 · #2 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 05:01 PM

Mines a barn owl which flew along side me as I drove to work early this morning

I am glad the road I was driving on was staright, with no other cars on it, as watching a barn owl flying along side you when you are half asleep is very distracting

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 06:18 PM

Walking through my local park to get a bus this afternoon I had 3 species of free-flying parrot!

As I entered the park a Sparrowhawk may have gone through as pigeons, Starlings + finches were all up + then this small parrot, which from it's call I recognised as a Senegal Parrot- about a year ago a pair of these birds regularly visited my peanut feeder, so became very familiar with them. I think something happened to one of them + the other visited less frequently. I suspect this is the same bird.

We've also got a pair of Monk Parakeets which have been around for a few months (there's 2 small colonies around London) as well as the regular Ring-necked Parakeets. It will be interesting if the Monks decide to breed as they're quite lovey-dovey at the moment. Unlike other parrots they build a large twig nest. Though they come from South America, they are established in US + there's many in southern Spain- I remember John posted some fine shots of these in his Spanish travelogue.

It all felt a little surreal- it's amazing how many species of parrots seem to thrive here!

jennyb · #4 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 07:57 PM

Guess who visited my garden today! I was in my office working when this red kite swooped down outside my window. I grabbed my camera, rushed outside and got these pictures - not Gallery quality but my best yet.

So majestic!

Jenny

John · #5 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 08:23 PM

Now that's what I call a garden bird. Brilliant. I am dead envious.

Congrats on getting the photos so quickly.

John

Kev Lewis · #6 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 10:27 PM

I spent the afternoon in the company of two Short-eared Owls

I've uploaded a few to the Gallery and another 20 or more images to my website lol. Fantastic to see the SEO hit a vole right in front of me. Don't think the vole was too happy though

smartie · #7 (**permalink**) 15-02-2007, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

I spent the afternoon in the company of two Short-eared Owls

I've uploaded a few to the Gallery and another 20 or more images to my website lol. Fantastic to see the SEO hit a vole right in front of me. Don't think the vole was too happy though

That stuffed owl you bought is giving you hours of amusement, isn't it?

Great pictures as always.

Gill Catton · #8 (**permalink**) 16-02-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyb

Guess who visited my garden today! I was in my office working when this red kite swooped down outside my window. I grabbed my camera, rushed outside and got these pictures - not Gallery quality but my best yet.

So majestic!

Jenny

WOW!!!!!!! That's fantastic must have made your day / week?!

jennyb · #9 (**permalink**) 16-02-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

WOW!!!!!!! That's fantastic must have made your day / week?!

Actually, 2 of them came back again yesterday and flew really low over the house

I must improve my camera skills - I am fairly hopeless even when the target is not moving!

Jenny

Susie · #10 (**permalink**) 17-02-2007, 11:19 AM

I had a cracking day yesterday at the RSPB reserve at Pulborough, with a lot of great birds, but that was totally eclipsed for me this morning by two nuthatches in my front garden. One of them was on the sunflower seed feeder which is only a couple of feet away from the front windows.

Garden Carpet · #11 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 10:29 AM

Of course, one hates to brag!! My bird of the day today has to be the two swans in the field two over from my house. I opened my curtains this morning and blearily saw white two fields away, found the binos.. and yes... there are two swans a sitting. To far away to tell what they are unfortunatly. What a wonderful start to the day! My guess is they are wind battered and resting.
jaki

the really amazing thing is they have settled in the tiny area of the field i can see from my window!!

smartie · #12 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 11:15 AM

No birds at all so far today as the garden is overrun by squirrels. I think the resident four must have relatives visiting for the weekend - at least I hope it's only for the weekend

badgerwatcher · #13 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 11:22 AM

A green woodpecker just shot through! I hope he's checking us out for a return visit!

Garden Carpet · #14 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 05:32 PM

Came out of my friends drive and was barely straight on the road and saw a Barn Owl... went down the river through the town and around to the other side of the river... and saw a Barn Owl. I suspect it was the same one, as he eventualy crossed back over the river. (wish I could cross at that point... would save me ten miles every trip!!!)

jennyb · #15 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 05:53 PM

Mr and Mrs Green Woodpecker visited today, both at the same time but kept 3 metres apart (family tiff maybe?)

Jenny

GuyF · #16 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 02:10 PM

Today mine is a Stock Dove. One flew in over the garden but then decided not to land. I used to have a pair that were regular visitors to the feeders so hopefully they will rediscover the garden and start visiting again. If they do I should get some photos to show you.
Guy

Garden Carpet · #17 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 05:19 PM

I have had a good bird day.. this morning a Little Egret on the back road. A mixed flock of Oystercatcher, Curlew and one I couldnt make out as we passed on the river bank. This afternoon my possible first sighting of a Goldcrest... only saw it flash across in front of the car but it certainly had a bright yellow flash on the head. Took my friend back to her place, pulled up at her gates and infront of us in the trees was a female SparrowHawk!! One my way home I saw something on the road and it was a grey squirrel who moved off and sat by the tree.. about five feet from me...we watched each other for about three minutes before I wound down the window and he decided that was enough. I bet you know what I am going to say next. No Camera!!! I will carry it for weeks on end and not see anything.. but each time I leave it behind I have sightings galore!
Happy day
jaki

colincurry · #18 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 10:22 PM

I was biking back from the shops today when I saw a raptor overhead. I tuned into my road and stopped to get a better look. I followed it along the road when it flew close to a large ash tree on my right. It spooked a collared dove roosting in the tree and in the space of 50 yards had overhauled the dove and took it to ground behind a 20 foot fir hedge. I identified the raptor as a female sparrowhawk by its stature and demeanour. Is it a universal fact that females are larger and more aggressive than males?

Colin

glsammy · #19 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colincurry

I was biking back from the shops today when I saw a raptor overhead. I tuned into my road and stopped to get a better look. I followed it along the road when it flew close to a large ash tree on my right. It spooked a collared dove roosting in the tree and in the space of 50 yards had overhauled the dove and took it to ground behind a 20 foot fir hedge. I identified the raptor as a female sparrowhawk by its stature and demeanour. Is it a universal fact that females are larger and more aggressive than males?

Colin

The male is considerably smaller than the female, also a different colour, with blue-grey back whilst the female is grey-brown..here's a female I took yesterday, from our bedroom window.

PMG · #20 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 11:42 PM

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

John · #21 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

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 · #22 (**permalink**) 20-02-2007, 04:50 AM

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 · #23 (**permalink**) 20-02-2007, 06:45 AM

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

Quote:

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 · #24 (**permalink**) 20-02-2007, 08:18 AM

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