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16-12-2007, 08:43 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 2,125
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
My bird of the day today is the starling. But not just any old starling - it's one particular bird I'm thinking of.
I was watching them all come in to roost at Crossness in Bexley this evening. They all congregate on the electricity wires before roosting on the roof of a large electricity substation. To start with there's just a few individuals... 
Then a few more turn up... 
And a few more... 
Then swarms of them start coming in... 
Until the wires are thick with birds all chattering and gossiping amongst themselves... 
Finally, as if at some signal only they can hear, they lift off the wires and head for their roost... 
All, that is, apart from poor old Billy No-mates! 
One minute there's literally thousands of birds and the next minute it's just him. He was still sitting there all alone when I left for my own roost. I don't like to think of him as having no friends so I've convinced myself that he's really a maverick, an individual who thinks for himself and doesn't just follow the herd. Good for him!
Dave P.
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"Everywhere I turn, all the beauty just keeps shaking me." - Amy Ray |
16-12-2007, 09:23 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Posts: 3,409
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Out on the New Forest today I was lucky enough to see 2 Peregrine Falcons having an in-flight scrap.
Then later in the afternoon watching 2 Hen Harriers come in to roost.  |
17-12-2007, 08:44 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Plymouth Devon UK
Posts: 130
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Well not actually today, it was yesterday..
I managed not only to spot but also to get some photos of a black cap, a black redstart, dunnock,meadow pipit,grey wagtail,pied wagtail and a stone chat.. They were all hanging around the tideline at a local beach except for the Dunnock which was scavenging around the bottom of one of the bins at the entrance to the beach..
I didnt put them on here yesterday as I needed confirmation on the id of a couple of them.. Needless to say I am pretty pleased with myself |
17-12-2007, 09:24 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 1,074
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Dave, they are fantastic photos  . Stomperone, I look forward to seeing those photos when you can get them in the gallery
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I ♥ Bill Oddie. So there. |
19-12-2007, 07:44 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,250
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
No pics but had great views of my first Rough Legged Buzzard at Elmley while i was working on monday !...Magnificent birdy.
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20-12-2007, 07:26 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Posts: 3,409
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Went up the New Forest this afternoon & saw a few bits & pieces including Dartford Warblers & Crossbills, but the Great Grey Shrike was the highlight.
Managed to get a (rubbishy) pic of it  |
21-12-2007, 12:45 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 1,074
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
The elusive Fieldfare. I finally caught the little stinker! (and nearly got frostbite in the process)  
I think the second photograph makes him look really grumpy with that light colouration under the chin .
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I ♥ Bill Oddie. So there. |
21-12-2007, 06:05 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kensworth, Bedfordshire - a village in the Chiltern Hills
Posts: 1,665
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
I've just come back from a short break in North Norfolk, only the second time I've really done any bird watching this year.
My bird of the day for yesterday was a Lapland Bunting at Salthouse, the first I've ever seen. It was in amongst a small flock of Snow Buntings.
My bird of the day for today was this very friendly Robin, who was very keen to devour the crumbs left over from the cornish pastie I bought at the Titchwell Marsh visitor centre.  |
21-12-2007, 06:42 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,976
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete Collins  I've just come back from a short break in North Norfolk, only the second time I've really done any bird watching this year.
My bird of the day for yesterday was a Lapland Bunting at Salthouse, the first I've ever seen. It was in amongst a small flock of Snow Buntings.
My bird of the day for today was this very friendly Robin, who was very keen to devour the crumbs left over from the cornish pastie I bought at the Titchwell Marsh visitor centre. | Very festive! Good picture. There was an interesting photo in the papers yesterday of a leucistic Robin, lacking the typical red breast, certainly unlike any I've ever seen.
I'm envious of the Lapland Bunting as it's been a few years since I last saw one! |
21-12-2007, 07:36 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kensworth, Bedfordshire - a village in the Chiltern Hills
Posts: 1,665
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by aeshna5 ...
I'm envious of the Lapland Bunting as it's been a few years since I last saw one! | Hi aeshna5,
I was just lucky with the Lapland Bunting. When I was at Titchwell Marsh the day before (Wednesday) an experienced local birder was next to me by the beach and pointed out a Med Gull on the sea. We got talking, and when I said I was going to Cley the next day, he told me about the Lapland and Snow Buntings at Salthouse (next village along coast from Cley). When I got there, two photographers had obviously been putting down some feed almost next to the car park, and I managed to spot the Lapland Bunting amongst the Snow Buntings there. Another birder told me that the locals had been putting food out for the Buntings about 200 yards from the car park.
So they're likely to be there for some while if you're ever in the area and want to see a Lapland Bunting again.
The Robins at the visitor centre at Titchwell Marsh are incredible, and there was also a female blackbird that came as close to where I sat eating as this robin did. And yes, I saw something about the leucisitic robin, too.
Pete |
22-12-2007, 11:28 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,976
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete Collins Hi aeshna5,
I was just lucky with the Lapland Bunting. When I was at Titchwell Marsh the day before (Wednesday) an experienced local birder was next to me by the beach and pointed out a Med Gull on the sea. We got talking, and when I said I was going to Cley the next day, he told me about the Lapland and Snow Buntings at Salthouse (next village along coast from Cley). When I got there, two photographers had obviously been putting down some feed almost next to the car park, and I managed to spot the Lapland Bunting amongst the Snow Buntings there. Another birder told me that the locals had been putting food out for the Buntings about 200 yards from the car park.
So they're likely to be there for some while if you're ever in the area and want to see a Lapland Bunting again.
The Robins at the visitor centre at Titchwell Marsh are incredible, and there was also a female blackbird that came as close to where I sat eating as this robin did. And yes, I saw something about the leucisitic robin, too.
Pete | Excellent stuff- I do enjoy buntings; the only I see with any regularity is Reed, though I did see c20 Snow Buntings at Titchwell 3 weeks ago. I picked up a Med Gull on the beach there too, so must be a regular, though I think it may have been the first I'd seen there!  |
22-12-2007, 09:53 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Posts: 3,409
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Not too much about this afternoon, so my bird of the day is this Little Egret.  |
23-12-2007, 07:50 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: A few miles north of Salisbury Wiltshire but still on the Plain
Posts: 39
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Us too - Little Egret in the river Bourne, north of Salisbury |
23-12-2007, 08:09 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby, Lincs
Posts: 1,573
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
I have a couple today
Firstly Kestrel that was in the garden early this afternoon, it came out from near a pyracanta bush that the sparrow sit in, so i guess it was after a feathery meal rather than a furry one it's a first for the garden anyhow.
And secondly a Pochard that was on my local lake with the Tufted Duck, we've had up to 6 before but this was the first of the winter i've seen |
23-12-2007, 08:31 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Erith, Kent
Posts: 333
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Today i went down for the Little Auk at Southwick Canal, West Sussex which showed well just not close enough for a good shot so only ended up with record shots..!! 
But my bird of the day has to be the Jack Snipe which showed very well at Widewater Lagoon, West Sussex.. 
There was Glaucous Gull on Southwick Canal in the morning as well as Long-Tailed Duck at Hove Lagoon all in the space of a couple of miles ...
Great days birding ... |
23-12-2007, 09:15 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Plymouth Devon UK
Posts: 130
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
My bird/s of the day are not anything rare or unusual but they are a first I have seen in my garden .. One was a thrush and the other which I was really pleased about was a Dunnock as I normally travel to Dartmoor to try to capture this bird on my camera .. Now I can do it at home in the warm .. |
23-12-2007, 10:47 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ryde Isle of Wight
Posts: 69
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
I walked down to my local nature reserve - the Hersey at Seaview Isle of Wight, and I saw 20 Snipe all feeding in the marshey field area. This is the most I've ever seen. Also seen were the large flock of feral Barnacle geese on the field opposite, 6 Lapwings, several Little Grebe and a Little Egret. |
24-12-2007, 02:49 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kensworth, Bedfordshire - a village in the Chiltern Hills
Posts: 1,665
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanderling I walked down to my local nature reserve - the Hersey at Seaview Isle of Wight, and I saw 20 Snipe all feeding in the marshey field area. This is the most I've ever seen. Also seen were the large flock of feral Barnacle geese on the field opposite, 6 Lapwings, several Little Grebe and a Little Egret. | Welcome to WAB, sanderling! I don't think I've ever seen that many Snipe together, either.
My bird of the day was a Red Kite, which was flying near Ivinghoe Beacon as I was driving back from a walk around lunchtime. My favourite bird, and only about six miles from where I live! It's one of the closest sightings to home I've had, I'm sure I'll see one from my own village soon. |
24-12-2007, 10:52 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: East Sussex
Posts: 384
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
My Christmas Eve bird of the day had to be this Long-tailed duck at Hove Lagoon, Sussex. Gave my news lens a nice test...  
Cheers Jacob |
25-12-2007, 05:27 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: A few miles north of Salisbury Wiltshire but still on the Plain
Posts: 39
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
10 long tailed tits, blue tits, great tits approx 50 greenfinches, pheasants, starlings, dunnock, rooks, pidgeon, little egret, 2 herons, robin, wren, fieldfare, blackbirds, (and 5 deer) all in a 3 mile walk - so - what a great day |
25-12-2007, 08:14 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 1,074
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MagpieMick Today i went down for the Little Auk at Southwick Canal, West Sussex which showed well just not close enough for a good shot so only ended up with record shots..!!
But my bird of the day has to be the Jack Snipe which showed very well at Widewater Lagoon, West Sussex..
There was Glaucous Gull on Southwick Canal in the morning as well as Long-Tailed Duck at Hove Lagoon all in the space of a couple of miles ...
Great days birding ... | They are very respectable 'record oeoeoeoeoe', Mick!
We had a flock of various seagulls in the garden because the people that back onto us had put scraps on their shed roof - Mam went outside with some bread and had a great time throwing it up in the air for them to catch!
The car park at the front was also full of chaffinches this morning. The birds were so busy today!
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I ♥ Bill Oddie. So there. |
25-12-2007, 10:33 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,561
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
My bird of the day is one we take for granted - sometimes to the point of not even liking it, or completely overlooking it.
Its only been a breeding resident in this country for a little over 50 years, (after first breeding here in 1955 and yet, only 17 years later, the population was estimated at over 40,000 pairs)!
There has been nothing like this bird in terms of rate of breeding success on our islands, and there possibly won't be either.
The population of this species is now pretty well uncountable.
Its call is often mistaken for that of a Cuckoo - though my bird of the day generally gives three notes to its repeated call, unlike the cuckoo's two.
There are a few birds in Britain with red eyes - mainly waterbirds.
Some of our Grebes, the Merganser,the Coot and Moorhen, the Oystercatcher and Pochard spring to mind, but along with the Dartford Warbler, this bird is one of the very few "land-based" birds to exhibit a quite stunning RED eye, albeit quite dark in this species - a "dark crimson" rather than bright red.
I popped out of the office briefly this evening, to photograph one on its roost, in the office courtyard. I had a wee bit of trouble with the focus, as it was in the pitch black, but I think the result isn't too bad... and the flash (which the Dove didn't mind at all), seemed to really make the crimson eye a brighter red.
The bird of the day for me on Christmas day, is NOT a Partridge in a Pear Tree, but .....
The humble (yet stunningly successful) Collared Dove. 
NB. Clicking on the thumbnail to bring the image up, and THEN clicking on the image seems to sharpen up my photo to its original quality. I have no idea why!
Doug |
25-12-2007, 11:03 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 1,074
| | | Re: Bird of the day!
That's a lovely photograph Doug, and I see what you mean about it sharpening....odd.
I love my 'Mr and Mrs Dove' they come for breakfast, lunch and dinner at pretty much the same time every day (that changes slightly in the summer because of the extra daylight but still they manage to have a routine - incredible).
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