Bird of the day! - Page 59

Deer Stalker · #**1451** (**permalink**) 26-01-2008, 07:46 PM

Saw some good birds on the Forest this morning: Great Spotted Wodpeckers drumming, Brambling, Crossbills, Raven, but my bird of the day is a Bullfinch who was singing his soft piping song in a Holly.

Greenish · #**1452** (**permalink**) 26-01-2008, 07:55 PM

Great Spotted Woodpecker!

Get it coming every day, I even saw 2 today, but it's still my Bird of the Day!

Bethany

Words · #**1453** (**permalink**) 26-01-2008, 10:09 PM

Mine has to be a sparrowhawk. I was messing about taking photos of a small group of starlings going overhead, when they wheeled around at came back past me. I carried on photographing them and through the viewfinder realized why they'd changed direction. A sparrowhawk was eyeing them up!

The starlings escaped unscathed this time, but the sparrowhawk flies over fairly regularly, usually just scouting and avoiding the corvids.

John · #**1454** (**permalink**) 26-01-2008, 11:00 PM

I have had an amazing two days in Norfolk and Suffolk with quite a few quality birds seen but today saw me entering the world of the bizarre when a Grey Phalarope was found on a rain puddle at Waxham, Norfolk.

By the time I had gotten there the bizarre had turned into the unbelievable when it was joined by a Sanderling. Even more bizarre the Sanderling was totally confiding (most unusual for that species) and continually walked to within four feet of me, as did the Grey Phalarope.

This will remain one of those birding days that I will not forget.

Here are a few photos of the event.

Both together on the puddle.

Three photos of the Grey Phalarope.

The Sanderling.

John

outdoorguy · #**1455** (**permalink**) 26-01-2008, 11:41 PM

mine was a woodcock.. my first definate siting... was at dusk just flew over my head.. well chuffed... james

aeshna5 · #**1456** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

I have had an amazing two days in Norfolk and Suffolk with quite a few quality birds seen but today saw me entering the world of the bizarre when a Grey Phalarope was found on a rain puddle at Waxham, Norfolk.

By the time I had gotten there the bizarre had turned into the unbelievable when it was joined by a Sanderling. Even more bizarre the Sanderling was totally confiding (most unusual for that species) and continually walked to within four feet of me, as did the Grey Phalarope.

This will remain one of those birding days that I will not forget.

Here are a few photos of the event.

Both together on the puddle.

Three photos of the Grey Phalarope.

The Sanderling.

John

Great, surreal experience John- I would have enjoyed that too! Nice photos. I rememember seeing a collection of waders in a car park puddle at Walton-on -the- Naze many years ago with at least 3 species including Ruff.

mrs fish · #**1457** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 06:57 AM

I haven't been online for two weeks due to computer troubles but my bird of the day has been the common gull, they are not that common around here as we mainly have black-headed and herring gulls.

With all the rain we had the meadow and park where I live was very flooded and I have never seen so many gulls on there, at the peak there was over 200, anyway the common gulls were doing their dance to get the worms up, it was so comical I watched them for ages

Greenish · #**1458** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 11:07 AM

I saw a Kestrel on the way back from my Football match!

Bethany

cherrybee · #**1459** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 11:25 AM

Well mine are birds of the day

Haven'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.Brilliant

Then 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.

Reptilian · #**1460** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 02:42 PM

I finally managed to get pics of the local Choughs.

There were 3 all together digging for insects from the loose shale knocking stones down the cliff which in turn knocked bigger ones which headed down the cliff towards me at an alarming rate. A rock the size of a baseball missed me by inches. Lesson learned today, do not stand below feeding Choughs on shale cliffs.

Crow · #**1461** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 03:34 PM

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 · #**1462** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 07:06 PM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrybee

Well mine are birds of the day

Haven'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.Brilliant

Then 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 · #**1463** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 07:13 PM

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 · #**1464** (**permalink**) 27-01-2008, 07:50 PM

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 · #**1465** (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

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 · #**1466** (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

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 · #**1467** (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 05:47 PM

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

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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 · #**1468** (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 07:31 PM

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 · #**1469** (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 07:47 PM

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 · #**1470** (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 08:02 PM

Hi Billy

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

John

Quote:

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

Beryl · #**1471** (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

That sounds exciting John. I do hope you get to see it. Hope the weather in France is better that here for you.
Have a good trip

Beryl

Billy Wobble Dagger · #**1472** (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 02:44 PM

Dave and John,
I'ld like to thank you for spotting my deliberate mistake so quickly and pointing it out. However, haveing seen a yellow looking wagtail i just assumed it would be a yellow wagtail. How strange to have two yellow types and one being called grey. I had a look in the gallery and now know that a real yellow wagtail also has a yellow head.
I will be more careful next time and check before posting. I've leant something new today.

Thanks guys

BWD