Bird of the day!

[Gaina]

This afternoon I watched three jackdaws deliberately launch themselves off a tall conifer into the wind, get blown backwards in an arc then land on the tree....only to repeat the exercise several times. They were definitely playing .

[Red Robin]

My local Blackbird who currently is in very fine song (I recorded him the other day) and also fine plumage with very bright yellow beak. I was walking down my drive and he swooped down off a cherry tree onto a Slow Worm in the long grass verge... Brought it onto the tarmac only a few yards from me. it was about 7-8 inches long. I naturally stopped and waited for him to do what he wanted... He broke it in two and proceeded to whack it onto the tarmac until lifeless. The other section was still wriggling and trying to make an escape but he saw that I wasn't a threat and came towards me to get it. Both were swallowed and then he returned to the cherry tree and continued singing! Nice one!

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

That sounds like a totally other kind of W.R.N.S. Wishful thinkin' perhaps?

Seriously though, I can't remember the last time I saw a wren or heard one in our area. I know they're about because I mentioned it to a near neighbour a wee while ago and she said she'd seen a couple. They must be avoiding me. lol

What birds avoiding you Jack..dont believe it lol..

My BOTD is the blue tit hanging upside-down on the bushes looking for grubs.

[bigdave60dog]

Originally Posted by Gaina

This afternoon I watched three jackdaws deliberately launch themselves off a tall conifer into the wind, get blown backwards in an arc then land on the tree....only to repeat the exercise several times. They were definitely playing .

It`s great to watch birds play. Corvids seem to to do it more than most.
I needed to go the dentist today Sawthree choices for BOTD on the way, all Skua related. 1 One of our few little terns being chased by an arctic skua. Eventually proved too nimble for the Skua who gave up. -nominate the tern. 2 This time another Actic Skua (light Phase this time) having ago at a returning flock of Actic Terns managed to pirate the food from three in a row. -nominate the Skua. 3. Bonxie (Great Skua) this time has found that if one grabs the wingtip of a gannet the gannet will be put of balance then spiral down into the sea where it will disgorge the contents of it`s crop enabling one to get good free meal. -nominate The Skua.
Take you pic.
Dave

[aeshna5]

Today I was completing my BBS survey today around Ealing (not the most exciting square) + it was generally rather quiet with cool + cloudy conditions.

Highlight was a couple of tame Jays that sat on a pillar less than 2 metres from me in a garden + they were totally unconcerned by me watching the.

When I reached the second transect another Jay again landed very close to me in some ivy on a wall. A Robin flew out uttering some alarm. The Jay appeared to be looking for a nest there, but it didn't find any.

Other highlights were seeing both Grey + Pied Wagtails had successfully bred with independent juveniles on the parched grass in the park.

[~T~]

Highlight for me today when I surfaced at noon (damn Magners drunkened me) are the blue tit pair busy feeding their chicks in the bid box in my garden

[earthdragon64]

Not so much a BOTD, but Birds of the Week as I'm just back from a week staying in a cottage on Benbecula which had no internet connection.

The highlight was a Great Northern Diver, the best views I've had of one which was on the sea next to the cottage we stayed in. It was just out of range for a photo unfortunately, but a cracking bird.

Other highlights were male and female Hen Harriers, Peregrines and more Short-eared Owls than I've ever seen before.

Also Shelduck and ducklings, Eider and ducklings, Mute Swan and cygnets and Greylag Geese and goslings. Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Redshank all with chicks. Perhaps the most unexpected were a number of Whooper Swans, I thought that they would have all gone north, but apparently a very small number stay each year.

Regards, Audrey.

[aeshna5]

I was thinking about the pair of Mute Swans at Lonsdale Road Reservoir with thier new brood (in last couple of days) of 6 cygnets, but my BOTD was a Stock Dove just saitting halfway out of a hole low down in one of the large hybrid Black Poplars. It just sat there as though it was too fat to get out, quite confiding + no doubt a nest in the hole.

[actionfinch]

16 new birds in a day . (thank you htcdude for a great day ...)
my 3 best were..( in no particular order)
Avocet with chicks..
black redstart male and female
and a couple of marsh harriers one being a juvi..

[bigdave60dog]

I spent yesterday on Sanday -another of our Islands. You may not be aware but one of our most numerous sea birds in The North is The Fulmar. When you see photos of the Old Man of Hoy the "gulls" circling will mainly be Fulmars.
Fulmars nest quite late and are still in pairs on their nests just now.
The Sanday Fulmars are extra tame and I was able to get very close to a pair at their nest without disturbing them and without them vomiting at me.
I got a lovely photo of them with the heavy "Eye shadow" that they wear during the nesting season. they even seemed to appreciate me talking to them whilst I was setting things up for the photo.
Definately my BOTD for yesterday.
Dave