Bird of the day! - Page 69

pressld2 · #**1701** (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 06:30 PM

Hi Endrick and a warm welcome to WAB!

The white head and neck feathers are developed by some individuals in the breeding season. I hadn't seen it myself until earlier this year when there were several white headed birds in my local river, the Thames.

I started a thread about it which is here, and was pointed to an earlier thread on the same subject which is here.

Dave P.

tufftie · #**1702** (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 06:53 PM

Honey buzzard between Glynde and Berwick

Isn't it a little early though? Seen them before and it definitely was - had a really good view too.

Kayleigh · #**1703** (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tufftie

Honey buzzard between Glynde and Berwick

Isn't it a little early though? Seen them before and it definitely was - had a really good view too.

Where was your camera

tufftie · #**1704** (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Where was your camera

Guess - lol

but there are some pretty good photos of flowers and fungi waiting to be uploaded on it

Endrick · #**1705** (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

Hi Endrick and a warm welcome to WAB!

The white head and neck feathers are developed by some individuals in the breeding season. I hadn't seen it myself until earlier this year when there were several white headed birds in my local river, the Thames.

I started a thread about it which is here, and was pointed to an earlier thread on the same subject which is here.

Dave P.

Thanks for that, I've been watching a particular group of about 30 for some years and this is the only one with this particular coloration. I'd never seen it before.

Malcolm

2dogs2000 · #**1706** (**permalink**) 13-04-2008, 10:14 PM

My husband (non bird watcher) noticed a natural pond near the car park of a DIY store and most visitors to the store are unaware of this pond. It is surrounded by factories and appears to have no access to it. We always have a little look at the pond when we are there and what did we see on Thursday but my very first kingfisher. It was just a flash of blue as it flew across the pond. There was also a grey heron and either a moorhen or coot. It was too far away for me to be sure. It's amazing where nature settles. We will be keeping a look out for the kingfisher now we know where it is. I doubt whether I will ever get a photo of it though as I don't want to draw attention to its whereabouts (and I would feel a bit daft in a DIY store car park birdwatching).

Dan Salter · #**1707** (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 07:46 PM

Saw my first Swallow of the year today...well 15 of them actually flying really close over my head and all around me...really contrasting against the black black stormy sky that unleashed itself on me minutes later!...was worth it though.

tufftie · #**1708** (**permalink**) 15-04-2008, 04:26 PM

Saw three red kites from the train today - not quite sure where abouts i was but think in the Chilterns area.

Deer Stalker · #**1709** (**permalink**) 15-04-2008, 06:46 PM

Up the Forest at the weekend the best birds were a pair of Ravens, some Hawfinches & my first Tree Pipits of the year.

Pete Collins · #**1710** (**permalink**) 15-04-2008, 07:35 PM

I can come up with a mixture of the previous two posts - I heard a pair of Ravens in the Chiltern Hills today! They were near Stoke Row, Oxfordshire.

I heard and saw one yesterday, near Nuffield, and again last Wednesday near Swyncombe (even got a very poor quality photo).

John · #**1711** (**permalink**) 15-04-2008, 07:47 PM

Two of the Brambling are still visiting the garden, plus I had a male Blackcap briefly as well just before I left for work.

My bird of the day though has to be one of the many female Blackbirds that visit my garden. This one was thrashing around in the undergrowth collecting nesting material.

John

Gaina · #**1712** (**permalink**) 15-04-2008, 07:54 PM

One of my birds is the Raven which I positively identified as she mobbed a buzzard and I got to see her size compared to the buzzard. It's the same pair we had up on the hill last spring/summer and I'm a very happy bunny.

My second bird(s) are the robins who were in and out of the small conifer that is near my back door in January. They decided to move in and our now frantically feeding babies....

This is the first 'action' shot I've ever deliberately taken of a bird, so I'm quite pleased with it. I just need to get the shutter speeds right now

.

agrumpycow · #**1713** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 06:38 PM

My bird of the day is the song thrush.
I've heard a bird singing at work recently and couldn't identify it by song alone. Then today a sudden fight broke out in the trees and it was a song thrush trying to scare off a magpie who was too close to a nest. A bit later it started to sing and I recognised it as the bird I'd heard!

John · #**1714** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 06:46 PM

I started a diary thread regarding a couple or so Bramblings that have been visiting me on a daily basis for well over a month now. This is a link to it.
Diary of my long staying Brambling (with photos)

But today was a real red letter day when eight of them arrived, six male and two female.

I never ever expected to see so many in my garden. A real bonus.

John

wyevilla · #**1715** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 07:32 PM

My bird of the day was the red kite I saw on my way back from Weymouth this evening. I came back via Hardy's Monument and had a fantatic encounter.

I had a fantastic view of the tail and the the under-wing markings in the golden evening sun. Against the blue of the sky it was a truly wonderful sight.

I've seen them in both Scotland and Pembrokeshire but at last I've seen one in my native County!

Yee hah!!

Jez · #**1716** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Where was your camera

Quote:

Originally Posted by tufftie

Guess - lol

but there are some pretty good photos of flowers and fungi waiting to be uploaded on it

Ooops "feeling rather guilty"

GuyF · #**1717** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyevilla

My bird of the day was the red kite I saw on my way back from Weymouth this evening. I came back via Hardy's Monument and had a fantatic encounter.

I had a fantastic view of the tail and the the under-wing markings in the golden evening sun. Against the blue of the sky it was a truly wonderful sight.

I've seen them in both Scotland and Pembrokeshire but at last I've seen one in my native County!

Yee hah!!

Snap! My bird of the day is also a Red Kite, and also seen in Dorset. It's the first one I've seen here as well (the first I've seen in Britain actually!). I don't think that they breed in the county at the moment, so I suppose that it must be a good time for them migrating.
It was great to see one, they're such magnificent birds, I managed to get a few record shots, I may upload them later.
Guy

Gill Catton · #**1718** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 08:52 PM

I saw 22 fieldfare today!! still on their winter holidays!

agrumpycow · #**1719** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyF

Snap! My bird of the day is also a Red Kite, and also seen in Dorset. It's the first one I've seen here as well (the first I've seen in Britain actually!). I don't think that they breed in the county at the moment, so I suppose that it must be a good time for them migrating.
It was great to see one, they're such magnificent birds, I managed to get a few record shots, I may upload them later.
Guy

It's funny, reading posts about seeing red kites makes me realise how lucky I am seeing them several times a day at work and at home here on the Berks/Oxon border.
I have to keep reminding myself not to get too blase about seeing them; today there were two hovering over my garden so low I could see their eyes.
They are magnificent birds!

Pete Collins · #**1720** (**permalink**) 16-04-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

It's funny, reading posts about seeing red kites makes me realise how lucky I am seeing them several times a day at work and at home here on the Berks/Oxon border.
I have to keep reminding myself not to get too blase about seeing them; today there were two hovering over my garden so low I could see their eyes.
They are magnificent birds!

You ARE very lucky, agrumpycow! And I think they are magnificent too. I'm very envious of people who see Red Kites every day.

They are slowly spreading to the eastern end of the Chilterns, I've seen them here in Kensworth twice now and four times in the neighbouring village of Whipsnade (goodness knows what they make of the zoo animals!). So hopefully they will eventually become as common here as they are in your area.

Weather permitting, I'll be walking in the Oxon part of the Chilterns tomorrow, where I'll have no difficulty seeing lots of Red Kites (heard and/or seen Ravens on my last three walks there too).

tufftie · #**1721** (**permalink**) 17-04-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jez

Ooops "feeling rather guilty"

No probs - whenever you get the computer fixed

Though one of the first things i'm getting sorted out (when i get to the tepee) is a braodband laptop..you should be able to do it from that

They are good photos you took..well worth putting up

Pete Collins · #**1722** (**permalink**) 17-04-2008, 06:55 PM

Very surprisingly I only had a brief glimpse of a Red Kite on my walk in Oxfordshire today - I reckon they were all holding a party in agrumpycow's garden!

I did see several as I drove to and from Goring though - including one that swooped and picked something from the road about 100yds in front of me.

My bird of the day was a lovely Grey Wagtail (sorry, no photo), on the river Thames near Goring.

Bwrack · #**1723** (**permalink**) 17-04-2008, 07:03 PM

My bird of yesterday was.....a whimbrel, very obligingly together with some curlews (I sometimes have a little trouble with identification with these two)
this was at Oare nr Faversham