Bird of the day! - Page 73

GuyF · #**1801** (**permalink**) 19-05-2008, 08:47 PM

I saw a nice family of Dartford Warblers on one of the Dorset heaths on Sunday, here's a shot of one of the very noisy fledglings!

Also, following on from the Siskin influx over the winter I've had atleast 2 pairs breeding somewhere near my house, so over the past few days I've had up to 4 baby Siskins on the bird feeders!
Guy

agrumpycow · #**1802** (**permalink**) 20-05-2008, 07:46 PM

My birds of the day are these juvenile dunnock & robin (I think

)

They were so cute, the robin was hopping all over the lawn flapping his wings like they were his new best toy!

phil66 · #**1803** (**permalink**) 20-05-2008, 09:04 PM

hi everybody,my bird of the day is the little egret i have just seen whilst out for an evening stroll with my better half round the lakes not far from home,couldnt get very close but managed a couple of poor quality shots,lense stretched to its limit.dimg]http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/data/61/thumbs/IMG_2373.jpg[/img]ont know if pic will come up its my first time trying to upload a image into a forum thread. and i think ive just messed it up regards Phil.

pressld2 · #**1804** (**permalink**) 22-05-2008, 09:15 PM

My mum was off on a cruise to the fjords of Norway this afternoon and I took her to Tilbury. I had a spare hour so I took a brief look round Tilbury Fort where this common tern was flying circuits...

S/he was flying very close at times, just a few feet over my head, and occassionally dipping into the water. I couldn't get any photos of that, partly because there were railings in the way but mainly because it was too fast. It was great to watch though.

Dave P.

Deer Stalker · #**1805** (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 06:33 PM

Out on the Forest early this morning & saw 5 Cuckoos, definatley separate individuals. Also some Hawfinches with fledgling chicks calling from the tops of some Oaks.

Later on this afternoon in a different part of the Forest watched a kingfisher on one of the streams.

NickCantle · #**1806** (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 06:51 PM

Well I visited Lopham and Redgrave Fen today and the lack of Raft Spiders was made up by a fantastic display by FIVE circling hobbies

sleipnerofasgard · #**1807** (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 10:45 PM

Out with the dog this morning and managed to send her chasing the ball in the opposite direction of a flock of linnets and got this pic for my devious bushcraft

aeshna5 · #**1808** (**permalink**) 25-05-2008, 05:04 AM

Yesterday had a day at Brentmoor Heath- mainly for invertebrates where we saw a few rarities, but star bird was Woodlark singing with a supporting cast of Buzzard, Hobby + stonechat. Also some fine plants there too!

ClumsyAnne · #**1809** (**permalink**) 25-05-2008, 10:29 AM

Yesterday I had two birds of the day.

I went for an afternoon at Pulborough Brooks as i wanted to but some new binoculars and they had an equipment day. I bought some RSPB BG.PC 10x42 bins as I decided to upgrade from a cheap pair of Nikon bins. Boy did I notice the difference in quality. I couldn't believe the depth of view they had.

Anyway, my BOD were a hobby and whitethroat. Both of which I've never seen before

due to being relatively new to bird watching.

And I also saw a shelduck which had 11 ducklings swimming behind her on one of the brooks. They were soooo cute

John · #**1810** (**permalink**) 25-05-2008, 10:31 AM

I went to Bempton Cliffs yesterday. The weather was mainly cloudy with virtually gale force winds. It was also bitterly cold. So much so that I couldn't stand for any length of time due to my hands getting so cold I couldn't feel them.

My bird of the day was when we actually arrived in the car park. My mate Steve & I sat down at the picnic tables in the car park for a bite to eat when an absolute stonking male Black Redstart dropped onto the table next to us. Unfortunately it didn't stay long enough for a photo and was off within a few seconds of landing. We reported it to the visitors centre and apparently this was a bird that up until we reported hadn't been seen before.

Out on the cliffs and all the usual birds were there. Puffin (not in quite so many numbers), Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet & Kittiwake but the wind was so fierce it was actually hard to take photos as I couldn't keep the camera still. The wind was also making the birds veer off at acute angles without warning but at least I did manage a couple of flight shots of a Razorbill and one of a Gannet with nesting material in its beak.

John

mrs fish · #**1811** (**permalink**) 25-05-2008, 11:23 AM

That is a beautiful shot of the Gannet

tich007mt · #**1812** (**permalink**) 30-05-2008, 08:26 PM

My bird of the day yesterday:
Towards the end of an uneventful stroll round a small local pool a lovely little wren suddenly appeared among the reeds and bulrushes to first serenade me and then after flying away re-appeared with a tasty treat - a blissful couple of minutes.

Gaina · #**1813** (**permalink**) 30-05-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tich007mt

My bird of the day yesterday:
Towards the end of an uneventful stroll round a small local pool a lovely little wren suddenly appeared among the reeds and bulrushes to first serenade me and then after flying away re-appeared with a tasty treat - a blissful couple of minutes.

Great photos! He looks like he's really putting effort into singing in the first photo, judging by the way he's squinting! :P

REEVES. · #**1814** (**permalink**) 31-05-2008, 02:09 PM

My bird of the day and probably the year for me is a Hoopoo.

A few miles outside of bedford,turned of the main road onto a farm track and there it sat. At the the time i did not recignise what it was,but i knew i had seen a picture of it at some time. On the way home it came to me what it was, a quick google to make sure.

nightshade · #**1815** (**permalink**) 31-05-2008, 04:21 PM

Birds a plenty,this morning early two adult Magpies and five youngsters using the estate

(my backgarden) as a playground and now this afternoon a pair of Great Tits feeding four young and a Blue Tit feeding a branch full of fresh young as well plenty of Goldfinches and Sparrows

pressld2 · #**1816** (**permalink**) 31-05-2008, 07:53 PM

The young tits are such fun to watch, squabbling over the fatballs and peanuts. They're such natural acrobats! There were more than a dozen juvenile blue and great tits in my cherry tree at one point. Here's one of the great tits...

Dave P.

Gaina · #**1817** (**permalink**) 31-05-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

The young tits are such fun to watch, squabbling over the fatballs and peanuts. They're such natural acrobats! There were more than a dozen juvenile blue and great tits in my cherry tree at one point. Here's one of the great tits...

Dave P.

That's a lovely photo! I think bluetits are the cutests babies in the bird world.

John · #**1818** (**permalink**) 31-05-2008, 08:13 PM

In a lot of ways I had a very disappointing day as most birds I tried to find had long gone by the time I had arrived.

We went to Rutland water then to Spurn in Yorkshire. My bird of the day has to be one of the most elusive birds I have ever come across, a Marsh Warbler, but thankfully today one showed a few times at Spurn, sadly far too far away for photography.

Earlier in the day at Rutland I came across a Turtle Dove (my first of the year) that was rooting around some gravel before finally picking up a twig and suddenly flying off with it to his / her nest. It took off so quickly that I didn't have time to compose a shot and only managed two attempts before it disappeared. It was also at least 100 yards away so it has been greatly cropped to produce these photos.

John

mrs fish · #**1819** (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 07:59 AM

The Turtle Dove is lovely , there has been a solitary TD at Landguard and a Marsh Warbler

John · #**1820** (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 08:19 AM

Up until yesterday I struggled to see a Turtle Dove. I had heard a few but never found when but yesterday I saw three at Rutland water and two near Spurn.

That's the most I have ever seen in a whole year in the UK and all in one day.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrs fish

The Turtle Dove is lovely , there has been a solitary TD at Landguard and a Marsh Warbler

Dan Salter · #**1821** (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 02:52 PM

Will have to be my garden first and my personal first Spotted Flycathcer.

I suddenly today seem to have many of them in the garden so i think they must have nested and fledged?

Dan

John · #**1822** (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 03:55 PM

Now that is what I call a garden bird. You are honoured Dan. Not that many people get them in the garden so you are very fortunate.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Will have to be my garden first and my personal first Spotted Flycathcer.

I suddenly today seem to have many of them in the garden so i think they must have nested and fledged?

Dan

John · #**1823** (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 03:59 PM

I stayed at home and for the most part have been sitting down trying to work out all the Moths I caught last night.

I did a bit of gardening this afternoon when I noticed this Juvenile Black repeatedly dropping onto this berry laden bush and proceeded to strip it. This bush was laden with berries a few days ago but all that is left now are the few you can see.

One things for sure this young un has certainly found its own food source.

John