Photos from Somerset

Bobby D · #11 (**permalink**) 30-04-2011, 05:05 PM

Welcome nickynoo pleased to meet you. Congratulations on being right regards the starting, having said this a startling covered in water when taking a bath can easily be mistaken for a Blackbird.
It's funny how the Starling is often thought of as a rather drab looking bird it's not until you managed to get a close-up that one realises just how colourful they really are.

artdemole · #12 (**permalink**) 30-04-2011, 05:43 PM

Welcome from Peasedown St John.Nice start being able to post your shots.keep up the good work and we shall enjoy......

nickynoo · #13 (**permalink**) 30-04-2011, 08:36 PM

Aww thanks to all of you, what a friendly bunch you are!! I love starlings actually. The colours in them are fantastic, almost metallicy. Have taken one today of a poor blue tit with no feathers on his face. Quite sad, I think it's probably mites. Will upload one tomorrow for your opinions!!

nickynoo · #14 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 06:06 PM

OK here is the picture of the blue tit. Obviously has something wrong with it.
Also having our tea tonight in the conservatory, and within the blink of an eye a bird of prey swooped down into our garden. Quite small with brown feathers. Think possibly a kestrel. Not sure if it got something or not. It was fantastic to witness it but like I said was over within 3 seconds.

htcdude · #15 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickynoo

OK here is the picture of the blue tit. Obviously has something wrong with it.

Wow that looks crazy! No idea what it has, obviously some disease perhaps?? Or maybe it's trying to be a Turkey??

Quote:

Also having our tea tonight in the conservatory, and within the blink of an eye a bird of prey swooped down into our garden. Quite small with brown feathers. Think possibly a kestrel. Not sure if it got something or not. It was fantastic to witness it but like I said was over within 3 seconds.

Most likely a female Sparrowhawk.

Nige

nickynoo · #16 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 08:51 AM

Ha ha, yes it does look a bit like a turkey. I do think its some sort of mite problem, all the feathers down the bottom of the pic are moulting as well. Soon he will have none at all

.
As for the bird of prey, not sure if it was a sparrowhawk. After googling some pics I think it may have been a kestrel. The feathers were a light brown and i saw a flash of white. It was quite small, possiby smaller than a pigeon. Not sure how big sparrowhawks or kestrels are. I will keep a close eye to see if I see it again, which in one way would be fab but in another I dont want any of the birds eaten!

Dr Moth · #17 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 02:21 PM

Hi Nickynoo, and greetings from coastal Somerset!
Wish I could get goldfinches here, I just get starlings, wood pigeons and dozens of sparrows, despite targeting other species with all kinds of food.
I'm starting to think I should be thrilled to have dozens of House Sparrows though, numbers having declined so drastically over the last couple of decades.

Nice pics