A few "flyovers" for homework - a reasonable list?

[Deb London]

I continue to be separated from my bins. I could now be described as a desperate woman, at least as far as watching migration is concerned.

I am putting together a short list of small birds that I can imagine might call as they fly over my head around this time of year, in and around London.

I have:

Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Siskin, Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit.

Six calls for now. Are these reasonable species? Are there any that I probably should learn as well as these?

Thanks for any advice.

[earthdragon64]

Slightly bigger birds, but I'd add Fieldfare and Redwing, and maybe Waxwing as well.

Even larger, maybe different Geese you're likely to see and Whooper Swans.

Curiosity is getting the better of me, why are you separated from your bins.

Regards, Audrey.

[Deb London]

The dioptre (?) broke and they were sent back to Germany (I think) only for assessment (whatever that means) and the man in In Focus warned it would take a long time to get them back (and I'm wondering whether I should buy a second pair, or go for counselling, as it is a very difficult thing to cope with, such a sad loss ).

Good suggestions. I was concentrating on the smaller birds. And then I read that I might hear Redwings at night. I'm up at night (very late in the night) and sometimes out and about, so that sounded great, if it's true. And it's nothing to do with the fact that not having bins wouldn't matter if it was dark.

[loripo]

I think 'dioptre' is a lens refraction measurement, re the birds have you tried 'videoing' at night? When I try that on my cameras the sound fades in and out as though it's too busy trying to focus in low light. I often hear birds I'm not sure of, in the early hours. So if you find a way of recording them do let us know.

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by loripo

I think 'dioptre' is a lens refraction measurement, re the birds have you tried 'videoing' at night? When I try that on my cameras the sound fades in and out as though it's too busy trying to focus in low light. I often hear birds I'm not sure of, in the early hours. So if you find a way of recording them do let us know.

Yes, it doesn't make sense to me either. But I'm sure he wrote something like that.

The sound recording sounds interesting. I have never tried to video at night. Nor have I tried to birdwatch blindfold. But activities of this sort of sounding increasingly appealing.

[Tringa]

I take your binoculars are good ones, Deb.

I've heard binocular repair is sometimes close to or more than the cost of a new pair.

Hope you get them back soon. I'd feel the same about not having binoculars as I would being without a camera or the Internet.

Dave

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Six calls for now. Are these reasonable species? Are there any that I probably should learn as well as these?

I would start by learning all of the common species first that are found within your area. Once you know these, other species will become more obvious. You need to learn them all eventually, the longer you spend in the field the quicker this will happen. Also you can look for clues in the flight such as shape, movement, colour etc. Goldfinch for example still show the yellow wing bars which are clear without bins and Reed bunting show a very slow faltering flight etc.

[Deb London]

Thanks Dave. I hope so. They came with a lifetime guarantee and I was always really careful with them. Thanks for the sympathy.

Thanks Dan. I have learned some of the ones we get all the time. I've learned Chaffinch. And Goldfinch, except I think the Siskin-like wheep can confuse me, and Linnets do not sound dissimilar in other ways. I think I know Greenfinch. Forgot about Reed Bunting. Interesting about the faltering flight.

[Deb London]

I found this, and decided it was quite helpful.

Siskin is a very very clear Pee-ooo, with the ooo of a lower pitch. one of Redpoll's flight calls is hooo-eee where the eee is higher, though they more often use a sort of buzzing and rolling chhh-chhh-chhh-chhh

Hopefully someone can confirm.

[tigertom]

Hi deb I am no good at describing calls but the ones redwing use at night when flying over easy to recognize once you have heard it, I hear them a lot though this month
MIIKE