discussion Bird Watching a Relaxing Hobby

[Guest]

We have just had 18 young starlings in the new cut grass. I think they where happy.

They seems to have had a perfect year for breeding, we have had a record number of young, all very keen on mealy worms.

 

[Ian M]

A good year for all the feathered friends, some more welcomed than others. On the less gappy side is a whole flock of magpie!
There ust be twenty or more all of which went to war in the tree outside our bedroom window. At 3:30 this a.m.

 

[Guest]

A good year for all the feathered friends, some more welcomed than others. On the less gappy side is a whole flock of magpie!
There ust be twenty or more all of which went to war in the tree outside our bedroom window. At 3:30 this a.m.

Ian , just yesterday we saw a Magpie being chased by a Collared Dove, it was in full pursuit.

 

[stillp]

Ian , just yesterday we saw a Magpie being chased by a Collared Dove, it was in full pursuit.

I'd have expected the other way around!
Pete

 

[tigersteve]

Nice encounter with a Robin this morning at Derwent Water in Cumbria - me patient with camera and my wife patient with the scone

 

[Tim Marlow]

That’s just great Steve. Lovely shots!

 

[Guest]

I'd have expected the other way around!
Pete

Yes indeed, but think an incursion by the Magpie into the nesting area was the result.

 

[tigersteve]

We are near Edinburgh now - visited Cramond Island, accessible twice daily at low tide, concrete pylons are about 3 metres tall, installed to stop U Boats sneaking in..... nice views of the 3 bridges and of course plenty of birds around! - heron and curlew

 

[Ian M]

I'd have expected the other way around!
Pete

We have had a falcon buzzing around the garden for a few days. It is amusing to see the smaller swallows, sparrow and blackbirds chase it off..

 

[Guest]

My female Black Bird is back, suddenly turned up yesterday and followed me around the garden while I was watering.
This afternoon she landed on the back of a chair and stared at me, with her head on one side, as if asking for food. Put some on the table and called her.




Just shows how trusting she is, I moved my hand onto the table and she didn't bother.

 

[Jim R]

That's great John. It's a wonderful feeling when a wild creature shows such trust. At the moment the hot weather means water is needed more than food.
Jim

 

[Guest]

That's great John. It's a wonderful feeling when a wild creature shows such trust. At the moment the hot weather means water is needed more than food.
Jim

It is indeed Jim. Yesterday she was waiting for the water to soak into the soil and bring worms to the surface . The water from the filter house runs back into the pond through some stones, most mornings there are birds drinking and bathing. We sit for hrs watching them .

 

[Modler bob]

not exactly a hobby, but the wife and I love to see small birds in the garden (or anywhere come to that)
we had a family of blue tits nesting in a small box on our fence last year, unfortunately not this year, but plenty of sparrows and a couple of Robins.
I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but we also have a family of squirrels in a tree or at least 3 we've seen
my wife put's peanuts out for them.

 

[Modler bob]

A couple of pics.........

 

[wotan]

We're having a mini heat wave here in Quebec. So our American Kingfisher decided to take a little break in the shade.



John

 

[Tim Marlow]

Nice….something of the kookaburra about him……same genus I know…..

 

[spanner570]

Really nice images on this thread. Well done to all....
Here's a few from me 'ols.

A family of Canada Geese


.....just 18 days later. Look how the babies have grown! There are still 6 youngsters, but one refused to come into shot. A bit fuzzy 'cos I was a long way from the group.


My wife's favourite seabird. The Oyster Catcher.


A Heron. I snapped this from my canoe.



We always take a bird feeder with us when we go camping. You never know what might turn up ( More on this later !)
A Nuthatch.


Then along came it's offspring.


A Great Tit and Child.


Cheers.
Ron

 

[Andy the Sheep]

A mallard, disturbed by a wandering tourist, taking off in the Dolomiti area. I'm still wondering how I managed to get it. It was just instinctive shooting as I was trying to stealthily approach its group for some more detailed pics .

This is the group, now waterborne, I was trying to capture with my camera on land.

With today heat I would happily join the mallards in the stream, even squeaking, if needed! :face-with-thermometer::dizzy:
Andrea

 

[Tim Marlow]

Just seen this on my back lawn…….apologies for the grainy picture, but it was taken using an IPad, on maximum zoom, through an upstairs window…..

It’s a green woodpecker, very difficult to tell I know. We seem to get them at this time of year, probably after the ants that live in the lawn.

 

[stillp]

What's this little fella then:
Pete