discussion Bird Watching a Relaxing Hobby

[Nicko]

Looks like a baby robin to me Pete....

Nick

 

[Tim Marlow]

I’d go with that as well Nick. Looks like a fledgling Robin. They have that “sheepish” look about them.

 

[wotan]

Hi all
let me introduce Ronnie, our blue heron who likes to have an early dinner in our river.



John

 

[tigersteve]

Lovely shot

 

[Guest]

Hi all
let me introduce Ronnie, our blue heron who likes to have an early dinner in our river.



John

Only sad as we have one who comes to see if the net is still on our pond.

 

[Guest]

Mrs Black Bird is around, clucking and sitting on the chair back, feeding as usual. This time in the undergrowth she has two of her young with her. After feeding both shes gone off. This happened yesterday, this morning we have one young chap left at the top of the garden. They were about the growth stage of the one John has, ready to enter the big wide world.

 

[wotan]

Another regular visitor to our river. The cormorant hanging out with his turtle friends. I always think they look like nuclear submarines when they swim, with only the conning tower above water.





John

 

[stillp]

We're now getting up to 4 robin fledglings coming for mealworms, although they're starting to get a bit territorial as the mature. Something I haven't seen before though is a wasp attacking a mealworm!


I wish they'd do something useful, like eating the aphids that are ruining my French beans.
Pete

 

[Mini Me]

Interesting observation Pete.........I once saw a Honey Bee attacked by a Yellow Jacket. He stripped both pollen balls from the Bee's hind legs and flew off with them, leaving the stunned Bee in a complete state of confusion, crawling about on the ground. Happened so fast I darn near missed it as well. :nerd:

 

[spanner570]

Excellent pictures. Great info. and discussion too. Nice one chaps. :thumb2:


Some shots from my recent wanderings.....

Heron with it's lunch. A lucky picture taken from the back window of our camper.


...not a zoomed in part of the above photo. The Heron stayed still for a short time allowing me to zoom in for a new picture. It was probably deciding if it could swallow the poor fish in one go.....It did!


This almost tame young Herring Gull was ever present outside our 'Home', and never shut up squealing for more food from it's parents. I took this picture just a few feet from the bird and it hardly moved!


Cheers.

Ron

 

[Dave Ward]

The cry of a Herring Gull immediately brings up memories of holidays & the seaside, but they are a real pest - aggressive, noisy and intimidating - not helped by idiots feeding them - their nests & droppings block more gutters than leaves. Many seaside councils struggle to counter the effects, but they're covered by the Wildlife & Countryside Act & Migratory Bird Act, and culling is difficult. Luckily, I'm a few miles inland from the Severn Estuary, and seem to attract predominantly Black Headed Gulls - a much quieter more unassuming cousin!
Maybe it's just my memory, but I can't remember them being a problem when I was a youngster ( 60s )
Dave

 

[Guest]

Please do not show photos of herons 570 , here at Race towers we have has a early morning visit at the pond. Although fully netted and one side is surrounded by large pots which would make entry for the bird hard. Two mornings running the "beast " has been caught looking in the stream from the filter box as the water runs back into the pond. I am surprised how such a large bird can do a near vertical take off.

Currently looking at buying a second hand anti aircraft gun system .

Excellent pictures. Great info. and discussion too. Nice one chaps. :thumb2:


Some shots from my recent wanderings.....

Heron with it's lunch. A lucky picture taken from the back window of our camper.


...not a zoomed in part of the above photo. The Heron stayed still for a short time allowing me to zoom in for a new picture. It was probably deciding if it could swallow the poor fish in one go.....It did!


This almost tame young Herring Gull was ever present outside our 'Home', and never shut up squealing for more food from it's parents. I took this picture just a few feet from the bird and it hardly moved!


Cheers.

Ron

 

[Dave Ward]

Please do not show photos of herons 570 , here at Race towers we have has a early morning visit at the pond. Although fully netted and one side is surrounded by large pots which would make entry for the bird hard. Two mornings running the "beast " has been caught looking in the stream from the filter box as the water runs back into the pond. I am surprised how such a large bird can do a near vertical take off.

Currently looking at buying a second hand anti aircraft gun system .

All the fishponds round here are heavily netted - there's a colony of Herons at Slimbridge WWT, and the local ponds were the Heron equivalent of fast food takeaways!
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

Please do not show photos of herons 570 , here at Race towers we have has a early morning visit at the pond. Although fully netted and one side is surrounded by large pots which would make entry for the bird hard. Two mornings running the "beast " has been caught looking in the stream from the filter box as the water runs back into the pond. I am surprised how such a large bird can do a near vertical take off.

Currently looking at buying a second hand anti aircraft gun system .

Don’t try a cat as a deterrent John, it doesn’t work. Mother in law’s old Tom tried to catch one that was after their fish and was apparently ten foot off the ground when he thought he’d better let go.

 

[Guest]

Morning , got up at stupid o clock 05:30 and yes it was there ! I'd left the blinds in the conservatory open , just allowing a narrow opening, but it saw movement and was off . It was just standing on the patio near the pond .
The fish after previous visits must have felt it's movement near the pond and had all gone down. Can't do much more , fully netted , pots around one side . Think I read herons like to stand in the water to hunt , can any one collaborate this please .

 

[Tim Marlow]

They certainly stand to hunt John, wether it needs to be actually in water I’m not sure. Some more ideas here though.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-w...sh-ponds/how-to-stop-herons-eating-pond-fish/
Great birds herons. They really show the dinosaur heritage if you look closely at the head……

 

[rtfoe]

Lovely photos of the Herons and the loan Cormorant.
Ever since I learnt they were called Turtledoves, I swear they have been stalking me or it's the season for a walkabout in pairs. :smiling6: ...at parking lots, shop alleys, sidewalks and next to my car. They all do look like happy couples though.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Guest]

They certainly stand to hunt John, wether it needs to be actually in water I’m not sure. Some more ideas here though.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-w...sh-ponds/how-to-stop-herons-eating-pond-fish/
Great birds herons. They really show the dinosaur heritage if you look closely at the head……

Thanks Tim, confirmation that they indeed like to be in the water to hunt.
The other good thing is the size of our net, being less than 25mm should stop any attack through it . Had a look just now and still have as an load of fish, can't count them as we have at least 30 plus. Mr Koi seems ok, possible far to big for the Heron at 18 to 20 inches in length,but I'd course could be damaged by a beak ..

Looks like another early morning stake out !

 

[Tim Marlow]

Lovely photos of the Herons and the loan Cormorant.
Ever since I learnt they were called Turtledoves, I swear they have been stalking me or it's the season for a walkabout in pairs. :smiling6: ...at parking lots, shop alleys, sidewalks and next to my car. They all do look like happy couples though.

Cheers,
Richard

What noise do yours make Richard? In Britain they actually purr when they call. It sounds very like a large cat…..

 

[Guest]

Lovely photos of the Herons and the loan Cormorant.
Ever since I learnt they were called Turtledoves, I swear they have been stalking me or it's the season for a walkabout in pairs. :smiling6: ...at parking lots, shop alleys, sidewalks and next to my car. They all do look like happy couples though.

Cheers,
Richard

I know Collard Doves mate for life, hence normally always in a pair .