For WHO's birders

[Nurse Ratched]

"I thought you might like this video.



It's a compilation of different birds singing. Beautiful photography. If you expand the 'title' under the video it gives a list of species and the times they pop up in the video. Most of the species are familiar to us in the UK, but there are some 'exotics' (the cranes - wow, what a noise!) It was filmed in Belarus. The guy has a channel you can subscribe to. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and maybe it'll take your mind off you-know-what for a few blessed minutes."

[Nurse Ratched]

"Nice one, Pickle. Looks like you're first lookout for 'Swiftwatch'."

[Hammer and Pickle]

"Sitting on the terrace with a beer about to spark the new grill up. It really is a lovely warm evening, the garden is a riot of blooms and the blackcaps are warbling it out with the blackbird. They need to get into their stride as the blackbird has got them on the back foot a bit. Nice to be expecting the first swallows and swifts any day now. Not seen any storks yet. Did you know, the first stork of the year is considered a strong omen? Generally storks in flight is a good sign - the more the better. Storks walking in the field indicate a year of setbacks while nesting storks are a portent of family issues…"

[zebthecat]

Nurse Ratched 12:51 Fri Apr 5 Red Kites were reintroduced in the Chilterns and have been spreading outwards ever since. I did see one in Turners Hill (a few miles away) last year but it is cool that have made it here at last. No ring-necked parakeets yet eirher.

[BeauLarkyBuff]

"Had a red- legged partridge in the garden today. Not seen them for while. Usual pheasants on the ground and goldfinch on the feeders. A rare sight now, the lesser spotted woodpecker, again not been a visitor for a while. Regularly get the cousin green or common woodpecker. Kites circle all day, collecting nesting stuff. I am in rural Bucks!"

[Hammer and Pickle]

Heard a Scopes owl when on an evening stroll at the foot of the Acropolis the other day. It was a POIGNANT moment. Highly recommend Athens for an off-season break.

[WHU(Exeter)]

"I had the opposite with magpies. There is normally a big family of them in one of the neighbours huge pear tree, and they would always leave the smaller birds to it when it came to the bird feeders. Was only when wood pigeons turned up that they'd get involved and bully them off, which was a good thing, as otherwise the pigeons would always scoff themselves until there was nothing left for others. sadly had to stop using the bird feeders now, as no matter how high up I put them, there would always be spillage and then the ground feeders would become regular victims of a couple neighbourlly cats who developed a very high 'hit rate'."

[Nurse Ratched]

‚ò?Ô?è @ 'very fighty'. I try not to think about it. Isn't it odd that I see red kites in urban North London much more frequently than you do in rural Sussex?

[zebthecat]

"I have wrens nesting in the hedge and saw a dunnock the other day and a Red Kite for only the second time here. The Buzzards will have have to be on point to get the roadkill first. Highlight of of the week has been the bats waking up at last. Wathcing them at dusk darting all over the place on the hunt always cheers me up; it feels like Spring at last. If only it would stop raining remorselessly Also had pair of Tawny Owls swoop over the garden at dusk this evening which is rare as they are heard rather than seen. Shame about Bullet Nurse. Life is tough as a male Robin, they are very fighty."

[joyo]

You missed one ....the ugly old bitter and twisted man hating fat bird....you only need a mirror

[Nurse Ratched]

"My greenfinches and bluetits have paired up for the season. Goldfinches, too. I haven't seen Bullet for a very long time now, so I assume he either passed away or found a different 'hood. I haven't started putting out live mealworms yet, so when I do I expect that's when I'll see robins. Parakeets still terribly polite. I have a magpie who cannot bear to see everyone feeding mostly happily alongside each other, so he swoops down just to strut about and make the others nervous. The only outright aggro I've seen other than the teasing magpie is territorial disputes between woodpigeons and collared doves and between established pairs of woodies and collars and their own kind who interlope."

[Tomshardware]

"I do like a pied wagtail, brighten the mood in usually desolate suburban landscapes."

[plankton]

"Sorry to hear of your loss, Exeter. Much sympathy and condolences....it's tough as hell when you lose a parent. Both mine have gone so I know what you're going through. Be strong, the pain will go but the memories will last for ever."

[Nurse Ratched]

"Yes, Happy New Year to WHO'S birders and general nature lovers. The parakeets have discovered my garden in the last few days. They are surprisingly polite and seem to wait their turn for the feeders. Either that or goldfinches are more intimidating than they look."

[WHU(Exeter)]

"(and bee keepers, if we have any)"

[WHU(Exeter)]

"Same to you Zeb, Happy New Year to all of WHO's birders, sowers, seeders."

[zebthecat]

Happy New Year to all you fellow WHO birders.

[zebthecat]

"Saw a Red Kite cruising overhead today, First one I have seen since moving here 18 years ago and it was great to see it changing direction effortlessly with a mere flick of the tail. The Buzzards now have a new rival in the search for carrion."

[Mex Martillo]

"Well done Hammer, nice result. I am back home at my 90 year old Dads. He needs full time care now and my brother has to visit nearly every day. It's a nice break for my brother that I'm here for the week. I think its great Dad is still in his own house, even if most think we are taking a risk doing that. Anyway, birds, in my opinion, my brother exaggerates feeding the birds. He does it to entertain my Dad. I'd estimate a good kilo of seed, fat balls, worms go out every day. The finches, tits and robins are lovely, I must admit. However, there is a flock of fat pigeons that seem to live on my Dads house roof, that does not impress me. Squirrels and hate to think what get into the vermin proof feeders by hanging from adjacent branches etc. The grass under feeders is mud from all the wear of those little bird feet. Plenty of bird shit around, fertiliser? Has to be a good vermin population profiting from this. Vermin were into the seed in the shed, but now all is in vermin proof old plastic milk containers. For me its out of control! A blooming health hazard. But I going along with it. Easier that way. What do the WHO's birders think?"

[Hammer and Pickle]

Done. Hung around in the garden PREENING as I filmed. Altogether a highly satisfying result.

[Hammer and Pickle]

Exactly. Son insists on the release today so we’ll be performing the ceremony after breakfast

[lab]

I’d be inclined to release it now as it may become a little tame otherwise and be easily picked off by a sparrow hawk .

[lab]

I’d be inclined to release it now as it may become a little tame otherwise and be easily picked off by a sparrow hawk .

[Hammer and Pickle]

"So was watching the game and out of the corner of my eye saw a flying bird and then a thump on the window, which could have only meant one thing. So out I went to find a prone goldfinch that was still breathing but clearly in need of assistance. The younger boy, being good at this sort of thing, wrapped it up warm and, having ascertained nothing was broken, fed it sugar water with a syringe. Meantime, I dug out an old birdcage from behind the shed, cleaned it up and fitted it out in some berried shrub and spruce branches. The bird has settled down well and is on its second meal of sunflower seed and mealworms. I'm in two minds whether to release it tomorrow or wait until spring. Beautiful little fellow."

[WHU(Exeter)]

"Cheers Mex. He could see things, but only really close up, it was the leg pains he had though, that made it such a surprise that he did it all in such a short time for me. I mentioned cutting through onto the railway verge, and told him he could get in trouble for that. He ignored that and went on to plant potatoes in there, as well as a few flowers."

[zebthecat]

My local Tawny Owls are very chatty this week. It is one the many reasons I love living here.