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."

[F 129 Row66]

I just love watching the Cassowary birds fly into my garden at this time of year.

[Tomshardware]

I always notice the chiff chaffs at this time of year. They sing from the silver birches in our street.  I also saw a very dapper pied wagtail yesterday.

[zebthecat]

Hmm...
You have a point.

[Nurse Ratched]

During the day? And in Da Hood?

[zebthecat]

As it happens I would not be surprised if it was a tawny owl Nurse.
It is owl chorus time here,. There are a male and female calling each to other from the same oak tree over the back of my garden right now with other hoots responding from further away as well. I love this time.
 

[zebthecat]

Yes there do appear to be more insects out and about and it is still early.
Two cool things this week - Saw a Red Kite cruising overhead yesterday for only the second time here. Also the bats came out to hunt for the first time on Tuesday (All those yummy insects and warm weather). I love watching the little critters dart all over the place for their snacks.
Love starlings too..

[Trilby55]

Seeing a few more insects now it’s turned a bit warmer . There were a pair of Oystercatchers amongst gulls on a football pitch here in Eversley this morning .

[Nurse Ratched]

Anybody else seeing lots of flying insects? Maybe they're on a bit of a bounce back.

Meanwhile, Merlin just spazzed out and told me I have a tawny owl in my urban garden in broad daylight. To be fair there were a couple of sharp "kew-it!" but there were starlings in the garden, so I presume one was doing his Mike Yarwood bit.

[BillyJenningsBoots]

I'm no expert on our feathered friends, but am reasonably certain I just spotted a red kite circling my garden.
Absolutely majestic creature.

We get 2 or 3  circling overhead daily up here in the Rose of the Shires. We also have peregrine falcons regularly nesting in the local church spire and have had a sparrow hawk visit our garden on at least 2 occasions.

Nature is wonderful!

[Iron Duke]

I’ve got one of those nut feeders with a cage around it to stop squirrels from getting at them. The other day I saw that what I think was a bank vole who managed to climb up and squeeze inside it, enjoying a feast.

[zebthecat]

I love it this time of year as the owls are really noisy.
It is very reassuring.

[MaryMillingtonsGhost]

I'm no expert on our feathered friends, but am reasonably certain I just spotted a red kite circling my garden.
Absolutely majestic creature.

[Nurse Ratched]

This ptarmigan would like a quick word.

[zebthecat]

All they have to do is scarf the nuts down and the gizzard does the rest.
Dinosaur biology,

[Nurse Ratched]

It's not worry, as such. It's more that I underestimated them. I laughed and then thought 'how on earth can they digest that?'

[Trilby55]

They swallow large acorns whole Nurse . What worries you ? Is it that you would prefer smaller birds nibbling them as opposed to those greedy bastards ? 

[Nurse Ratched]

There is a wood pigeon in my garden swallowing monkey nuts whole. I don't know how to feel about this. 

[Mr Anon]

Here in the UK??

yes, south east coast

[Nurse Ratched]

Here in the UK??

[Mr Anon]

Saw a Bohemian Waxwing in local park around the corner yesterday. Luckily one of the people I was with is knowledgeable on birds and identified it, all I know is it looked very striking. Looked it up since and it was definitely it 

[Gibson]

[Nurse Ratched]

Oh, and monkey nuts. The birds and squirrels prefer them in their shells. When I put out shelled raw peanuts, they weren't that keen. 

[Nurse Ratched]

In case you were looking for inspiration, I buy large sacks of sunflower hearts off Amazon. The sacks are about 15kg. Cheaper to buy in bulk, of course. The suet balls I buy are called 'Extra Select Insect Suet Balls'. They have little bits of insects in them. They come in a big, tough plastic box. The empty tubs are really useful when repurposed around the house. Storage, whatever. I even use one for cold/fridge fermentation of bread dough. I also buy the RSPB's 'Buggy Nibbles' for the ground feeding birds and dried mealworms. I buy live mealworms during the spring and early summer to help the robins and tits feed their chicks.

[Nurse Ratched]

And today, for the first time, two flittery chiffchaffs.
I presume they followed the blackcap: 'warbler see, warbler do'. Can't stop grinning. Truly fantastic birding lately.

Also watched a red kite flying after a pigeon in the air with great determination. I don't know whether it was hunting it on the wing, or just got fed up of being harried and turned the tables. Do they hunt pigeons on the wing?? Also saw my great spotted woodpecker bully a parakeet off a feeder. The woody never behaves like that towards other birds, so I suspect there is aggro between them. Maybe competition for resources, nesting sites, etc. 

 

What food do the Woodpecker and parakeets go for?

Both of them eat suet balls and sunflower hearts from the vertical hanging feeders.

[stubbo]

And today, for the first time, two flittery chiffchaffs.
I presume they followed the blackcap: 'warbler see, warbler do'. Can't stop grinning. Truly fantastic birding lately.

Also watched a red kite flying after a pigeon in the air with great determination. I don't know whether it was hunting it on the wing, or just got fed up of being harried and turned the tables. Do they hunt pigeons on the wing?? Also saw my great spotted woodpecker bully a parakeet off a feeder. The woody never behaves like that towards other birds, so I suspect there is aggro between them. Maybe competition for resources, nesting sites, etc. 

 

What food do the Woodpecker and parakeets go for?