JohnS Posted May 27, 2018 Share Posted May 27, 2018 Thank you for your posts LinMM and please do let us know about the blue tits. Saw baby starlings with parents working overtime on the seed feeder yesterday for the first time this Spring. Still waiting for the baby woodpeckers who'll sit on the fence whilst the parents have a good go at the peanuts for them. I'm afraid I saw a magpie take a baby blue tit a couple of years ago so would prefer if they'll keep away. Do hope you see a baby jackdaw: they seem completely oblivious to risk and look quite happy scurrying around on the ground rather than flying. Sadly no osprey eggs this year at Dodd Wood, Bassenthwaite Lake just a few minutes away. The old male is back but there's a new, much younger female who's not yet ready to breed - hopefully there'll be some chicks next year. It's rather taken away the attraction for the many visitors. The Forestry Commission have also been doing a great deal of work so the red squirrels are not so readily visible. The wood will of course regenerate and it will be good to see how things settle and the new views from the cleared trees. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonrothbart Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 The blue tits in our box have been working tirelessly for a couple of weeks, so I guess it won't be too long before they fledge the nest. I'm always a little concerned after they hatch, and just hope a cat doesn't kill the parents, leaving the babies to starve. That has happened before, and it's just horrible to find eight fully feathered little birds, lying there motionless. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 One of the downsides of putting up boxes etc and then getting involved in the outcome ( probably too much) is when something goes wrong. a couple of years ago a blackbird nested in one of our hedges and a magpie destroyed the nest....very upsetting ....but I don't hold it against the magpies....just felt so sorry for the blackbirds who are such brave and fearsome parents. Bluetits are still working very hard!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonrothbart Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 Well hopefully the young ones have fledged the nest yesterday, I never actually saw them leave, but there's been no signs of the adults. It's fingers crossed time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 A pair of these partridges have taken to making evening forays on our lawn. Quite shy but rather charming in the way they potter around together. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonrothbart Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 That's a lovely pic Quintus. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 Just WOW Quintus, thanks for sharing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 At last I've seen some swifts this year...about 8 of them flying over the allotment this evening but difficult to count because of the different height levels they fly at ....some go really high ...so may have been more ...so pleased they've turned up at last though they are usually most vociferous mid July to mid August. The baby starling count in the garden has gone up to twelve!! They are at that stage where the adults are no longer feeding them so the babies hang around in large groups....they do spend quite a bit of time in my garden probably just because we feed the birds. Some of the earlier fledgers have already got some dark spots developing on the breast area. Also a rare thing for us here in the heights of Saltdean....a jay appeared in the garden....I think a first ( though I often see them in Islington in London where I stay sometimes) I think it has followed the jackdaws ....we did put out some monkey nuts last week. So plenty of noise around 5.30 ish in the morning at the moment!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 They are making a racket in the garden now and it isn’t even 4.10. It’s been going on since about 3.30! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Thanks Quintus for the lovely picture- I don't see many partridges now sadly. Do they have a family? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 2 hours ago, Shade said: Thanks Quintus for the lovely picture- I don't see many partridges now sadly. Do they have a family? We haven't seen any so far - just the pair of them appearing morning and evening. Fingers crossed for The Partridge Family revival though! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Not really bird watch but my mad dog Chip loves swimming in the local Marine Lake. This evening a couple of terns must have thought he looked like supper at dove at him before they realised he was a dog and flew off smartly! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonrothbart Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Still not heard a cuckoo in these parts, very unusual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Most of the partridges are breed and released for the season. Those that have naturalised, because they are ground nesters, are at increased risk during incremental weather from predators. Probably explains the low numbers this year. Same with the dizzy pheasants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 I've only heard a cuckoo once this year so far ....down in Cornwall near a wooded bit of Bodmin. Heard none in Sussex so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 "Dizzy pheasants?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Not to mention the "incremental weather"! Got to love autocorrect, I guess Changing the subject slightly, we seem to be very short on ladybirds this year. Anyone else found that? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Yes although I saw one of those invasive harlequin ones on some dead flowers in my dustbin just now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Oops, inclement weather. We never had a spring going from harsh winter weather to very hot, dry days. I alwats think pheasants are dizzy. They stand on the verge waiting for vehicles to approach then dash out into the road, rush backwards and forwards then suddenly remember they can fly so with a lot of fuss take off to land feet away on opposite verge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Ha ha Jane a very apt description of some of the pheasants I see!! 😀😀 Sometimes when in the car we have to slow down and are sort of following them down the road tentatively hoping they don't do anything too crazy!!🙃🙃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 (edited) This chap flew into our window and is currently recovering in a dark box, I'm hoping there's no damage other than a headache.. He's 'got up' and is sitting on his feet now, so fingers crossed. Update: after a half hour rest, he flew off looking perfectly healthy. Glad my son got to him before the cat. Edited July 18, 2018 by Quintus 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Well done! I hope it recovers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Gorgeous looking bird is it in the Finch family? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Looks like a male bullfinch to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 We've had a few stunned starlings in our time....all recovered...well as far as I know! This happens often when magpies come into a group and they all fly off in different directions including the window unfortunately. Thanks for the info ...there are some finches because we never see them around here who I never get sorted out! Is it the Haw Finch who is very pink in colour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 24 minutes ago, LinMM said: Is it the Haw Finch who is very pink in colour I'm not sure I'd say hawfinches were pink - biggest finch, huge bill, tan head, grey nape, buff/grey underside. Perhaps the pink you have in mind might be a female bullfinch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I think like John that it's a male bullfinch. We get a few chaffinches but this was the first bullfinch we've had in the garden. He was laying on the mat just inside the glass door with his legs in the air, and just twenty feet or so from our sleeping cat, so it was his lucky day! Said cat is not in my good books as he killed a stoat a few days ago; a beautiful creature and one that was keeping the rabbits down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Beautiful Bullfinch, one of my favourite birds. I remember gazing at one in the garden as a child ,holding a bird book in hand and thus identifying it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Oh naughty pussy cat Quintus but I suppose they can't help it. About two years ago I was driving along a very narrow lane near Ditchling in Sussex when suddenly a weasel ran into,the lane with a dead mouse /vole in its mouth!! The only time I've ever seen a weasel. I think stoats are bigger than weasels so am surprised a cat would go for one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 A very welcome visitor - a barn owl most mornings is quartering the field at the back, sometimes for a couple of hours and as late as 10:30. Makes for a very leisurely breakfast occasionally merging into coffee. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 I see lots of robins near the start of my walk with Chipdog. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 (edited) What a gorgeous little Robin....and a fab piccie! This looks a bit like the bolder Robin in our garden who perches on a branch really close to the bedroom window and glares in with that "where's the food then" look! Edited February 20, 2019 by LinMM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 Fantastic photo! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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