RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted April 14, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 14, 2014 Lovely photo's. Your first one shows a male at the rear and partner at front AFAICT (99% certain). They are beautiful Finches and have done very well in the last couple of years. P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 (edited) Yes it's a good pic of those Goldfinches, at one time Goldfinches, and Greenfinches were the most common birds around here, the Greenfinches were hit by a disease, and the Goldfinch numbers have plummeted for what reason I don't know, but they were a good addition to the garden. But two breeds that seem to be on the increase, Wrens, and Woodpeckers. Red Kites are still rare, but Buzzards are plentiful on a sunny day it is common to see at least 6 circling in a thermal, my record still stands at 11, in one thermal up-draught, seen a few years ago above Corfe Castle. Edited April 14, 2014 by bike2steam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Lovely photo's. Your first one shows a male at the rear and partner at front AFAICT (99% certain). They are beautiful Finches and have done very well in the last couple of years. P How can you tell? Is it the extent of red on the face, which seems slightly different? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted April 16, 2014 Author Share Posted April 16, 2014 First Swift arrived here yesterday. No Swallows yet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold teaky Posted April 16, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2014 New use for magpies! I had a tree reduced in height last autumn which means the moss in my no longer shaded lawn has started to die back again. The magpies are now doing a fantastic job of plucking out tufts of moss to find bugs to eat underneath. I haven't figured out what they're eating yet but there's definitely a 'pluck it, chuck it aside and then peck at something' action going on. What amazes me is how quickly and thoroughly they have cleared the moss. All I need to do is vacuum it up as I mow. No raking required. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 16, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 16, 2014 New use for magpies! I had a tree reduced in height last autumn which means the moss in my no longer shaded lawn has started to die back again. The magpies are now doing a fantastic job of plucking out tufts of moss to find bugs to eat underneath. I haven't figured out what they're eating yet but there's definitely a 'pluck it, chuck it aside and then peck at something' action going on. What amazes me is how quickly and thoroughly they have cleared the moss. All I need to do is vacuum it up as I mow. No raking required. My "lawn" has been in full sun for the last 10 days or so, but it still doesn't stop the moss growing! Magpies, fortunately only fly over and not stop here. they are too predatory for my liking, taking small songbirds for lunch. Yes I know it's natural but I still don't like them! Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Some body posted that they had not seen Red Kites east of the A1. Today a pair near Codicote within sight of the A1. Regulars in the garden in recent years as well as Red Kites are are Herons, Peregrine Falcons and Little Egrets. Ten years ago all would have been unusual. The regular pair of Long Tailed Tits are back but no sign of the Gold Crests. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I saw my first Goldfinch of the year today, singing away atop of next door's television aeriel. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted April 17, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2014 A single swallow near Finningly yesterday lunchtime; just sitting on a wire enjoying the 18* sun. One swallow etc as today the weather is cold and overcast P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted April 17, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2014 Some body posted that they had not seen Red Kites east of the A1. Today a pair near Codicote within sight of the A1. Regulars in the garden in recent years as well as Red Kites are are Herons, Peregrine Falcons and Little Egrets. Ten years ago all would have been unusual. The regular pair of Long Tailed Tits are back but no sign of the Gold Crests. Bernard It was me...... I really should not be driving down the A1 and staring out of the sun roof.........I think the Kites are probably here and continuing to spread eastwards; not sure why as there aren't a lot of hills or forests in Lincs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted April 17, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2014 (edited) Ok for the twitchers out there - what is this? my first thought a slender but medium/large sized, thrush shaped songbird was this was a redstart. I didn't have my telephoto with me, but captured some shots, so apologies for the low res. Went out today with telephoto, and guess what nothing. Thoughts are now based on markings on zoomed in image, a Nightingale? Neil ps not in the back garden but about a mile away! Edited April 17, 2014 by Downendian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Flying Pig Posted April 17, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2014 Dunnock in my opinion. Enlarged and lightened crop of your crop shows dark grey bill, orange-ish legs and grey head contrasting with streaky brown back. Smaller than you thought, but size is very hard to judge on an isolated bird like this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Hi Saw my first Swift on Wednesday morning!, summer not to far away!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted April 18, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thanks Simon It does very much look like a Dunnock when the streaks appear on it's back when you lightened the image. It certainly looked much bigger than a Dunnock (Song Thrush size), but I'm willing to listen to more skilled ornithologists. Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 18, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thanks Simon It does very much look like a Dunnock when the streaks appear on it's back when you lightened the image. It certainly looked much bigger than a Dunnock (Song Thrush size), but I'm willing to listen to more skilled ornithologists. Neil The Dunnock is one of our most common birds, looking a little like a sparrow and about the size of a Robin and two-thirds the size of a thrush Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Lesser Redpoll (among others) this morning. Grouped with Siskins. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Dunnock in my opinion. Enlarged and lightened crop of your crop shows dark grey bill, orange-ish legs and grey head contrasting with streaky brown back. Smaller than you thought, but size is very hard to judge on an isolated bird like this. downend.jpg Not entirely convinced on dunnock - the beak looks too heavy and there's the white area above the legs. I agree about the difficulty with an isolated bird in a field, but comparing with the rape flowers it looks a bit bigger than a dunnock. I was wondering about buntings and pipits, but I can't find a match in my book unless it's an odd female or juvenile plumage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOARD OF TRADE Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Ask the Farmers with their pesticides,so called "land management" and hedges that are so closely cropped that no bird would ever build a nest there. Oh,sorry I forgot the "Countryside is safe in their hands". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jbqfc Posted April 18, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thanks Simon It does very much look like a Dunnock when the streaks appear on it's back when you lightened the image. It certainly looked much bigger than a Dunnock (Song Thrush size), but I'm willing to listen to more skilled ornithologists. Neil my wife Clare RSPB member thinks it could be a pied flycatcher john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Flying Pig Posted April 18, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2014 The pale blob above the legs looks like a foreground flower to me (it's yellow on my monitor) and I think the thick bill is an illusion cause by a pale artefact above it. I see how the pale neck contrasting with the cheek could suggest pied flycatcher, but I don't think the rest of the bird supports this (legs should be dark for one thing). I'm sticking with dunnock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Looking at it again based on that, I think you're right. Just goes to show how your brain can be fooled at first glance! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share Posted April 20, 2014 Speaking of Flycatchers, Pied Flycatchers are looking to nest here this morning. They are trying out the tit boxes. They did this last year and ended up at a neighbour's garden. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 21, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 21, 2014 Sparrowhawk chasing the sparrows around the hedge in the front garden this afternoon. I disturbed it when I went to put the car in the garage, although it was reluctant to leave at first, just ignoring me as if I wasn't there! Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 ... and a swallow at last! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted April 22, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 22, 2014 ... and a swallow at last! Yes we were out at Minsmere yesterday with lots flying in. As well as Marsh harrier, Cuckoo, Cetti's warbler to name a few. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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