Show us ya birds !

[ABtrees]

Turtle doves arrived this morning.  Then Goldcrest, Redwing (!) and Red Legged Partridge !

[Stubby]

7 minutes ago, ABtrees said:

Turtle doves arrived this morning.  Then Goldcrest, Redwing (!) and Red Legged Partridge !

Turtle doves brilliant . Not heard one of those calling for years . Loadsa collard doves but not the lovely Turtle doves . The Red wings and Field fares have gone back to eastern Europe here now .  Occasionally catch a gimps of  a Gold crest or Fire crest in the hedgerow . The Red legged partridge is a " released " game bird here . A few coveys around now shooting is over .   Where abouts are you ?

[ABtrees]

On 16/04/2025 at 17:34, Stubby said:

Turtle doves brilliant . Not heard one of those calling for years . Loadsa collard doves but not the lovely Turtle doves . The Red wings and Field fares have gone back to eastern Europe here now .  Occasionally catch a gimps of  a Gold crest or Fire crest in the hedgerow . The Red legged partridge is a " released " game bird here . A few coveys around now shooting is over .   Where abouts are you ?

 

High Stubby - in central France.  We regularly get some rare birds (and animals as well) especially during migration seasons and there is a huge national park just to the north of us.  We are also lucky to have a river in the garden (!) and have about 40+ acres of self regen ancient woodland some marshy (mainly oak, hornbeam,cherry and alder but other stuff as well).  That said, Merlin has gone completely off on one since I posted on Wednesday :  I accept that we may have had Siskin,Kingfisher, Grey Partridge, Bullfinch, Goldcrest and Reed Bunting (as I have seen all those in the past) BUT ......

I think even my enthusiasm won't take me as far as :  Tengmalm's Owl, Little Bittern, Ring Ouzel and one that I can't even bring myself to write down - either through inevitable ridicule or a need to keep quiet !!!

 

I do agree btw Turtle doves are so good to see (and hear).  Pic from last  year - a bit crap - too far away and the piggin thing is sat in the wrong place !!!! 

 

Was out yesterday and saw a pair of Black kites (and nest) so might have to go back there again 'coz the pictures are crap !

 

AB

[Stubby]

8 hours ago, ABtrees said:

 

High Stubby - in central France.  We regularly get some rare birds (and animals as well) especially during migration seasons and there is a huge national park just to the north of us.  We are also lucky to have a river in the garden (!) and have about 40+ acres of self regen ancient woodland some marshy (mainly oak, hornbeam,cherry and alder but other stuff as well).  That said, Merlin has gone completely off on one since I posted on Wednesday :  I accept that we may have had Siskin,Kingfisher, Grey Partridge, Bullfinch, Goldcrest and Reed Bunting (as I have seen all those in the past) BUT ......

I think even my enthusiasm won't take me as far as :  Tengmalm's Owl, Little Bittern, Ring Ouzel and one that I can't even bring myself to write down - either through inevitable ridicule or a need to keep quiet !!!

 

I do agree btw Turtle doves are so good to see (and hear).  Pic from last  year - a bit crap - too far away and the piggin thing is sat in the wrong place !!!! 

 

Was out yesterday and saw a pair of Black kites (and nest) so might have to go back there again 'coz the pictures are crap !

 

AB

We have Red Kites here like confetti , probably more than Buzzards but never been lucky enough to see a Black Kite . I think somewhere in England they are breeding Turtle Doves and reliecing  them back into managed habitat to suit them .

[nepia]

I expect we'll see Black Kites here one day and maybe not too far in the future the way the climate's going.  They are the world's most widespread raptor.

[sime42]

Red Kites are moving or enlarging their range. We saw one in Worcestershire for the first time at the weekend. Tussling with a Buzzard. Magnificent birds close up.

[Deafhead]

1 hour ago, sime42 said:

Red Kites are moving or enlarging their range. We saw one in Worcestershire for the first time at the weekend. Tussling with a Buzzard. Magnificent birds close up.

Often out in the garden, we have a red kite doing low speed aerobatics about 50' up. It seems to be looking for us to provide food, do people feed them I wonder?

[Stubby]

2 hours ago, sime42 said:

Red Kites are moving or enlarging their range. We saw one in Worcestershire for the first time at the weekend. Tussling with a Buzzard. Magnificent birds close up.

Red Kites are like confetti here in West Sussex .  When the hay was being cut last year I counted 40 odd kites working a fresh cut 33 acre field . At a stab I would say they now outnumber the buzzards 3:1. They seem to get along though . Never seen them having a go at each other . Crows mob them though .

[sime42]

1 hour ago, Deafhead said:

Often out in the garden, we have a red kite doing low speed aerobatics about 50' up. It seems to be looking for us to provide food, do people feed them I wonder?

 

I know people used to feed them on an organised basis. I remember camping at a place in Mid Wales about 15 years ago, it was also a Red Kite feeding centre. That must have been back around the time they were reintroduced there.

 

I'm sure they don't need feeding now, based on the numbers of them, but maybe some individuals do.

[Doug Tait]

Second find of this nesting season.

Nest would've sat in a cupped hand, 8 eggs in it, we guessed Coal Tit?