Show us ya birds !

[ABtrees]

3 hours ago, nepia said:

Are the harrier numbers creeping upwards?  Mick, I know vous êtes en France but I seem to hear mention of hen harriers increasingly often.

I saw my first one last year in Caithness and there were a couple of sightings here, near Uckfield, some weeks ago.

Your post suggests they're not common there but how rare are they?

Moi aussi. I have seen these birds every year for the last 10 yrs.  You rarely see more than one at a time and the male stands out like a sore thumb - I am definitely seeing them more often (or maybe that should read noticing them).  The Marsh is significantly bigger and Male has a lot of brown on (female almost entirely brown with a white head).  For me the Hen could be mistaken for a Montagu's Harrier but in all honesty I don't think I have ever seen one - the key for me is the black bar along the wings -  not just the tips.

Mick - I totally agree almost unique in colour AND flight - amazing to watch (must make the effort and get some pics).  3 weeks ago nearly had an accident - driving along and suddenly there's one along side me flying parallel to me in the field, not 20 metres away.  Literally couldn't take my eyes off it - wouldn't have looked good on the insurance claim form !

[roboted]

50 minutes ago, David Cropper said:

Canon SX530HS. Lens is already on there. I just keep the settings on "Auto". As I said before, not a clue what I'm doing, just point it,  fiddle with the zoom , wait till it focuses,  take the shot. Enjoying it after never having a proper camera before. Problem is that due to Covid and lockdown the local camera club isn't functioning. I intend getting lessons at some stage. The manual is fairly comprehensive but I get bored and switch off. No patience, that's my problem!

Nice 😊

I'm  on Canon DSLR. Manual is only a few less pages than my Honda CR-V, 600 odd pages 😮

[roboted]

20 minutes ago, nepia said:

Only just got here (Feb 5th)!

I'm closer to you than Rotherfield - a mile your side of E Hoathly

Nice part of the country 👍

[tarantula]

3 hours ago, Tippin Alaybye said:

siskin?

serin

[gary112]

Our resident woodpecker having a drink 

[Stubby]

1 minute ago, gary112 said:

Our resident woodpecker having a drink 

They are making a hell of a row at the moment on the dead hollow trees " marking " their territory . 👍

[gary112]

1 minute ago, Stubby said:

They are making a hell of a row at the moment on the dead hollow trees " marking " their territory . 👍

Yep,we have 2 pairs pretty much all the time Stubby,the one pair are nesting about 50yds from the house this year which is great

[Stubby]

1 minute ago, gary112 said:

Yep,we have 2 pairs pretty much all the time Stubby,the one pair are nesting about 50yds from the house this year which is great

The hound is all back to normal now Gary . Great to see bud . 👍

[gary112]

1 minute ago, Stubby said:

The hound is all back to normal now Gary . Great to see bud . 👍

Yes Stubby all fixed up now mate,bloody lucky to still have her,she,s flat out at work everyday now again with me

[Stubby]

23 minutes ago, gary112 said:

Yes Stubby all fixed up now mate,bloody lucky to still have her,she,s flat out at work everyday now again with me

I got a story for you mate . There is a small girl round here , and I mean she is very short . From a distance you would think she might be 12 or 14 . When you get close and speak to her she could be say 23 25 ? . Any way she has this Rottweiler bitch , very friendly dog and its her baby , she loves it to death . She is banging on my door at the weekend saying she is washing cars . I say why . She says her dog has a problem with its ears . They have an infection and need an opp at the cost of £630 . She has lost her job at " Mount Noddy " the local dog and cat rescue place because of covid . I asked her what she was charging and she said a tenner . I said that's not enough . My truck is at least £25  . She did my truck , my sons Fiesta and my wife's mini cooper . I gave her £50 . Next I know she is doing next doors and the loads of others around were we live . Bless her she has got up of her arse coz she don't want her dog to suffer any more . She is almost there with the dosh . ....Dog people 👍

Edited April 21, 2021 by Stubby