DDolfelin Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 They behave like mice in more ways than one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted July 12, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 12, 2013 Yup, your fiancee is quite right, a dunnock. This species used to be called a hedge sparrow but as it's not a sparrow (look at that sharp little beak!) "dunnock" is now accepted. Dunnocks have interesting sex-lives! Chaz If you have the chance, watch the 'courting' wing flapping (next season perhaps?) P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 If you have the chance, watch the 'courting' wing flapping (next season perhaps?) P Oh, yes. We had three (or maybe four it was difficult to tell) dunnocks using our garden when they were "on the pull" in the spring. So we saw rather a lot of wing fluttering and posturing - what my wife calls "Look at me, I'm gorgeous". Often they would perch on the fences to show off, at other times they seem to stick to ground level, especially under the bird feeders where they feast on the food other birds drop. Chaz 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted July 12, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 12, 2013 Where have all the garden birds gone?They are on the Abbotswood sound track! What can you ID? Theres a list at the end! Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Hi, My other half who breeds Cockatiels (started by accident!) likes to put stuff out for the wild birds and she's got me out with the tele-lens and the good camera to take shots like these. Mother and baby Then this big buxxer arrived. And the wee ones retired to the fence. More may follow tomorrow. Dave Franks This is all new to me..... 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted July 12, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 12, 2013 (edited) Hi, My other half who breeds Cockatiels (started by accident!) likes to put stuff out for the wild birds and she's got me out with the tele-lens and the good camera to take shots like these. Bluetit 1.jpg Mother and baby Bluetit 3.jpg Then this big buxxer arrived. Jackdaw 1.jpg And the wee ones retired to the fence. Bluetit 2.jpg More may follow tomorrow. Dave Franks This is all new to me..... Dave, please don't take this as me being an interfering nerd, but could you ask your 'other half' to use a fat ball dispenser as the RSPB suggest those plastic holders can trap little 'feet' - sorry mate. Otherwise these are great pics. Phil Edited July 12, 2013 by Mallard60022 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 Hi Phil, you're right of-course, SWMBO only got these at the supermarket till she could get to the petshop and buy a 'bucket load'. There is a proper dispenser on the other side of the table. Fruit etc. is usually spiked on this thing. Another pic of, I think a starling. And a pic of a Cockatiel family, five 10 week old chicks and the mother middle right. Dad was having a kip elsewhere.... All chicks now gone to good homes. Dave. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted July 14, 2013 Author Share Posted July 14, 2013 Nice pics., Dave. I'll take your word for it that's a starling - not seen that pose before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted July 14, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 14, 2013 (edited) Yesterday morning. This morning .Gone. Unlike last year's chicks who stayed close to the nest while practising their flying this pair are gone. Edited July 14, 2013 by Clive Mortimore 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 14, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 14, 2013 Nice pics., Dave. I'll take your word for it that's a starling - not seen that pose before. IMHO Doesn't look quite right for a starling. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted July 15, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 15, 2013 Hi folks Thats a juvenile starling - somehow they do manage to look a bit different! I change the water in our bird bath every day - gets a bit cruddy in this weather, the collared doves were sat on the fence yesterday coo-coo-ing away to remind me to do it. As I went to the bird bath I noticed a blue butterfly perched on it. It took flight but was obviously keen to return for another drink so I stood still and waited. It eventually settled again allowing me close observation to see it was a Holly Blue-. but then most surprisingly it allowed me gently to cup my hands around it and carry it in to the house where I put it in a glass. SWMBO and I enjoyed a close inspection for a few moments - what a beautiful but fragile creature - before I released it back in to the garden. It hung around for another half hour or so but as soon as I produced the camera it flew away, and did not return. But a special moment none the less. I have been fascinated by butterflies since my childhood - and continue to be. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted July 15, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2013 Nothing particularly unusual about this fellow only that he came fluttering around, coming very close up to us whilst my Fiancee and I were having breakfast this morning. Seemed very tame, also it seems that there are far more Robins around this year, last year and particularly the one before the that they seemed to be very thin on the ground indeed: 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted July 15, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2013 Nothing particularly unusual about this fellow only that he came fluttering around, coming very close up to us whilst my Fiancee and I were having breakfast this morning. Seemed very tame, also it seems that there are far more Robins around this year, last year and particularly the one before the that they seemed to be very thin on the ground indeed: Robin01.jpg Robin02.jpg Robin03.jpg Unlucky for the spider? (second pic) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted July 18, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 18, 2013 They are still near A Jay joined them 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew1974 Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Just removed an Owl from my Son's room....flew in through an open window then could not get out again!!! Not sure it is the done thing...but a landing net and gardening gloves did the trick! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted July 20, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 20, 2013 Wow - spectacular! What sort was it? Phil 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted July 20, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 20, 2013 Imagine waking up as a short eared owl flaps around your bedroom in the middle of the night; even a Barn or Little Owl would be a bit surprising. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted July 20, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 20, 2013 Wow - spectacular! What sort was it? Phil Ah - sorry - its been pointed out to me that spectacled owls are not native http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectacled_Owl Leaves the room.... Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted July 21, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 21, 2013 I know this is a bit OT but I must mention and Owl that 'lives' in my second home 'garden'. I spend a few weeks almost every year in a lovely place called Vassiliki, on the island of Levkas (Ionian). There is an Owl there called a Scop's owl and it calls at night, almost continuously; a sound not dissimilar to the sonar beep so frequently employed in those 50s war films about sea/subs/ whatever. It is known as the 'Radar Bird', however I shall this September rename it the Sonar Bird! On occasion I/we have heard another Scop's but are unsure whether it is another male Scops or a female! We have been going there since 1992 and first heard it then. Wonder if it could be the same bird(s)? Hoot. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted July 21, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 21, 2013 A great hoot Mallard - nice to hear your tale Heres one from me I fish the rivers of West Wales at night in summer for sewin - sea trout. Has to be done at the dead of night. The Rheidol valley near Aberystwyth has a super owl population - have seen barn, tawny and little owls for starters and a tawny has been known to sit in the tree watching my futile activities. The Ystwyth valley is better for greater spotted woodpeckers but also has little owls. The reel I use for fishing at night emits a screech when line is pulled off it - and yep you guessed, a little owl sat in the tree above wanting to have a conversation. Fantastic! Who cares that I never catch any fish? Well only occasionally.... Phil 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 23, 2013 Where have all the garden birds gone? If they're Jackdaws we've got them all: They can't get at the peanuts but hoover up any loose seed the other birds drop into the tray. Keith 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted July 23, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2013 The jackdaws must have moved from here - not seen so many this year More nice news, we have another Dunnock nest, very loud chirping whenever a parent goes in. We won't be around much over the next week so will probably miss fledging.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew1974 Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Wow - spectacular! What sort was it? Phil Sorry for the delay in replying...couple of photo's (hopefully) attached Andrew 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted July 26, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 26, 2013 Barn / Tawny Owl? What an amazing encounter. It does not look distressed and the Owl is OK too......(don't need coat and I've already left). P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Flying Pig Posted July 26, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 26, 2013 Tawny owl (Strix aluco). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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