Fantasy Time

[malgos]

Its Fantasy Time.
Iv,e just collected my seven year old Grandaughter and during the 90 minute journey this is the fantasy scenario we,ve dreamed up.
Its Xmas eve and the Fairy Godmother is going to allow you one wish and its this: When you wake up on Xmas morning you can have one bird of your choice in your back garden.
This bird can be anything you choose and its going to be with you for one day only and you can study it,photograph it put in Bird Guides, whatever you can choose.
Would you choose a rarity, a lifes dream bird or one to excite your guests and children (if any) Its your fantasy,you choose.We will start the ball rolling with:-
SNOWY OWL.
Seven year olds really do have a delightful imagination.
Happy Christmas to you all.
Malcolm

[CJW]

I've got a real thing for getting a Hawk Owl at the moment, so that would be my wish.

[erik]

I'd wish to have a hoopoe for one day, however not to expect in those weather circumstances...But the fairy godmother will be able to fulfill my wish i guess. :)

[Birdingam]

Andalusian Hemipode for me, I've just got to see this bird with such a fantastic name, failing that, Sri-Lankan Whistling-thrush or Stellers Sea-eagle.

Andy

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Prothonotary Warbler or maybe one of Tammie's Pine Grosbeaks.

[birdman]

Archaeopteryx... is that allowed????

[Michael Frankis]

Hmmm . . . find a rarity in my back garden, and have 2,000 twitchers knocking at the door . . . . mebbe I'll settle for House Sparrow (which would be a garden first for 10 months for this sad species :-C)

Michael

[pauco]

Barn owl, my wifes true favorite.

[Andrew]

A Little Owl will suit me sir!

[AnnieW]

Without a doubt - an Emperor Penguin .... or failing that a Rock Hopper. I've always had a fascination for penguins !!

[AnnieW]

I've just read Bert's reply ..... if we are allowed extinctions then a dodo might be rather interesting !! It might be nice to give one a second chance.

[Highway Man]

An over-wintering Wallcreeper (in the UK) would be most welcome.

Mark

[Steve G]

I'd settle for a Nuthatch -essentially unknown up here in Fife & a cracking wee bird that I'm sure many of you will take for granted. At one time the wish would have been C.Buzzard but now they're two-a-penny in our garden- so wishes do come true! ;)

[StevieEvans]

Owls seem popular...

so i'll have an Asio otus wilsonianus, please & thank you......

S

[Gorgon]

Painted Snipe - the next species I hope to track down next year anyway

[Bluetail]

Oh, it's so hard! I think probably this little chappie:
http://www.mailbag.com/users/maverick/birdBLWA.html

Jason

[christineredgate]

Could think of lots,but I would love to see an Albatross.Reading the replied re Owls,reminds me of years ago when I was on night duty,and I had to leave the ward and go to the blood bank to collect some blood.As I was walking up the long corridor,the night security chap,called to me,and he opened one of the side doors which led outside( in those days no doors were locked,and one did not need an escort) and pointed upto a tree,which was almost directly outside the door.Sitting looking at me was the most magnificent White Owl.He was absolutely huge and his eyes just stared into mine.Something I will never ,ever forget.
For quite a while whenever I had to use that corridor at night I always opened the door and looked for him,but never again did I see him.
Christine.

[Denis J]

If you can have extinct birds how about Stephens island flightless wren the only flightless perching bird ever found discovered 1894 extinct ...1894

[Dave B Smith]

Just one! I've got hundreds I'd love to see! OK, to be fair and play by the rules, I'll have a Bird of Paradise please and thanks...

[Jane Turner]

A louisiana waterthrush feeding down the banks of my artifical stream please

[pduxon]

Azure tit on the feeders - i'll settle for a long tail though!!

[Steve T]

Golden Eagle, I've made so many useless trips to see them in the lakes, it would be nice for them to come and see me.
Steve

[Ashley beolens]

Gyr falcon would be my first choice (white phase), but can I come and visit everyone elses as well?

[AnnieW]

I've always had a fascination for penguins !!
It seems that to get my wish of a penguin in the garden, all I have to do is move to Simon's Town, South Africa. Did anyone else see the Channel 5 Programme "City Slickers" this morning about the "Boulder's Colony" - an African Penguin using the cat flap is my dream come true !! I don't think I've laughed (and cried) during a wildlife documetary for quite some time !!

Annie

[Reader]

Barn Owl for me with possibly a Waxwing as a close 2nd. Mind you a Lammergeir would be nice.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

It seems that to get my wish of a penguin in the garden, all I have to do is move to Simon's Town, South Africa. Did anyone else see the Channel 5 Programme "City Slickers" this morning about the "Boulder's Colony" - an African Penguin using the cat flap is my dream come true !! I don't think I've laughed (and cried) during a wildlife documetary for quite some time !!

Annie

Hi Annie - I'm all alone today, because everyone else has gone to the Science Museum, so I happened to notice the start of this programme as I was flicking through all the teletext sections. Yes, it was wonderful - and amazing that they could rescue that vast number of penguins after the horrendous oil spill. Wildlife has more than enough man made problems - if only this sort of accident could be prevented.