Join for FREE
It only takes a minute!

Welcome to BirdForum.
BirdForum is the net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE! You are most welcome to register for an account, which allows you to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
Old Monday 14th November 2005, 10:15   #1
George Garner
Registered User
 
George Garner's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: South Derbyshire UK
Posts: 946
Odd Behaviour of Turnstones

Hi Everyyone,
Our group spent a very enjoyable day at Filey Brig
and Filey dams yesterday, While we were at The dams we got talking to some fellows , who told us of Red Throated Divers in Scarborough. Not being a group to miss out on such a good bird when we were so close, we duly made our way there. The point I'm getting to, is that while we were scoping the diver we noticed Turnstones on the beach. There were at least a dozen Turnstones in amongst the Gulls and Pigeons, and they were easily holding their own vying for scraps thrown by the visitors. I had never seen this behaviour before and wondered, if this had been witnessed by anyone else.
While I recognise that all creatures will usually take the easy option, this seemed to me to be totally out of place.
Regards George


George Garner is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Monday 14th November 2005, 10:41   #2
Brian Stone
A Stone chatting
 
Brian Stone's Avatar

 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Peterborough, UK
Posts: 5,878
In my experience Turnstones can get very close to humans. They will often walk around peoples' feet in harbours and on piers. I've also seen them on lawns of coastal properties. Provides good photo opportunities without the need for any magnification
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	turnstone_25oct04_420.jpg
Views:	19
Size:	45.9 KB
ID:	34055  
Brian Stone is offline  
Reply With Quote
BF Supporter 2005 2006 2007 2008
Click here to Support BirdForum
Old Monday 14th November 2005, 11:17   #3
Reader
 
Reader's Avatar

 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,911
As Brian has said, Turnstones can turn up in the most busiest of places. I was actually watching quite a few of them on Sunday at Southend, on the beach right by the amusement arcade as well as the burger bars that are at the side of the beaches. In fact there were also 6 Sanderling in amongst them.

They werye vying for anything they could get and didn't seem to have a fear of anything around them.

The Sanderlings were a bit more skittish but the Turnstones didn't move from what they were doing no matter what.

I have had Turnstones walk over my feet before now and at Walcott, on the east coast of Norfolk, they will walk along the sea wall, which is also at the side of where you park the car, and actually look you in the eye as you sit in your car, only inches away from you.
__________________
Visit my web site. http://www.coventrybirder.co.uk/

Latest British lifer: Dusky Thrush British List: 406. World List: 1068
Reader is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Monday 14th November 2005, 16:09   #4
Andrew
wibble wibble
 
Andrew's Avatar

 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Devon. UK.
Posts: 11,364
At Penzance you can find them walking around the car parks and on the harbourside road. Funny thing to see really.
__________________
Are you listening to the voice that talks in your head while you read this?
Andrew is offline  
Reply With Quote
Advertisement
Reply


Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Blackbird Behaviour markbrdsly Bird Behaviour 10 Thursday 21st July 2005 20:28
Little Tern Behaviour Jamspangle Bird Behaviour 7 Wednesday 13th July 2005 06:42
Odd behaviour saugen48 Bird Behaviour 2 Thursday 28th April 2005 22:20
Book: Dunnock Behaviour and Social Evolution mcdowella Books, Magazines, Publications, Video & DVD 2 Monday 6th December 2004 04:42
Heron feeding behaviour Richard Ford Bird Behaviour 15 Monday 29th September 2003 23:50


Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites

Search the net with ask.com
Help support BirdForum
Ask.com and get

Page generated in 0.14898992 seconds with 14 queries
All times are GMT. The time now is 07:24.