If you could only..... (1 Viewer)

[yellow_belly]

Hi - not been around here long but would love to know....

If (heaven forbid) you could only ever observe 1 bird for the rest of your life which would it be and why ?

...for my part it would be the Blackbird which I think is not only clever but also so comical to watch that I never get tired of seeing one.

Terry

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Good question Yellow Belly. My initial thought would be Dippers. Consistently beautiful, entertaining, musical and strange birds. And they live in nice places too.

 

[Bluetail]

Yes, Blackbird, because they are entertaining to watch, but mostly because they have the most uplifting song of any British Bird.

Jason

 

[birdman]

What a difficult (and excellent) question...!

Ermm.... maybe Skylark?

 

[Ashley beolens]

Its a difficult one this one but I have decided on Yellow wagtail, firstly they are a stunning bird to see, and secondly there is such a complex group of variations that I could spend my time studying each form!! or is that cheating?

 

[seb_seb]

Either the Swift( because i already watch them speeding about the sky all day long in summern and their screaming is addictive lol).....or Mistle Thrush (because they are beautiful, have a lovely song, and are comical to see chasing magpies off and defending their berries)

 

[Michael Frankis]

Tough choice!

Maybe Wood Warbler, maybe Long-tailed Tit. Or perhaps Chestnut-backed Chickadee from the western States.

Michael

 

[Gerry Hooper]

I'd have to agree with you Terry, Blackbird.
Great bird with a good ear and lots of character.
I would miss all the others though.

P.S. Ashley's cheating!!

 

[pauco]

Got to be Blackbird, for being such a comic & so
arrogant, but with the most beautiful song of the
thrush family.
bert.

 

[Andrew]

For me it's the Coal Tit hiding it's grub in various places for later and looking around itself like it's on acid!

 

[yellow_belly]

P.S. Ashley's cheating!!

I agree Gerry I am surprised (but pleased) by how many are also going for Blackbird.

Terry

 

[deboo]

Terry,
For me it's Robin....always seem so friendly. I had one
pecking at my bootlaces yesterday whilst I scanned a rubbish dump for a Hooded Crow!
Dave.

 

[Jane Turner]

Of all the birds I have seen....there are three that are guranteed to get my full attention whenever I see them. One of those I see almost every day...so be definition it must be Peregrine. I love watching them hunting...interacting socially, playing... I have seen one landing and running on a rolling coke can, like a circus performer!


I need a saturation exposure to Chough and Yellow-browed Warbler to see if they are in the same league... of more everyday birds I have a special place for Wrens.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Chough definitely don't get boring even if you see them all the time Jane. They're the most human birds I can think of and would run Dippers close for me.

 

[christineredgate]

Very difficult question,but I think,yes ,it has to be Robin/Blackbird simply because they sing most of the time,and if there was only going to be one bird,then it would need to be a very vocal bird as well as entertaining.Could also include starlings ,I suppose,expert mimics!!.
Christine.

 

[Jane Turner]

Chough definitely don't get boring even if you see them all the time Jane. They're the most human birds I can think of and would run Dippers close for me.

As I have said in a number of other places... that fat lark thing on Anglesey that looked like a short-billed frosted starling held my attention for about 15 seconds...

I then spent a couple of hours on the cliff, watching Maxies go past while Choughs (and Ravens) played flying games in the updraft of the cliff. The call is so fantastic.... when I was 13 a pair spent an hour or two on the lawn of a house just up the road from here.... still one of the most amazing things I have seen.

 

[Michael Frankis]

Mmmmm Ravens . . . how could I forget Ravens? Odin will not be pleased with my forgetfulness!

Yes, definitely Ravens :bounce:
:gn:

 

[GreatHornedOwl]

Wow, Terry, that's a tough question. I'd really like to see some more birds before I can decide on that one - I'd love to see some of those gorgeous American birds in reality, Northern cardinal, Blue jay, American goldfinch, etc.

But if I had to choose, right now, one of the familiar birds around me, it would be the beautiful, clever, brutal, mischievous Magpie (Pica pica) - never a dull moment with that one.

 

[Jane Turner]

Did you see that pic in BB of Ravens sliding down a snow slope head first on their backs! Sunch a capacity for experimentation and play.

I've watched them flying upside down in North Wales... so please that they are properly established as a breeding bird in Cheshire again

 

[guffers]

My vote is for Dipper too.