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Mouldy's Kingdom (Diary of a frustrated birder) (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mouldy
- Start date
StevieEvans
Well-known member
...on a little dishy....
Hello Alan
Is the caption Fish Supper ?
Enjoying reading this - nice bit of the world up that valley:t:
Had my little 'un (3.5 yo) through for a day out a week or two back, great views of a Roe Doe just off the beaten track in the meadow at Shibdon - & a comical video of the pair of us being chased across the grass by the gang of ducks & geese... we had to seek refuge in the bandstand!
Cheers
Steve
Hello Alan
Is the caption Fish Supper ?
Enjoying reading this - nice bit of the world up that valley:t:
Had my little 'un (3.5 yo) through for a day out a week or two back, great views of a Roe Doe just off the beaten track in the meadow at Shibdon - & a comical video of the pair of us being chased across the grass by the gang of ducks & geese... we had to seek refuge in the bandstand!
Cheers
Steve
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
...when the bert comes in.
Aye Steve, you have to be careful with those ducks, I'm sure some of them are mutant flesheaters, I've never seen a set of mongrel waterfowl like them anywhere, if that's what sliced white does for you I think I'll stick to Hovis.
Re: caption - as Roy Walker would have said, "a good guess but it's not right."
But thanks for having a go, a clue: it's a song title, and very punny. :stuck:
Aye Steve, you have to be careful with those ducks, I'm sure some of them are mutant flesheaters, I've never seen a set of mongrel waterfowl like them anywhere, if that's what sliced white does for you I think I'll stick to Hovis.
Re: caption - as Roy Walker would have said, "a good guess but it's not right."
But thanks for having a go, a clue: it's a song title, and very punny. :stuck:
TwoDipsfromAmsterdam
Anything About?
Oh dear. "Salmon Chanted Evening".
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
Oh dear indeed David, well done, you got it in one :clap::clap::clap:
yip, read it and weep folks, and there's plenty more where that came from, (but I don't think I'll bother you'll be glad to hear)
normal service will be resumed asap.
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Last edited:
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
sunny day Sunday
Just my luck, for the first time in months this Sunday I was planning to go out and about birding with my mate ’One man and his dog’ ( a legend in his own chip shop) and lo and behold he has motor trouble so the outing is cancelled, probably just as well as a bad night’s sleep (thanks kids) put me in a tired and crappy mood.
But, by 11 it looked too good a day to waste so out came the mud-spattered bike and off I went for some much needed fresh air.
It felt great to be outdoors as I cycled along the Derwent Walk, the day was calm, crisp without being too cold, and low-strung sun in pale blue sky casting strong and long shadows over the autumn landscape. The valley was looking good.
First stop the viaduct, and with impeccable timing, first sighting was a soaring kestrel, the local male, and just moments later was joined by a common buzzard then a red kite, marvellous, a few circular soars and they all drifted off in different directions.
Next I follow the path by the river, another red kite is patrolling it’s territory just above the trees, then as the river comes into view the bright white bib of a dipper catches my eye and I screech the brakes to stop and watch it foraging a while. Then it goes for a swim and almost gets carried off down stream by the strong current but emerges far side and preens itself on a rock.
I carry on to the lake, passing a little grebe on the river and another kite high up, and yet another is circling above the lake itself, which is packed with BHGulls today, plus five dabchicks, five cormorants, a pair of tufties, a grey heron, numerous moorhens and coots, and the resident mute swans, brood now dispersed which means folk can pass along the paths unmolested now. (a few weeks back one lady had told me how she’d seen a swan chase a little boy on a bike, I felt like saying I‘ll inform the wardens and they might take the bike off it, hahahahahahaha Bobby Thompson eat your heart out ).
Once again the place is packed with joggers, dog walkers, ramblers and cyclists, far too much disturbance to make scouring the woodland edge and young plantations worthwhile, so I decide to head back and pay a visit to Far Pasture ponds for the first time since very early August, by far the longest I’ve gone without a visit in the five years I’ve lived in the area.
But first I stop to watch two female mallards on the river, slowly drifting downstream, seemingly unaware of the waterfall ahead, and sure enough as the current starts to take them more swiftly towards the fall, realisation dawns and they about turn, paddling like crazy to avoid being taken over the top, which they manage in a mad scramble but it was touch and go, then paddle to the safety of the nearside shallows.
On the way back I flush a group of ten ground feeding bullfinches, spy a few small airborne parties of redwings, and note three jays crossing my path.
Down the steep tree lined track and I emerge into bright sunshine at the bottom of the bank, where the first thing I notice is a buzzard circling low over the open field at about treetop height, giving superb views, and by the look of it, the same bird I had earlier at the viaduct.
Eventually the local crows take offence and chase it off so I continue along the track towards the car park, stopping to scan the surrounds for anything of interest, and am surprised to find a common darter dragonfly buzzing me, a very dull almost black and lonely looking specimen but nice to see at this late stage of the season all the same.
Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary, tits and finches, robins and blackbirds, gold crest heard but not seen and a couple of jays overflying the fields.
To the pond and it’s almost barren. Left overgrown for too long now and water level far to high to encourage any drop-in waders, not even a snipe and this is usually a guarantee by this time. Little grebe, moorhens (2) teal (4) mallard pair. Very poor, feared as much, three years ago this was my favourite site, I used to visit several times a week, got to know all the residents and watched them through the seasons like my own little wildlife soap opera, and it was a great place to see foxes and roe deer among others, but I reckon you could hide an elephant here these days.
A bit depressing actually when I think of the good times here, but I gather a severely restricted council budget means site management has gone to pot.
And on that bombshell, adios ‘til next time………………..
Just my luck, for the first time in months this Sunday I was planning to go out and about birding with my mate ’One man and his dog’ ( a legend in his own chip shop) and lo and behold he has motor trouble so the outing is cancelled, probably just as well as a bad night’s sleep (thanks kids) put me in a tired and crappy mood.
But, by 11 it looked too good a day to waste so out came the mud-spattered bike and off I went for some much needed fresh air.
It felt great to be outdoors as I cycled along the Derwent Walk, the day was calm, crisp without being too cold, and low-strung sun in pale blue sky casting strong and long shadows over the autumn landscape. The valley was looking good.
First stop the viaduct, and with impeccable timing, first sighting was a soaring kestrel, the local male, and just moments later was joined by a common buzzard then a red kite, marvellous, a few circular soars and they all drifted off in different directions.
Next I follow the path by the river, another red kite is patrolling it’s territory just above the trees, then as the river comes into view the bright white bib of a dipper catches my eye and I screech the brakes to stop and watch it foraging a while. Then it goes for a swim and almost gets carried off down stream by the strong current but emerges far side and preens itself on a rock.
I carry on to the lake, passing a little grebe on the river and another kite high up, and yet another is circling above the lake itself, which is packed with BHGulls today, plus five dabchicks, five cormorants, a pair of tufties, a grey heron, numerous moorhens and coots, and the resident mute swans, brood now dispersed which means folk can pass along the paths unmolested now. (a few weeks back one lady had told me how she’d seen a swan chase a little boy on a bike, I felt like saying I‘ll inform the wardens and they might take the bike off it, hahahahahahaha Bobby Thompson eat your heart out ).
Once again the place is packed with joggers, dog walkers, ramblers and cyclists, far too much disturbance to make scouring the woodland edge and young plantations worthwhile, so I decide to head back and pay a visit to Far Pasture ponds for the first time since very early August, by far the longest I’ve gone without a visit in the five years I’ve lived in the area.
But first I stop to watch two female mallards on the river, slowly drifting downstream, seemingly unaware of the waterfall ahead, and sure enough as the current starts to take them more swiftly towards the fall, realisation dawns and they about turn, paddling like crazy to avoid being taken over the top, which they manage in a mad scramble but it was touch and go, then paddle to the safety of the nearside shallows.
On the way back I flush a group of ten ground feeding bullfinches, spy a few small airborne parties of redwings, and note three jays crossing my path.
Down the steep tree lined track and I emerge into bright sunshine at the bottom of the bank, where the first thing I notice is a buzzard circling low over the open field at about treetop height, giving superb views, and by the look of it, the same bird I had earlier at the viaduct.
Eventually the local crows take offence and chase it off so I continue along the track towards the car park, stopping to scan the surrounds for anything of interest, and am surprised to find a common darter dragonfly buzzing me, a very dull almost black and lonely looking specimen but nice to see at this late stage of the season all the same.
Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary, tits and finches, robins and blackbirds, gold crest heard but not seen and a couple of jays overflying the fields.
To the pond and it’s almost barren. Left overgrown for too long now and water level far to high to encourage any drop-in waders, not even a snipe and this is usually a guarantee by this time. Little grebe, moorhens (2) teal (4) mallard pair. Very poor, feared as much, three years ago this was my favourite site, I used to visit several times a week, got to know all the residents and watched them through the seasons like my own little wildlife soap opera, and it was a great place to see foxes and roe deer among others, but I reckon you could hide an elephant here these days.
A bit depressing actually when I think of the good times here, but I gather a severely restricted council budget means site management has gone to pot.
And on that bombshell, adios ‘til next time………………..
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
Far Pasture 2005 I
Not really much opportunity to do any wildlife watching this week then, but yesterday shortly before midday I glanced out the front window just as a Peregrine in a fast glide came over the rooftops in the middle distance, binoculars confirmed a juv, probably the same one I caught sight of at the damhead recently, and yet another fortuitous raptor sighting by yours truly.
Back to my archive notes, on the subject of Far Pasture ponds, like I said previously back in 2005 I spent most of my watching time here. Being a relatively small and intimate site it was easy to get to know the resident birds and observe their everyday lives, watching them through the breeding season was fascinating but quite sad, as though the mute swans, dabchicks, moorhens, coots and mallards all hatched broods, their offspring were picked off one by one by a variety of predators until only a lone cygnet survived.
I’ve already relayed the story of my otter experience of the time, but foxes used to be seen daily here too, I watched one collecting coot eggs one afternoon, carrying them off unbroken presumably to feed a cub, and also witnessed a scene I’d not seen or heard of before……
May 26 2005
‘Mid afternoon and again a red fox is showing well, creeping through the pond-side vegetation trying not to draw attention to itself as it searches for an unguarded nest or a lone youngster, but too late, the shrieking alarm call of a moorhen announces its discovery and in an amazing act of defiance nigh on every duck, moorhen and coot on the pond gathers in a mass flotilla, paddling over to where the fox is lying in wait, then track it as it weaves its way through the reeds. A fine example of co-operation between species which otherwise very much keep themselves to themselves and are in fact very territorial in the breeding season, often seen skirmishing with one another.
But this seems to do the trick as eventually the fox retreats from the pond margins and loses interest in hunting altogether as it retires to a grassy bank where it falls asleep in the sunshine, a safe distance from the mob which quietly disperses and gets back to business as usual.‘
That was the first time I had witnessed such behaviour though have since discovered it not uncommon when a fox is on the prowl and have seen it a few times since, even if you don’t see the predator it’s a dead giveaway that something threatening is lurking not far away, great to observe.
Not really much opportunity to do any wildlife watching this week then, but yesterday shortly before midday I glanced out the front window just as a Peregrine in a fast glide came over the rooftops in the middle distance, binoculars confirmed a juv, probably the same one I caught sight of at the damhead recently, and yet another fortuitous raptor sighting by yours truly.
Back to my archive notes, on the subject of Far Pasture ponds, like I said previously back in 2005 I spent most of my watching time here. Being a relatively small and intimate site it was easy to get to know the resident birds and observe their everyday lives, watching them through the breeding season was fascinating but quite sad, as though the mute swans, dabchicks, moorhens, coots and mallards all hatched broods, their offspring were picked off one by one by a variety of predators until only a lone cygnet survived.
I’ve already relayed the story of my otter experience of the time, but foxes used to be seen daily here too, I watched one collecting coot eggs one afternoon, carrying them off unbroken presumably to feed a cub, and also witnessed a scene I’d not seen or heard of before……
May 26 2005
‘Mid afternoon and again a red fox is showing well, creeping through the pond-side vegetation trying not to draw attention to itself as it searches for an unguarded nest or a lone youngster, but too late, the shrieking alarm call of a moorhen announces its discovery and in an amazing act of defiance nigh on every duck, moorhen and coot on the pond gathers in a mass flotilla, paddling over to where the fox is lying in wait, then track it as it weaves its way through the reeds. A fine example of co-operation between species which otherwise very much keep themselves to themselves and are in fact very territorial in the breeding season, often seen skirmishing with one another.
But this seems to do the trick as eventually the fox retreats from the pond margins and loses interest in hunting altogether as it retires to a grassy bank where it falls asleep in the sunshine, a safe distance from the mob which quietly disperses and gets back to business as usual.‘
That was the first time I had witnessed such behaviour though have since discovered it not uncommon when a fox is on the prowl and have seen it a few times since, even if you don’t see the predator it’s a dead giveaway that something threatening is lurking not far away, great to observe.
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
Far Pasture 2005 II
And another predator was spotted a few weeks later….
July 11th 2005
‘An otherwise uneventful visit to Far Pasture springs to life at approximately 7.10pm when a group of coots and moorhens noisily band together towards the back of the right-hand pond, much like had happened a few weeks ago in the presence of a fox. I scan the long grass expecting to find a fox skulking about when suddenly two moorhens hit the panic button, flying and screaming out of the reeds.
A dark form then appears in the water from the same place and the rest of the birds scatter, an otter-like head breaks the surface with a victim of some kind in its mouth. It emerges fully from the water, runs across the muddy scrape dragging what appears to be a moorhen by the neck, and now with a good view I recognise it not as an otter but a Mink, much smaller than an otter, of slimmer build and a uniform dark appearance. It bounds into the water again, swims to the reedbed far right followed all the way by a single moorhen, probably the mate of the victim, but gives up the chase as the mink slinks away undeterred through the vegetation towards the far bank.
The lone moorhen strides back out into the pond as calm is restored, the residents go about their daily business as if nothing has happened, predator and victim are seen no more.
But rather sadly, the now single moorhen swims to the back of the pond and leads a line of very young chicks from the reeds there out into open water.’
That was only my second, and to date last, mink sighting in the area. I've heard they used to be quite common here but aren't recorded much at all now, probably thanks to the otters getting established along this stretch and driving them out. :t:
And another predator was spotted a few weeks later….
July 11th 2005
‘An otherwise uneventful visit to Far Pasture springs to life at approximately 7.10pm when a group of coots and moorhens noisily band together towards the back of the right-hand pond, much like had happened a few weeks ago in the presence of a fox. I scan the long grass expecting to find a fox skulking about when suddenly two moorhens hit the panic button, flying and screaming out of the reeds.
A dark form then appears in the water from the same place and the rest of the birds scatter, an otter-like head breaks the surface with a victim of some kind in its mouth. It emerges fully from the water, runs across the muddy scrape dragging what appears to be a moorhen by the neck, and now with a good view I recognise it not as an otter but a Mink, much smaller than an otter, of slimmer build and a uniform dark appearance. It bounds into the water again, swims to the reedbed far right followed all the way by a single moorhen, probably the mate of the victim, but gives up the chase as the mink slinks away undeterred through the vegetation towards the far bank.
The lone moorhen strides back out into the pond as calm is restored, the residents go about their daily business as if nothing has happened, predator and victim are seen no more.
But rather sadly, the now single moorhen swims to the back of the pond and leads a line of very young chicks from the reeds there out into open water.’
That was only my second, and to date last, mink sighting in the area. I've heard they used to be quite common here but aren't recorded much at all now, probably thanks to the otters getting established along this stretch and driving them out. :t:
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
Coast and Country
Had a much needed trip up the Northumberland coast on Sunday with One man and his (injured) dog.
Fenham flats first stop, a stoat was our first sighting here, ran past our car just as we pulled up. Much wildfowl to be seen, brent geese were pick of the bunch for me, my favourite geese, small, sleek and just love the plumage. Hundreds of wigeon here too, a scattering of shelduck, many waders including a few bar-tail godwits.
Next Stag rocks for a bit of sea watching in the biting wind and rough seas. About 80 purple sandpipers asleep on the rocks, plenty of eider and a dozen or so common scoter close-in, shags and cormorants fishing, a red-throated diver and a few long-tailed ducks.
Yet another stoat crosses our path while driving up a minor road and an excellent view of a common buzzard perched on a wall. We decide to take in Alnwick on the way to our next destination, Hulne Park is an irregular site for Hawfinch (my number one bogey, in fact I don’t believe these birds actually exist) during winter usually early morning, but though it was probably a bit early in the season and now early afternoon we decided to have a look anyway ’cos you never know.
Driving up to the park gatehouse a familiar silhouette caught my eye atop a berry-laden roadside tree, the crest a dead givewaway, ‘WAXWING’ I shouted.
We parked up and walked the short distance back, two waxies showing beautifully in a small rowan in the sunshine, they aren’t bothered by our presence but we are so close I can’t actually focus my binoculars so have to step back to take in their striking facial markings. We watch them feeding and flying around occasionally, calling to each other with that beautiful soft trilling call.
No hawfinches then (no surprise there) but the waxies being probably my favourite bird more than make up for it, my first sighting since the big influx of three years ago (when I even got a couple on my garden list) and the buzz of the surprise of finding them ourselves made it even even better.
After a while we left and headed south to Cresswell, taking in Druridge Country Park on the way for a Crossbill hunt (negative) then scanning for twite along the coastal meadows (again no luck), often assorted finch flocks around but quite literally not a dickybird today.
We scanned the pond and margins at Cresswell a while, plenty of wildfowl and waders but nothing to set the heartbeat racing and with time getting on, sun getting low and now even colder, we headed home, a canny day out and my first visit to the coast this year, so seeing even the common stuff was a bonus for me, topped off of course by the splendid waxwings.
Had a much needed trip up the Northumberland coast on Sunday with One man and his (injured) dog.
Fenham flats first stop, a stoat was our first sighting here, ran past our car just as we pulled up. Much wildfowl to be seen, brent geese were pick of the bunch for me, my favourite geese, small, sleek and just love the plumage. Hundreds of wigeon here too, a scattering of shelduck, many waders including a few bar-tail godwits.
Next Stag rocks for a bit of sea watching in the biting wind and rough seas. About 80 purple sandpipers asleep on the rocks, plenty of eider and a dozen or so common scoter close-in, shags and cormorants fishing, a red-throated diver and a few long-tailed ducks.
Yet another stoat crosses our path while driving up a minor road and an excellent view of a common buzzard perched on a wall. We decide to take in Alnwick on the way to our next destination, Hulne Park is an irregular site for Hawfinch (my number one bogey, in fact I don’t believe these birds actually exist) during winter usually early morning, but though it was probably a bit early in the season and now early afternoon we decided to have a look anyway ’cos you never know.
Driving up to the park gatehouse a familiar silhouette caught my eye atop a berry-laden roadside tree, the crest a dead givewaway, ‘WAXWING’ I shouted.
We parked up and walked the short distance back, two waxies showing beautifully in a small rowan in the sunshine, they aren’t bothered by our presence but we are so close I can’t actually focus my binoculars so have to step back to take in their striking facial markings. We watch them feeding and flying around occasionally, calling to each other with that beautiful soft trilling call.
No hawfinches then (no surprise there) but the waxies being probably my favourite bird more than make up for it, my first sighting since the big influx of three years ago (when I even got a couple on my garden list) and the buzz of the surprise of finding them ourselves made it even even better.
After a while we left and headed south to Cresswell, taking in Druridge Country Park on the way for a Crossbill hunt (negative) then scanning for twite along the coastal meadows (again no luck), often assorted finch flocks around but quite literally not a dickybird today.
We scanned the pond and margins at Cresswell a while, plenty of wildfowl and waders but nothing to set the heartbeat racing and with time getting on, sun getting low and now even colder, we headed home, a canny day out and my first visit to the coast this year, so seeing even the common stuff was a bonus for me, topped off of course by the splendid waxwings.
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Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
Far Pasture 2005 III
Garden today a splendid view of the neighbourhood male sprawk sitting in our cherry tree.
And am surprised to be still finding little messages and tracks from Spiky the hedgehog in the greenhouse every morning (see post 1 of this thread) thought he/she would have been giving it zzzzz’s for winter by now.
Back to Far Pasture in the spring/summer of 2005 and an evening full of surprises :
June 23 2005
‘An evening visit after a very hot, hectic day proves very interesting. On the approach road a common whitethroat is singing close by from a roadside bush ahead of me, plenty of them about but I haven’t really had a close look at one yet this year and this particular individual proceeds to fly across my path to the brambles by the fence.
At this point I stop to view it through my bins and as I get a fix on it, the bird stares back at me and promptly drops on to the road, where it then ruffles its feathers, drops one wing as if injured and sort of limps away from me, stopping and looking back in my direction every couple of steps. It continues to very slowly edge away until I start to move towards it, and after I have followed it for a few yards it regains composure and flies off into the undergrowth. I’m a bit baffled but soon come to the conclusion this is some sort of ploy to guide me away from its nest or young like I’ve heard of some waders doing, but have personally never seen this behaviour before and am thrilled though surprised to see it from a whitethroat.
Continuing on my way, it is nice to see family parties of both great tit and goldfinch in the roadside bushes and then another surprise as I get my first banded demoiselle of the year, fluttering over the field opposite the car park (and apparently the first ever of this species recorded here I was later told).
The path to the hide is covered in tiny froglets still, (there have been thousands of late, definitely a good season for frogs though the car park has seen a fair share of casualties) I tiptoe my way through and find the inside of the hide is like an oven at 6.45pm. I open a few windows and survey the ponds.
The lone cygnet is still there, (it had been deserted by it’s parents a couple of weeks earlier at a surprisingly young age, after predators had taken it’s seven siblings), then a pleasant surprise as a normally skulking garden warbler is giving excellent views foraging in a quite bare sapling front of the hide, and the rhythmic chattering of a reed warbler can be heard from somewhere at the back of the pond.
Now a kingfisher makes an appearance, giving lengthy though distant perched views, showing off it’s top-of-the-range colouring in the strong evening sunshine before flying a couple of laps of the pond and away.
I leave the hide about 7.45pm fairly satisfied with the evenings events yet there is still time for one more surprise as I flush a cuckoo from the roadside oaks by the bull field and get great views as it flies a semi-circular route over the sawmill and up towards the Derwent Walk.’
Garden today a splendid view of the neighbourhood male sprawk sitting in our cherry tree.
And am surprised to be still finding little messages and tracks from Spiky the hedgehog in the greenhouse every morning (see post 1 of this thread) thought he/she would have been giving it zzzzz’s for winter by now.
Back to Far Pasture in the spring/summer of 2005 and an evening full of surprises :
June 23 2005
‘An evening visit after a very hot, hectic day proves very interesting. On the approach road a common whitethroat is singing close by from a roadside bush ahead of me, plenty of them about but I haven’t really had a close look at one yet this year and this particular individual proceeds to fly across my path to the brambles by the fence.
At this point I stop to view it through my bins and as I get a fix on it, the bird stares back at me and promptly drops on to the road, where it then ruffles its feathers, drops one wing as if injured and sort of limps away from me, stopping and looking back in my direction every couple of steps. It continues to very slowly edge away until I start to move towards it, and after I have followed it for a few yards it regains composure and flies off into the undergrowth. I’m a bit baffled but soon come to the conclusion this is some sort of ploy to guide me away from its nest or young like I’ve heard of some waders doing, but have personally never seen this behaviour before and am thrilled though surprised to see it from a whitethroat.
Continuing on my way, it is nice to see family parties of both great tit and goldfinch in the roadside bushes and then another surprise as I get my first banded demoiselle of the year, fluttering over the field opposite the car park (and apparently the first ever of this species recorded here I was later told).
The path to the hide is covered in tiny froglets still, (there have been thousands of late, definitely a good season for frogs though the car park has seen a fair share of casualties) I tiptoe my way through and find the inside of the hide is like an oven at 6.45pm. I open a few windows and survey the ponds.
The lone cygnet is still there, (it had been deserted by it’s parents a couple of weeks earlier at a surprisingly young age, after predators had taken it’s seven siblings), then a pleasant surprise as a normally skulking garden warbler is giving excellent views foraging in a quite bare sapling front of the hide, and the rhythmic chattering of a reed warbler can be heard from somewhere at the back of the pond.
Now a kingfisher makes an appearance, giving lengthy though distant perched views, showing off it’s top-of-the-range colouring in the strong evening sunshine before flying a couple of laps of the pond and away.
I leave the hide about 7.45pm fairly satisfied with the evenings events yet there is still time for one more surprise as I flush a cuckoo from the roadside oaks by the bull field and get great views as it flies a semi-circular route over the sawmill and up towards the Derwent Walk.’
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
Pecking order
The Time : Saturday 29th November 2009
The Place: Back Garden
I sprinkled half a bag of sultanas on the patio then stood back and watched the ensuing power struggle from the kitchen window as I washed the bairn’s bottles.
First on the scene was a dunnock, which seemed quite happy to peck bits from the scattered fruit at a relaxed pace until a male blackbird came down and unceremoniously chased it off, claiming the treasure for himself. He then managed to gulp down a few succulent fruits before being joined by a female, when the two became more intent on showing who was boss than bother about eating. A stop-start hopping chase around the lawn was followed by a brief but noisy mid-air tussle after which the male flew off (shouting some birdy obscenities) and leaving the female to return to the feast alone.
But of course having taken up so much time chasing off her rival, she’d given the local starling tribe vital minutes to discover the free booty, first one, then two then three in quick succession, and by the time four and five arrived, mrs b. found their yobbish, bad-mannered behaviour a bit much to cope with and was eventually muscled out of the way, cursing as she flew off low into the undergrowth.
But then a magpie arrived and strode into the throng like the school headmaster. The excitable starlings calmed down a couple of notches, some leaving the scene altogether and others respectfully backed off as the magpie strutted around, keeping the young punks at bay with the occasional threatening lunge.
But before long, wave two of starling squadron came in, and now numbering thirteen in all, anarchy was resumed, respect went out the window and nothing short of a playground brawl broke out all around the hapless magpie who’s authority had now completely diminished.
The tide though, soon turned again as two more magpies sprung into the melee after touching down on the lawn. The starlings now realised their game was up and bolted away from the scene as one in a frenzy of wingbeats and noise, disappearing over the rooftops no doubt looking to find some more mischief elsewhere.
The three magpies now calmly scraped up as many of the remaining sultanas as possible in their dagger-like bills and one by one flew off laden with their fruity treasure over the roofs and away, still leaving a few half-eaten sultanas scattered about.
All was then quiet for a minute or so, then our old friend the dunnock flew down from a low branch at the bottom of the garden where it had been watching the events with patience, and now with the coast clear, picked off the remains of the fruit unmolested, enjoying a decent meal.
I do like a happy ending and I‘m sure there‘s a moral in there somewhere.
The Time : Saturday 29th November 2009
The Place: Back Garden
I sprinkled half a bag of sultanas on the patio then stood back and watched the ensuing power struggle from the kitchen window as I washed the bairn’s bottles.
First on the scene was a dunnock, which seemed quite happy to peck bits from the scattered fruit at a relaxed pace until a male blackbird came down and unceremoniously chased it off, claiming the treasure for himself. He then managed to gulp down a few succulent fruits before being joined by a female, when the two became more intent on showing who was boss than bother about eating. A stop-start hopping chase around the lawn was followed by a brief but noisy mid-air tussle after which the male flew off (shouting some birdy obscenities) and leaving the female to return to the feast alone.
But of course having taken up so much time chasing off her rival, she’d given the local starling tribe vital minutes to discover the free booty, first one, then two then three in quick succession, and by the time four and five arrived, mrs b. found their yobbish, bad-mannered behaviour a bit much to cope with and was eventually muscled out of the way, cursing as she flew off low into the undergrowth.
But then a magpie arrived and strode into the throng like the school headmaster. The excitable starlings calmed down a couple of notches, some leaving the scene altogether and others respectfully backed off as the magpie strutted around, keeping the young punks at bay with the occasional threatening lunge.
But before long, wave two of starling squadron came in, and now numbering thirteen in all, anarchy was resumed, respect went out the window and nothing short of a playground brawl broke out all around the hapless magpie who’s authority had now completely diminished.
The tide though, soon turned again as two more magpies sprung into the melee after touching down on the lawn. The starlings now realised their game was up and bolted away from the scene as one in a frenzy of wingbeats and noise, disappearing over the rooftops no doubt looking to find some more mischief elsewhere.
The three magpies now calmly scraped up as many of the remaining sultanas as possible in their dagger-like bills and one by one flew off laden with their fruity treasure over the roofs and away, still leaving a few half-eaten sultanas scattered about.
All was then quiet for a minute or so, then our old friend the dunnock flew down from a low branch at the bottom of the garden where it had been watching the events with patience, and now with the coast clear, picked off the remains of the fruit unmolested, enjoying a decent meal.
I do like a happy ending and I‘m sure there‘s a moral in there somewhere.
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Lone cygnet
Is this the survivor from the pair which graced Clockburn Lake? How sad, to lose so many from one batch!
Is this the survivor from the pair which graced Clockburn Lake? How sad, to lose so many from one batch!
timwootton
Well-known member
Hi Alan,
Sorry to not have popped in more regularly, but what a treat when I did!!! I would never have spoiled the salmon caption competition even if I could have remembered it, but what it did do was make me go back to the wonderful 'Twisted Nature' (by Alan Mould, available from Mouldy's BF signature) - but I do have to tell you that the kids adore the drawings, even though one or two of the punchers are a tad cryptic for them. I, of course, love the book and still require the application of strap-on incontinence pants to read the book in comfort.
Great to see those pics of the nature reserve - brought back a lot of memories from when I visited.
Also glad to see you caught up with the waxwings - what super birds they are. Your pics are a damn sight better than mine, so stop grumbling about the camera.
Anyway - be back later on. Cheers.
Sorry to not have popped in more regularly, but what a treat when I did!!! I would never have spoiled the salmon caption competition even if I could have remembered it, but what it did do was make me go back to the wonderful 'Twisted Nature' (by Alan Mould, available from Mouldy's BF signature) - but I do have to tell you that the kids adore the drawings, even though one or two of the punchers are a tad cryptic for them. I, of course, love the book and still require the application of strap-on incontinence pants to read the book in comfort.
Great to see those pics of the nature reserve - brought back a lot of memories from when I visited.
Also glad to see you caught up with the waxwings - what super birds they are. Your pics are a damn sight better than mine, so stop grumbling about the camera.
Anyway - be back later on. Cheers.
Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
No June, the cygnet was hatched at Far Pasture, the only survivor of eight, and was still not much more than a ball of fluff when it’s parents inexplicably just abandoned it mid-June. It was a great story, against the odds it made it through to the autumn, every other chick of every other species was taken by one predator or another, the regulars noted it’s progress in the hide logbook and gave it the nickname ‘Lucky’.
It was doing fine until the parent birds returned to the pond the following January, when it was reported as being harassed by them for a few days then disappeared altogether. There were a lot of swan feathers scattered around the ponds at the time but no-one is sure whether it was killed or just chased away, I prefer to believe the latter.
Thursday Dec 4th 2008
A snow-filled morning meant the birds were queuing up at the garden feeders today, more greenfinches than anything else, (what underrated birds the males are, a beautiful array of greens, flashes of yellow and that striking black facemask) and all having to sit patiently waiting their turn to feast thanks to the early arrival of the collared doves which proved immovable to anything else trying to jump the queue. (a bit like following Homer Simpson at a buffet)
The early morning crushed biscuits and sultanas on the patio were soon covered up by the increasingly heavy snowfall so another lot had to be spread around under the holly bush, though the magpies and starlings weren’t averse to a bit of digging so double helpings for some.
I suppose the good thing about the doves taking over (a round dozen of them most days) is that they tend to swing about on the feeders to keep their balance, especially when changing personnel, resulting in much spillage on the ground below, so the legions of gold, green and chaffinches soon had easy pickings on the lawn.
Shortly before mid-day a blue tit arrived (fanfare of trumpets) why? Because this is the first I’ve seen all week, and only one great tit too back on Tuesday. The finches are all well represented with double figure numbers of gold, green and chaffinches most days but it’s a bit worrying that the tits this year are really thin on the ground (in the garden anyway), will have to check at Thornley woodlands feeding station see what numbers are like there.
By early afternoon the snow had stopped falling, the far side of the valley was visible again from the kitchen window, and the clearing skies was a signal for a wave of red kites to drift over from Sherburn Towers to forage over the village and onto Gibside, eight birds in all came over in quick succession, a couple hanging about for a while to peer in the gardens, five did a bit social soaring in the distance, one pair did a bit of bonding, another two fell foul of the local jackdaws and flapped off.
It was while I was watching the kites I noted a bird which stood out from the increasingly large flock of chaffinches and green finches feeding on the lawn. “Brambling” I shouted to myself, picked up my bins and bingo, yes it was, a cracking orange and black cock bird, an unexpected treat
It flew off with the nervous flock a couple of times but came back. Third time, I went for my camera but my fine photographic skills combined with the inability of my machine to focus on the object I want to photograph meant I only got one crack at it, and I must have got it in mid-sneeze as it’s head’s all blurred.
(must take some lessons from Will)
I looked out now and again before dark but only a coal tit to report, will keep an eye out for the star bird again tomorrow.
cheers
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Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
Cheers Tim, thanks for looking in, but as you can see from my brambling pic my concerns over my photographic skills are well founded.
Like your new signature by the way.:-O
Third time, I went for my camera but my fine photographic skills combined with the inability of my machine to focus on the object I want to photograph meant I only got one crack at it, and I must have got it in mid-sneeze as it’s head’s all blurred.
Yeah, that is cool....only the head is blurred..how did that happen? .....I was taking shots of a Golden Kinglet the other day and the head was off too.... doesn't take much.
I love your English birds!...
Yeah, that is cool....only the head is blurred..how did that happen? .....I was taking shots of a Golden Kinglet the other day and the head was off too.... doesn't take much.
I love your English birds!...
