Shame you didn't get the mammals Chris but am a little jealous of the tawny owl as we could only manage a bird calling on our trip.
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Yorkshire Birding (25 Viewers)
- Thread starter Hotspur
- Start date
Thanks to rubbish weather I'm at home, instead of out walking with the lady wife. Couldn't be better as I've been able to observe two bits of bird behaviour that I've never seen before.
First was a male bullfinch making like a hummingbird when it was stripping the buds off the plants in the garden. It was hovering for a few seconds whilst it got a good grip on the bud and then flying upwards to strip the bud from the plant. Did this on 8 occasions that I saw but judging from the lack of buds on the plant when I looked later it must have been closer to 20 or 25. Wife's not too unhappy about it, although it will create a gap in her floral display.
The other bit of behaviour was watching a carrion crow on the grass verge across the road from the house. First attracted my attention by a peculiar call it gave, sort of a wheezy caw. The bird was on the deck and at first I thought it was 'mantling' a prey item. Wings outstretched, it was actually lying down on the ground and seemed to be pecking at itself. It dawned on me that the bird may be 'anting' but I couldn't believe that this was so. Watched it for a few minutes before it seemed to shake itself and fly off. Examination of the area of verge where the bird had been does seem to support anting being the intention as there is a nest entrance exactly where the bird was laid down, and the ants were very active.
First was a male bullfinch making like a hummingbird when it was stripping the buds off the plants in the garden. It was hovering for a few seconds whilst it got a good grip on the bud and then flying upwards to strip the bud from the plant. Did this on 8 occasions that I saw but judging from the lack of buds on the plant when I looked later it must have been closer to 20 or 25. Wife's not too unhappy about it, although it will create a gap in her floral display.
The other bit of behaviour was watching a carrion crow on the grass verge across the road from the house. First attracted my attention by a peculiar call it gave, sort of a wheezy caw. The bird was on the deck and at first I thought it was 'mantling' a prey item. Wings outstretched, it was actually lying down on the ground and seemed to be pecking at itself. It dawned on me that the bird may be 'anting' but I couldn't believe that this was so. Watched it for a few minutes before it seemed to shake itself and fly off. Examination of the area of verge where the bird had been does seem to support anting being the intention as there is a nest entrance exactly where the bird was laid down, and the ants were very active.
joespy
Well-known member
I was garden watching Saturday and saw something, not quite as special as Keith, with the Crow, but to me just as interesting. A Magpie had picked up a dry bread scrap and brought it to the pond edge then "dunked" it before eating it... I couldn't believe it and told the wife, who said "Yes, it does it regularly, haven't you seen it before.....and you call yourself a birdwatcher........." QED....:t:
Joe
Joe
Once saw a carrion crow doing this, at first I thought it was fishing the bread out of the pool but when I watched closely it was picking bread up from the deck by the pool and dunking it. Clever birds corvids
Had a nice cruise-by from a red kite tonight on the commute, I was at the lights by the Selby Road/York Road junction and was quite happy sat there watching the bird as it drifted across York Road and disappeared over the houses on the Halton Estate. Hope it was tooled up as that's one area I wouldn't visit without a Uzi.
Had a nice cruise-by from a red kite tonight on the commute, I was at the lights by the Selby Road/York Road junction and was quite happy sat there watching the bird as it drifted across York Road and disappeared over the houses on the Halton Estate. Hope it was tooled up as that's one area I wouldn't visit without a Uzi.
Mark A Spedding
Well-known member
A nice couple of hours at Wykeham Forest today (11.15 to 1.15).
Honey Buzzard showing as soon as we got there, a nice comparison had with a Common Buzzard which was in the air at the same time. A pair of Crossbills were perched up, then 3 more flew over. A Goshawk then followed.
Nearby there were 2 Turtle Doves.
Honey Buzzard showing as soon as we got there, a nice comparison had with a Common Buzzard which was in the air at the same time. A pair of Crossbills were perched up, then 3 more flew over. A Goshawk then followed.
Nearby there were 2 Turtle Doves.
The Rovin' Outlaw
Well-known member
I once saw a crow standing on the roof of a parked car and 'going mad' pecking at the windscreen rubber surround.
We have had a female blackbird with a badly deformed wing in our garden for at least the last 3-4 years. The wing hangs down very low and the feathers are 'untidy' but it still flies OK. Anyway Tracey feeds it and it comes when she calls it. Last week we saw it on the lawn feeding fledglings. It was wierd, it felt like having grandchildren.
We have had a female blackbird with a badly deformed wing in our garden for at least the last 3-4 years. The wing hangs down very low and the feathers are 'untidy' but it still flies OK. Anyway Tracey feeds it and it comes when she calls it. Last week we saw it on the lawn feeding fledglings. It was wierd, it felt like having grandchildren.
Hadraw,Hawes etc
Hi All,
I am looking to come down to your area this weekend and to camp at The Green Dragon Hadraw,can anyone enlighten me on local sites, I have Brendan Threlfalls book,Birdwatching in The Yorkshire Dales, but wondered if anyone could offer more local tips ? Much appreciated if you could,send a PM if necessary. Thank you. Andy K,Sunderland.
Hi All,
I am looking to come down to your area this weekend and to camp at The Green Dragon Hadraw,can anyone enlighten me on local sites, I have Brendan Threlfalls book,Birdwatching in The Yorkshire Dales, but wondered if anyone could offer more local tips ? Much appreciated if you could,send a PM if necessary. Thank you. Andy K,Sunderland.
DOC REED
Well-known member
Redhouse and surrounds
Haven't had much chance to be out and about much, managed 2 hrs on local patch today.
Main feature is that breeding birds seem to be doing well;Chiffchaff/Blackcap/Willow W/Garden W all witnessed feeding young.A pair GCGs arrived but now gone, sole interest on res a lingering cormorant and male tufted duck!!!!
Juveniles of WW/Chiffchaff/Whitethroat/Blackcap?and most of tits seen.Hope they continue to do well!
Paul
Haven't had much chance to be out and about much, managed 2 hrs on local patch today.
Main feature is that breeding birds seem to be doing well;Chiffchaff/Blackcap/Willow W/Garden W all witnessed feeding young.A pair GCGs arrived but now gone, sole interest on res a lingering cormorant and male tufted duck!!!!
Juveniles of WW/Chiffchaff/Whitethroat/Blackcap?and most of tits seen.Hope they continue to do well!
Paul
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Steve Lister
Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.
Visited North Cave Wetlands for the first time today, great views of Avocets (never seen one before), Lapwings and the ubiqitous Coot. Gadwalls and Great Crested Grebes (both firsts) were exciting to see also. Reed Bunting and Goldfinches were present on way into reserve near WildBird cafe. Before that was at Brough Harbour and saw Shelduck, Oystercatchers and Meadow Pipits. Despite getting out a bit more recently have still not seen any Woodpeckers but will post here if and when i catch sight of my first one, can't be long now, am chalking off new birds every time I go out!
Lesleybird
Lesleybird
Blacktoft
The red-necked phalarope was still present at 1130 showing well from marshland hide.:t:
The red-necked phalarope was still present at 1130 showing well from marshland hide.:t:
Chris-Leeds
Well-known member
Keep it up Nickynak, when you get to know the woodpecker calls you'll find it easier to see them assuming they're not doing a good job of hiding.
Hawes,hadraw etc
Hi again,
Any advice from anyone please,definately visiting this weekend.
Thanks
Andy K
Hi again,
Any advice from anyone please,definately visiting this weekend.
Thanks
Andy K
Sorry Andy, I rely on Brendan's book for info on that area myself so can only point you at the book.
I can't think of anyone who birds up that end of the county on a regular basis.
I can't think of anyone who birds up that end of the county on a regular basis.
Phal was still present at 4.00, that's when I saw it. Looked pretty settled on the water at Marshland hide.
I wasn't supposed to be birding today but couldn't resist a smash and grab when I saw the phal come up on birdguides. Cost me though as t'wife was home before I got back, damn that rush hour traffic.
I wasn't supposed to be birding today but couldn't resist a smash and grab when I saw the phal come up on birdguides. Cost me though as t'wife was home before I got back, damn that rush hour traffic.
Thanks for the updates, will twist a few arms for a car and try my luck
James Thomas
Well-known member
Anyone been to Redcar to see the whale? Great shame but would have liked to have had the opportunity to go see it.
Sorry Jim, I much prefer my cetaceans alive. Had a passing glimpse of a sperm whale when on holiday in Tenerife and don't really want to spoil that memory.
Rob and Ken last years LEO's were seen on the 3 June.
Rob and Ken last years LEO's were seen on the 3 June.
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