What have you seen
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A good spot mickysf have had one or two around here in the last few years but not seen any yet this year.
Well we have not had any birds at all on our feeders this week so they have come down do not usually get any during the warmer weather, a lot of activity with some birds sitting on eggs and others busy feeding chicks.
The Golden Oriole was singing a lot today and very close to the house in a nearby large Oak tree but not able to see him.
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I must admit, I wasn’t sure if the bird was a Merlin or a Hobby. I had to do a bit of research but then sightings of Merlin were being reported close by and the tiny size convinced me. Oh what I’d give to hear and see a Golden Oriole. Lucky you!👍
I did see a Montezuma's Oriole, fascinating bird, on a bird watching trip to Costa Rica but later found out they were misnamed and are not orioles at all. We live and learn!
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A lot of the birds who have been visiting the garden feeders during the colder months will now have swapped their diet from seeds to insects to feed their nestlings. Tits for example will try to match their brood hatch to that of caterpillars and aphids.
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Enjoyed recent woodland walk at Knighthayes Court Nr Tiverton where Bluebells were in full flower and saw Swallows skimming the no-mow areas when walking towards the House.
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Lovely photo N1805 and we hope to visit Knighthayes in September when we come over to UK.
The Blue Tits have been busy the last few days in a nestbox next OH's shed visiting all the local Oak trees for caterpillars and there are a lot of them this year and could be leaving the nest next week whilst we are away.
Still not heard a Chiffchaff or the Hoopoe so far this year.
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Had a lovely 90 minute stroll from the CL near Alkborough Flats in North Lincolnshire after dinner tonight.
Plenty of "Mozzies" out and about but we ignored them as there were Pinging Bearded Tits to watch as well as Sedge Warblers and a very obliging Cuckoo sitting in a tree. A pair of Marsh Harriers out on the prowl and Screaming Swifts overhead . Couldn't get much further than the first hide on the Flats, for those that know it, as path is flooded following recent rain.
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Ah, as you may remember, my childhood stomping ground, in relative recent visits I have seen Avocet, spoonbill and a great grey shrike. When I was young the place was a barren habitat, a farmed monoculture, frequented mainly by wild-fowlers blasting the living day lights out of much that flew over the area and the narrow strand that then existed. Now rewilded and loved by many. A few years ago we had a swamp hen take up residence, unfortunately I missed that one. Any Short Eared Owls about Wherenext? It really is a magical place these days. Lovely CL, how are the Ogg’s?
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That’s good, must return ‘home’ soon. Seen Hoopoe abroad but never in the UK. Better luck next time. Presently we are on what was Richiebouys favourite site, god rest him, at the other end of the county, have been watching the kites circling in between the rain and thunderstorms. Lots of the usual woodlanders abound and the sounds of spring are enchanting.
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Visited a beautiful RSPB Reserve today, Dinas, about, 10 mls up the Afon Tywi valley from Aberdovery. Saw male Redstart and Pied Flycatcher, a pair of Grey Wagtails, and just by the car park in plain view a Garden Warbler. Also heard lots of Willow Warblers and a GSW in the woods, and then up at the Llyn Brianne Res. numerous Cuckoos.
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We, too, have had a smashing day Nellie. Visited Far Ings nature reserve set by the River Humber. Amazed to see Bitterns flying on 3 separate occasions but think it was just 2 Bitterns. Also saw where one of them landed and able to see him through the reeds.
Nearly deafened by a Cetti's Warbler that let rip about 18" from my ear. Also watched some Common Terns feeding on the lakes, a beautiful Pochard, Marsh Harriers and best of all saw a female Great Crested Grebe sitting on a nest tucked away almost out of sight and watched as she carefully rose a little and turned the eggs on the nest to keep each part moist. So touching.
Also some Garden Warblers and Blackcaps. Got caught in a cloudburst but had waterproofs and brollies with us.
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Fascinating place, Far Ings. Often see Water Rail there and once a couple of Ospreys on their migration south. So many nature reserves are within driving distance and worth visiting around the South Humber region. We have just moved on to the North Norfolk coast and looking forward to visiting the reserves here. Hopefully the weather will improve though, blustery, ‘fretty’ and chilly here at the moment.
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A green woodpecker right outside the motorhome feeding on the grass finger between our pitch and the neighbours. Beautiful colours they are. Reached for my camera and spooked him. What fabulous eye sight they must have. Still, lovely to see this bird as I’ve never seen one near us.
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By coincidence I spotted a Greenfinch today just as we drove down to the site, and immediately after a male Bullfinch. Walking by the river this afternoon, as well as a background chorus of birdsong, from Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Chiffchaffs etc I saw a female Goosander and a male GSW, but the best was a watching a male Dipper feeding at least 2 of it's young, with the female just a little way downstream. Then this evening I watched a Nuthatch burying a nut in the moss on a tree branch.
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More of the same today, GSW, Nuthatch, Dipper, and Willow Warblers, but the surprising event was a swarm of bees (wasps?) flying directly over the van as we stood outside.😯 Thankfully none landed or got into the van and they were gone in a couple of minutes!
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Saw our first Hobby (bird not caravan) of the year today. Flying quite high as not many Dragonflies out yet so he was probably on the prowl for House Martins.
Also saw a Kingfisher and a Reed Warbler or two. There's also a wet meadow that we walked through and there was loads of Cowslips out and the odd Ragged Robin.
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Hedge next to us is full of greenfinches😁 Heard, but not seen, a cuckoo. We haven’t been down to marshes yet, but did see a Marsh Harrier in field out on a cycle ride, and another while in car yesterday.
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A fabulous day on the North Norfolk coastal reserves. Avocet, marsh harrier, bearded reedings, teal, garganay, several warblers (I’m not confident or experienced to specify) golden plover, spoonbill and cuckoo.
The morning started with haar coming in from the sea but the sun shone in the afternoon. Just returned from a walk in Sheringham Park, lots of muntjacs and CW deer about and not shy. Maybe we need some native ‘big’ cats to sort them out as they are causing problems here. 😉
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Well, if these can coexist with little contact so can those natives that lived here before ‘we’ eradicated them! In the ‘right’ places of course!
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/big-cats-in-uk-countryside/👍
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Another good day for us too. More Bullfinches up the land from the site; Grey Wagtails on the river bank; a pair of Linnets, Wheatears, and we got very close to a male Stonechat up at Llyn Brianne. We have hear Woodpeckers banking away and Cuckoos calling every time we have walked out. But today's highlight was seeing Wood Wablers, for our first time, at the Dinas reserve which we visited again this morning, along with hearing the calls of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and the Redstart.
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Been wondering why/what was knocking bird feeders off our tree.
Just stood and watched the visiting crow/rook, we also have 2 jackdaws whom I'd suspected, land on the branch and carefully lift off by the hanger and dropping it to the floor.....
I love feeding the birds but anyone any idea how I can continue to use hanging feeders for all my lovely little birds nesting in the garden and stop this happening. He does it with all types of feeders including squirrel-proof ones. Seeds and fat balls.
Pheasants and pigeons enjoying the spoils....
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Have left our last site to an area not so resplendent with birdlife, but saw numerous Red Kites on the way to Abergavenny. This morning I was awakened by the loud "zi-zi-zi" call of a Willow Tit close to the van. However I did see this little beauty when out for a walk this afternoon.
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Rather a case of what has been missed by a couple of CT's regular posters, as I found this today on the RSPB's Osprey Sightings 2023
16/05 08:17 Lincolnshire : Osprey, Alkborough Flats
one flew north over River Trent Hide; also Great Egret flew west (07:50)0 -
So true, nellie, I have seen ospreys along the south Humber bank. They only stay a day or so it seems. Can’t understand why an effort hasn’t been made to encourage their nesting here. Yes, maybe the Humber is pretty sterile now due to human issues but it wasn’t the case in years past. Also, plenty of freshwater fishy waters along the bank sides. Maybe we just need to clean our act up, actively encourage them and they will return, with our help!
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Today a trip out to Brancaster, more marsh harriers, red kite, egret, stone chat, bearded reedings and the booming of a bittern which as usual remained hidden. Then inland to witness a river rewilding project (River Bure) and finally the village of Holt. A really enjoyable day out and the warm sun shone despite the air being decidedly chilly. Witnessed a rook harassment of what I thought was a turnstone. It chased it for several minutes and then returned to do the same. Never seen such behaviour.
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Wherenext they're currently in their temporary siting - been 13 months now 🤣😉. On a tree branch. Sounds like a good idea for now..might be educating birds on untying bows.......
Glad you're having good sightings on your travels. Shame your eyesight wasn't up to last one 🤣🤣🤣
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