What have you seen

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  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited January 2017 #212

    Anywhere in particular?

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited January 2017 #213

    Well, would you believe it, having just told you about the Marsh harriers with green tag's, I had some outstanding news yesterday.

    I reported seeing TA to Phil Littler, the man who does the tagging and last night he replied to thank me.  He then told me that Marsh harrier DZ has been seen again....in Spain, Elbro delta....fit and well!  I've not seen DZ this year and I now know why.

    I have seen this bird many times over the past couple of years and became quite attached to it.  I would report the bird with...'DZ, again'!

    DZ has quite dark area's around the eyes and it did really stand out...looked quite menacing at times.

    The picture with the blue sky is DZ in Spain.  Portugal, now Spain these birds do get around.

     

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited January 2017 #214

    What on earth is happening to this website, my pictures have disappeared.

    These are the pictures that appear to have gone missing from the above posting.

    As I said, blue sky is Spain.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited January 2017 #215

    We could do with some of that blue sky over here, greylag. Not much chance that though according to the weather forecast!

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #216

    Drove passed Breydon Water this morning when the tide was out.  There were tens of thousands of birds on the mudbanks, fantastic sight

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #217

    Woke up to a ray of sunshine this morning and hoped to make it to see the Waxwing. This was cut short by a very large Heron stood gazing longingly into my Koi pond. I usually like to see these, but not today, so spent the morning netting off the pond for the first time in twenty years.

    Waxwing this afternoon if they are still around.

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited February 2017 #218

    Sunshine...what's that?

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #219

    It didn't last long, by the time the net was in place over the pond, it was pretty dismal and raining before the Waxwings were hungry, still practice has improved things, next sun forecast for Saturday. Not sure if the berries will last till then.

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #220

    GL

    Could you explain why the choice of large wing tags rather than rings to mark the birds. It seems a shame to mark in this way, will the tags last the birds life, or come off at some point? I noticed similar tags used on Red Kites.

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited February 2017 #221

    Bakers, birdsong must be one of the most relaxing and haunting sounds! My IPhone plays birdsong for my alarm and I never get tired of it. The dawn chorus is a most magical thing.

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited February 2017 #222

    BM

     

    Firstly...I am just an observer and no authority.

    I would imagine the wing tags are much more visible from long distance, leg rings for most of the time have to be really close to read them.

    As to their longevity, I did report one bird as having only one tag and Phil seemed quite surprised that a tag had fallen off.  This has happened with other birds since.

    As you say about Red kites they also have tags and both type of birds are large and can carry the tags with ease.  Phil said that they pin the tags through the skin just behind the wing joint, quite painless I believe.

    Phil was telling me that some photographers complain about the tags as they spoil the pictures...I can see it!

    The Marsh harriers that nest around 25 minutes from my house were targeted for tagging and I was invited along to witness, but the discussions with landowner dragged on and I think they missed the chance to do it.  Hopefully will get the chance again...can you imagine the pictures I could get of the whole operation. 

    BM as a special treat, here is the link to the MH recovery site for Norfolk.

    http://www.nwnrg.co.uk/research/marsh_harrier/MH_Project_Recoveries.htm

    I have just found out that orange tag comes from Kent and in the write up, the mention of the bird seen in Loddon is my sighting.

     http://www.rspbgravesend.org.uk/2016/03/wing-tagged-marsh-harrier/

    A bit of good reading.

    If I can find the picture I will post it.

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited February 2017 #223

    BM

    Just think what a bit of sun and colour would have done to the pic's.

    Still....better to have these than not have any....considering the light a good effort and I bet it was a pleasure to stand there.

    Appears Waxwing are no more around here, you have them all.

    I think I may go the Breydon Water on Friday and try to get some flocks of waders in the air, supposed to have some sun.

     

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #224

    We only have around a dozen, there were 17 last week. One had been ringed in Aberdeen early December, recorded in Leicester 5/1/17 and turned up in Bradley Stoke Tesco car park last week.

    The birds threw a panic yesterday when a female sparrowhawk ( judging by the size) began to take an interest in them.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited February 2017 #225

    Mole Hills- they seem much more abundant this spring. I don't think farmers have a ready poison after the banning of Stryknine

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited February 2017 #226

    Definitely not a mole.

    Family of three this morning.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #227

    A few recent pics to show that most gardens big and small have something worth looking at through the year.

    A Jacquemontii birch I grew from a whip and now has paper curls which rustle in the wind and it's certainly doing that today! A lovely old Tulip tree in NT Stourhead gardens, a camellia and hellebores at home, doing well just now. Signs of Spring appearing. smile

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #228

    GL

    Thanks for the links, seems a shame to have tags on the birds, but it does give insight into the birds habits and life expectancy. Interesting to see the birds move away for a while before returning to their birth area. I suppose that would give time for resident adults to rotate a little.

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited February 2017 #229

    BM

    Without the tags, we would know precious little about their movements...

    I imagine trying to get a photograph of quality will be spoiled by the tags.

    I have a picture of a MH from around 7 years ago with a radio antenna sticking up from it's back and you could see the radio lump attached.  I did see someone walking the riverbank with a tracking aerial and I put 2 and 2 together.

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited February 2017 #230
  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #231

    Nut hatches in sons garden this morning

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited February 2017 #232

    Great photos, Chris, especially envious of the tree sparrows.

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited February 2017 #233

    Spring? I wish! It's still winter here in East Lancashire.

    But then, I rather like winter.......

    😊😊😊

     

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #234

    Took a rather damp stroll along the river Frome as it wends through North West Bristol in search of  Otters and Dippers. Non to be seen but came across a white duck surrounded by four male Mallards, not sure if this was a hybrid but believe it may have been. Also this rather unusual bird was swimming around. I do not have anything in my books that resemble it, so if anyone knows what it is, please let me know. Pic taken on my phone so hope it shows up ok.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #235

    Looks a bit like a Muscovey. 

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #236

    Thanks OP, Just looked it up. I think you are correct.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2017 #237

    Definitely a Muscovy. They aren't all completely black some are mottled.

  • greylag
    greylag Forum Participant Posts: 584
    edited February 2017 #238

    I suppose their mum's like them, not the most attractive birds.  Never seen one fly, can they?

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2017 #239

    The website that I checked them out states they fly rarely but like to roost in trees. I don't recall seeing one before.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #240

    In the wild they do fly and usually roost in trees.  Most of what we see have been domesticated and I can't remember seeing any flying although that doesn't mean they don't!

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #241

    In the wild they do fly and usually roost in trees.  Most of what we see have been domesticated and I can't remember seeing any flying although that doesn't mean they don't!