What have you seen
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Cracking photo of waxwings, OP.
A surprise today, a solatary cattle egret foraging in a frozen ploughed field. They are spreading north but it’s been freezing all day here just south of the Humber. Aren't they supposed to be birds of slightly warmer climes?
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Exciting trip to the Recycling centre this morning. Situated not far into a rural location.
We were exiting the site, not busy, onto the access road and saw a Merlin sitting on the hedge in front of us. We turned right and she flew low down in front of the car to a hedge at the next right turn. Nothing coming so we watched her for a little while until we were forced to move and off she flew, low again, obviously looking for a bite to eat.
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I ‘saw’ my first one earlier this year. I’m sure I’d seen them before but was unable to differentiate between them and hobbies. In fact it was only with the help of a fellow nature watcher that I was able to see both. The Merlins are our smallest falcon, knowing that doesn’t help much mind at distance! They are beautiful birds.
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Oneputt
I too look at those you have mentioned, living in Loddon I am quite close to this part of Suffolk.
Still not connected with the WW's, just heard of a large flock in Norwich, if it's sunny tomorrow, may try and connect. Had new camera/lens for two weeks and hardly used it due to weather.
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There were a group (flock?) of 7 Goosanders, 5 males and 2 females, yesterday, on one of the fishing lakes that we pass on our morning walk. Many more than I have seen together in a long while.
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not sure about Goosanders, although I know Abbey Village was good for wild life, I have probably fished as a boy in the lake you mention. There used to be lots of Sparrow Hawks and Kestrels in the quarries behind the village, do miss the place, we are plagued by Canada Geese, sh** everywhere, but spring is in the air we now have Camelia and a single rose in bloom in the back garden and loads of bulbs shooting thru, just .hope the frost stays away
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We have witnessed the same issue with Canada Geese deposits along the Ouse banks. This hybrid bird (Canada x greylag) has also been hanging around near us for a few days.
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You are lucky if you only have one, I live very close to Titchfield wild life haven and sometimes it would appear as though they have taken over the place, and you often see large flocks on the beach
when we lived in Tring we had the same problem down by the reservoirs, but every so often they would have something of a cull to keep th numbers down
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Didn’t realise they hybridise to that degree, Rufs! Though on a numbers ‘game’ -
Pure Canada geese in UK =150k according to the BTO.
Then we have 48 million pheasants released into the UK countryside annually.
Neither of these species are native birds to the UK. What’s more most of those in that incredible number of released pheasants will be shot at and killed in the name of sporting fun. Puts ‘things’ into some perspective!☹️
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Today, on the River Weaver at Winsford, there were even more Goosanders, a mixed group of 11 cruising up and down.
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That’s interesting Nellie, the first goosanders to breed in the UK did so in Scotland in 1871, individuals had been recorded in transit across the country for many years prior to this. The species is now considered by most to be a native species.
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That's interesting info, as there certainly seem to be lots about this winter, micky.
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The suggestion is that they always have visited our shores and previously bred here but persecution and eradication had taken place over the centuries until no more was it breeding bird in the UK, only an occasional migrant passage bird, and one that was to be ‘hated’. Yes, it is fish eater, a fact that lead to its demise, but so is the kingfisher, the population size of both these species in the UK is pretty similar today but no one would wish to harm Kingfishers would they?
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Much easier and more "fun" for some to shoot a surface swimming, relatively large, bird than go after the much harder to see and track Kingfisher!!
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Not long ago we watched a Great Northern Diver clear the whole of the Marine Lake, that juts out from West Kirkby on the Wirral, of all competitors that consisted of Goosanders, Red Breasted Mergansers, Scaup and other ducks such as Tufted Ducks. He then had the whole lake to himself.
Great to see and good for working out the differences between the 2 Sawbills.
So they weren't hunted here just bullied.
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Windy and sea really rough this afternoon but a purple sandpiper and a raft of eiders in the shelter of the harbour walls made for an enjoyable walk. All the usual suspects including some harbour squirrels, as the locals call them, out there too on this shortest of days. Is getting dark now so headed home.
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Spotted what I think was a young Grey Wagtail on our morning walk on a small dyke by the Whitegate Way. Then over at our new site there are lots of Fieldfares and on the field by the pond well over 100 Canada Geese.
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I'm pretty certain I heard turtle doves on my walk yesterday.
Am I mad?
I'll be walking that way again today 🤞. I tried to open my App to identify the call. It was quiet, start to move on - you've guessed. Several times! So will be ready today.
Interestingly, tge App did say it could hear a tree creeper, couldn't spot it 😢. Not seen on for years.
Even slower, than of late, start this morning. Blackbird. One of the 4 that breakfast with us, was dancing on the wall to attract my attention 😉. The other 3 were down quickly, joined by a female. So.i had to change the running order
Have to be careful as sparrowhawk took out a pigeon 2 weeks ago 😢. I know they have to eat and are beautiful. I watched it fill its tummy, before sending OH out to dispose of the remains.
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