[Misc] The Official NSC Bird Spotting Thread.

BN9 BHA · Aug 15, 2024

I’m in Suffolk this week and went for a walk on a very overgrown footpath next to the River Blyth, saw a Kingfisher, never get bored of seeing these.
A Heron flew out of the reeds right in front of us, also saw a Buzzard, Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel and some Swifts.
Unfortunately haven’t seen a Red Kite in this area.

Sirnormangall · Tuesday at 9:21 PM

Fairly sure we saw a Red Kite over Mill Hill Shoreham today

Wardy's twin · Wednesday at 12:02 AM

Sirnormangall said:
Fairly sure we saw a Red Kite over Mill Hill Shoreham today

I have seen one over Benfield and one over Woodingdean. There have been a few the other side of Worthing as well. they are spreading

Wardy's twin · Wednesday at 12:03 AM

BN9 BHA said:
I’m in Suffolk this week and went for a walk on a very overgrown footpath next to the River Blyth, saw a Kingfisher, never get bored of seeing these.
A Heron flew out of the reeds right in front of us, also saw a Buzzard, Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel and some Swifts.
Unfortunately haven’t seen a Red Kite in this area.

not sure if they have spread that far east yet.

Zeberdi · Wednesday at 1:42 AM

Wardy's twin said:
not sure if they have spread that far east yet.

Yes they have.

Red Kite are now spread pretty much throughout England & Wales and most of Scotland.

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Zeberdi · Wednesday at 1:43 AM

Last Friday just north of the Suffolk border

Peteinblack · Wednesday at 5:35 AM

Saw a Sparrow Hawk on our back-garden fence on Sunday, the second time in 3 years.

Beautiful bird, although I worried about the implications for our regular local garden birds, like sparrows (obviously), robins, blue tits, and goldfinches.

BN9 BHA · Wednesday at 8:06 AM

Wardy's twin said:
not sure if they have spread that far east yet.

I did see one the day after I posted, it was flying above a main road early in the morning when driving near Newmarket, this was much further west from where I was staying.

BrightonCottager · Wednesday at 8:39 AM

Swifts still in East Anglia? Wow. 'Ours' disappeared in early early August.

WATFORD zero · Wednesday at 8:44 AM

Saw a red Kite landing in a field yesterday as I drove along Long furlong, just north of Worthing.

Peteinblack said:
Saw a Sparrow Hawk on our back-garden fence on Sunday, the second time in 3 years.

Beautiful bird, although I worried about the implications for our regular local garden birds, like sparrows (obviously), robins, blue tits, and goldfinches.

We have had a regular sparrowhawk here for the last few years, but apparently they have very wide ranges. Haven't noticed any drop off in small birds, but that maybe because ours doesn't know she's a sparrowhawk. Her last two victims have been a pigeon and a dove :dunce:

FamilyGuy · Wednesday at 8:58 AM

I see Red Kites above Copthorne Golf Club most weeks.

Zeberdi · Wednesday at 9:11 AM

Peteinblack said:
Saw a Sparrow Hawk on our back-garden fence on Sunday, the second time in 3 years.

Beautiful bird, although I worried about the implications for our regular local garden birds, like sparrows (obviously), robins, blue tits, and goldfinches.

Having an apex predator like Sparrowhawk in the garden means you are doing something right! They are a sign of a healthy eco-system.

Only about 1 in 10 attacks result in a kill.

If people see a sparrowhawk attack in the garden and can’t stand a bit of tooth and claw, they should avert their eyes and let it be . The chances are that will be it’s first meal in several days and the only thing separating it from survival or death.

There’s no evidence that Sparrowhawk impact garden bird populations that are anyway boosted by artificial feeding but feeders can be moved to within 20 centimetres of cover (but be careful not to make them more accessible to cats by placing them near a fence/shed )

Long article by a research ecologist I know but well worth a read:

https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/shared_documents/gbw/associated_files/bird-table-56-2008-sparrowhawk-article.pdf

WATFORD zero · Wednesday at 9:18 AM

Zeberdi said:
Having an apex predator like Sparrowhawk in the garden means you are doing something right! They are a sign of a healthy eco-system.

Only about 1 in 10 attacks result in a kill.

If people see a sparrowhawk attack in the garden and can’t stand a bit of tooth and claw, they should avert their eyes and let it be . The chances are that will be it’s first meal in several days and the only thing separating it from survival or death.

There’s no evidence that Sparrowhawk impact garden bird populations that are anyway boosted by artificial feeding but feeders can be moved to within 20 centimetres of cover (but be careful not to make them more accessible to cats by placing them near a fence/shed )

Long article by a research ecologist I know but well worth a read:

https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/shared_documents/gbw/associated_files/bird-table-56-2008-sparrowhawk-article.pdf

Have to disagree with the 20 centimetres of cover. If my bird feeders are that close to trees/bushes the squirrels have jumped over, avoiding the squirrel baffles and ripped the feeders apart within the hour. With the various trees and bushes in our garden it takes a mathematician hours to figure out where to place the bird feeders :wink:

Zeberdi · Wednesday at 9:44 AM

WATFORD zero said:
Have to disagree with the 20 centimetres of cover. If my bird feeders are that close to trees/bushes the squirrels have jumped over, avoiding the squirrel baffles and ripped the feeders apart within the hour. With the various trees and bushes in our garden it takes a mathematician hours to figure out where to place the bird feeders

Lol - Yep, if you have squirrels, as I do, it’s a definitely problem. My feeders are 20 centremetres from the tree trunch/branches and hanging on long string with a baffle over them - the squirrels just cannot reach them..

I have a lot of cover in my garden anyway but when my local Sparrowhawk starts hanging round for a few days, I stick long bamboo canes at random intervals around the feeders - Sparrowhawks rely on arial agility to make stealth attacks, by creating an obstacle course to the feeders, it slows them down/deters them from attacking.

I fought a 5 year battle of wits to get cats and squirrels away from the garden - now, tall prickly hedging to keep out cats and me beating the squirrels at their own game has produced dividends.

The springloaded feeders, long string, distance from ground and tree branches/trunks and large baffles, work well - (the baffles also help protect arial attacks from above by Sprawks) and the Springloaded feeders also keep the large birds (pigeons!) off the feeders as well.

Now all my alium and tulip bulbs get dug up and half eaten instead

Surf's Up · Wednesday at 10:13 AM

I've watched a squirrel climb up a single pole, eat from an unprotected bird feeder and slide back down!! Hunger and determination and an inability to be embarrassed at slipping and sliding up/down the stand is all it takes!

Kneon Light · Wednesday at 10:43 PM

Rather different from most birds on this thread but my job currently involves looking after 2 King Penguins.
We found them on the beach covered in oil. We have cleaned them and now need to look after them for next 6 weeks or so as the detergent used to clean the oil away also removes the natural oils that make their feathers waterproof.
They will eventually feed from our hands but for now we have to force feed them food and water - not an easy job as their beaks are sharp!!

Cordwainer · 2024-09-19T08:00:54+0100

Heard a massive bang on one of our front windows a couple of days ago..on investigation an almost perfect outline of a pigeons last move..and then outside the captor enjoy the spoils

Sirnormangall · 2024-09-19T20:59:43+0100

Wardy's twin said:
I have seen one over Benfield and one over Woodingdean. There have been a few the other side of Worthing as well. they are spreading

Thanks for confirming Woodingdean - thought I heard one over East Btn golf course a few weeks ago but my mate said I was mistaken. I think Red Kite were introduced to Oxfordshire around 30 years ago and it was quite rare to see one. On my visits nowadays you routinely see 20 or more circling overhead - used to feed off carrion primarily but they’ll now take stuff off your bbq…..and there are no longer any ducks in some villages (they take the ducklings)

Wardy's twin · 2024-09-19T22:02:57+0100

Sirnormangall said:
Thanks for confirming Woodingdean - thought I heard one over East Btn golf course a few weeks ago but my mate said I was mistaken. I think Red Kite were introduced to Oxfordshire around 30 years ago and it was quite rare to see one. On my visits nowadays you routinely see 20 or more circling overhead - used to feed off carrion primarily but they’ll now take stuff off your bbq…..and there are no longer any ducks in some villages (they take the ducklings)

There are a few birds of prey around that part ( I live 400 metres from the end of the race course) including 3 or 4 buzzards, a pair of Kestrels and a Sparrow hawk . I have not seen it but a Peregrine also appears to visit.

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