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[Misc] The Official NSC Bird Spotting Thread.











1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,246
are these with the TZ200?
No, the Nikon P950 from a boat.
Farne Islands are still shut to visitors for now, to help prevent further spread of Avian Flu.
 


1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,246
Wasdale, Lake District, last week.

Meadow Pipit, rather than Tree Pipit?
DSCN4407.JPG
 






1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,246
they're Shags, in breeding plumage.
Yep, first time seeing them for me. I've only ever seen Cormorants before.

It was also my first time seeing Eider Ducks, Kitiwakes, Guillemots, Razor Bills and Puffins too! :love:
 






Si Gull

Way Down South
Mar 18, 2008
4,775
On top of the world
Wasdale, Lake District, last week.

Meadow Pipit, rather than Tree Pipit?
I would say Meadow. Thinner bill and pale eye ring isn't present on Tree Pipit. Can't see on this photo but Meadow has bolder streaks extending down the flanks, Tree has finer streaks confined to upper breast. Best way to tell is call or song.....but tricky from a photo 😀
 


1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,246
Not the greatest angle, but it's all I could get.

Whitethroat?

On the Monsal Trail, Derbyshire. Last week.

DSCN4701.JPG


Further down, by the river at Chee Dale, I saw my first ever Dippers and Mandarin Ducks. Plenty of Grey Wagtails down there too. Wildlife heaven down in that Limestone Gorge!
 






1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,246
Spotted Flycatcher?
Ooh, good shout! They are certainly seen in that area apparently. Thanks.

I've always loved nature and wildlife, but only recently got more seriously into birdwatching, so very much on a steep learning curve with the less common species.
 


Si Gull

Way Down South
Mar 18, 2008
4,775
On top of the world
Ooh, good shout! They are certainly seen in that area apparently. Thanks.

I've always loved nature and wildlife, but only recently got more seriously into birdwatching, so very much on a steep learning curve with the less common species.
It can be difficult to id birds from photos. Often much of what is diagnostic is behaviour, calls, songs so that's all worth studying in the field if you have time. I've been at it for decades and still get it wrong! Great hobby, can't beat it (unless it's wet and cold 😄).
 






dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
56,020
Burgess Hill
Interesting shift in garden species over the last couple of years....still have multitudes of Blue, Great and long-tailed tits, robins, nuthatches, blackbirds, GSWs, a wren and suchlike but now have multiple daily visits from several Goldfinches (a pair we were seeing occasionally presumably bred nearby last spring, now seeing loads on a daily basis) and now have two pairs of Greenfinches visiting a few times a day - my neighbour said the woods behind our houses (Bedelands if you know B Hill) used to be full of them but he's not seen any for 25 years or more in the gardens. I'm getting through about 15kg of sunflower hearts a month.

Oh, and a ****ing pigeon has managed to get under the solar panels and has young in a nest there :annoyed:
 




MJsGhost

Oooh Matron, I'm an
NSC Patron
Jun 26, 2009
5,046
East
Lovely. Two Song Thrushes having a sing-off near us; impressive volume levels!
I've noticed a lot more thrushes this year (which is lovely). Still hardly any chaffinches in my garden though (used to be loads).
There's at least 2 nightingales within a hundred yards of me right now. I'm trying to tempt them out by playing their song back to them - they will often pop out from their cover to get closer to the 'rival' they can hear.
It's an amazing song for a pretty drab little bird.
 










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