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[Misc] The Official NSC Bird Spotting Thread.



Seagull's Return

Active member
Nov 7, 2003
865
Brighton
Magpies, certainly; also terrestrial predators such as rats, foxes, badgers, cats, dogs (more of a threat in terms of nesting disturbance really, but still)
 




Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
6,745
I am doing a bit of bird photography and at the moment and am trying to record all the species that visit that woods near wooding cemetery and the surrounding area for this year. Currently up to 34 species , 23 of them are visual sightings (most with photos) the other 11 are from Merlin. As the trees become more leafy its becoming harder to see them so relying more on Merlin. Does anyone else use this, Is there a better alternative?

I took this (poor quality) picture hoping just to clarify it was a buzzard but its body shape seems wrong to me, any thoughts. It was buzzard size and at times was also hovering.

View attachment 182033
I can’t help with the ID apps as I don’t use them - I learnt the old fashioned way with binoculars and field notes! 😎

Yes, your image is a Common Buzzard - one of the most variable species there is in terms of plumage. Note the broad wings ( Sparrowhawks and Kestrel have more pointed wings especially Kestrel ( ie falcons). Note also the dark carpel patches ( under the bend of the wing and the very dark trailing edge to the wing - pretty much diagnostic plumage features for Buzzards.

Buzzards often hover and also tend to hang in the thermal so it looks like a hover- some sub species of Buzzards really hover as this is their preferred hunting technique ( ie Rough legged Buzzard a scarce visitor to the UK which we see up here in the Norfolk coast in autumn and winter)

Nice pic 👍
 


Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
6,745
There’s a Hoopoe behind 3 Ponds Holiday Park in Denton which is just outside Newhaven )if anyone fancies a twitch. 😉). They are usually very confiding when feeding so a good photo op if you can find it.

IMG_1824.jpeg
 


Diablo

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2014
4,371
lewes
Herons and large gulls most definitely list high on list of predators but cold and wet weather can also take a toll - chicks get cold and fail to thrive.
View attachment 182045
Rare sight these days. Lapwing Chick. There were four two days ago..sadly only two now. However can`t believe how much they have grown in two days. Anyone any idea what may take them. Theres a lot of Herons, Crows about .
Good news ... two must have been hiding yesterday. All four with Mum this morning !!!
 






Diablo

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2014
4,371
lewes
View attachment 182045
Rare sight these days. Lapwing Chick. There were four two days ago..sadly only two now. However can`t believe how much they have grown in two days. Anyone any idea what may take them. Theres a lot of Herons, Crows about .
chicks.jpg
chick3.jpg

Still three and see how much they`v grown in six days since we first saw them. Amazed they are still around Cormorants,Herons, Crows all about.
 










hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
62,691
Chandlers Ford
There’s a Hoopoe behind 3 Ponds Holiday Park in Denton which is just outside Newhaven )if anyone fancies a twitch. 😉). They are usually very confiding when feeding so a good photo op if you can find it.

View attachment 182051
We pulled open the curtains one morning, to find a hoopoe sat there in our front garden.

(We were living in Dubai at the time, mind).
 


Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
6,745
One of my favourite bulirds. I've only ever seen them in Portugal. I might venture over to Newhaven!
There’s been no reports of any sightings since the 9th - one turned up in Hampshire on Sunday so could be that same one that’s moved on.
 






Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,021
Withdean area
A great sight for us this morning, directly outside our home a Greater Spotted Woodpecker was feeding on the trunk of a small Rowan tree sited on the verge. I managed to get some pics and videos, but all too poor a definition to post here. Last time I saw this species was in our back garden about 10 years ago.

Although nearby @WATFORD zero sees them more frequently.
 


MJsGhost

Oooh Matron, I'm an
NSC Patron
Jun 26, 2009
4,998
East
A great sight for us this morning, directly outside our home a Greater Spotted Woodpecker was feeding on the trunk of a small Rowan tree sited on the verge. I managed to get some pics and videos, but all too poor a definition to post here. Last time I saw this species was in our back garden about 10 years ago.

Although nearby @WATFORD zero sees them more frequently.

There's a lot of GSW near me. In fact, one widened the opening on our bird box and cleaned out a brood of blue tit chicks a few years ago. I have since put a metal ring over the aperture, but somehow the tits know and haven't been back.

There's a telegraph pole about 5m from our bedroom window and we are often woken by the sound of a woodpecker tapping away at metal. I used to think it was just a really stupid woodpecker, but apparently they are males showing off with the sound it makes rather than looking for food.

They are too smart to go into the nest when they can see me, but I could hear the chicks, so waited by this tree with the obvious nest holes to get a shot of sorts (and now I'll be late for work :)):

IMG_4262.jpeg
 
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Marty McFly

Seagulls Over Canada
Aug 19, 2006
3,638
La Pêche, Quebec
I’m doing some biology work for Canada’s capital region this summer. Looking forward to upping my birding game and sharing some of the sights/sounds with you all! 👀
 


MJsGhost

Oooh Matron, I'm an
NSC Patron
Jun 26, 2009
4,998
East
It has been a good day for birding so far today, totally as a by-product of other things.
First the dog walk and woodpeckers. I then had to walk home across fields after dropping my car off for a service...

IMG_4268.png


IMG_4270.png


IMG_4269.png
 








BrightonCottager

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2013
2,711
Brighton
Dozens on the golf courses I played there this week.........................also saw a Purple Heron
Nice. Did you play any in Lagos or west of there? I'm not a golfer (my main reason for going is for the surf), but the courses I've seen look very hilly. I saw a purple heron when we were there in April.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
55,279
Burgess Hill
Nice. Did you play any in Lagos or west of there? I'm not a golfer (my main reason for going is for the surf), but the courses I've seen look very hilly. I saw a purple heron when we were there in April.
We played 4 - Silves, La Pinta, Gramacho and then Vila Sol yesterday as it’s on the way to the airport (we usually stay in Alvor). A few hills but not too dramatic really - just enough to have some lovely elevated tees.
 


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