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Post by NellyDee on Jul 21, 2018 10:04:45 GMT
Got marginally confused by these ducks, there were 15 of them in The Sound of Jura riding the tide. Thought Mallards but no curly tail or green heads, Maybe Mottled Duck? DSCF3012 by Helen Skelton, on Flickr
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 21, 2018 17:16:53 GMT
Mottled Duck has never been recorded as a wild bird in the UK- restricted to some southern parts of the US. These are Mallard with birds in eclipse plumage + one of the birds may show some evidence of domestic genes. All domestic ducks with the exception of Muscovy are derived from Mallard.
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Post by NellyDee on Jul 22, 2018 7:32:39 GMT
Mottled Duck has never been recorded as a wild bird in the UK- restricted to some southern parts of the US. These are Mallard with birds in eclipse plumage + one of the birds may show some evidence of domestic genes. All domestic ducks with the exception of Muscovy are derived from Mallard. Thank you, something new learnt every day. I did not know what eclipse plumage was so looked it up.
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 22, 2018 17:22:20 GMT
For a while we had arranged to go to the NNR of Thursley Common with a friend. By good fortune a male Red-backed Shrike has been present for a few weeks + eventually with some help we managed to locate it + get good views. Though I'd seen some in Lesbos + Albania earlier this year always good to see one on kome turf.
Also Dartford Warbler, families of Stonechats, Red Kite + Buzzard.
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Post by Tringa on Jul 23, 2018 20:06:51 GMT
RBS - that is a good sighting, Aeshna.
Mine for today were 11 Little Egrets on the Ornamental Water in Wanstead Park this morning.
It doesn't seem that long ago when one Little Egret would have a bit special.
Dave
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Post by ianr on Jul 25, 2018 13:13:15 GMT
OK so I was doing about 60 and it was flying above the trees and I only saw it for seconds, but big bird long wings and a forked tail got to be red kite My first Ian
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 25, 2018 16:30:26 GMT
OK so I was doing about 60 and it was flying above the trees and I only saw it for seconds, but big bird long wings and a forked tail got to be red kite My first Ian And they are just about everywhere these days...or so it seems! But very welcome too! My BOTD- a pair of Grey Wagtails at Battersea.
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Post by accipiter on Jul 29, 2018 8:53:32 GMT
Being at home for the weekend I took an early morning walk down by half-moon plantation and was surprised to hear a male Sparrowhawk calling the hen to its calling post. According to my notes I saw a pair displaying over the plantation back on the tenth of March but thought nothing of it has Sparrowhawks have never nested there before being not mature enough up to now that is.
It is much too late in the year to take a look now has I do not want to disturbed them so I will take a look once all the leaves have dropped which should make it easier to find their nest has I am always intrigued by Sparrowhawk nesting behaviour, as to tree type, height from the ground etc. As for the other pair nesting here I have not heard any juveniles’ food begging so I suspect they too will be late dispersing this year, time will tell has I like to say.
My little owl investigations are still going well in fact I have had to buy two more A4 folders to hold my gathered information, so back on the road again come Monday morning, has for the route it very much depends on the change in the weather.
That makes my bird of the day the male Sparrowhawk even though I never saw the bird itself, which could mean it was a mimicking jay but somehow I rather think not judging by the amount of whitewash under one particular tree on the outside of the plantation, a likely looking ambushing spot if I am not mistaken, the plantation set overlooking the ditch and scrub below.
Alan
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 29, 2018 10:42:21 GMT
Over recent weeks it's been a pleasure seeing the Swifts over the garden at at the bus stop at the top of the road where they fly over the allotments. When they first arrived I got the impression numbers were a bit lower than normal but they seemed to have a good season with lots of fine settled weather + resulting in good conditions for flying insects (=food). About 40 was my highest count though not possible to see all the birds any one time.
There were still at least 20 around on Friday. Then yesterday the blocking high pressure system was replaced by low pressure; the first for weeks + they were gone. Even though it was fine (but blustery) no show + today some much needed rain at last. It was great to have their company for 3 months + wish them a good journey south.
It's likely I'll see other Swifts in the coming weeks but these are likely to be from elsewhere!
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Post by NellyDee on Jul 29, 2018 14:57:59 GMT
Oh heck! Always being accused of encouraging all the birds in the area, now a Herring Gull has arrived. It has done an inspection around my three feeding stations, had a paddle in the pond and has now flown off. Don't reall think I want Herring Gulls here, but then I said that about the wood pigeons when they arrived and they have stayed.
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Post by Tringa on Jul 29, 2018 16:52:45 GMT
Unfortunately when trying to feed other birds and animals, not a lot goes unnoticed by a herring gull. I think the vision of herring gulls while not up to the exceptional stands of some raptors, is very good.
They seem to be able to spot food very easily and combined with, I think, a better than average intelligence, they don't miss much.
Dave
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Post by ianr on Jul 30, 2018 10:31:28 GMT
Lots of sea birds seen in Norfolk last week and lots of fulmars on the chalk cliffs at first I thought they may still be breeding but more likely moulting. I like the way they scold you as you get closer. Oh can you spot the rabbit ian hunstanton chalk cliffs with fulmar by ian robinson, on Flickr
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 30, 2018 16:31:57 GMT
Dead-heading some of my flowers I looked up to see a Hobby pass over.
Though my local Swifts departed Friday I saw at least 30 at work north of the London Wetland Centre.
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Post by NellyDee on Aug 3, 2018 9:06:19 GMT
The foxglove have now gone to seed and I am glad to see the small birds going for these rather than the feeders, love watching the Blue Tits and their acrobatics. Blue Tit on Foxglove seeds by Helen Skelton, on Flickr
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Post by ianr on Aug 4, 2018 6:24:12 GMT
6-15 this morning and just thinking about getting up when I heard a nuthatch calling at first I thought 'no just a sparrow' but it was clearly coming from a sycamore tree across the road, so a quick grab for an old pair of bins in my wardrobe and at the top of the tree on some dead wood a nuthatch. Only having small gardens front and back I class anything seen in nearby gardens or the street as partial garden ticks so nuthatch is a first at home ian
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