OneGuyFromBarlick

I miss Doc's old "Wildlife" Topic , so thought I'd revive it ....
Unless someone else has done so already , and I missed it ....
Today I saw Jays. I also saw Two Buzzards swapping places on one telegraph post , time and again .....I watched for about five minutes....I'm guessing that it is the "pairing-up" season .
Great Display (no aggression, it looked like play ))

It definitely is - the brids are making nests all over, and a pair of blue tits are examining our nest box.

Our local gang of Shebbies have just decided to try to decimate the fat balls on the bird feeder. Being a bit "jack the lad" and not at all acrobatic it is quite funny to watch them. knocking each other off even if they manage to cling on with a foot on the feeder.

Picked up a Goldfinch from the bottom of the garden today, dead as a doornail but only recently so. I had a squint and it had a ring on its leg so I have gone onto the British Trust for Ornithology's website and recorded the tag for posterity. The BTO have a site in Thetford, could have gone there to do the deed.

Also sen today (not in the garden) a Red Kite (twice) and a Green Woodpecker. What a good twitcher's day for me.

Obviously part of some survey Julie, will you get to find out?

I got this response:

Thank you very much for reporting a ringed bird. Ring recoveries provide important information on the survival and movements of birds and we value every report.

You have made your report via a website operated by EURING on behalf of all European bird ringing schemes. Your report has been forwarded to the Scheme that issued the ring that you found. They will determine the ringing details of the bird and will then contact you to tell you when and where the bird was ringed. If you need to make any enquiries about your report please contact the relevant scheme, whose details are given below.

Please keep hold of the ring in case we need to check details later.

The information that you reported is listed below. If you find any errors in this information please inform the Scheme directly.


BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford IP24 2PU

Seems quite efficient Julie. It will be interesting what the final information will be. Please post if you get any more.

Saw a bullfinch in our garden shrubs (probably on the Pyrocantha for berries) a couple of days ago, first one we've seen here in 16 years. A beautiful bird, a bit like a big, fat chaffinch but with a very black head and brick coloured chest.

I've noted the increase in bird song over the last three days and chasing activity. Sex is rearing its ugly head again! Lovely, we are getting nearer March every day! Do you think we have wintered yet again?

The blackbirds were getting territorial yesterday and I saw the collared doves in the pre-assembly stages of making new collared doves. Spring is in the air

Skein of Canada geese passed over heading towards Whitemoor at 7am. Two big skeins three days ago, I reckon well over 100 birds. I love to hear them chatting to each other, so low you could hear the beat of their wings.

I love to hear the Owls calling to each other. They were in the Tree's across on the park last night, so I just had to stand on my doorstep for a while to listen to them! Beautiful

Nice to see one of the herons out on the river at first light. I've missed seeing these magnificent birds early doors. Nolic

Tizer wrote:Saw a bullfinch in our garden shrubs (probably on the Pyrocantha for berries) a couple of days ago, first one we've seen here in 16 years. A beautiful bird, a bit like a big, fat chaffinch but with a very black head and brick coloured chest.

It has always puzzled me how the genus could have survived all these aeons when there has never been a cowfinch (well to my limited knowledge ).

Went out in the lashing wind and rain this morning and heard my first curlew of the year. Lovely sound.

catgate wrote:

Tizer wrote:Saw a bullfinch in our garden shrubs (probably on the Pyrocantha for berries) a couple of days ago, first one we've seen here in 16 years. A beautiful bird, a bit like a big, fat chaffinch but with a very black head and brick coloured chest.

It has always puzzled me how the genus could have survived all these aeons when there has never been a cowfinch (well to my limited knowledge ).

The bullfinches don't need cowfinches to survive the aeons Catty. Whenever the bullfinch sees an aeon it dives into a dense bush until the aeon has passed by.

Wendy, you're right, nothing associates more strongly with the moors for me. Haven't heard one for years.

Tizer wrote:
The bullfinches don't need cowfinches to survive the aeons Catty. Whenever the bullfinch sees an aeon it dives into a dense bush until the aeon has passed by.

I think you are having maeon.

A wonderful pair of Kites yesterday, gliding on the wind currents. Magnificent isn't good enough a word for the colour when they turned so that the sunlight reflected on their backs.

Blue tits are in and out our nest box, and a little mouse is busy dashing between his hole in the rockery and under the shrubs - goes like a greyhound.

We had both woodpeckers in the walnut tree this morning. We have had the female all winter but haven't seen the male since last autumn. Also, instead of just getting the standard bird mix we also got a bag of nuts and one of sunflower seeds----we now have all the goldfinches back and the longtailed tits---which we call lollypops.

Goldfinches LURVE niger seeds.....
For those who don't know , they are a bit like mustard seed and require a perspex tube feeder , with perches .

Brad, first time I have ever seen Niger seed mentioned. Here's a plaque I was given by Daniel 30 years ago, came out of a shop in York I think. Made of ivory with a baize-padded base.

Pretty sure I saw Snipe down the lane today , but aren't they quick !

I can't remember when I last saw a snipe but you're right and shooting snipe was always recognised as the hardest target there was.