Collective Nouns ?!

According to a fairly reliable sources the collective noun for all falcons is a 'cast of falcons'.

among other collectives are:

 descent of woodpeckers,  charm of goldfinches, an exultation of skylarks, a mutation of thrushes ( seems a bit harsh), an unkindness of ravens (!!!?), a bouquet of pheasants ( try giving them on valentines day instead of roses), a congregation of plovers, a fling of dunlin, a kettle of hawks, a wake of buzzards, a herd of curlew, a parliament of owls.

Some of these birds have more than one term used in the collective sense this is probably regional.

Simon

Hi Si,

Thanks for that info.  My favourites amongst those are a charm of Goldfinches and a parliament of owls.  I still think we can do better than a cast of falcons - I think the Peregrine warrants something a bit more dramatic. . .!

I agree a cast is bit tame, at the moment I think 'a vanishing of peregrines' is appropriate, though not good PR.

Si

Hiya Rachel,

My favourite is definitely a Business of ferrets, although I also like a murmuration of starlings and a husk of hares :)  There is also a Cadge of Peregrines, but this also doesn't really fit for me, they hardly cadge their food!

Hi Gayna,  Thanks !  I really like ferrets - good one ! I didn't know the collective noun for hares was a husk - hope you liked the latest blog entry.  Apparently the Peregrines were seen last week - that's good to know.  Can't wait for next year ! 

*bump* How about a Pippin of Peregrines? As in the nickname of Peregrin Took out of Lord of the Rings?

Also, over the hill at Buckton Castle there's the site of an old beacon- in the film, Pippin lights the beacon in Gondor...

...sorry, I think I might have put rather too much thought into this ;)

Hi Andy,

I'm liking it ! You're in safe company as I can reveal that there are a few Lord of the Rings geeks amongst the RSPB Dove Stone team who shall remain nameless !!!

A pippin of Peregrines it is from now on...