Although I have been interested in birds and wildlife for as long as I can remember, I'm not very good with bird songs at all. Today I could hear a bird singing on the walkway (although the wind made it very difficult!) and I had no idea what it was.
I decided to consult the Bird Guides iPhone app and basically trawl through it there and then to find this bird. It didn't take much searching to find out that it was a Chiffchaff thankfully!
A friend said they couldn't believe that I couldn't recongise a bird that basically sang its name, but if you've never heard it you'd never know what you were looking for!
I know feel accomplished that I can recognise a new bird song and that there is a bird on the walkway I have never seen before and have to keep a close eye out for!
Its amazing what is actually on your doorstep sometimes!
Hi Paul,
Your doing better than me then, I can tell you what bird is singing if I can see it. I'm totally lost when it comes to recognising birdsong, I really don't know how people do it, it amazes me.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
I'm another one who can't recognise bird song unless I see the bird singing, and even then I don't remember it. The only exception is the blackbird because it is so distinctive. Everything else sounds the same to me I'm afraid, but that is me. I'm the same with music.
Well done Paul on hearig the chiff chaff and maybe you will spot it on the walkway soon.
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi Paul
I heard one in the deciduous woodland near to my house, but sadly I couldn't see it in the tree canopy. I knew immediately what it must be, as it really sounded like it was saying "Chiff Chaff".
I can now make out a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Blackbird, a Chaffinch, a Starling and of course the darned Wood Pigeons. I bought a CD of bird sounds with a book and I'm trying to listen to them all, but I might have to transfer it to my Ipod because every time I switch off the CD player the CD resets to the beginning and it's difficult to navigate back to where I was.
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Chris,
a CD came with the big RSPB Birds of Britain and Europe book that I have, but I found that too difficult to handle to be honest!
I'm like everyone else, I don't know the bird who's singing unless I see it. Round here though when I hear a bird that i don't know what it is I research through the iPhone app which bird it could be out of the ones I know live around the house.
Doubt I'll remember the Chiffchaff though - but when I hear it I can't hear the "chiff chaff" in its song, I hear the noises but not that...if it makes any sense.
Hi Paul, I'm really impressed when people can discern the different bird song, I have the same problem with many of you that I can't identify whose singing what barring the most obvious. One yesterday was baffling me, it was so persistent that I actually went out in the garden to find out what it was, a Chaffinch doing it's alarm call which I had never heard before.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Funny you should say that Kezmo. I've just heard an amazing noise and looked out to see a male chaffinch at the very top of next door's tree, making such a racket. He went on for about 10 minutes, flitting from the top of the tree to another tree and then another before flying off.
Hi all
I have a regular male Chaffinch who seems to loudly shout the word "preview" all of the time. He can be quite irritating when he wakes up at first light and he's outside my bedroom window.
Hi Sparrow and Woodpecker
Yes the Chaff that was making all the noise at mine was a male - could it be a territorial song perhaps? although mine did sound more of an alarm call as opposed to "this is my patch" so to speak.
Funnily enough, all the Chaffinches that arrived a few weeks back have since moved on and I'm back to having the one male but he does now have a mate. Whether she came with the others and decided to stay or she was here all along I'm not sure.
My goldies make a funny but pathetic call. It's when one arrives on its own and sits on the top of the pole, turning round all the time and crying. I think he is just calling for his mate to join him because when another arrives he shuts up.
LOL Sparrow, that's quite sad really. maybe your Goldie should wait for the others instead.
Saying that about Chaffinches, I could hear something the other day and wondered what the heck it was and it turned out to be a Chaffinch - he was very loud!
Another call was stumping me yesterday and it turned out to be a Reed Bunting! Surprised me a lot as there is no water on the walkway...apart from where the councils crummy drains don't drain and there's big puddles in the grass.
I'm glad I'm starting to pick up more and more bird songs and calls, I always feel like I'm missing out on a walk when I can hear so many birds but don't know what a lot of them are.