Back of beyond - where the birds are :)

 

I was driving through  North Yorks visiting my son at university when I took a wrong turn and had to turn around in a farm track entrance somewhere west of Scarborough. and as I checked my mirror there was a Tree Sparrow feeding a juvenile on the fence :)

 

S

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

  • Hi Seymour

    Great to see a Tree Sparrow and your wrong turn was a good thing after all.

    Must have been so sweet to see the mother bird looking after her chicks.

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

  •  

    This reminds me,  I got a new bird/ lifer/ tick   in my wing mirror once- Laughing Dove in Turkey :)

    Anyone else got a weird sighting?

    S

    For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

  • Hi Seymour

    Well it's not a weird sighting as such, but I have been looking for a close encounter with a red kite for ages and ages. My 100-400mm lens takes a reasonably decent photo even when I've seen one high up, but nevertheless I have never seen one 'up close and personal' so to speak.

    Yesterday after a morning birding around Woolhampton gravel pits, where I had seen a pair of hobby's that mainly insisted on appearing only as black silhouettes on my photos (haven't looked through them all yet, so maybe I have a decent pic) we went to a little place called Tree World nursery on the way home, to see if they had any Norway Maple trees.

    After dawdling around for several minutes to have a look what was available we went back towards the car and this shadow suddenly passed directly overhead. As I looked up I saw the closest red kite I have ever seen directly above me. I dashed back to the car, got my camera out of the bag and took as many shots as I could before it went higher and flew away. I kid you not that I felt I had to duck it looked so big.

    This might not be the best shot as I haven't looked at them all yet, but it's OK:

    Best wishes Chris

    Best wishes Chris

    Click Here to see my photos

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 29/05/2010 20:55 in reply to Woodpecker

    One word Chris....WOW!!!!

    Pipit

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 30/05/2010 00:56 in reply to seymouraves

    Not really weird but very unusual.

    Last year a house martin got wedged in our sash window. I was able to study it closely before gently pushing the window up to release it. What I noticed, apart from how beautiful it was, were its stunted little feet and that it was covered in horrible mites or fleas.

    Pipit

  • Wow Chris fantastic shot of your Red kite.

    Sarah

    I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/

  • Not so much weird either but a bit of a surprise and a rather unusual visitor this morning. This was the only shot I got of it as I didn't have my camera ready and was rather unprepared. This could double up as a mystery quiz - but not for the experts as it's too easy.

    Great photo Chris.

    TJ

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Tony

    My Flickr Photostream 

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 30/05/2010 05:06 in reply to TeeJay

    That's a colourful character TJ.

    No idea what it is except to guess at a budgie or exotic finch. Looks like the peanuts are a bit of a challenge!!

    Pipit x

  • Unknown said:
    One word Chris....WOW!!!!

    Hi Pipit

    That's exactly the word I said (several times!) when I was putting my camera back in the boot. I feel privileged that he came down so low while I was there.

    Thanks Bramble & TJ :-)

    Best wishes Chris

    Best wishes Chris

    Click Here to see my photos

  • Hi TJ

    Wow! What a visitor to the garden. Is that a parakeet?

    Best wishes Chris

    Best wishes Chris

    Click Here to see my photos