Hi there
I have to admit the endearing bird I have had is the Yellow hammer. While living at Stirling, Scotland we had a birdtable in the farm yard. A male and female Yellow Hammer would come in every morning and snack on the seed that had landed on the ground from the bird feeders.
In Scotland Yellow Hammers have the 'nickname' of Scottish Canery'. The yellow on the male bird is very bright and it was super to see them so close up as we did.
At the same property we where also lucky to have a Pied Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail. Both birds raised their families in our garden area. The little ones where so cute, and even though their tails where short and stubby they still wagged their tails. The birds in question seen to trust us. They where not worried when we weeded the garden area at all.
Anyone else had lovely experiences like mentioned here
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Chris... great picture. Forgive my ignorance but "taking a picture through a pair of binoculars..." did you mean that literally? I am serious and I would be most interested in learning more because I cannot close one eye so taking pictures is always difficult with my DSLR as one hand has to shield my left eye - and glasses!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hi Chris
What a beautiful picture of the Wheatear.
One of my favourite bird. Lucky enough to see a few of them on local to myself this year, and wrote a report about it. will need to source it out sometime
Like what Squirrel has mentioned, I am interested to know how you can take pictures using your binoculars. I know that you can attach a camera to a scope, but not tried it yet.
Squirrel B said: Hi Chris... great picture. Forgive my ignorance but "taking a picture through a pair of binoculars..." did you mean that literally? I am serious and I would be most interested in learning more because I cannot close one eye so taking pictures is always difficult with my DSLR as one hand has to shield my left eye - and glasses!
hi John
Your Sparrowhawk pictures have made my day, They are beautifully taken.- well done. I look forward to seeing more of your work too.
The Owil must have been an experience for you. A couple of years ago I remember getting up in the middle of the night, and looked out of the window. I could this silouette of an Owl perched on top of my bird table The lack of light make it look spooky. It must have been searching for mice. I am sure this was a Tawny Owl as I could hear one often in the trees outside my bedroom.
12 Long Tailed tits no that would a unforgettable sight too.
Love birds like you and it is hard to have a favourite most of the time.
Unknown said: This is my garden killer, he is more deadly than any cat, Its lucky we have a large flock of sparrows. There are more views of him on my page and very likely more to come! He is not my top bird in the garden but he's right up there. When I was a child we had a Tawny Owl that used to sit on the lamp post on the edge of our garden. mainly at winter time, dark nights perhaps, it is still hard to call. So many great moments! A flock of about 12 long-tailed Tits on a feeder is quite a sight, shame no photo's for them. I love birds can't single one out sorry! John
This is my garden killer, he is more deadly than any cat, Its lucky we have a large flock of sparrows.
There are more views of him on my page and very likely more to come!
He is not my top bird in the garden but he's right up there. When I was a child we had a Tawny Owl that used to sit on the lamp post on the edge of our garden. mainly at winter time, dark nights perhaps, it is still hard to call.
So many great moments! A flock of about 12 long-tailed Tits on a feeder is quite a sight, shame no photo's for them.
I love birds can't single one out sorry!
John
We have a regular sparrowhawk, too (north Cumbria), he enjoys the sparrows, of which we have many, and he liked bluetits last year but hasn't had any this year. He swoops by the feeder grabbing something on the way. We usually get a quick visit from a redpoll and a few siskins (in February I think), and I do have a picture of 12 long-tailed tits calling in in January, but not on my computer here at work!
Terry in Cumbria
Hi All,
Here in urban Stafford, we regularly get visits from Sparrowhawks. I am thrilled and love watching them, even if it is a fleeting glimpse as they 'hedgehop' through the garden. My close neighbour isn't so pleased though.......he keeps racing pigeons!! We often have lengthy discussions re Sparrowhawks and other birds of prey. He is convinced they are "a bloody nuisance" whilst I delight in watching them, but we are still friends.
The most unusual bird(s) I have had visiting are a Nuthatch and a Treecreeper. They have both visited several times although it's been months between (seen) visits. The Nuthatch comes to the seed feeder and the Treecreeper visits the (concrete) washing line post. The last 'seen' visit of the Treecreeper, back in March this year it also went up and down the lap-pine fence at the bottom of the garden. Fascinating to watch.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another. Charles Dickens.
I guess my most unusual has to be the heron - chiefly because we do not have a pond / bog garden / any form of water feature and nor do any houses in the immediate vicinity - unless you count the now not used fish pond two doors away. However, that pond is now simply the facility to have a pond (if you follow me) as said heron ate all the fish well over four years ago and so it fell into disuse. Hopeful the Heron - what a good name for him / her!
..
For me there was one special summer some years ago when every evening a Cuckoo would come and sit in the tree above our table and chairs and constantly call out until dusk. I rarely hear them now yet alone see one - it was a very special few weeks for us that quickly past and I doubt will ever be repeated but it's what makes birding 'magical'.
Well for me it has to be the Spotted Woodpecker, considering the area I live in, its quite a rarity. He has a good investigate of my almost dead Plum tree then gives the peanut feeder a 'good bashing'
I also have had more visits recently from the local Sparrow Hawk, there's a fuzzy picture of it feeding on a Collared dove in my picture area.
I am also very lucky to get loads of Sparrows on a regular basis, I've only been feeding them for 2 years now...., and I have several posh multi port feeders for their exclusive use.
Also recently started getting Goldfinches on a yellow Niger feeder, my mission this winter is to keep them coming more regularly.
Ho dear that was more than 1 bird wasn't it. Sorry.
How about Stock Dove are they rare..? I get several at once.
Great pictures of the sparrowhawk and wheatear!
A sparrowhawk actually attempted to land on one of our feeders then hurled itself into the hedge in search of the sparrows - he then flew out of the hedge and landed on the lawn. Don't think he caught anything that time, but he certainly set up a commotion! Probably the most unusual bird I've seen was in the garden of our last house, when I saw a goldcrest in the pear tree...
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games [Robert Falcon Scott]