We've just seen a chough in our garden in Haslemere. We've not seen one before here in 16 years. Do we assume they are rare around here ?
Hi
Tilgate Park in Crawley (near Sussex/Surrey border) used to keep choughs in the Ibis enclosure but I could not find anything on there website, saying if they still have them and if they have if any had escaped.
Shane
Regards Shane
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Mystery solved. I got in touch with Birdworld again just to double check and yes, they have had an escapee. Unfortunately the person I asked originally wasn't aware and didn't take down my details. Until the next time something exciting happens in Haslemere.....!!!
Well done, Anita. Thanks for letting us know. It's a wonder the twitchers haven't turned up with their big lenses and telescopes.
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Tony
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Blimey! That's awesome! Good to know that all has ended well! What a visitor to have to your garden!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Sorry I've not looked at this thread for a while. Fantastic Anita! Hope you can get it back home if it is an escapee! It will be eating insects from the mosses etc. where it has been pecking.
Just a thought - it may like mealworms!
Jenni
God gave us two ears and one mouth for a very good reason!
I should have posted the final chapter. A member of the Birdworld team came out that afternoon and left us with a cage full of tasty morsels. Within 30 mins our chough had been tempted in and is now back at Birdworld going through rehab !! However, it would appear that our young male chough had planned to elope. His female partner escaped at the same time and is still at large. So if you hear of any more forum posts about mysterious chough sightings around Surrey/Sussex/Hampshire, you know where to head ! Thanks to you all for your responses and interest and glad we've had a happy ending :)
Well done!!
What a wonderful thread. Almost like reading a top selling story! Just hope the other is captured and put back with it's mate, and that they both live happily ever after! LOL.
I have seen Choughs. But not in Kent. Only near the summit of Snowdon, which I think is where they are supposed to be.
Cheers,
Bryan
Please ignore the warning signs on my cage, you can feed the Yeti.
What a lovely rare sight and deffenetly let the BTO or RSPB know
Michael
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