Hi there
What was the favourite bird that you where lucky to see in 2009?
In the UK I would say it was 2 Crossbills together at one time at RSPB H/Q's at The Lodge. Another bird was the Firecrest in my local patch in Bedford. Such a rare find.
Abroad in Menorca, Spain, May 2009, a male and female Woodchat Shrike sitting on a wire fence together.
In the same area Golden Orioles came a close second.
We are going to Menorca, Spain in May 2010 as we have done so over the past 4 years or so.
So hopefully we will get better sightings of the same birds (new sightings of others we have not seen) and better pictures too.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
HiA few days ago I was very lucky to see a nuthatch in my garden. I live just outside Glasgow so I'm certain this is a very rare species for the area.
Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Saw some Sparrowhawks circling in North Wales last summer, that was great. They were quite near so got a good look with the naked eye. I'm new to birdwatching, so don't always know what I'm looking at yet, but learning a lot on this site, thanks to all the friendly bloggers.
I was on my way to school with my daughter in the car and turned a corner and there it was hovering above the road - a red kite! I almost crashed the car! Definitely a wow moment!
Peanuts ... definitely a wow moment.
I think mine was simply a greater spotted woodpecker, or rather 2 of them, with a couple of nuthatches. I don't see these birds in my garden, but saw them every day on a peanut feeder in the garden of a cottage we rented for a week at Quernmoor Park Hall, near Lancaster. I didn't know what the nuthatches were until I looked them up in my book. They made my holiday. The nuthatches were taking whole nuts from the feeder and flying off to hide them somewhere.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
I saw a cheeky Jay who came to shout at my kids for being noisy whilst climbing in the woods at Kinver, West Midlands. Haven't seen one since I lived in Surrey. Also the buzzard that we drove past last week in Shropshire it was so close to the car on the hedge, definitely a wow moment.
Hi Heron
Now that is something I would love to see in my garden. Only seen Nuthatches in a Nature Reserve such as the Lodge Headquarters and Putnoe Local Nature Reserve in Bedford.
Their calls are quite distinctive to listen too so once you know that you can pick them out while walking about. They are hard to see though - and you need to be patience sourcing them out.
I do not think the Nuthatch is rare in England (though Scotland is another thing - I never saw one there at all). I think it is more good luck if you see one and if it is in the right environment for them.
Love to hear that you had a sighting of a Nuthatch that is the main thing {thumbs up}
Heron77 said: HiA few days ago I was very lucky to see a nuthatch in my garden. I live just outside Glasgow so I'm certain this is a very rare species for the area. Paul.
Hi Lindy
Great news to hear about the Sparrowbawks. Though I have to say that Sparrowhawks tend to dash about rather than circle about - they are birds who like to be on their own rather than in a group.
You might have being seeing Buzzards in a group, as they love to circle about and are quite easy to see. If it is Wales Red Kites are well known in the welsh area so you never know.
Lindybird said: Saw some Sparrowhawks circling in North Wales last summer, that was great. They were quite near so got a good look with the naked eye. I'm new to birdwatching, so don't always know what I'm looking at yet, but learning a lot on this site, thanks to all the friendly bloggers.
Hi Blackbird - Water rail for me - lucky enough to have been in the hide at Venus Pool when someone spotted on in the reeds and helped us find it - a first which is always great.
Hi Lucy
Great find and an unusal find to see.
I understand that Water Rails are a very shy bird, and do not like to be seen at all.
Really pleased that you have had the opportunity of seeing one.
Have you ever heard one call - they sound like a squealing pig LOL.
lucybob said: Hi Blackbird - Water rail for me - lucky enough to have been in the hide at Venus Pool when someone spotted on in the reeds and helped us find it - a first which is always great.
The blackcap right in the middle of Big Birdwatch was great, that's the only time I have ever seen a blackcap in our garden!
A redwing at the window during the snow last feb, was cool.
Seeing dippers for the first time during our Peak District hols, was real joy.
The overall wildlife highlight was very early one morning whilst waiting for my lift to work. I loved watching the juvenile sparrows playing and looking for food on the pavement opposite. Suddenly, whoosh, right over my shoulder, a sparrowhawk descended and grabbed a young sparrow. It took a half a second to look over it's shoulder and fix me with an evil stare before flying off again. A moment I will never forget.
An egret changed my life!