Twitchers Revisited

Hopefully it will be a long time before they’re established breeders but it sounds like it is pretty inevitable.

I’ve only seen them in India and it can stay that way, as far as I’m concerned!

Watching Spring watch on BBC2.

Lovely scene of a small, cormorant like bird on the water.

The really nice lady presenter said she really loves a shag.

I suspect she will have the piss taken at after drinks :laughing: :laughing:

1 Like

Yes, we noticed that, one for the bloopers reel!
Surprised Packham didn’t have something to say.

I heard the piece on Today this morning about the impact of avian flu on wild birds, and in particular seabirds. I hadn’t realised how bad it was. They mentioned Shetland and the phalaropes (mostly how worried they are, rather than reporting actual cases among them so far) and I thought of you @pmac.

It’s devastating the seabird and Bonxie populations. Dead birds everywhere and no sign of it slowing down.

No cases among the Phalaropes yet but with such a small population it would be seriously bad news if any of them contracted it.

Shetland seems to be worse hit than some other coastal sites but that may be due to the higher concentration of people looking compared with a lot of the Scottish coastline, although they are reporting many dead birds too.

Not good at all.

1 Like


This little fella approached me outside my local Greggs, hovered inches from my face and took the offered morsel of pastry right out of my hand. I retired to the car, wound down the window and continued to feed him for the duration of pastie consumption. He eventually flew off when I reversed out of the parking space! :scream_cat: :man_shrugging:

8 Likes

Out looking for nightjars again this evening. No sighting, but did hear one (or maybe two) at the other side of the clearing, about 150m from me.

2 Likes

It’s a great song.

A churring Nightjar is a delight to hear.

1 Like

A grim tale of Avian Influenza.

Kevin was (and still is) very emotional and upset at having to do this kind of work. He came to mine after his session on Fetlar and we had a bottle of wine and a few glasses of whisky together, it helped him relax and chill out but this is not the way he wants to be spending the breeding season.

:frowning_face:

3 Likes

I’ve read a few articles about this Paul, it’s very worrying.

5 Likes

New records of Oystercatchers appearing on dogging sites in the capital shock :grinning:

1 Like

Tracking the night-life of the Ealing Common Stalker :rofl:

1 Like

Kevin Spacey?

Spotted in the garden this morning

Imgur

First thought given the size of that conk was Marsh Warbler, although it was extremely elusive - as Marsh Warblers usually are.

It showed briefly again.

Imgur

Nothing to drastically change my mind.

Finally it came into the open, quick pic and it was gone.

Imgur

It looked more like a Willow Warbler in the last pic although its skulking behaviour (and apparent size) was much more like Marsh than Willow Warbler.

It didn’t call or sing there was no help there, so I sent the pics to a couple of friends who are both very accomplished birders.

Answer 1 - l would say Marsh Warbler

Answer 2 - It’s a willow warbler for me

:man_facepalming:

And so that’s that. Bird has gone and no definite I.D. Sometimes you just have to let them go.

6 Likes

On the subject of bird I.D. here’s the latest POS

Not the Guardian or the Observer, for a change, this time it’s from Sky

Not even a hint of checking the image by the lazy twats.

And just under the photo it says “Why you can trust Sky News”

:rofl:

1 Like

Finally got around to a few snaps in the garden

9 Likes

A few more

11 Likes

Great pics Andy

2 Likes