Garden Birds and wild birds thread.

[bornblueegg]

I can't believe how small woodpeckers actually are. However there is definitely a lack of sparrows from my younger days, used to see them everywhere. We had another bird kill yesterday, guessing sparrow hawk as there are feathers everywhere and the cats don't do that. My partner said she saw the unfortunate one missing its breast meat but haven't seen the carcass myself since. Still hear the owls early doors, Tawny and little owl if I'm not mistaken and I've seen a red kite gliding over the land, just wonderful

 

[Oldham Exile]

I can't believe how small woodpeckers actually are. However there is definitely a lack of sparrows from my younger days, used to see them everywhere. We had another bird kill yesterday, guessing sparrow hawk as there are feathers everywhere and the cats don't do that. My partner said she saw the unfortunate one missing its breast meat but haven't seen the carcass myself since. Still hear the owls early doors, Tawny and little owl if I'm not mistaken and I've seen a red kite gliding over the land, just wonderful

Where I live you see more red Kites than sparrows

It is one of the places that set up a breeding programme some years ago and now there are hundreds of them

Still find them breath-taking

 

[dennishasdoneit]

I can't believe how small woodpeckers actually are. However there is definitely a lack of sparrows from my younger days, used to see them everywhere. We had another bird kill yesterday, guessing sparrow hawk as there are feathers everywhere and the cats don't do that. My partner said she saw the unfortunate one missing its breast meat but haven't seen the carcass myself since. Still hear the owls early doors, Tawny and little owl if I'm not mistaken and I've seen a red kite gliding over the land, just wonderful

The Little Owl is a special Bird.
Really is.
A Diminiuative Daytime hunter on low- land open country.knows it's pitch.elusive. but instantly recognisable in flight...just unique...
A Special Bird.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Where I live you see more red Kites than sparrows

It is one of the places that set up a breeding programme some years ago and now there are hundreds of them

Still find them breath-taking

When I look at the first line of your post..it's quite amazing..thinking back.
In the 70s the House Sparrow was the most abundant bird in Britain.they were everywhere.The Red Kite meanwhile..was virtually extinct......Things change..over the years...

Man has fuckedcabout with nature ,...on a whim.

Red Kites shot by game keepers and also ravaged by the savage Rabbit 'disease'which decimated numbers acoss the country.Then reintroduced.Red Kites turn up everywhere now,for those with eyes to see..
And now being shot at again.ho hum....

Masters of the air ,and seldom in any rush.

Saw my first one just outside Chesterfield Derbyshire ,about 20 years ago ,perched in a tree ,magnificent, off the road taking you from the M1 into the town centre.

Only ever seen this bird actually on the ground feeding once.....few years back Belper Derbyshire,spotted one at a sheep carcass.
I know they prefer scavenging rather than live prey....less effort,minimum energy expended,which can be used ,instead for their Ariel dexterity....Masters of the air.

 

[laserblue]

I can't believe how small woodpeckers actually are. However there is definitely a lack of sparrows from my younger days, used to see them everywhere. We had another bird kill yesterday, guessing sparrow hawk as there are feathers everywhere and the cats don't do that. My partner said she saw the unfortunate one missing its breast meat but haven't seen the carcass myself since. Still hear the owls early doors, Tawny and little owl if I'm not mistaken and I've seen a red kite gliding over the land, just wonderful

Sounds like they're lesser spotted woodpeckers which aren't much bigger than a sparrow. We don't get them but great spotted woodpeckers are regular visitors and we had a juvenile green woodpecker in over the weekend. They're much bigger.

 

[kaz7]

I have a million sparrows ! you can have some

Something i cant see makes a curious sound , cant work out what it is , i will try and record it and hope someone knows what it is

 

[KS55]

Sparrows all but disappeared in this area about 15 years ago. Now numbers are up over the last 3-4 years, hopeful.

 

[bornblueegg]

Regarding the Red Kite, there used to be more Red Kites in London than people! Obviously due to their nature of scavenging.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Regarding the Red Kite, there used to be more Red Kites in London than people! Obviously due to their nature of scavenging.

Back in the old days of London,when folk would hang out their washing,Kites were apparently known for stealing bits of clothing to add to their nests.

William Shakespeare wrote....

"When the Red Kite is near..look to lesser linen!"

 

[KS55]

Back in the old days of London,when folk would hang out their washing,Kites were apparently known for stealing bits of clothing to add to their nests.

William Shakespeare wrote....

"When the Red Kite is near..look to lesser linen!"

Bluemoon erudition strikes again. Alternatively, Clarkie strikes again.