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Birds you haven't seen lately....
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I moved a year ago from a rural area into a small town. I was visiting a friend the other day and spent a good half hour watching the buzzards doing their thing... So I guess I miss them, although there are also red kites in the area as well...  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'm a huge fan of nature. I had a breeding pair of bullfinch in my garden recently I was feeding. I spotted a Heron a few weeks ago on a river where I walk my dog . I took some great pics. I also see an Egret most mornings. I'm still hoping to spot a Great Bustard on the Salisbury Plains  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It's a while since I saw a wandering albatross 
You should get out more! "
You're right....
Once had one track us on a rig I was relocating to Australia.....
Magnificent creature |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It's a while since I saw a wandering albatross
You should get out more!
You're right....
Once had one track us on a rig I was relocating to Australia.....
Magnificent creature "
That's actually incredibly cool... I can imagine it was a sight to behold. |
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I've quite often seen red kites soaring and gliding above my garden which I always get excited about, and can hear owls in the nearby trees (live right on the edge of a wood). Very occasionally, at dusk, I've seen them leaving to hunt too. I've seen woodpeckers in the wood a few times as well, if you creep up when you hear them pecking. There are also huge numbers of assorted raptors near here, it's rare to drive out of town and not see at least one hovering above the road.
Other than that, there's an almost complete dearth of small and not so small birds in my garden thanks to my cats. Even when I've put up feeders where the cats couldn't possibly get to them they still avoid the area not surprisingly. Unfortunately I do get to see loads of half eaten wood pigeons  |
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By *sGivesWoodWoman
over a year ago
ST. AUSTELL, CORNWALL |
"I've quite often seen red kites soaring and gliding above my garden which I always get excited about, and can hear owls in the nearby trees (live right on the edge of a wood). Very occasionally, at dusk, I've seen them leaving to hunt too. I've seen woodpeckers in the wood a few times as well, if you creep up when you hear them pecking. There are also huge numbers of assorted raptors near here, it's rare to drive out of town and not see at least one hovering above the road.
Other than that, there's an almost complete dearth of small and not so small birds in my garden thanks to my cats. Even when I've put up feeders where the cats couldn't possibly get to them they still avoid the area not surprisingly. Unfortunately I do get to see loads of half eaten wood pigeons "
I have cats, I don't feed the birds in my garden |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I've quite often seen red kites soaring and gliding above my garden which I always get excited about, and can hear owls in the nearby trees (live right on the edge of a wood). Very occasionally, at dusk, I've seen them leaving to hunt too. I've seen woodpeckers in the wood a few times as well, if you creep up when you hear them pecking. There are also huge numbers of assorted raptors near here, it's rare to drive out of town and not see at least one hovering above the road.
Other than that, there's an almost complete dearth of small and not so small birds in my garden thanks to my cats. Even when I've put up feeders where the cats couldn't possibly get to them they still avoid the area not surprisingly. Unfortunately I do get to see loads of half eaten wood pigeons "
My parents have red kites in their area. My dad will put leftovers from the Sunday roast out for them in their garden.
It’s amazing watching them swoop down to get the meat. Their wingspan is massive.
My dad has named one of them Jimmy  |
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"I've quite often seen red kites soaring and gliding above my garden which I always get excited about, and can hear owls in the nearby trees (live right on the edge of a wood). Very occasionally, at dusk, I've seen them leaving to hunt too. I've seen woodpeckers in the wood a few times as well, if you creep up when you hear them pecking. There are also huge numbers of assorted raptors near here, it's rare to drive out of town and not see at least one hovering above the road.
Other than that, there's an almost complete dearth of small and not so small birds in my garden thanks to my cats. Even when I've put up feeders where the cats couldn't possibly get to them they still avoid the area not surprisingly. Unfortunately I do get to see loads of half eaten wood pigeons I have cats, I don't feed the birds in my garden"
Well no, I haven't attempted to for years because it was pointless - and when I tried I put the feeder high up in the centre of the washing line which the cats couldn't possibly jump up to. They do get birds from the nearby wood and fields though. |
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"I've quite often seen red kites soaring and gliding above my garden which I always get excited about, and can hear owls in the nearby trees (live right on the edge of a wood). Very occasionally, at dusk, I've seen them leaving to hunt too. I've seen woodpeckers in the wood a few times as well, if you creep up when you hear them pecking. There are also huge numbers of assorted raptors near here, it's rare to drive out of town and not see at least one hovering above the road.
Other than that, there's an almost complete dearth of small and not so small birds in my garden thanks to my cats. Even when I've put up feeders where the cats couldn't possibly get to them they still avoid the area not surprisingly. Unfortunately I do get to see loads of half eaten wood pigeons
My parents have red kites in their area. My dad will put leftovers from the Sunday roast out for them in their garden.
It’s amazing watching them swoop down to get the meat. Their wingspan is massive.
My dad has named one of them Jimmy "
Now *that* must be wonderful to see - they're so magnificent. I would love to see one up close. The first time I saw them round here I thought I was imagining it as I didn't know they'd spread this far after being reintroduced but from what I've read they really do seem to be thriving now |
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I live on the edge of the South Downs, often out dog walking or on my MTB.
My grandad was a mad ornithologist, taught me alot.
I love just sitting on the grass & seeing just how many birds I can still remember |
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I can't remember the last time i saw a pair of tits
About a year ago i saw owls and various birds of prey on display at a park, got to wear a gauntlet and hold a couple of them admit was amazing.
And i have a bird phobia  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Is it just me but I seen to remember sparrows being everywhere when I was younger and there seem to be so few these days... such character "
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They got wiped out ten years ago by disease |
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"Don't see anywhere near the number of sparrows as I did 10/15 years ago.
I haven't seen sparrows for the last six years, they seem to be replaced by the parrots "
Habitat destruction accounts for a lot of it. I'll stop there before getting on my soap box! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Do you know what someone from Malta say when they see a bird ? .
Dinner time  "
Not exactly there is usually not enough bird left to eat
"Get my gun".....
They shoot any bird that strays in Maltese air space |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Driving back from work last week I saw a long eared owl. Very first time I’ve ever seen one. Saw it the following day in the same place as well that was fantastic.
Just wish I’d had my camera. I’ve been making it my aim to get good photos of all uk birds of prey. Long eared and little are the two owls I’m missing. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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For anybody that is totally mad about Big Birds, The Hawk Conservancy in Weyhill near Andover which is very close to where I live is fantastic. I watch them release the American Bald Eagles for their shows quite often as they sit with the bird in the back of the van on a hill where I walk my dog and release it. It flies back to the Conservancy as part of the show and looks amazing.
I just thought I would share that as it's well worth a visit and you get to hold various sorts of birds. They even have vultures and a Secretary bird...awesome |
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"For anybody that is totally mad about Big Birds, The Hawk Conservancy in Weyhill near Andover which is very close to where I live is fantastic. I watch them release the American Bald Eagles for their shows quite often as they sit with the bird in the back of the van on a hill where I walk my dog and release it. It flies back to the Conservancy as part of the show and looks amazing.
I just thought I would share that as it's well worth a visit and you get to hold various sorts of birds. They even have vultures and a Secretary bird...awesome "
I had a Secretary Bird once |
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"I’ve noticed the past few years a massive increase in Magpies and crows round here, almost outnumbering the Starlins "
Most likely overload from the countryside into suburbia, starling numbers have been down in many areas in recent years similar to house sparrows, modern houseing, and habitat change can contribute to this. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Saw a pied wagtail
Think that's what they are called
With a yellow front ...never seen one before
Seriously? Absolutely loads up here in the North East, love their little walk!"
First time I've seen one
Always see magpies and pigeons .... |
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"Saw a pied wagtail
Think that's what they are called
With a yellow front ...never seen one before, depending where you saw it by water, yellow breast sounds like grey wagtail to me.
Seriously? Absolutely loads up here in the North East, love their little walk!"
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"Pied wagtails are black and white so if it had a yellow front, or bib, then it's probably a grey wagtail. There is a yellow wagtail but they are much less common!!"
And migrated back to africa now for the winter months.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Pied wagtails are black and white so if it had a yellow front, or bib, then it's probably a grey wagtail. There is a yellow wagtail but they are much less common!!"
It had a yellow front with a long tail |
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By *lue NarwhalMan
over a year ago
Iceland, but Aldi is closer.. |
Living quite close to London, this year I have seen kites and harriers circling locally and a little further afield to the east of the Thames, the sparrow and starling populations are increasing significantly to the point there have been some impressive murmurations this year. |
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"Where are the kestrels? 
It was always a joy to see them hovering along hedgerows or roadsides  "
Distribution wise most birds will fluctuate in their movements looking for different territorys leaveing some places for others till those places are taken again by other birds, thou at times bird numbers can drop like with house sparrow as mentioned, A common winter visitor was the corn bunting upto about 20 years ago and their numbers since have fallen off the map vanished from my county similar picture across the country thou they seem ok in numbers across the channel, hopefully they,ll make a comeback but when is anybodys guess. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Living quite close to London, this year I have seen kites and harriers circling locally and a little further afield to the east of the Thames, the sparrow and starling populations are increasing significantly to the point there have been some impressive murmurations this year. "
Get you with your terminology
Are you busy this weekend? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know a cracking owl sanctuary.
Hahaha. That made me think of Alan Partridge. There's a brilliant episode where he takes a woman to an owl sanctuary
"
 |
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"I was bashed on the head twice by a buzzard while out running, no injury though, he must have kept his talons tucked in."
Locally we have or have had escaped harris hawks do this periodically to runners thou they have drawn blood it could be the movement that sets them off people have also mentioned buzzards to I,d like to think it was just harris hawks doing it but they do seem to draw blood perhaps not everytime..
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By *lue NarwhalMan
over a year ago
Iceland, but Aldi is closer.. |
"Living quite close to London, this year I have seen kites and harriers circling locally and a little further afield to the east of the Thames, the sparrow and starling populations are increasing significantly to the point there have been some impressive murmurations this year.
Get you with your terminology
Are you busy this weekend?"
I might be, why, who's asking?
You a coppa or summit?
You won't ever take me alive coppa.. you hear me!
Look ma.. I'm on top a' the world.. |
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By *lue NarwhalMan
over a year ago
Iceland, but Aldi is closer.. |
"There was a Jay in my garden the other day, I'd never seen one before! Beautiful xJays have some lovely feathers on them the blue patch is strikeing. "
The wing feathers of the male Canadian goose when nesting can be quite striking too if you stray too close.. |
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"There was a Jay in my garden the other day, I'd never seen one before! Beautiful xJays have some lovely feathers on them the blue patch is strikeing.
The wing feathers of the male Canadian goose when nesting can be quite striking too if you stray too close.. "
 |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Red kites galore here, ospreys, buzzards. I often hear woodpeckers and owls and my garden is full of sparrows blue tits robins goldfinch Wren Blackbird I like watching them all they make me laugh.
Seen a few herons around and an emu near cardigan the other week. |
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"Any advice on what to put in a bird feeder (house) with a bowl, spike and containers - in order to attract someonething more exotic than a robin? "
Yes, just dangle pieces of pineapple and starfruit to attract any nearby parrots and hummingbirds. |
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"I have a heron visit my garden occasionally and now recently what I think is a cormorant. They're after my fish!! "
Thats Interesting about the cormorant or could be, I,ve never heard of one in someones garden before it,ll soon catch on if one can do it they,ll push the herons out next, and swim among the fish, you need to put some metal wire over top, like chicken wire, its not good to have that species round your pond, they,ll devastate the fish, as they can,t get away. |
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"I suppose that’s more of a bird I’ve only just seen... sorry I got excited and had to tell someone... it was cool guys! "
I remember once a new area I had not been to much at the time that was over 30 years ago now, A short eared owl came to rest on the ground just behind me about this time of the year and what wonderful eyes that bird had stared straight momentarily before flying off again I knew I was lucky at the time to see that and realise even more now how lucky I was.  |
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