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dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 18 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

there is also a rather spherical blackbird family. i suspect a combo of genetics and well stocked bird tables, most birds round here are the usual size and shape although they have the same foods available.

genetics that tend to being plump +unlimited food supply seems quite plausible

with chooks genetics is a major factor in body type, the same food can produce a round meaty plump sasso or a lean stringy game cock so it seems likely there are genetic factors with other bird species.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 18 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yesterday I had just left home in the car and had just turned the first corner when a peculiar thing flapped across the road about bonnet height not far in front of me. As it crossed, I made it out to be a raptor holding a pigeon, but not too sure if it was a peregrine or a sparrowhawk. It seemed more brown than either of them, so the only other possibility was an owl, but it was about 11 am. I have seen a sparrowhawk take a pigeon, although they usually take smaller birds, and we do sometimes have a peregrine in the area.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 18 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

odd you should mention peregrines, i just watched a pair+adult chick work the sky for ten mins ( panic in birdtown ) and then use the thermal to gain a few thousand feet before heading off to a fresh hunting ground

perfect lighting for em to show up which must make getting lunch a little tricky even as a team

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8571
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 18 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

last night, coming off the top of the moors we had a pair of snipe fly in front of the car....beautiful sight.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 18 11:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i don't ever want a camel but a hawk to go with the hound/s does have appeal .

snipe have an wonderful flight style and quite a splendid beak, over rated as a casserole imho

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 18 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You can have a horse to go with the hawk and hounds. That is more the tradition in this part of the world.

Snipe sound lovely Gz. I am not sure I would know one if I saw one, but we do sometimes get woodcock in the woods. They look like furry flying footballs.

derbyshiredowser



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 980
Location: derbyshire
PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 18 8:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

1 mile from Derby city centre lies Markeaton Park, this week around the lake we have seen an Egret , an adult Heron and then to top it all yesterday there was a large green red and blue parakeet flying from tree to tree. In our garden the Siskins have returned.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 18 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I wondered if the raptor could have been a buzzard, Mistress Rose, which are quite dark in colour, and an outside chance of a kite of which we have quite a few up here. Buzzards being the main b.o.p in mid Wales, but I understand them to be well distributed around the country.
I regularly see jays on their way through a local wood, that rear flash of white being the tell tale.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Oct 20, 18 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If it had been in the woods, a buzzard would have been a possibility, although it would have picked up a kill of something else as I don't think they kill pigeons. My son says they are so averse to wasting energy that they wait for a rabbit or something to die under their perch then pick it up. Seeing it where it was though, I have never seen a buzzard there, but have seen both peregrine and sparrow hawks around that area.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 18 12:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

the local robin might have got married, im pretty sure i have seen two different ones at separate times but in the same place and unless you are on the list etc etc .

he still seems quite embeded with his dozen or so sparrow chums which is fun cos so am i

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 18 7:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Do robins pair up at this time of year? I have seen mixed flocks of small birds in the winter, mainly all sorts of tits with the odd finch among them.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 18 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i didnt think they did but there are two rather than one.

lowri



Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Posts: 1322
Location: ceredigion
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 18 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

During the winter months I tend to have several robins flying under a flag of truce! There is the yard robin, the house robin, the garden robin and the field and stable robin. They seem to (grudgingly) get on with each other. It all starts as soon as someone pipes up with the little winter song, and goes on at least till March, when the tune changes and its every man for himself!!

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Nov 02, 18 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    



share generally scarce but locally plentiful resources in winter makes sense

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 18 2:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

just one robin who i'm pretty sure is the one that was raised here.

we are starting to get on quite well, he thinks he has trained me to turn over earth and reveal worms from under things and i think i am taming a wild critter at both of us
the first worm feast was a selection of 30 or so presented from under a slab after calling him.
he thought he was dreaming for a while then selected 3 over about ten mins, this gave me a guide to what sizes and type he prefers.

since then a call and a couple of suitable worms seems to be working.
the next stage is to get him hand feeding.

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