Compo 10,326 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 There are several Goldcrest in the wood across from me. Also a pair of Buzzards nesting. My garden blackbirds are currently feeding young in the nest and the thrushes are fledged already. Wood pigeon, collared doves, chaffinch, sparrow, greenfinch, blue/coal/great tits, warblers, yellow hammers and siskins are all regular breeders too. Crossbills are occasional visitors. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 No Idea Carni, as we are away most of the time at the moment. There is a big fat cat that has been patrolling the garden, though my cat scarers do quite a good job (the black metal silhouettes with shiny eyes - I caught him squaring up to one, it was very funny), and of course Mr Sparrowhawk is still around, but it's quite possible they have just moved on, perhaps looking after another nest somewhere. On the positive front, heard the cuckoo this morning, first time this year for me, and the backbirds are singing, along with several other birds. Unfortunately my eyes aren't so good, and my binoculars are at Poolsbrook in the caravan, so I have to content myself with listening to natures music. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 I would sing for you darkazana, but there is nothing natural in my singing. Stick to the birdsong. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 There was a post on another site a couple of years back of a Hummingbirds nest, In all the years living both in California or down here in Missouri have I spotted where the little buggers nest, not that I'd disturb them if I spotted a nest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilboro-lad 294 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 I saw a black and white crow when I was at Martin's Pond earlier today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Mum has a black and white blackbird comes to her garden, I've seen it a few times. I looked up about it and apparently it is classed as an albino, I expect the crow would fall into the same category, Bilbro-lad. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilboro-lad 294 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Yes, they've got one or two in Wollaton Hall (stuffed ones) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 This lot were near the canal at the back of the Magistrates Court / Waterfront area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,085 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 This little lady sat on the nest for days, but kept going off somewhere. Another bird took her eggs, the rotter. I was dying to see how small a baby hummingbird was! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 I went into one of our spare bedrooms this morning and found a baby bird sitting on the bed, I obviously startled it and it began flying around the room, it looked like a baby Robin but without a red breast. He must have flown in the open back door and up the stairs. Fortunately that room has a glazed door out onto a little balcony and once opened the little chap flew back to momma. I then drove over to Costco in Derby to return an item I bought weeks ago. As I arrived in their car park I realised I’d not even brought said item with me! N’er mind I’ll go again tomorrow, I enjoy a wander around there and always find something I have to buy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 Strange that,Lizzie. My neighbour remarked yesterday that he'd never seen so many robins in the garden and had found one in his conservatory, desperately trying to get out. I've also seen a good number, all with food in their beaks. However, the wrens win this year's breeding prize. Late evening in my garden, the noise of wrens is almost deafening! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 There’s a few magpies here. One pair appeared in the back orchard and another on the front lawn. They now seem to have multiplied so I presume it may be their youngsters. They have no fear of humans and not even of cats. They do tend to keep the other birds at bay apart from pigeons and crows Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 I know they have their detractors but I like Magpies. They are very intelligent and that's an attribute sadly lacking in most other two legged creatures I encounter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 We were overrun with Magpies when we were country folk like you Phil. So much so that a farming friend lent us his Larsen Trap to get the magpie population down and save the song birds in our woods. Even here in Mapperley Park we have lots of magpies, pigeons and crows nesting in the street trees. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 The farmers around here used to be very anti magpie and would trap them and dispose of them. All of those old farmers have now gone or have let their land to the the large farming groups so that the old rural way of life is no more. The farms are run like outdoor factories now and the villages have become commuter suburbs. Nearly all of the old rural characters have disappeared. I’ve lived in the countryside for sixty years but I’m basically still a ‘townie’, although I would never go into Nottingham any more. We are fortunate in being surrounded by our own five acre patch so we can maintain our rural idyll. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 I'll go miles out of my way to help animals and birds; I re-home spiders when they get stuck in the bath. But I hate magpies. I've seen them raiding nests of other birds, flying off with eggs in their beaks. On a couple of occasions I've seen them with baby birds in their (magpie's) beaks. On both occasions I managed to be a good Samaritan and caused the magpie to fly off, releasing its captive. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 I could easily pick them off with my .22 air rifle but I don't have the heart to kill such beautiful creatures. Our cats don't seem to be interested! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 I'm pleased to hear it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,594 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 Do you still say the rhyme when you see magpies….? one for sorrow two for joy three for a letter four for a boy five for silver six for gold seven for a secret never to be told eight for a wish and nine for a kiss i’ve only ever seen 4 magpies together . Has anyone seen more? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,893 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 3 hours ago, Cliff Ton said: I'll go miles out of my way to help animals and birds; I re-home spiders when they get stuck in the bath. But I hate magpies. I've seen them raiding nests of other birds, flying off with eggs in their beaks. On a couple of occasions I've seen them with baby birds in their (magpie's) beaks. On both occasions I managed to be a good Samaritan and caused the magpie to fly off, releasing its captive. You could be a friend for my grandson (18) who's terrified of spiders. The other night I heard the hoover being used at 2.30 AM, enquiring the following morning my son said it was his son catching spiders with the hoover. ( they are big ones I must add) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 When I see magpies in the garden I immediately think I should close the bedroom window in case they get in and pinch my jewellery! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,712 Posted June 23, 2021 Report Share Posted June 23, 2021 It's interesting, and a bit of a mystery.. trying to work out the ebb and flow of bird species round here. Some years ago we had 'Maggies' everywhere.. but we see many fewer now. We are overrun with Pigeons..which are a PITA and a health hazard. As I understand it their status changed recently so that a permit is now required to kill them..even though most understand they are just roof rats. We had quite a few Collared Doves a while back.. but they seem to have been crowded out by the Pigeons. Other birds. Chaffinches, Bullfinches and Greenfinches seem to have disappeared. Goldfinches are numerous now. We also see Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds. We used to see Pied Wagtails in the street. They seemed interested in salt or something. Not seen one for years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stavertongirl 1,713 Posted June 24, 2021 Report Share Posted June 24, 2021 I very often see pied wagtails at the outside part of the cafe I go to. Think they nest in the church grounds next to it. I get wood pigeons in my garden, they are a complete pest. It is a constant battle to make sure they can’t get to any of the food on my bird station as they just wipe it out if they can. They also make a real mess on the slabs as well. Jj has started chasing them if he is out in the garden when they arrive, hopefully this will deter them a bit. I get sparrows, dunnocks, blue tits and the local robins who nest in next doors garden. Also starlings who nest across the road in the school grounds, although I tend to chase them off when they arrive in mass. They make so much noise and will empty everything. I have a pair of blackbirds that come as well, but can’t put anything on the ground for them because of the pesky wood pigeons which is a bit frustrating as a I do like them. When my mum used to feed the birds she had a male blackbird that got very tame. My dad put a shelf outside the kitchen window and he would come and take raisins and I think cheese (?). If mum was a bit late putting it out he used to tap on the window to let her know he was there. He once came into the kitchen and she went in and found him sitting on the back of a kitchen table chair. They were both devastated when one of the local cats got to him and they couldn’t catch him to see if they could help him, he eventually died of the injuries. I also have a pair of grey squirrels that will take what they can although my bird feeders are now squirrel proof, I do put peanuts out for them in winter which I have seen them bury in my neighbours lawn and I have found them in my potted plant pots. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted June 24, 2021 Report Share Posted June 24, 2021 We used to have lots of lapwings (peewits) in our meadow. The population of this bird has massively reduced and we've not seen any for years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AfferGorritt 868 Posted June 24, 2021 Report Share Posted June 24, 2021 Saw quite a few skylarks at Gedling Country Park yesterday, closer than I’ve ever seen them before as well. Must have been nesting in the long grass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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