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Post by questionable on Jun 13, 2021 17:59:09 GMT
I have no idea what I’ve actually just witnessed but on the A529 Market Drayton Road and there was an absolutely enormous bird, wingspan was enormous and a forked tail. It looked a little scruffy feather wise (individual feathers making up the wings as opposed to grouped together) and far, far to big for a red kite/buzzard that are very common around here. I told my wife it was a kite given it’s size and used to scare the crows off but it’s flight took it straight over our car and continued for a while then headed back. Slowed down as much as possible to get a better look but had cars behind. We’ll be heading back soon so will try and get a picture on my phone, never seen anything like it bird of prey wise in these parts. Managed to get a distance glance of a pair on the way back but to far to photo using a phone. Mystified as to what they are. I used to be totally convinced that the buzzard was a decent sized bird and the kite a sort of smaller cousin based solely on seeing them gliding high in the valley only to have my theory completely trashed when I saw a kite really up close and personal, much much bigger than I thought and larger than the buzzard by some margin!. Slightly different tangent, we're now inundated with gull chicks and the parent birds are more of nuisance than usual, judging by the number of smaller birds falling out of nests the carion feeders could be taking advantage. Certainly hope so. Could have been a kite then, wingspan was enormous. Cream/Reddish underneath according to my wife. 100% not a buzzard. |
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Post by Kilo on Jun 13, 2021 18:43:14 GMT
I have a pair of Collared Doves that nest in my elderflower every year and I looked out of my bedroom window the other day to watch them nest building and I wasn't the only one watching them.  |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 13, 2021 19:52:41 GMT
Finished the game, grabbed a beer and went out to tidy up the porch. Beautiful song and the most gorgeous bluebird to sing it. He carries on his back the blue of heaven and the rich brown of the freshly turned earth on his breast; but who has ever seen the bluest sky as blue as the bluebird's back? Very luck person to have these around. |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 13, 2021 19:54:47 GMT
I have a pair of Collared Doves that nest in my elderflower every year and I looked out of my bedroom window the other day to watch them nest building and I wasn't the only one watching them. View AttachmentThey certainly do like a tree sometimes. Its funny watching Heron's fishing in the water i was watching one today just wading through and staring. |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 13, 2021 19:56:44 GMT
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Post by chuffedstokie on Jun 13, 2021 20:45:40 GMT
I used to be totally convinced that the buzzard was a decent sized bird and the kite a sort of smaller cousin based solely on seeing them gliding high in the valley only to have my theory completely trashed when I saw a kite really up close and personal, much much bigger than I thought and larger than the buzzard by some margin!. Slightly different tangent, we're now inundated with gull chicks and the parent birds are more of nuisance than usual, judging by the number of smaller birds falling out of nests the carion feeders could be taking advantage. Certainly hope so. Could have been a kite then, wingspan was enormous. Cream/Reddish underneath according to my wife. 100% not a buzzard. Forked tail is the giveaway, definitely a kite. |
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 13, 2021 20:57:13 GMT
Could have been a kite then, wingspan was enormous. Cream/Reddish underneath according to my wife. 100% not a buzzard. Forked tail is the giveaway, definitely a kite. +1 from me. |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 13, 2021 21:47:08 GMT
Forked tail is the giveaway, definitely a kite. +1 from me. Yep Red Kite. |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 13, 2021 21:53:19 GMT
If anyone has a private collection of Birds/ducks. Please go out and check them. If you then realize your missing your white faced whistling duck native to Africa and prominently South America. Its sitting on the water at Sandbach Flashes. Crikey you can see why its called what it is. Very strange sound it makes.  |
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Post by chuffedstokie on Jun 13, 2021 22:15:38 GMT
If anyone has a private collection of Birds/ducks. Please go out and check them. If you then realize your missing your white faced whistling duck native to Africa and prominently South America. Its sitting on the water at Sandbach Flashes. Crikey you can see why its called what it is. Very strange sound it makes. Very crisp and clear, nice one. 👌 |
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Post by questionable on Jun 14, 2021 5:51:24 GMT
Without doubt our “kite” sighting was something you won’t forget any time soon, it was majestic, as I said it was enormous and feel kind of privileged getting that close to it.
100% be looking out for them now as I can see why people love photographing such things. 🦅
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 14, 2021 10:43:52 GMT
On a serious but kind of amusing note.
Some private keeper is clearly missing there whistling duck.
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 14, 2021 12:11:01 GMT
On a serious but kind of amusing note. Some private keeper is clearly missing there whistling duck. Local police/animal control maybe even the local raptor rescue. Facebook very popular too for local missing animals. |
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Post by Kilo on Jun 14, 2021 15:59:09 GMT
On a serious but kind of amusing note. Some private keeper is clearly missing there whistling duck. I heard someone shout "stop that whistling duck" but I thought he was talking to my neighbour who was washing his car. |
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Post by somersetstokie on Jun 14, 2021 16:51:13 GMT
A standard Birds of Prey query. In the area where I walk there has been a hawk/falcon seen regularly for about a week. Inland South West region, not unusual, with farmland habitat of open grass meadows (recently mown) and woods. The bird behaves like a Kestrel, and scans and hovers, and has an outline like a kestrel with a straight stretched out tail in flight. The thing is it looks to big for a kestrel, and someone else said the same thing to me today. Without the benefit of a photo, as I've not been close enough, anyone got a suggestion for an alternative identification. i.e doesn't behave like a Peregrine or a Sparrowhawk.
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Post by questionable on Jun 14, 2021 17:05:59 GMT
Better be careful on how I word this but I came across a web site with sightings of birds (feathered variety) in the local area, dates/times and the name of the person who’d seen them. Sure I googled birds in my local area, at first it was a Julie from Crewe (joking) but found the above after a while.
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 14, 2021 17:56:50 GMT
Better be careful on how I word this but I came across a web site with sightings of birds (feathered variety) in the local area, dates/times and the name of the person who’d seen them. Sure I googled birds in my local area, at first it was a Julie from Crewe (joking) but found the above after a while. You do NOT want to be joking about Julie from Crewe  . |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 14, 2021 19:06:35 GMT
A standard Birds of Prey query. In the area where I walk there has been a hawk/falcon seen regularly for about a week. Inland South West region, not unusual, with farmland habitat of open grass meadows (recently mown) and woods. The bird behaves like a Kestrel, and scans and hovers, and has an outline like a kestrel with a straight stretched out tail in flight. The thing is it looks to big for a kestrel, and someone else said the same thing to me today. Without the benefit of a photo, as I've not been close enough, anyone got a suggestion for an alternative identification. i.e doesn't behave like a Peregrine or a Sparrowhawk. I agree without pictures it is difficult. Could it be a Hobby by any chance? Ive yet to see the Hobby sighted around these parts. Plenty of bird watchers have seen it. |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 15, 2021 11:09:42 GMT
When im not working on my Brown Hare project. Im at the moment working on things moving or in flight if its a bird. Grey Heron flying past.  |
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Post by questionable on Jun 15, 2021 15:12:33 GMT
We stood watching tree creepers only a few nights ago, lovely little things. |
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 16, 2021 12:57:52 GMT
Daft question. After the discussion on mealworms I had though maybe my Jays or my Raven might be impressed if they went on the menu as a daily special.
First, blimey, the price! Whatever I am attracting had better be good.
Next up, I had planned to try live but ended up getting dried. Press on.
Pop some out, all I get are starlings! Now, I don’t get too many starlings so this was a bit of a surprise. I had thought maybe the catbirds/cowbirds or I might tempt in the robins that have visited this year but no.
I presented them by just scattering a few on the path below the other feeders. Other presentation tips or thoughts greatly appreciated.
On a side note I had some old niger seed in and old mesh bag. Know they won’t sprout so just popped them on the path. The mourning doves love it
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Post by questionable on Jun 16, 2021 15:12:11 GMT
Daft question. After the discussion on mealworms I had though maybe my Jays or my Raven might be impressed if they went on the menu as a daily special. First, blimey, the price! Whatever I am attracting had better be good. Next up, I had planned to try live but ended up getting dried. Press on. Pop some out, all I get are starlings! Now, I don’t get too many starlings so this was a bit of a surprise. I had thought maybe the catbirds/cowbirds or I might tempt in the robins that have visited this year but no. I presented them by just scattering a few on the path below the other feeders. Other presentation tips or thoughts greatly appreciated. On a side note I had some old niger seed in and old mesh bag. Know they won’t sprout so just popped them on the path. The mourning doves love it I purchased a bag of mixed seeds and throw the mix on our front lawn, mistake as some of the seeds are sprouting up in the flower beds and pots. |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 16, 2021 18:05:51 GMT
I find it quite amusing how they do exactly what there name suggests constantly. |
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Post by questionable on Jun 17, 2021 14:52:57 GMT
We have a male/female pheasant that visit us most mornings, actually there on occasions on the front lawn when we open the blinds, managed this morning to literally get a few inches away to the female and drop seed in front of her which she lapped up, didn’t seem phased at all, sure I can get her to take seed from my hand in the future as she’s so friendly but concerned if I do it could do her more harm than good as would be to trustworthy of folk.
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Post by somersetstokie on Jun 17, 2021 16:39:13 GMT
Why would a pheasant fall into a misguided state of security, by being trusting of someone whose name on here when posting is Questionable. She should know better.  |
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 17, 2021 19:52:49 GMT
A quick game of ‘Spot the Owl’ Attachments:
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 17, 2021 21:55:20 GMT
A quick game of ‘Spot the Owl’ They do hide so well. (Spotted it). |
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 17, 2021 21:59:08 GMT
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 17, 2021 22:11:07 GMT
Anna Maria Island a couple of years back. I wouldn’t have minded but he threw a towel over my favourite lounger before he got in the pool.
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Post by alsagerstokie on Jun 18, 2021 17:50:29 GMT
Anna Maria Island a couple of years back. I wouldn’t have minded but he threw a towel over my favourite lounger before he got in the pool. My knowledge even suprised me a couple of nights ago. I didnt know about a 4th species of Heron. I knew of the Grey Heron over here. The Purple Heron and the Night Heron. I didnt know of the Great Blue Heron though. I thought it was a Grey Heron but apparently the USA and further south dont get Grey Heron. They get Great Blue ones which look similar but i read have a longer neck and diffrent beak. You learn somthing new i thought to myself. |
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