Bird Watching a Relaxing Hobby

[Deleted member 5496]

About 20 years ago we down sized.

Pauline likes gardening.

I laid out garden to the rear.

Not big but managed to install a very small pond

With a waterfall into the next little pond.

What do you put into ponds

Got it in one Fish

Guessed where this is going

Yep a crane

no no this type

Yep Pauline looked out of the window & there is this Crane

Gobbling our fish at least 50% migrated into crane

Small garden just made it over fence lucky him

Live in a flat now building flats opposite, oh my god another

 

[Tim Marlow]

Tim. Wow! Thanks for sharing those beautiful pics.

Paul. You I have to get some pics of those pheasants

Hi Lee
Glad you like them. It really does make me want to get the camera out again. I’ve not been out with it since late 2018 according to my shot catalog.

 

[spanner570]

Great thread Lee and great pictures, chaps.

I'm not a bird watcher as such, more an opportunist. I always carry my camera in my pocket or rucksack when I'm out and about - Just in case.....

We have all sorts nesting around our place, so I'm hoping to get a few snaps of fledglings pretty soon now.

Here's a selection I've taken in, and from the garden.

Most of the birds here seem almost semi-tame and see me as a bit of a curio!

Wood Pigeon having a barf! Or trying to.....


A Kestral about 50yds. away.


Male Greater Spotted Woodpecker.


Giz' a Kiss! Collard Doves.


More Woodpeckers. I was very fortunate to get three at once. The male(Red cap) flew in almost over my head to join in the feeding session!


Cheers.
Ron

 

[Tim Marlow]

Nice shots Ron. The Kestrel in particular is a great catch, and I love the male woody looking over the post.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Tim. You should get it out and take a few now that you have a place to share them

Ron. Fantastic pics! Thanks for sharing them hope to see more from you.I like seeing the different birds you guys have from across the pond and other places.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Lot of action at the feeder this evening. The Orange Black and White bird I have never seen at the feeder or in my lifetime same for the Red White and Black one. Any help would be appreciated

 

[GerryW]

Probably migrating birds, hopefully someone from your side of the pond will be able to help.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Lee
The orange one looks like a Black headed Grossbeak....see here

Black-headed Grosbeak - Whatbird.com

Black-headed Grosbeak: Large, stocky finch, black-streaked, orange-brown back, black head, wings, tail. Breast is orange-brown and belly is yellow. Wings have conspicuous white patches. Black legs, feet. Female lacks black head and throat, has brown streaked upperparts and buff streaked...

identify.whatbird.com

I can’t find the other one, so you probably need to work through the identification expert on the site....I must say though, you get some great looking birds over there don’t you!

 

[Lee Drennen]

Gerry. I think your right been noticing a lot of migrant birds lately it’s that time of year

Tim. Thanks for the info and help there both them yesterday Make and a Female

 

[wotan]

Lee

As Tim says the black one is a grosbeak the orange ones are Orioles. As in the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.

John

 

[Lee Drennen]

John thanks do you have any new pics?

 

[tigersteve]

We have looked after a house in the Loire Valley for six months spring and summer for the last five years - lots of birds around to photograph there !
Who doesn't like baby blue tits !
Black Redstart.
Hoopoe
New born Swallows .

 

[Tim Marlow]

Great stuff Steve. Never seen a Hoopoe, they are very rare in the UK. Love the fledgy blue tit and the three degrees in the last shot are fantastic!

 

[Allen Dewire]

Wow all, These are some really great pics you've managed to get. I'm not so lucky though. We have a bird type here in Bayern, don't ask me what it is, that sings and sings and sings for hours. At first I thought it was the Town Crier or Gossip with all that singing. Like, "did you hear that Rudy ran off with Elsa and left Beate with 3 eggs in the nest....What a bast**d...." I finally did get to grab a pic of the one that loves our pine tree in the yard,



Sorry that the color is bad as our weather here, is too. This bird has bigger lungs than a scuba diver. Last summer, I grabbed this pic from the construction site right across the street. Believe me, I didn't go outside till they were gone,



If you can blow up the pic, you will see why............Alfred lives!!! We also have huge crows here and 2 of them could probably pick you up and fly away with you...............

Prost
Allen

 

[GerryW]

Wow all, These are some really great pics you've managed to get. I'm not so lucky though. We have a bird type here in Bayern, don't ask me what it is, that sings and sings and sings for hours. At first I thought it was the Town Crier or Gossip with all that singing. Like, "did you hear that Rudy ran off with Elsa and left Beate with 3 eggs in the nest....What a bast**d...." I finally did get to grab a pic of the one that loves our pine tree in the yard,

View attachment 422068

Sorry that the color is bad as our weather here, is too. This bird has bigger lungs than a scuba diver. Last summer, I grabbed this pic from the construction site right across the street. Believe me, I didn't go outside till they were gone,

View attachment 422069

If you can blow up the pic, you will see why............Alfred lives!!! We also have huge crows here and 2 of them could probably pick you up and fly away with you...............

Prost
Allen

Bit of Alfred Hitchcock style, that

 

[Lee Drennen]

Steve. Thanks for sharing some outstanding pics.

Allen. Thanks for stopping by and some spooky looking pics but keep those pics coming.

 

[tigersteve]

Black Stork ( also in France )

 

[adt70hk]

Hi all
Here are a few photos that I have taken over the last few years when I have been out and about staring at birds.....
View attachment 421795

Mute swan on a local lake

View attachment 421796
Spoonbill at Keyhaven nature reserve

View attachment 421797
Greenfinch in my garden

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Black headed gull on the wing at Keyhaven

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Turtle Dove at Martin Down.

View attachment 421800
Grey Heron at local lakes

View attachment 421801
Chiff Chaff at Lodimore RSPB

View attachment 421802
Hooded Meganser (the James Brown of the duck world) at Lodimoor RSPB.

View attachment 421803
Oystercatcher taken on a trip to Wales

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Red Kite in Wales (Got photo of the day award on Flikyr for this one )

View attachment 421805
Common Tern at Lodimore RSPB. Probably my favourite photo

View attachment 421806
Godwit at RSPB Lodimore
I think I need to catch up with sorting out my backlog of photos, then perhaps dust off the camera again.....
Hope these are of interest.
Cheers
Tim

Sorry Tim, completely missed these. Very well done indeed.

Andrew

 

[NickT]

One of my favourites - hope you enjoy !

 

[Tim Marlow]

What a great shot, Gannet looking at Puffins......where did you take it?