Birds

[PatrickPending]

So this morning cycling in, encountered 2 birds (why are you thinking about 70s sitcoms, the Sweeney, Robbin Asquith etc???) - first quite cute, small blue tit sitting in the road just on the bit where most cars will run along. I go past it expecting it to fly away - it doesn't, so stop go over to it hold my hand an inch in from of it, little fella hops on and I put it on the grass verge in safety (I hope) - I hope it was just dazed or something and recovered to fly on its way, but at lest it wont have an encounter with a car tyre - similar thing happened to Buggi a while back I remember.
Second encounter, coasting down the hill to Claybrooke Magna, just a few hundred meters from an incident earlier this year with a low flying pigeon, out of nowhere from the hedge flies a magpie - too late - I ran over something - but at least it didn't go into my spokes. Look back and it was hopping over to the other side of the road - don't know if it was ok but it wasn't there on my way back.

Too many bird related incidents this year (though one was quite cute) think I'll start wearing black and yellow so they think I'm a giant wasp.

 

[thomas]

I saw a nice blonde bird today .*toot toot*

 

[Dayvo]

I saw what I thought was a woodpecker today; red head with a yellowy-lime body.

Haven't found anything on the internet to help me identify it, but it was quite spectacular.

 

[Jim_Noir]

I thought this thread was about how cycleing is better for looking at birds, and saying hello at lights, than you can in the car. I was fooled into coming in here, I want my money back.

 

[Molecule Man]

I wonder if the blue tit was a youngster, and is still a bit confused about the wider world.
Reminds me of something that happened to my girlfriend one evening, a baby squirrel fell out of a tree onto the road in front of her. Fortunately she didn't run it over, it was a bit stunned though so she carried off the road and waited for its mum to come down and collect it.

 

[D4v0]

I had a few fly out in front of me this morning, didnt hit any though.

 

[eranou]

I saw what I thought was a woodpecker today; red head with a yellowy-lime body.

Haven't found anything on the internet to help me identify it, but it was quite spectacular.

Probably a Green Woodpecker Dayvo, a nice 'spot' if that's what it was!

 

[D4v0]

I saw what I thought was a woodpecker today; red head with a yellowy-lime body.

I thought you was talking about that ginger bird from girls aloud

 

[Dayvo]

Probably a Green Woodpecker Dayvo, a nice 'spot' if that's what it was!

Just googled it! It was indeed a green woodpecker, eranou!

Should have recognised it from the 'Woodpecker Cider' label!

 

[Dayvo]

I thought you was talking about that ginger bird from girls aloud

Hmmm! Quite . . . !

 

[stoatsngroats]

Just googled it! It was indeed a green woodpecker, eranou!

Lovely to see this - When I drove trains (In a distant past!), there used to be one which would 'swoop' down and 'lead' the train into Pulborough Station....

Great looking birds arn't they...?

 

[Dayvo]

Anyone know what kind of bird this is?

The plumage on its head stands up at times and it has a black and white hooped back. I saw it in Israel and haven't seen it anywhere since!

 

[upsidedown]

Saw a Mandarin Duck on the canal in Stourbridge not long ago, lovely looking thing.

 

[gbb]

Anyone know what kind of bird this is?

The plumage on its head stands up at times and it has a black and white hooped back. I saw it in Israel and haven't seen it anywhere since!

Tis a Hoopoe. Occasionally seen in the UK...ive never seen one.

Saw another Red Kite today, they're actually venturing into the outskirts of Peterborough now. Very common about 8 miles away.

Green woodpeckers are quite common in these parts too. If you hear a 'laughing' call..that'll be a green woodpecker.

We've also got Marsh harriers about 10 miles away. I once saw 6 of them in one day. Awesome birds, bigger than Red Kite, similar lazy flight.

 

[Amanda P]

Anyone know what kind of bird this is?

It is indeed a hoopoe. There are several common species in the middle East and Africa, and a very similar one seen in Europe. They're quite rare vagrants in Britain and only ever seen on vicarage lawns.

Years ago I was training at the bird observatory on Bardsey Island. With me was my very restrained and politely spoken boss. We had a spell of very calm weather when we didn't catch any birds, so we went for a walk around the island.

All of a sudden she put her binoculars up to her face and suddenly said "Fuck me! A hoopoe!".

I never heard her swear before or since....