Britain's National Bird

[Speicher]

I wonder what bird @Speicher will vote for?

Modesty prevents me voting for myself.
I think I would choose the Barn Owl.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

We lived right beside the East Lancashire Railway and used to get some quite interesting steam engines chuffing past rattling the windows. One particular weekend the big streamlined blue Pacific Class loco shot past and Rita called out: (Fred Dibnah accent here) "Eeeh look.... it's that Sir Nigel Dempster!"

So that sounds like a vote for mallard then, excellent idea, found on ponds all over the country, lots of cuteness in spring, and at the same time celebrating the very best of British engineering .

 

[Globalti]

What's the difference between a bad marksman and a constipated owl?

A bad marksman shoots and can't hit.....

 

[Hyslop]

What's the difference between a bad marksman and a constipated owl?

A bad marksman shoots and can't hit.....

Awful!

 

[Hyslop]

I cant make my mind up at all.Each time I think of an answer,I consider it and think mmm,maybe not.You dont help either,as soon as I agree with one bird, the next post seems as good a suggestion! OK then, Curlew.

 

[Globalti]

The curlew is the most beautiful bird but people who don't frequent upland areas or coasts won't have a clue what it is and how lovely it sounds, so they would probably vote for the plucky sparrow or the cheeky robin who graces all those ghastly maudlin Christmas cards. There is nothing more haunting or evocative than the curlew. Here's the best recording I can find on the web:

http://www.ornitofaunistika.com/lvp/balsis/numarq_song_2008-06-06_0442_kuusamo.fi_a.celmins.mp3

 

[Hyslop]

The curlew is the most beautiful bird but people who don't frequent upland areas or coasts won't have a clue what it is and how lovely it sounds, so they would probably vote for the plucky sparrow or the cheeky robin who graces all those ghastly maudlin Christmas cards. There is nothing kmore haunting or evocative than the curlew. Here's the best recording I can find on the web:

http://www.ornitofaunistika.com/lvp/balsis/numarq_song_2008-06-06_0442_kuusamo.fi_a.celmins.mp3

I quite agree.I couldnt make my mind up as I said,and as Id spent a while listening to Curlew on the Solway shore I thought Id throw them into the pot.For me at least,they are the sound of the Solway.But alas,youre quite right,they will be a relative unknown to many.

 

[Fnaar]

I love the Lapwing call... sounds beautiful and 'other-worldly'

 

[Chris S]

How about a ring-necked parakeet? Just like everybody in the UK's human population it's descended from migrants who have settled here.

 

[Hyslop]

I love the Lapwing call... sounds beautiful and 'other-worldly'

Indeed it does,had a wonderful display of Lapwings swooping yesterday as well.

 

[Tim Hall]

It's not going to be the herring gull

What does @redfalo think about that?

 

[Cyclist33]

The curlew is the most beautiful bird but people who don't frequent upland areas or coasts won't have a clue what it is and how lovely it sounds, so they would probably vote for the plucky sparrow or the cheeky robin who graces all those ghastly maudlin Christmas cards. There is nothing more haunting or evocative than the curlew. Here's the best recording I can find on the web:

http://www.ornitofaunistika.com/lvp/balsis/numarq_song_2008-06-06_0442_kuusamo.fi_a.celmins.mp3

Evocative of what? Curlews, presumably.

They're not exactly quintessentially British.

 

[redfalo]

What does @redfalo think about that?

Actually, I'm quite happy that them lazy politicians are finally taking this menace seriously

From today's FT:

"Labour has accused George Osborne of dipping into the “pork barrel” after it emerged the chancellor’s Budget contained initiatives aimed at marginal seats — including a project to tackle the menace of kebab-stealing urban seagulls. (...) the Treasury said there had been “reports of seagulls stealing people’s kebabs” and that the menace of urban seagull attacks was widespread."

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c9c30e30-ce5c-11e4-86fc-00144feab7de.html#axzz3UxKHBhz8