One for the twitchers.

[Greedo]

Are you hearing it tapping on treetrunks or its call. The green woodpecker (apologies if i'm telling you something you already know) has a laughing type call, very recognisable. Down here they're very common. Ive only seen a couple of lesser and greater spotted woodpeckers in years.
If it is possibly a green woodpecker, you'll often see them on the ground (surprisingly) grubbing around for ants nests perhaps.

Can hear it tapping. It's such a distinctive noise. Never seen it though.

It seems to pick things that make the loudest noise as well and can still never see it

 

[Panter]

There's a massive, hideous shopping centre near my mum built on what used to be wet grassland and wildflower meadow in Blackwater. The Meadows, of course, is the name of this monstrosity. I think I'd be less angry if the irony was intentional...

That's a great shame
Grasslands and meadows must be one of the most endangered habitats there are.

Back OT, and I'd forgotten this, I heard common Buzzards mewing again on my commute in across the Noth Downs.
I know Buzzards are two a penny in lots of the Uk, but they're scarce down here so it's a real treat when it happens.
I've heard them on three or four occassions, and been lucky enough to see a pair in the flesh, quite close up as well
Still one of my all time favourite birds, especially hearing them call over a desolate Welsh mountain top. I always find it an immensley evocative experience

 

[theclaud]

I know Buzzards are two a penny in lots of the Uk, but they're scarce down here so it's a real treat when it happens.
I've heard them on three or four occassions, and been lucky enough to see a pair in the flesh, quite close up as well
Still one of my all time favourite birds, especially hearing them call over a desolate Welsh mountain top. I always find it an immensley evocative experience

Loads of them here, but they don't get tiresome. One of the great pleasures of mtbing round here is to be hurtling along and inadvertently surprise one off a post, so that it takes off and flees ahead of you. Always very impressive.

 

[gbb]

All this talk is making me homesick
All ive got at the minute are occasional doves (possibly collared...whatever they have in Egypt), sparrows manic cheeping that wake me every morning and a bird call, not unlike a green woodpecker, who's owner i havn't seen yet. Probably wouldnt know its name even if i did see it.

Buzzards are very regional...we see them occasionally round Peterborough, but not often. Red Kite abound if you go 15 or 10 miles west, and there's a population of Marsh Harriers 10 miles east.

Funnily enough, i was thinking on a ride three or four weeks ago...there weren't many fieldfare or redwing about, just the occasional one or two. Perhaps at that time they had'nt got here in any numbers.

There's still plenty of farmland and derelict sites around peterborough, so lapwings still have some good numbers, despite my earlier post.

 

[snakehips]

Until Friday, she was the Lapwing Conservation Officer for South Wales

You mentioned this recently. I was jealous. What happened ?

Snake


My Library

 

[Rhythm Thief]

You mentioned this recently. I was jealous. What happened ?

Snake


My Library

The contract came to an end and no one seemed too bothered about securing funding for the post to continue . She starts work with a Herefordshire bat consultancy next month, so it's not all bad news.

 

[rich p]

I'll stick with twitchers, as it amuses me. Be warned, if this is a hobby of yours, that if you're twitching in the dunes there's always a danger of being gripped off by Patrick Stevens...

Very good, TC It almost passed me by
p.s. Does gripped off mean what I think it means?

 

[Fnaar]

Fnarr will probably love this as well but I've got a woodpecker that comes into the garden.

You always hear it but never ever see it. I'm desperate to see it as well. Bit sad but it's starting to become a bit of an obsession that I must see it. The min I hear it I'm up like a shot an out into the garden. Still can't find the blighter!

Yup, seen a few 'peckers in the woods, locally

 

[theclaud]

Very good, TC It almost passed me by
p.s. Does gripped off mean what I think it means?

You're more likely to get gripped off if you've just dipped out.

 

[Headgardener]

The contract came to an end and no one seemed too bothered about securing funding for the post to continue . She starts work with a Herefordshire bat consultancy next month, so it's not all bad news.

How do you consult bats?


OK I'll get my coat.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Male Blackcap in the garden this morning amongst blue and great tits and a wren.

Round here we get lots of Green and Greater Spotted Woodies but I've only ever seen one Lesser Spotted. Loads of Buzzards too. During the snow we had an influx of fieldfares and redwings in the garden (for the apples etc we put out). More usually there are lots about in the countryside and the orchards hereabouts. Interestingly our local Blackbird took a dislike to the feeding fieldfares and chased them off. He didn't seem so bothered by the redwings

 

[rich p]

You're more likely to get gripped off if you've just dipped out.

One of my dear friends with whom I cycled in Belgium with last spring is a serious birdie and he was apoplectic when I gripped him on a bluethroat which would have been a life tick for him. How I sniggered!

 

[gbb]

Well while we're on the subject of lapwings, i saw the birds that are making the lapwing type call (i mentioned in an earlier post) this morning, and they appear to be Spur Winged Plovers...no wonder it reminded me of the lapwing...
http://i1.treknature.com/photos/106/157_5740.jpg

The second i saw them i thought...plover, but what ?
Check on google images and this is as close as i could get. My son always asks what birds ive seen when abroad...nice one to add. probably as common as muck here, but all the same.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

I'll stick with twitchers, as it amuses me. Be warned, if this is a hobby of yours, that if you're twitching in the dunes there's always a danger of being gripped off by Patrick Stevens...

Who saw Snow Finches and Alpine Accentors last week.

 

[gbb]

Pah...above linky didnt work.
Spur Winged Plover..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spur-winged_Lapwing

Similar sized to a lapwing, perhaps slightly smaller with maybe narrower wings.