there is also a rather spherical blackbird family. i suspect a combo of genetics and well stocked bird tables, most birds round here are the usual size and shape although they have the same foods available.
genetics that tend to being plump +unlimited food supply seems quite plausible
with chooks genetics is a major factor in body type, the same food can produce a round meaty plump sasso or a lean stringy game cock so it seems likely there are genetic factors with other bird species.
Yesterday I had just left home in the car and had just turned the first corner when a peculiar thing flapped across the road about bonnet height not far in front of me. As it crossed, I made it out to be a raptor holding a pigeon, but not too sure if it was a peregrine or a sparrowhawk. It seemed more brown than either of them, so the only other possibility was an owl, but it was about 11 am. I have seen a sparrowhawk take a pigeon, although they usually take smaller birds, and we do sometimes have a peregrine in the area.
odd you should mention peregrines, i just watched a pair+adult chick work the sky for ten mins ( panic in birdtown ) and then use the thermal to gain a few thousand feet before heading off to a fresh hunting ground
perfect lighting for em to show up which must make getting lunch a little tricky even as a team
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 8644 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 18 7:49 pm Post subject:
last night, coming off the top of the moors we had a pair of snipe fly in front of the car....beautiful sight.
You can have a horse to go with the hawk and hounds. That is more the tradition in this part of the world.
Snipe sound lovely Gz. I am not sure I would know one if I saw one, but we do sometimes get woodcock in the woods. They look like furry flying footballs.
derbyshiredowser
Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 980 Location: derbyshire
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 18 8:56 am Post subject:
1 mile from Derby city centre lies Markeaton Park, this week around the lake we have seen an Egret , an adult Heron and then to top it all yesterday there was a large green red and blue parakeet flying from tree to tree. In our garden the Siskins have returned.
gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 18 2:26 pm Post subject:
I wondered if the raptor could have been a buzzard, Mistress Rose, which are quite dark in colour, and an outside chance of a kite of which we have quite a few up here. Buzzards being the main b.o.p in mid Wales, but I understand them to be well distributed around the country.
I regularly see jays on their way through a local wood, that rear flash of white being the tell tale.
If it had been in the woods, a buzzard would have been a possibility, although it would have picked up a kill of something else as I don't think they kill pigeons. My son says they are so averse to wasting energy that they wait for a rabbit or something to die under their perch then pick it up. Seeing it where it was though, I have never seen a buzzard there, but have seen both peregrine and sparrow hawks around that area.
the local robin might have got married, im pretty sure i have seen two different ones at separate times but in the same place and unless you are on the list etc etc .
he still seems quite embeded with his dozen or so sparrow chums which is fun cos so am i
i didnt think they did but there are two rather than one.
lowri
Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 1322 Location: ceredigion
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 18 6:10 pm Post subject:
During the winter months I tend to have several robins flying under a flag of truce! There is the yard robin, the house robin, the garden robin and the field and stable robin. They seem to (grudgingly) get on with each other. It all starts as soon as someone pipes up with the little winter song, and goes on at least till March, when the tune changes and its every man for himself!!
just one robin who i'm pretty sure is the one that was raised here.
we are starting to get on quite well, he thinks he has trained me to turn over earth and reveal worms from under things and i think i am taming a wild critter at both of us
the first worm feast was a selection of 30 or so presented from under a slab after calling him.
he thought he was dreaming for a while then selected 3 over about ten mins, this gave me a guide to what sizes and type he prefers.
since then a call and a couple of suitable worms seems to be working.
the next stage is to get him hand feeding.