Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Cambridge University athletics ground at the end of the cycle path - A black rabbit seen for the last 2 days, fairly large, hanging around with the normal brown ones.
Your day's wildlife
- Thread starter Flick of the Elbow
- Start date
-
- Tags
- wildlife
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annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Ha, I once had a sparrowhawk fly between me and the hedge I was cutting - so maybe only about a foot away. Too close to see it properly.
I see one in the garden every now and again - I'm always terrified that it's going to take one of my blackbirds.
Maverick Goose
A jumped up pantry boy, who never knew his place
- Location
- A champagne supernova in the sky
We had a goldcrest in our garden t'other day!
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
During that bad winter, what was it, 5 years ago now, there were a couple feeding on bushes that still had berries on. And they looked to be fairly tamed by hunger, even though far from home. Cute though. Small and cute for Deptford.
I used to get an occasional goldcrest in my garden but not for years now. Are they scarcer @annedonnelly @nickyboy ?
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
We've had a handful here in west London over the last year. BTW, have you got your nest box camera primed for an invasion of blue tits?
It's there and ready to rumble.
BTW, does the panel clear last year's nest material out, or leave it to the new tenants to either use or dispose of?
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I cleared all of our family's gear out after they disappeared, Marie Celeste-like, last Spring, but I'm no expert.
Good luck with some new tenants.
Edit: cross-post with an expert.
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
Population is pretty stable Rich. They suffer a lot in really bad winters but soon bounce back. I only see an odd one in my garden despite being close to woodland that has plenty of them. I think they aren't really a "garden bird" in that they don't eat bread etc and I don't think they really eat sunflower seeds in the feeder so not much incentive to come to the garden
Edit: just seen one in the garden. They tend to lurk around in the conifers. Presumably there are spiders and whatnot in there that they like
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Poacher
Gravitationally challenged member
- Location
- Nottingham
Five minutes ago I came within about 2 feet of headbutting a male Sparrowhawk! As I was about to step out of our outhouse with a few suet pellets for a semi-tame Blackbird, I saw the hawk fly from between our house and nextdoors. I thought it had flown into the far side of our bay tree (about 10 feet high, 8 feet diameter), but I was wrong. It flew clockwise round the tree and passed between the tree and me at head height just as I stepped out. It continued to make a full circuit of the tree then flew off to perch in a tree at the end of the garden about 50 feet away. I've just measured the gap between the bay tree and outhouse - 4 feet 3 inches. If the hawk had been a female, its wingtips would have brushed my face, rather than just whizzing past my nose!
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Fantastic isn't it?
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
And they're tricky little blighters to get a look at. They like the tops of conifers so there are always leaves in the way. And they never stop still for a moment. So you just get your eye on one & it's dashed off again. I often hear them but can't see them.
There was a massive influx of migrant ones on the NE coast before Christmas. Some people saw hundreds all together.
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
[QUOTE 4162517, member: 9609"]Sparrowhawks natural environment is woodland, they are very adapt at flying at high speed in between the trees, touching 40mph and holding their wings close to their bodies as they pass between close together branches. Their flying ability is awesome.[/QUOTE]
Did you see the David Attenborough Hunt program which showed how the small male can hunt in the crowded woods but the larger female needs more open spaces? The sequence of the young sparrowhawks chasing the jays with a squirrel watching them was fantastic.
Did you see the David Attenborough Hunt program which showed how the small male can hunt in the crowded woods but the larger female needs more open spaces? The sequence of the young sparrowhawks chasing the jays with a squirrel watching them was fantastic.
growingvegetables
Guru
- Location
- Leeds
Saw my first Nuthatch . In the Washburn Valley (now there's a lovely spot).
. In the Washburn Valley (now there's a lovely spot).
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Been out for a walk in the frosty fields & woods this morning - 9 goosander on the fishing pond. I suspect the fishermen might not be happy about that. And a skylark was singing his little heart out. Spring is on the way in the bird world.
