Bazzer 5,070 Moderator Posted March 24, 2011 Thought I'd start a Twitchers ( the pro's are called Birders btw) thread. Why coz I like identifying them and have combined it with my new hobby of photography. My pics aren't good enough for Random image of the day so its some where to post them and comment. So if you've seen a bird you don't know or you are a Twitcher , sorry Birder - shoot the breeze here A little brown bird we have all seen, wrongly called a Hedge Sparrow, it is a Dunnock and nothing like a Sparrow in its habits. " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boxer 2 Posted March 25, 2011 Top spots of the last few days: a rather nice snow bunting running around Ross Sands about 10m in front of us; a group of Slavonian and Red-necked Grebes off the same beach, including one of the Slavonians in full summer plumage; best of the bunch was today heading up to Berwick - a goshawk sitting in a tree by the A1 just north of Alnwick, must be one of the Kielder population on the wander. Roll on next week: off to the Forest of Bowland, which will include visits to Leighton Moss! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkbmusic 3,991 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 I'm not a twitcher, but did see a Mediteranean Gull nearby, last week. (not my photo) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkbmusic 3,991 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 I am quite fortunate in that I have a reasonable garden. I had a Heron, (last year) pinching the fish and frogs from the ponds. Loads of starlings, hedge sparrows, blackbirds, thrush, dunnocks, wrens, blue & great tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, collard doves, and wood pigeons. One day last year, I think I saw a sparrow hawk chasing another small bird through the garden. It was all over in a flash, but unbelievable flying control. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leonard Smalls 4 Posted March 25, 2011 2 red kites today, plus 2 great spotted woodpeckers and a nuthatch. 2 years ago we had a hoopoe visiting - our neighbour phoned the RSPB and within 2 hours had 10 chaps in camo with enormous cameras creeping about in the undergrowth... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkbmusic 3,991 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 Red Kites nearby, but not close enough to photograph, yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bazzer 5,070 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 I am quite fortunate in that I have a reasonable garden. I had a Heron, (last year) pinching the fish and frogs from the ponds. Loads of starlings, hedge sparrows, blackbirds, thrush, dunnocks, wrens, blue & great tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, collard doves, and wood pigeons. One day last year, I think I saw a sparrow hawk chasing another small bird through the garden. It was all over in a flash, but unbelievable flying control. I'll let you off because you say you are not a twitcher, but did you read my OP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockmeister 94 Posted March 25, 2011 birders are just like you and I, but twitchers are so called because they spend their lives rushing from spot to spot looking for new species....Birders often keep an annual list, but twitchers are on the hunt for the total ' all the birds in the world ticked off' experience. Isn't that right? I just like birds, and lookin at em. Joined the RSPB recently and spend a fair time wandering the heaths and woods, binos at the ready. Nicest recently was a pair of Ravens over golden cap near Bridport, playing in the air. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkbmusic 3,991 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 I'll let you off because you say you are not a twitcher, but did you read my OP Yes, but I'm neither a twitcher, nor a birder, I think I'm an occasional birdwatcher. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bazzer 5,070 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 birders are just like you and I, but twitchers are so called because they spend their lives rushing from spot to spot looking for new species....Birders often keep an annual list, but twitchers are on the hunt for the total ' all the birds in the world ticked off' experience. Isn't that right?I just like birds, and lookin at em. Joined the RSPB recently and spend a fair time wandering the heaths and woods, binos at the ready. Nicest recently was a pair of Ravens over golden cap near Bridport, playing in the air. I'm not sure, but I think I read on a bird forum"don't call us twitchers we are birders" but it might have meant what you say Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bazzer 5,070 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 Yes, but I'm neither a twitcher, nor a birder, I think I'm an occasional birdwatcher. So am I , but its amazing how many think Dunnocks and Hedge Sparrows are 2 birds. btw that Med Gull was a good spot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boxer 2 Posted March 25, 2011 I'm not a twitcher, but did see a Mediteranean Gull nearby, last week. (not my photo) There have been quite a few spending the summer up here in the last couple of years, especially around Amble: flew over our house a couple of times. Out and out rarest thing I've seen near here was the White-winged Black Tern that spent a summer at East Chevington. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vinyl Art 1 Posted March 25, 2011 Good thread. Will see if i can get a shot or two of the perrigrines when they come back to nest this year. We have had a pair for the last 2 years nesting up in a disused crane in the shipyard. plenty of young gulls and pigeons around to attract them and up in the crane they have complete isolation. Also one of the safest places for them, no egg hunters can get near them, place is more secure than a secure thing. Saw one of the perris flying over yesterday, so cant be long before they nest i hope. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bazzer 5,070 Moderator Posted March 25, 2011 Lots of the birds mentioned so far are quite different to what I see, shows how much this island of ours differs in terrain and climate. For all those who wondered why the saying "bald as a Coot" "> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
