Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 980 Location: derbyshire
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 19 3:14 pm Post subject:
We've had the odd transient rat wander through the garden all year but then we find next door putting entire loaves of bread on the compost heap and then have the audacity to tell us the council want us to stop feeding the birds. Then they told us its coming up through a drain that they can't rat proof so its all weird. its gone quiet now and apparently some council baits gone so hopefull thats the end of it for now.
I hope so. They are a total pain. Trouble is, they will eat virtually anything, so you do have to be careful what goes on compost heaps. They will eat bird food too, but usually take whatever is easier, so bread on the compost heap will win over bird food on a high stand.
bird town has been fun to watch
best estimate is about 20 sparrows are visiting regularly.
dik is resident and has issues with the sparrows
ms black(brown)bird seems to visit often to rummage under the brambles and for any available mealworms, she does not perch on the feeder so she gets table fed on the retaining bench
20 or so seems a good starting point for them and for me.
enough to study how a colony/area breeding cycle works and few enough to get to know them before they start bringing the kids to confuse me.
snaps and names seems a good start, A.2.3.or C.1.1 is a decent way to record parentage.which clutch. individual,
but tweedy or trump are easy to use names which might make recognition much easier as well.
derbyshiredowser
Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 980 Location: derbyshire
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 19 4:31 pm Post subject:
No news whatsoever typical Telegraph. However in the many comments there were a pair of snake handlers who gave their contact details to remove the beast. I would like to think the local police wildlife officers rspca would have treated the incident with the appropriate gravitas for the protection of the neighbours and local community. The actual occupier didn't seem that bothered so maybe it was rubber.We have built up a collection of various birds through out the year but under council instruction not to feed at present because ratus ratus is not taking poison from their station under next doors decking. The rat which is very determined appears to be travelling from next doors drain outlet then along a non cavity 10 mtrs to our boiler cupboard. We have solid brick walls but there is a slight non even gap between bricks that it can get to. Last heard under patio door sill friday morning chomping away at the wood in a more beaver than rat noise level.
We have a colony of hedge sparrows near us; heard, and to some extent saw them in the middle of a bush the other day, so in good voice. Not sure how many, but a reasonable number. Otherwise, rather quiet on the wildlife front.
wow a female peregrine just landed about 15 feet from me in the yard.
it was after the sparrow pack who were feeding, it landed on the shed roof, hopped to the wall top and then dropped to perch my "in the hedge"seat!
typically i did not have the camera with me that time
the hedge saved the sparrows and after ten mins or so they are back at the feeder
having seen it this time does make me think that it was one of them almost caught my hair by mistake a while ago and the kills i suspected the peregrines of committing were probably correctly attributed.
what a privilege even if it makes life a bit exciting for my little chums.
it also opens the possibility of actually getting some domestic peregrine snaps
tweaked a bit for extra detail and still web friendly
the full fat version has lots of detail but is not web friendly here or for many devices as tis a huge file.
perfect for home use though.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9243 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 20 7:27 pm Post subject:
They are beautiful little birds.
You'd have the time of your life photographing them here in NZ...not just LBJs.... lovely colours, even if it is brown!
You are getting a lot of detail there Dpack; should be ideal for ID. Yes Gz, most British birds are a bit dull, but they do sing well. Do NZ birds sing?
sgt.colon
Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 7380 Location: Just south of north.
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 20 9:43 am Post subject:
Nice photo DPack.
Sparrows are a little boring but I do like tits for their colours and also we have some gold finches that kick around near us and the have some lovely colours.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9243 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 20 6:56 pm Post subject:
Really look at sparrows and the colours aren't boring
I like the way they constantly chatter to each other. I often come across a bush that is 'tweeting' because it is full of sparrows.
Went for a walk through the wood yesterday, and son, who was in front, said we startled a hare, although I didn't see it. Haven't seen any hares lately, so nice to know they are around.
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