nature notes II

[wigginhall]

Parrots bad; lots of parrots, very bad.  We've had to take down our peanut holders now, as at first light, they are attacked by hordes of ravening parrots, well, that would be OK, but of course, they make a ghastly screech, something like a 1000 cats in the throes of something unpalatable.   

They wake up the neighbours, so no more peanuts.   I'm wondering if the local restaurants would be interested in roast parrot?   Parakeets, technically.  They are quite handsome, and make a fine sight of an evening as they fly in small flocks back to their roosts.

It's quite funny sometimes, as I come across birders along the Thames scanning the trees, and I rush up excitedly, thinking they have a rare bird, and they are from out of town, and want to see the ***** parrots!

http://tinyurl.com/pmd78et

[Enki]

I appreciate the frustration, Wigs. I've only ever seen 3 in Yorkshire and quite a lot down south but in Sri Lanka I've seen thousands. We have our own problems with wood pigeons though, which can eat all the food put out for the other birds. We even get a few stock doves coming into the garden now.

[wigginhall]

Yes, we are swamped by pigeons as well.  I think at the last count there were 6000 parrots in west London.  There is talk of culling, but I draw back from that.

I just checked again, and there is an estimate of 50, 000 in London!

[floo]

Yes, we are swamped by pigeons as well.  I think at the last count there were 6000 parrots in west London.  There is talk of culling, but I draw back from that.

I just checked again, and there is an estimate of 50, 000 in London!

The pigeons around here need to go on a diet they are obese!

[floo]

Poor pigeons!

[wigginhall]

We are struggling with a dry spell at the moment, as on the allotment the taps are still shut off for winter, so looking forward to April.

Birdwise, 2 eagles recently in East Anglia causing excitement and panic among birders.   Where the ¢¢¢¢¢ are they?

[Rhiannon]

Yes, noticed the other day, the ground is baked and cracking already. Rain much needed.

[Enki]

First cuckoos have been sighted/heard....in Kent and East Sussex. Spring is definitely burgeoning.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

. Spring is definitely burgeoning.

Indeed, today I received my first insect bite of the year, looks like it was a gnat. 

[Enki]

Yes,

As we are early into Spring, you might say that was the sting in the head!

[torridon]

Robins seem to make a career choice out of shadowing humans at work in the field. I have one that is always close by watching when I am busy in the garden and I have come to know his range and his habits. He often comes within inches of me while I work and yesterday, for the first time, he came and took food from my hand. Its nice to have some company while I work, not to mention his flow of shrill music.

[wigginhall]

Just spent a few days in Bath, well, on the edge of, and I was staggered at how many nuthatches were singing in woodland nearby.  Also buzzards flying close to the town centre, what a brilliant place.  Time to move?

[Enki]

Hi Wiggs,

My son lives at Bathford, very near Bath. Definitely good for birds, including dipper, hawfinch and grey wagtail, and, yes, plenty of buzzards as you say. Beautiful area too.

[SweetPea]

Love the video, Johnny. The adults have unusual ears.

How are you local osprey doing this year? I'm just catching up with the osprey at the Scottish WLT. They have a new female on the nest, this year. The famous 'Lady' that had returned every year for the last 25 years has sadly not returned this time, so they are not certain of her whereabouts, but I guess it doesn't take much working-out.

This year's female has laid three eggs and she and her partner have recently been fending off gulls, crows, geese, buzzards and other osprey. The observers, as usual, are very good and run an excellent blog.

http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/

[SweetPea]

Ah, wonderful! And all the best to them. 

[wigginhall]

Saw a hobby soaring and calling on Putney Common, about a mile from Hammersmith, possibly breeding.  Shows how much they have spread.  Often see them hawking for dragon-flies and swallows near the river.  Also waiting for the first breeding buzzards in west London, as they are often seen.

[floo]

When our daughter and her family visited our son-in-law's relatives in Banff last year, they were warned to be careful in case they encountered any bears on the trails they were exploring.

[wigginhall]

Exploding blue tits yesterday, one of our nests fledged, and there were tiny blue tits on the grass, and one of them had staggered across the road, and sat there calling for food.  The neighbour has 4 cats, so I have to resist the instinct to pick the chicks up. 

[floo]

I see the robin has been voted, by a large majority, as our British bird. I voted for the robin as it is so iconic, imo.

[wigginhall]

Bringing in a bit of gardening,  many veg and fruit going into overdrive, for example, strawbs are plentiful, and also blackcurrants are looking good, french beans motoring, blah blah blah, many bees.    London is bone dry though (3% of the normal rainfall in June), so we are having to dash to the allotment and water everything.   Forget sweet peas unless you can water well.   But I think some areas are wetter. 

[SusanDoris]

I see the robin has been voted, by a large majority, as our British bird. I voted for the robin as it is so iconic, imo.

Yesterday, a friend and I were wondering why it wasn't the wren. Used to be on the threepenny bit for a start , it has the most amazing song and, as far as I know, does not migrate away from here.

Chaffinches and Greenfinches are doing very well around here this year which is good to hear.

[floo]

I see the robin has been voted, by a large majority, as our British bird. I voted for the robin as it is so iconic, imo.

Yesterday, a friend and I were wondering why it wasn't the wren. Used to be on the threepenny bit for a start , it has the most amazing song and, as far as I know, does not migrate away from here.

Chaffinches and Greenfinches are doing very well around here this year which is good to hear.

But how often does one see a wren compared to a robin?

[Nearly Sane]

Wren was on the farthing

[wigginhall]

Wrens are shyer, that's true, but they are still singing away right now very loudly.   But I can see why people pick robins, as they are friendly to humans, whereas wrens dive for cover. 

[SusanDoris]

Wren was on the farthing

Oh yes, of course - thank you!! I did know that, but it temporarily slipped my mind!!!