OverClockers Twitchers' Thread

Narj said:
Sparrow hawks are absolutely amazing birds. I've not seen the male and female that were visiting frequently around for a while though. Maybe they found better hunting :)
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They are amazing indeed love the bright orange eyes, we almost walked into one when it flew out of a hedge we were walking past!

Hope so, better than the pigeon fanciers trying to poison trap them.
 
mrgubby said:
I've got two Robins in the garden now that I feed by hand. One follows me around hopping at my feet singing until fed and the other just perches in front of me and glares until fed :D
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Nice I might try that, just had a pair of Robins spend all day yesterday making a nest in the ivy next to my window. Non-stop flying by right me, they don't seem to care too much about me. I'm sure they'll be friendly enough to hand feed.
 
Narj said:
The question is, did anyone get pics? :D

I didn't even know you could see those in the UK.. I guess I need to move beyond my basic spotter's guide!
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Yes, picture on the link.
I was in the RSPB years ago at school.
It was way too big to be a buzzard so I assumed eagle, never expected it to be a vulture.
I watched it for 30mins or so.

I rode further up the road, saw another bunch of twitchers with powerful viewing equipment and radios.
I told them I had just seen it :D
Mad rush to their cars and off they went!
 
SkodaMart said:
Yes, picture on the link.
I was in the RSPB years ago at school.
It was way too big to be a buzzard so I assumed eagle, never expected it to be a vulture.
I watched it for 30mins or so.
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I flew with Griffon Vultures in Spain, those things are huge!

Given vultures tend to be pretty lazy from what I've seen (preferring to thermal than to exert much real effort), I'd have thought our climate would be too much hard work for them to want to spend much time here.
 
Narj said:
I flew with Griffon Vultures in Spain, those things are huge!

Given vultures tend to be pretty lazy from what I've seen (preferring to thermal than to exert much real effort), I'd have thought our climate would be too much hard work for them to want to spend much time here.
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I didn’t see any flapping for sure, it was soaring on slope lift off the peaks.
 
mrgubby said:
I've got two Robins in the garden now that I feed by hand. One follows me around hopping at my feet singing until fed and the other just perches in front of me and glares until fed :D
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Awwww... I was tempted to try taming the Robin that comes into my garden but I really don't like the idea of getting wild birds to trust humans too much.
 
Narj said:
Awwww... I was tempted to try taming the Robin that comes into my garden but I really don't like the idea of getting wild birds to trust humans too much.
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They've followed us around the garden for years waiting for us to finish digging so hand feeding wasn't too much of a step

(also I don't think many humans will walk around with mealworms just to do a Robin harm )
 
mrgubby said:
They've followed us around the garden for years waiting for us to finish digging so hand feeding wasn't too much of a step

(also I don't think many humans will walk around with mealworms just to do a Robin harm )
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Fair enough - I just worry about kids and the cats around other humans really.

I think it's almost time to get live mealworms in actually - we must be close to the time where a lot of birds will be laying clutches now?
 
Narj said:
Fair enough - I just worry about kids and the cats around other humans really.

I think it's almost time to get live mealworms in actually - we must be close to the time where a lot of birds will be laying clutches now?
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Both Robin pairs are taking beakfulls so they must have chicks already & our bluetit nestcam is showing a completed nest so eggs must be close :)
 
mrgubby said:
Both Robin pairs are taking beakfulls so they must have chicks already & our bluetit nestcam is showing a completed nest so eggs must be close :)
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I'm still using dried mealworms at the moment but I soak them in warm water for a while so they are nice and juicy - apparently not doing this risks the chicks getting dehydrated. :)
 
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