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Post by orkneyhatter on May 3, 2024 12:03:40 GMT
Red backed shrike, been here since 6am. Never seen one before so got the local birding expert round to take photos.
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Fez
Frequenter
Posts: 478
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Post by Fez on May 8, 2024 20:06:21 GMT
Hummingbird migration across the eastern US is well under way (they're pretty much reaching the Canada border by now), and we've spotted the first couple of ruby-throated hummingbirds at our feeders in Indianapolis.
It never ceases to amaze me how the little buggers make such a long journey from Mexico / Central America, especially considering that there's about 500 miles of the Gulf of Mexico to cross. They're pretty fearless; you can park yourself right next to a feeder or their favourite flowers and they'll fly and hover right around your head. In fact, they'll sometimes do that with no trigger other than your brightly coloured shirt or something; and if you're patient they'll come right to you and feed out of a hand-held-feeder.
A couple of other returning splashes of colour in the back yard during the last few days: rose-breasted grosbeaks and indigo buntings. And the chimney swifts and rough-winged swallows have been back for a while: always a welcome sight and sound of the approaching summer.
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Post by timberwolf on May 9, 2024 7:24:54 GMT
Red backed shrike, been here since 6am. Never seen one before so got the local birding expert round to take photos. Always find that birds name makes me think of it as an insult to some united player you do not like.
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fb
Contributor
Posts: 727
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Post by fb on May 12, 2024 10:22:30 GMT
Loving the rare bird spots in this thread, especially The Birdman of Orkney and Fez's efforts. Even I have not seen a Red backed shrike. If I was ever to leave God's own town, The Western Isle's, The Hebrides, Orkney or Shetland would be top of the list. Meanwhile on the menu today, not literally, are a load of screaming swifts and a shedload of linnets. Lovely stuff.
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Post by timberwolf on May 12, 2024 10:51:17 GMT
Loving the rare bird spots in this thread, especially The Birdman of Orkney and Fez's efforts. Even I have not seen a Red backed shrike. If I was ever to leave God's own town, The Western Isle's, The Hebrides, Orkney or Shetland would be top of the list. Meanwhile on the menu today, not literally, are a load of screaming swifts and a shedload of linnets. Lovely stuff. My lad loved his two work stints on orkney but my sister hated skye and only stayed because her husband had a good post on the island. Think a lot of these types of place depends on the individual that moves up to them. Not for everyone in the same way large towns and cities are not everyones cup of tea either.
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fb
Contributor
Posts: 727
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Post by fb on May 12, 2024 10:56:24 GMT
Loving the rare bird spots in this thread, especially The Birdman of Orkney and Fez's efforts. Even I have not seen a Red backed shrike. If I was ever to leave God's own town, The Western Isle's, The Hebrides, Orkney or Shetland would be top of the list. Meanwhile on the menu today, not literally, are a load of screaming swifts and a shedload of linnets. Lovely stuff. My lad loved his two work stints on orkney but my sister hated skye and only stayed because her husband had a good post on the island. Think a lot of these types of place depends on the individual that moves up to them. Not for everyone in the same way large towns and cities are not everyones cup of tea either. Yep, you are quite right Timbers, eye of the beholder. However one of the best holidays I have been on was to the The Isle of Barra. An unexpected paradise. The wildlife, pace of life, beaches, history, remoteness and especially the seafood were sublime.
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Post by timberwolf on May 12, 2024 11:19:40 GMT
My lad loved his two work stints on orkney but my sister hated skye and only stayed because her husband had a good post on the island. Think a lot of these types of place depends on the individual that moves up to them. Not for everyone in the same way large towns and cities are not everyones cup of tea either. Yep, you are quite right Timbers, eye of the beholder. However one of the best holidays I have been on was to the The Isle of Barra. An unexpected paradise. The wildlife, pace of life, beaches, history, remoteness and especially the seafood were sublime. Bit like having a holiday somewhere and then move and having to live there. Two far different experiances as i found out moving to hemsby on the norfolk coast. Great holiday memories but very few good ones in the 7 years i actually lived and worked there. Even the ones you knew from your holidays were not the same when you became a local as there was not the same amount of money they could get out of you then when you didn,t do the holiday stuff anymore. That was the biggest shock for me.
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fb
Contributor
Posts: 727
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Post by fb on May 12, 2024 11:42:14 GMT
Maybees, but you never know until you try. Still a lot of graft to do before I can even attempt it. Heard good and bad from family and friends who have relocated all over the world. Does seem it depends on how much you are prepared to put into it and you have to be 100% invested (not monetarily) to make it work, from what I have heard.
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Post by nelly on May 12, 2024 11:59:10 GMT
Loving the rare bird spots in this thread, especially The Birdman of Orkney and Fez's efforts. Even I have not seen a Red backed shrike. If I was ever to leave God's own town, The Western Isle's, The Hebrides, Orkney or Shetland would be top of the list. Meanwhile on the menu today, not literally, are a load of screaming swifts and a shedload of linnets. Lovely stuff. My lad loved his two work stints on orkney but my sister hated skye and only stayed because her husband had a good post on the island. Think a lot of these types of place depends on the individual that moves up to them. Not for everyone in the same way large towns and cities are not everyones cup of tea either. I'm just happy to hear song thrushes singing again in Stockport. Makes you feel good to be alive.
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Post by timberwolf on May 12, 2024 12:00:08 GMT
Maybees, but you never know until you try. Still a lot of graft to do before I can even attempt it. Heard good and bad from family and friends who have relocated all over the world. Does seem it depends on how much you are prepared to put into it and you have to be 100% invested (not monetarily) to make it work, from what I have heard. and the less you,ll miss when you leave the better it will be. My fathers brother and his wife moved to new zealnd years ago but came back quickly because she could not settle. She was involved with so many groups and charity work it was nearly a full time job for her and she missed it too much. She got some stick from the family apart from me as i said he should not have attempted the move with all the interests she had in the town.
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Post by herbiedumplings on May 12, 2024 15:57:43 GMT
Can’t move for ring-necked parakeets chez Boulettes nowadays. I don’t know if Sutton have them on their badge for similar reasons?
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Post by since67 on May 13, 2024 22:51:29 GMT
We have a bird who appears around this time until late summer he/she has an interesting call which sounds like it’s tweeting BOB, BOB, BOB and no I’m not joking. Anyone any ideas?
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Post by houldsworthhatter on May 14, 2024 3:25:23 GMT
We have a bird who appears around this time until late summer he/she has an interesting call which sounds like it’s tweeting BOB, BOB, BOB and no I’m not joking. Anyone any ideas? Yeh pack in the day time drinking 😁
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Post by topcat99 on May 14, 2024 6:55:12 GMT
Couple of Treecreepers spotted on Abney Hall park this morning
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Post by since67 on May 14, 2024 10:27:19 GMT
We have a bird who appears around this time until late summer he/she has an interesting call which sounds like it’s tweeting BOB, BOB, BOB and no I’m not joking. Anyone any ideas? Yeh pack in the day time drinking 😁 👍🍷🍷🍷🍷🤫
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