Big Merv's nature watch.

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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

I just love Long-Tailed T1ts - nature's show-offs, and often in small flocks, there's plenty to watch.
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Did I mention I have lots ... and I mean LOTS of magpies?

Surprisingly nimble beauties, albeit their wings are going 200 to the dozen to stay stable on the feeders.

Don't understand why so many don't like them. :scratch:
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Snipe Watson
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Snipe Watson »

Shoot a few of them. They take a massive toll on other species.
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:27 pm Shoot a few of them. They take a massive toll on other species.
They certainly take a massive toll on the food I put out for all feathered critters, but they are also part of God's Creation, Snipe.

Not for me to do them harm. :flower:
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Dave
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Dave »

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I have my own tv channel, what have you got?
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

I'm beginning to suspect that you may not be taking Merv's Nature Watch altogether seriously, Dave. :?

Am I warm? >jawdrop

:lol:
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Snipe Watson
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Snipe Watson »

Cap'n Grumpy wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:46 pm
Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:27 pm Shoot a few of them. They take a massive toll on other species.
They certainly take a massive toll on the food I put out for all feathered critters, but they are also part of God's Creation, Snipe.

Not for me to do them harm. :flower:
Good answer :thumleft:
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:56 pm
Cap'n Grumpy wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:46 pm
Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:27 pm Shoot a few of them. They take a massive toll on other species.
They certainly take a massive toll on the food I put out for all feathered critters, but they are also part of God's Creation, Snipe.

Not for me to do them harm. :flower:
Good answer :thumleft:
Not so much an answer as a way of life, at least to the best of my ability. >EW
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big mervyn
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by big mervyn »

Crows are very intelligent birds. My late brother in law found an injured young rook and hand reared it with worms on a lollipop stick until he could release it. Afterwards, the bird used to wait for him getting off the school bus and would perch on his shoulder until he got home.
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary; it will fill you with joy , despair, but most of all love, unconditional love of the animals.
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Dave
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Dave »

big mervyn wrote:Crows are very intelligent birds. My late brother in law found an injured young rook and hand reared it with worms on a lollipop stick until he could release it. Afterwards, the bird used to wait for him getting off the school bus and would perch on his shoulder until he got home.
They have funerals
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big mervyn
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by big mervyn »

Cap'n Grumpy wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:37 pm
big mervyn wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:43 am
Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:00 am Spoke to a guy on Friday who has lesser spotted woodpeckers in woodland at his house in county down
There was a massive increase in the population in Belvoir Forest last year, Definitely one of our most successful recent immigrants. We're coming into the season where you hear and see them.
And there ya go ... I never knew they were recent immigrants.

Welcome lesser spotteds - hope the locals don't drive you out as some immigrants are. :roll:

In a month or two I'll maybe take a short turn around Belvoir, more in hope than expectation.
Moreland's Meadow is a good spot. A lot of isolated big old trees that they like. They hammer away like crazy (yes I know! :lol:) in the mating season so aren't too difficult to locate.
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary; it will fill you with joy , despair, but most of all love, unconditional love of the animals.
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Dave wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 10:20 pm
big mervyn wrote:Crows are very intelligent birds. My late brother in law found an injured young rook and hand reared it with worms on a lollipop stick until he could release it. Afterwards, the bird used to wait for him getting off the school bus and would perch on his shoulder until he got home.
They have funerals
So do chickens - wouldn't be the first time I cremated one anyway.
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

big mervyn wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 10:17 pm Crows are very intelligent birds. My late brother in law found an injured young rook and hand reared it with worms on a lollipop stick until he could release it. Afterwards, the bird used to wait for him getting off the school bus and would perch on his shoulder until he got home.
I have an uncle who kept a magpie (antipodean variety) as a pet.

All corvids are smarter than your average bird, bobo. I seem to be in a constant battle to make it harder for them, especially hooded crows and rooks to source their food from my feeding stations. Came home today and found that they now know to twist a fat-ball feeder to break the cable-ties holding it in place. Then either lift it up onto the basket part and rest it there to eat more easily, or just lift it off completely and chuck it on the ground. Only one so far seems to know to turn them upside down to get the fat balls to fall out, then they can fly off with their treat.
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Dave »

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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Dave wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 11:01 pm British_Airways_Concorde_G-BOAC_03.jpg
Is that the legendary Dodo, Dave?

Male or female?

Nice pic. :thumleft:
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