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 »

Teaser -

Saw a flock of 20+ of these familiar looking, yet not familiar little beauties today. :D

Unfortunately only got to photograph them from about 20-25m away and then re-sizing to make them fit this website doesn't help picture quality either.

I will post clearer photos when someone has correctly identified them (which shouldn't take long) . . . always assuming I remember to, of course.
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justinr73
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by justinr73 »

Sparrows right?
volvo
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by volvo »

Look like Hedge sparrows?
Bobbievee
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Bobbievee »

Had ( for the first time in 20 years) a partridge family of 4 in the garden today.........admittedly not The Partridge family...........but very pleasing all the same
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big mervyn
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by big mervyn »

Bobbievee wrote: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:36 pm Had ( for the first time in 20 years) a partridge family of 4 in the garden today.........admittedly not The Partridge family...........but very pleasing all the same
Thete are only 4 of The Partridge family left. Extra points if one of them was in a pear tree.

Do we know what Grumpy's fuzzy birds are? I'd go for common sparrows.
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Bobbievee »

One of them eating leaves off a rose bush?
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Try again folks - note the colour of the top of the heads.

Or just say wot you see with a Limerick accent. >EW
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

volvo wrote: Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:17 am Look like Hedge sparrows?
Did you know that a hedge sparrow isn't really a sparrow?

They are more commonly called dunnocks these days, although I do remember calling them hedge sparrows when I was a nipper - and that's not yesterday.

Dunnocks are primarily insect eaters, Sparrows (which are actually finches) are primarily seed eaters, but both will eat either.

... and no, the birds in the foty are not dunnocks.
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big mervyn
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by big mervyn »

Tree sparras
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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: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:53 am Tree sparras
correct - one . . . two . . . tree sparras. :thumleft:
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Tree sparrows were seen at Portmore Lough. These birds are in serious decline and their UK conservation status is red. Best place to see them apparently though in N.I. is around the Lough Neagh basin.

There were also two Pectoral Sandpipers in attendance on the mud flats - not that I would know a pectoral sandpiper if it hit me on the chops. They were so far away the only photies I manged to get were so indistinct they just looked like dunlins, but the Twitcher community had put the word out and there were plenty coming to see our North American visitors.

Amazingly difficult to spot against the mud - perfectly camouflaged. One bird-watcher had his scope lined up on the pair and offered me a look through it. Despite being dead centre, I couldn't see them until one of them moved. Once that happened, I saw that one, and knowing what I was looking for, was just about able to pick out the other.
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Dave
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Dave »

I think they're birds.
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by armalig »

Interesting POST Cap`n G......
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by rumncoke »

I once fancied the Byrds . the best rendition of "my back pages "which if understood is Dylan's explanation for quitting the the youth folk scene . A song about the basis of youthful idealism and the realisation that idealism can define the problem but fails to provide the solution because the problem is mankind and you are part of it .

I consider it one of his best

which is why this post sort fits into nature watch -- the folly of mankind being worth watching . especially that of referees
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

rumncoke wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:28 pm I once fancied the Byrds . the best rendition of "my back pages "which if understood is Dylan's explanation for quitting the the youth folk scene . A song about the basis of youthful idealism and the realisation that idealism can define the problem but fails to provide the solution because the problem is mankind and you are part of it .

I consider it one of his best

which is why this post sort fits into nature watch -- the folly of mankind being worth watching . especially that of referees
The only way that post fits in a nature watch thread is if you think the correct spelling of our feathered friends is "B-Y-R-D-S" :shock:

oh, wait a minute ..... :roll:
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