The UAFC

Six young Goldfinches eating from the feeder this morning. Well two on the feeder and four on the grass below eating what the other two were throwing down.

We've got Spanish sparrows passer hispanioles here, I would send a pic but they are virtually indistinguishable from common sparrows. To add to the confusion, they interbreed and the hybrid is also very similar

Sparrowhawk having a spot of lunch on the lawn.

Great spot.

passer hispanioles I think?
I've seen some kingfishers up in the campo but there's no chance of capturing them with just a phone and a dog in tow. There are lots of little egrets and glossy ibis which are less camera shy. Hoopoes are a fantastic looking bird which are also very common but extremely skittish.

germcevoy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 10:02 am Six young Goldfinches eating from the feeder this morning. Well two on the feeder and four on the grass below eating what the other two were throwing down.

Had 34 goldfinches on and around my feeders earlier this week. Going crazy for sunflower hearts.

A week ago today was sitting out in the garden with my 95yo mum who was fascinated watching these colourful little critters when a female sparrowhawk swooshed in and tried unsuccessfully to catch one of them. She also missed a feral pigeon in the garden a few days previously as I was looking out the kitchen window. Wasn't quick enough with the camera on either occasion.

Clearly from plucked feathers she has had success on other occasions though when I wasn't watching.

Snipe Watson wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 3:53 pm IMG-20211016-WA0001.jpg
Sparrowhawk having a spot of lunch on the lawn.

great spot!

I have a couple of sparrowhawks frequenting my garden, but as yet haven't managed a photo, other than one when the female landed in some scrub outside my garden with a kill some time ago. All I could see in the photo is the top of the legs below a branch and the head poking above it.

big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 12:12 pm passer hispanioles I think?

20211017_110508_4_resized.jpg

Passer hispaniolensis shirley!

Almost impossible to tell as females are almost identical to female Passer domesticus.

Anyone know what house sparrows were called before houses were built?

Cap'n Grumpy wrote:

big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 12:12 pm passer hispanioles I think?

20211017_110508_4_resized.jpg

Passer hispaniolensis shirley!

Almost impossible to tell as females are almost identical to female Passer domesticus.

Anyone know what house sparrows were called before houses were built?

Cave sparrows

Sent from my 5001D_EEA using Tapatalk

waggonsroll wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 8:42 pm

Cap'n Grumpy wrote:

big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 12:12 pm passer hispanioles I think?

20211017_110508_4_resized.jpg

Passer hispaniolensis shirley!

Almost impossible to tell as females are almost identical to female Passer domesticus.

Anyone know what house sparrows were called before houses were built?

Cave sparrows

Nope. I think they were simply known as "grunt-grunt" which translates into modern parlance as "starters".

Before the main course of Mammoth steaks.

Apparently most spiders commonly found in UK houses can't survive outdoors which also begs the question
...

big mervyn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:01 pm Apparently most spiders commonly found in UK houses can't survive outdoors which also begs the question
...

Where can they buy a sweater with 8 sleeves?

Nabbed myself a cheaply 20x zoom camera to assist with identifying the critters. Shall post.

germcevoy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 7:28 pm Nabbed myself a cheaply 20x zoom camera to assist with identifying the critters. Shall post.

If it actually tells you what the critters are, tell me where I can get one too please?

After going to Portmore Lough in September to see tree sparrows, I actually had one of the little critters in my garden yesterday.

It must have followed me home . . . . very slowly.

Also, a few days ago I had this other interesting critter in me garden - a Leucistic Greenfinch. Have only started getting greenfinches back into my garden, they've become so scarce due to trichomoniasis, so to get such a beautiful specimen, even if it is abnormal seems a bit special.