WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

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peregrine
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by peregrine » Wed Apr 01, 2015 7:56 pm

oops, forgot the three male Chaffinches and Wren.
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johnd83
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by johnd83 » Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:21 pm

Today was a very good day for me. I took a trip out in the sun. I saw the usual tits robins but 2 which i have not seen in person before until now. I was very happy to see my first ever kingfisher although i was too fast for me to get a photo at least i have now seen one for real. The other one which i did get a picture of but you will have to forgive the image quality due to a heavy crop. Any ideas on the bird?
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Willpar
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by Willpar » Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:30 pm

Got a video of one of those before John. It is grey wagtail.
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Placido
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by Placido » Sun Apr 05, 2015 9:53 pm

I agree with Willpar. The yellow wag has a yellow breast not just the tail end.
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Placido
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by Placido » Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:08 pm

Watched in puzzlement 2 magpies digging into a piece of bare ground: they were giving little hops every few seconds but refused to be deterred. When they left I nipped out and sure enough - ants.
Fascinating to watch them gritting their beaks and suffering (presumably) the stings although the ants were black not red. The protein obviously outweighs the pain :yummy:.
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nuthatch
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by nuthatch » Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:17 am

Do you think the ants were really stinging? :unsure: Maybe the magpies were just doing a a bit of hip hopping :bunny:
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Willpar
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by Willpar » Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:55 am

Hi Placi, two trains of thought here. The magpies are eating the ants or after the eggs. Another one, they are disturbing the ants on purpose and agitating them. Ants will squirt formic acid,and it could be the magpies are using this to get rid of parasites.
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peregrine
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by peregrine » Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:59 am

Just had a Chaffie on a seed feeder containing sunflower hearts. Not quick enough with the camera. Will keep my eyes peeled and the camera handy.
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Placido
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by Placido » Wed Apr 08, 2015 12:19 pm

Now that's a thought ..... formic acid :scratch: - hmmmmmm. Something else does that too, can't think what it is that avails themselves of a free pest remover ??

But secretly my preference is the hip hop thingy :banana: <<<< is that it :shrug:
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Willpar
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Re: WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

Post by Willpar » Wed Apr 08, 2015 12:59 pm

Been walking around with a crooked neck for the past week from looking skywards. Today I had my reward, no less than 10 swallows spotted working their way inland. That is the most I have seen for a first spotting of the new season.
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