Ornithology & Bird watching in Stafford.

[littleme]

There are baby Goldfinch in the beer garden of the Holmcroft pub. They appear to of fallen or flown from the neat but haven't got very far....baby 1 is halfway ( 5ft) up a shrub on the left as you go into the garden & baby 2 is in the conifers opposite, about a foot off the ground. The parents still seem to be feeding them, so I'm hoping they will be ok...

 

[Gramaisc]

There are baby Goldfinch in the beer garden of the Holmcroft pub. They appear to of fallen or flown from the neat but haven't got very far....baby 1 is halfway ( 5ft) up a shrub on the left as you go into the garden & baby 2 is in the conifers opposite, about a foot off the ground. The parents still seem to be feeding them, so I'm hoping they will be ok...

They should be - cats permitting...

 

[Withnail]

The parents still seem to be feeding them, so I'm hoping they will be ok...

Most fledglings spend their first few days, or even weeks, still dependent on their parents - i always marvel at the giant leap of faith they must take when they leave the nest.

They should be - cats permitting...

^ this

Sadly, i watched my cat eat, from the head down, a newly fledged Great Tit just last week - its skull was very 'crunchy', it could easily have featured as sound effect for a particularly crunchy breakfast cereal had a sound recordist been present.

 

[gon2seed]

To continue the Macabre theme to this thread! At 7 tonight I started behaving like a loon, having come in from the kitchen, moving very slowly, crouching down, finger over lip, pointing out to the garden. I didn't witnesses it, but a sparrow hawk had killed a Sparrow, and was dismantling the cadaver, on my lawn, took it about 10 mins to finish its feast, then mobbed by a pair of Blackbirds, it departed stage right! Was delighted to have had a relatively scarce raptor in my garden (Yes I am sure even he knows this is an overestimation, and they are in fact increasing in number and range ! Ed )

 

[proactive]

Saw a pair of tits when peeking through next door neighbour's hedge this afternoon.

 

[Withnail]

Was delighted to have had a relatively scarce raptor in my garden (Yes I am sure even he knows this is an overestimation, and they are in fact increasing in number and range ! Ed )

I don't know whether there are more now or not, suspect it may well be the case, but nothing beats the thrill of seeing one in your garden.

I've only had one visitation, a couple of years ago now, and i was in my kitchen talking to a fellow nature enthusiast on the phone. The lady landed on my fence and i immediately dropped to the floor, gradually peeking up over the windowsill whilst maintaining a whispered commentary to the chap on the other end of the phone. He was rightly jealous, though i don't really know why i continued talking to him in a whisper - she was not likely to hear me at that distance from behind double glazing unless i had been proper SHOUTING - but it was a gloriously close encounter. Beautiful she was - can still see her in the mind's eye.

Have come closer to one once while out 'n' about, just a few feet away, but it was a very fleeting glimpse indeed - they are quick.

 

[gon2seed]

I will have to introduce you to the venerable Mrs Seed she was looking at me with incredulity when I was crouching down, speaking in whispers! Babbling about the the raptor in the garden!

 

[Withnail]

I will have to introduce you to the venerable Mrs Seed she was looking at me with incredulity when I was crouching down, speaking in whispers! Babbling about the the raptor in the garden!

I will tutor her in the ways of righteousness, but probably best not procure any urine orf of her.

 

[gon2seed]

Was down at the Castlefields Balancing Lake by the Rugby Club this morning. Went with the dog as part of her new exercise routine; I chuck a tennis ball into the water, with one of those plastic projectile devises! She dutifully retrieves the ball, then sits expectantly waiting for it to be jettisoned again! There was a Heron there when we turned up, but it soon disappeared, just before the first bomb landed! Half way through the exercising, by two assure flashes alerted me, as we were passed by a couple of Kingfishers! Must be a few fish in there!

 

[gon2seed]

Shud say:- dogs exercise! Vets advice. Throwing balls/sticks on land, getting her to jump & sprint, is like treating Mo Farrah as if they are Usain Bolt, no wonder her joints are complaining!
So its balls in pools only now! Thank god she likes swimming! (Shame wildfowl not so keen on her!! Ed)

 

[gon2seed]

Swans nesting again on the man made floating structure in the middle of the Castlefields balancing lake! Watch that space! Often folk fishing there recently, stopped for a brief chat with one who told me that he and friend had had success on a couple of visits spinning lures. had had pike on a couple of visits, one a jack and the other over 10 pounds! Will keep people posted as don't think the swans have even laid yet.

 

[gon2seed]

he and friend had had success on a couple of visits spinning lures. had had pike on a couple of visits, one a jack and the other over 10 pounds!

If there are at least 2 pike, and one of them a decent size, there is probably a healthy stock of food fish. I have seen a number of anglers casting lines for smaller species, I will have to ask them about success or otherwise next time I see one. I could of course (cause? ) cast a line, I had planned to recommence angling while in the fire service, to occupy my days, during 4 on 4 off shifts, and still have all the kit I had bought! Now don't have as much time to waste (?) drowning maggots,will have to wit till I retire properly!

 

[gon2seed]

Passing the Castlefields balancing pool at about 11.am chap dangling his rod! Reported 7 tiddlers since 9 That's what them pike are eating! Small roach!

 

[JTL85]

The Peregrine's have returned. Saw them around 10 minutes ago swooping around the previously named nesting site in town.

 

[littleme]

So, daft question of the week - I live between Doxy Marshes/Stafford Common/Balancing pools, we regularly see 3 large birds of prey coming from the marshes & circling round till they get to the balancing pools - all I can tell you is that they say 'Peeeeeewwwww' & all the regular birds go silent when that hear that.....what would they be?

We sometimes have a sparrowhawk visit, & I would say they are larger than that...

 

[Gramaisc]

So, daft question of the week - I live between Doxy Marshes/Stafford Common/Balancing pools, we regularly see 3 large birds of prey coming from the marshes & circling round till they get to the balancing pools - all I can tell you is that they say 'Peeeeeewwwww' & all the regular birds go silent when that hear that.....what would they be?

We sometimes have a sparrowhawk visit, & I would say they are larger than that...

Buzzards? Wings look quite 'square'....

 

[littleme]

Buzzards? Wings look quite 'square'....

Maybe - that looks like the shape of them - but they are always too high to see any detail or colour.

We counted 5 over the Hough a few weeks back too...

 

[The Hawk]

 

[Gramaisc]

Maybe - that looks like the shape of them - but they are always too high to see any detail or colour.

We counted 5 over the Hough a few weeks back too...

Sounds plausible, they are known to be partial to Branston Pickle.

 

[littleme]

Yes, that's the sound.