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Post by floweringcherry on Nov 4, 2008 11:52:21 GMT 1
Yes The witch I had a flock of the long tailed tits yesterday I counted ten and I caught a glimps of a blackbird they have been gone for longer this summer. Last night I was in the garden with teddy  at!! well it was 3.ooam actally and in the trees behind us (its a small park) the birds were singing, then there was a loud high pitched sound I couldnt identify it but teddy started to bark at it! and it was if it was answering him or argueing with him I had to run out quick and bring him in before he woke the whole neighbourhood up! O.H. said it was probably crows but I dont think so.I didnt think the birds would be stiring that early. Souki hates the wren that sings in our garden. I try to explain to her that it is a very small bird and that she should stick to the cats, but she doesn't listen!! ;D Could it have been a fox, by any chance? FC, could your screech owl be a Barn Owl? Which woodpecker have you got, The witch? Are the ducks on your pond? I would love to have some Longtailed Tits, in our garden! <jealoussmiley> Keith I don't know if it is a Barn Owl, I thought they made "hoo hoo" noises rather than a screech. |
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Post by floweringcherry on Nov 4, 2008 12:55:58 GMT 1
Ooooo I just saw a Woodpecker in my garden  I've never seen one close up before. really pretty. |
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Post by Sleepy on Nov 4, 2008 13:00:52 GMT 1
Ooooo I just saw a Woodpecker in my garden I've never seen one close up before. really pretty. Green, or greater spotted? The green woodpeckers are usually seen on lawns as they go for leatherjackets. The greater spotter and lesser spotted woodpeckers are usually heard before being seen, as they peck away at dead branches for grubs 
Green woodpeckers
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Greater Spotted woodpeckers |
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Post by floweringcherry on Nov 4, 2008 13:05:51 GMT 1
Ooooo I just saw a Woodpecker in my garden I've never seen one close up before. really pretty. Green, or greater spotted? The green woodpeckers are usually seen on lawns as they go for leatherjackets. The greater spotter and lesser spotted woodpeckers are usually heard before being seen, as they peck away at dead branches for grubs The It wasn't green, it was black, white and red. I think that's the great spotted. It landed on my rustic arch near the bird feeders. Just stayed a few seconds then flew away. (sorry I can't get my delete button to work so there is an extra e) e |
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Post by Sleepy on Nov 4, 2008 13:10:44 GMT 1
Green, or greater spotted? The green woodpeckers are usually seen on lawns as they go for leatherjackets. The greater spotter and lesser spotted woodpeckers are usually heard before being seen, as they peck away at dead branches for grubs The It wasn't green, it was black, white and red. I think that's the great spotted. It landed on my rustic arch near the bird feeders. Just stayed a few seconds then flew away. (sorry I can't get my delete button to work so there is an extra e) e Yes, they like bird feeders ;D |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 4, 2008 14:33:47 GMT 1
Souki hates the wren that sings in our garden. I try to explain to her that it is a very small bird and that she should stick to the cats, but she doesn't listen!! ;D Could it have been a fox, by any chance? FC, could your screech owl be a Barn Owl? Which woodpecker have you got, The witch? Are the ducks on your pond? I would love to have some Longtailed Tits, in our garden! <jealoussmiley> Keith I don't know if it is a Barn Owl, I thought they made "hoo hoo" noises rather than a screech. They (Barn Owls) can screech as well. The hoo hoo ones are Tawny Owls. Hang on a minute... Try hearing this and let me know what you think. When I was a kid, we had them near us, as well as Tawnies and occasional Littles. |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 4, 2008 14:38:56 GMT 1
Ooooo I just saw a Woodpecker in my garden I've never seen one close up before. really pretty. Green, or greater spotted? The green woodpeckers are usually seen on lawns as they go for leatherjackets. The greater spotter and lesser spotted woodpeckers are usually heard before being seen, as they peck away at dead branches for grubs
Green woodpeckers
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Greater Spotted woodpeckers |
What harm did the Lesser Spotted do, Sleepy?  |
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Post by floweringcherry on Nov 4, 2008 15:04:47 GMT 1
Keith I don't know if it is a Barn Owl, I thought they made "hoo hoo" noises rather than a screech. They (Barn Owls) can screech as well. The hoo hoo ones are Tawny Owls. Hang on a minute... Try hearing this and let me know what you think. When I was a kid, we had them near us, as well as Tawnies and occasional Littles. That sounds like it Keith. We have quite a lot of farms locally. Well I have learnt something new today. ;D |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 4, 2008 15:12:47 GMT 1
They (Barn Owls) can screech as well. The hoo hoo ones are Tawny Owls. Hang on a minute... Try hearing this and let me know what you think. When I was a kid, we had them near us, as well as Tawnies and occasional Littles. That sounds like it Keith. We have quite a lot of farms locally. Well I have learnt something new today. ;D Once heard, never forgotten, FC. I lived by a farm as a kid and was quite often there in the school holidays, so barn owls were a regular site/sound. It's when they are quiet and fly close by in the dark, that makes you jump, or it did the first time with me!! ;D |
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Post by maggyd on Nov 4, 2008 16:28:30 GMT 1
We have a screech owl in the vicinity  It makes a haunting noise and I haven't spotted it as it only makes it's noise after dark! Now thats interesting F.C. as I would describe what I heard as a screech rather than a bird noise ;D you might have solved the puzzle. I think Ill google it and see if a can get a demonstration. |
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Post by maggyd on Nov 4, 2008 16:54:15 GMT 1
Keith I don't know if it is a Barn Owl, I thought they made "hoo hoo" noises rather than a screech. They (Barn Owls) can screech as well. The hoo hoo ones are Tawny Owls. Hang on a minute... Try hearing this and let me know what you think. When I was a kid, we had them near us, as well as Tawnies and occasional Littles. Thats the one Keith ;D you expect to hear just the hoo hoo dont you and I didnt! just this horrible screach do they attack smaller birds do you know? as I could see small birds hopping about in the branches, there is a street light that is on the walkway and it illuminates the trees. O.H. said one night he was up and looking out of the patio door he saw a large owl on the juniper tree behind us, he said he must have disturbed it as it flew, and the wing span was very big. We do live near three farms all with old barns so if that is where they sleep during the day we will only be about 400 yards as the Owl flies ;D from actually its 4 farms.And the woods. |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 4, 2008 17:08:56 GMT 1
They (Barn Owls) can screech as well. The hoo hoo ones are Tawny Owls. Hang on a minute... Try hearing this and let me know what you think. When I was a kid, we had them near us, as well as Tawnies and occasional Littles. Thats the one Keith ;D you expect to hear just the hoo hoo dont you and I didnt! just this horrible screach do they attack smaller birds do you know? as I could see small birds hopping about in the branches, there is a street light that is on the walkway and it illuminates the trees. O.H. said one night he was up and looking out of the patio door he saw a large owl on the juniper tree behind us, he said he must have disturbed it as it flew, and the wing span was very big. We do live near three farms all with old barns so if that is where they sleep during the day we will only be about 400 yards as the Owl flies ;D from actually its 4 farms.And the woods. They can do, but normally their diet consists of rodents! |
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Post by maggyd on Nov 4, 2008 17:14:55 GMT 1
They can do, but normally their diet consists of rodents! Well thats good Keith what with the Cats and the Owl we should be well protected from the Rodent Hoards then.  |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 4, 2008 19:22:18 GMT 1
Souki hates the wren that sings in our garden. I try to explain to her that it is a very small bird and that she should stick to the cats, but she doesn't listen!! ;D Could it have been a fox, by any chance? FC, could your screech owl be a Barn Owl? Which woodpecker have you got, The witch? Are the ducks on your pond? I would love to have some Longtailed Tits, in our garden! <jealoussmiley> Spotted woodpecker Keith, and thankfully the ducks weren't on my pond, they were eating up food that had fallen to the ground from the hanging bird feeders. Lesser or Great, The witch? |
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 4, 2008 19:28:10 GMT 1
I have a greater spotted woodpecker in my garden everyday...I can never decide whether there is more than one. We had a mother with her baby on the peanuts 2 years ago and there were 2 in the garden this Spring but now I only see one at a time. They are on the peanut hanger within a very few minutes of my refilling. Very very beautiful birds with a lovely lilting flight but very nervous. And we have had a lot of screeching owls at night all through the summer - the noise is phenomenal isn't it? OH has seen tawny owls and barn owls close around us but I have never been lucky enough. I can hear them though....add that to the barking deer and the howl of foxes and it can get quite noisy at night...  |
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Post by Sleepy on Nov 4, 2008 21:50:05 GMT 1
I have a greater spotted woodpecker in my garden everyday...I can never decide whether there is more than one. We had a mother with her baby on the peanuts 2 years ago and there were 2 in the garden this Spring but now I only see one at a time. They are on the peanut hanger within a very few minutes of my refilling. Very very beautiful birds with a lovely lilting flight but very nervous. And we have had a lot of screeching owls at night all through the summer - the noise is phenomenal isn't it? OH has seen tawny owls and barn owls close around us but I have never been lucky enough. I can hear them though....add that to the barking deer and the howl of foxes and it can get quite noisy at night... It's far more peaceful in the city ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 4, 2008 21:56:10 GMT 1
Actually you're not wrong...when I went to stay with Cheery for a weekend I was really amazed at how quiet it was.....and it was sooo light too! Took me ages to get to sleep without the backdrop of squeaks, grunts, howls and snorts........(but then I blew my nose properly )..we have no streetlights here either so we get the night sky to look at too. Much nicer than street light.. |
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Post by Biggles on Nov 4, 2008 22:50:56 GMT 1
I would like to encourage birds in my small garden--
I just have a Blackbird (It is Lame-I think a cat tried to get it) but manages to hop around.
When is the best time to put up nesting boxes to encourage nesting birds?
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Post by Biggles on Nov 4, 2008 22:51:09 GMT 1
I would like to encourage birds in my small garden--
I just have a Blackbird (It is Lame-I think a cat tried to get it) but manages to hop around.
When is the best time to put up nesting boxes to encourage nesting birds?
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 4, 2008 22:57:14 GMT 1
I think I would do it in January if possible..I know that might seem early but it's best to leave them undisturbed for as long as possible once they start looking for a nest and putting one up early will give them every opportunity. What sort of bird are you hoping for Biggs?
It always intrigues me how very close some will nest to humans. My Mum has a bluetit nesting every year right by her kitchen window and back door - very close to the bird feeders and quite near the ground - all the things we're told to avoid! And actually there are quite a few birds nesting in my garden - starlings, bluetits, robins and wren, and sparrows virtually every year plus a greater spotted woodpecker fairly often, cuckoos in the trees nearby and all the swallows who hatch out several batches every year in the barns..
And they are just the ones I know about!
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Post by maggyd on Nov 4, 2008 23:07:37 GMT 1
I would put it up as soon as possible Biggs so it can weather a bit, I dont think they like them brand new. I did notice a Great Tit having a look in ours just the other day! but I dont think the hole is big enough for it to go in! I keep nagging O.H. to clean the old nesting material out but he says they will do it themselves Im curious to know i they all flew  one year they was a dead baby left in. Our nest box faces N.E. |
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Post by Sleepy on Nov 4, 2008 23:09:25 GMT 1
I would put it up as soon as possible Biggs so it can weather a bit, I dont think they like them brand new. I did notice a Great Tit having a look in ours just the other day! but I dont think the hole is big enough for it to go in! I keep nagging O.H. to clean the old nesting material out but he says they will do it themselves Im curious to know i they all flew one year they was a dead baby left in. Our nest box faces N.E. They should be emptied as they will harbour nasty little creatures like tic, mites and fleas otherwise, which could kill the babies next year. |
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Post by Biggles on Nov 5, 2008 22:08:39 GMT 1
I will have to get a couple of nesting boxes then. and put them on the wall out of reach of the cat (not mine) who got the Blackbird!
I noticed there was an empty nest ( with one whole egg left) in the Conifer Tree. It was pale blue with speckled brown on it. Would that be the Blackbirds?
I dont know very much about birds but am interested to learn and encourage them into the garden so will keep looking in on this thread.
The Wall faces West
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Post by madonplants on Nov 5, 2008 23:13:08 GMT 1
Lesser or Great, The witch? I really don't know Keith, it was there one minute and gone the next. : Bigs - once up I don't take nesting boxes down, except in November to clean them out, then they go straight back up again. Some birds will roost in them over winter. Was it the size of a sparrow or slightly smaller in length to say a blackbird? |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 5, 2008 23:18:05 GMT 1
I will have to get a couple of nesting boxes then. and put them on the wall out of reach of the cat (not mine) who got the Blackbird! I noticed there was an empty nest ( with one whole egg left) in the Conifer Tree. It was pale blue with speckled brown on it. Would that be the Blackbirds? I dont know very much about birds but am interested to learn and encourage them into the garden so will keep looking in on this thread. The Wall faces West They are blackbird eggs, Bigs. Nestboxes prefer North/NorthEast facing, as they should warm up too quickly, if it warm in spring. You don't want the eggs or chicks cooked. Get the boxes up asap, so the birds know where they are and so can use them as winter roosting areas. Blackbirds can nest very early, even December/January. |
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It makes a haunting noise and I haven't spotted it as it only makes it's noise after dark!
