|
Jan 2018
8:36pm, 23 Jan 2018
980 posts
|
J2R
I HAVE to see a hawfinch while they're around! I've never seen one and I'd love to. Seems like this irruption is giving us the best opportunity for ages, so I need to seize my chance.
|
|
Jan 2018
8:42pm, 23 Jan 2018
24,681 posts
|
Derby Tup
They seem to be everywhere on my rada - from Ilkley Cemetry near home to the area of South Devon where my in-laws live. I’ve never seen one (yet) 
|
|
Jan 2018
8:52pm, 23 Jan 2018
31,402 posts
|
alpenrose
I happened to look out the window this morning and saw a pair of eagles soaring around across the valley.
|
|
Jan 2018
8:21am, 24 Jan 2018
28,149 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
Wow alpenrose, what part of the world are you in? Loving everyone's sighting stories. And thanks for tips on ID DT and Kinky et al. I always just look at colour, size and shape and forget about behaviour etc G
|
|
Jan 2018
10:32am, 24 Jan 2018
24,687 posts
|
Derby Tup
An interesting (possibly) thought: when you run regularly with friends or club-mates they all move differently - their strides, gait etc are different. You can spot familiar people from miles away. We were out headtorching before Xmas in foul weather and a friend (great form, very light on his feet, makes running look ‘easy’) said ‘Eye up Andy. I’d recognise your legs anywhere’. That’s our jizz
|
|
Jan 2018
1:31pm, 24 Jan 2018
28,152 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
Def DT - I can spot some running pals as just a dot in the distance by a combination of their movement, their clothing maybe and their environment (only so and so would be up in the hills on a day like this etc.) So we def do giss a bit as humans too.
Off to ID a duck seen on canal at lunch time - awesome colour. Size of a mallard, I think, dark above, dark head almost black, dark orange bill, but amazing colour underneath, pale, but with some yellow, almost peach colour. Really striking. And a female similar but brown above and pale but not peach below. Off to RSPB site... G
|
|
Jan 2018
1:35pm, 24 Jan 2018
28,153 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
Merganser?
|
|
Jan 2018
1:52pm, 24 Jan 2018
24,692 posts
|
Derby Tup
Male goosander? They look amazing in pale late afternoon winter sunshine
|
|
Jan 2018
2:38pm, 24 Jan 2018
28,154 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
They never look quite like the pictures on the website or in books! My memory is more dark plumage on top, almost black all on top with just a pale breast, whereas those look like they are mostly pale/white. But I'm sure you're right. Not a duck type that I'd seen before anyway. G
|
|
Jan 2018
3:06pm, 24 Jan 2018
24,694 posts
|
Derby Tup
Goodander male looks very clean, Red breasted merganser does what it says on the tin and has a red-brown chest. I see goodander regularly (virtually every week). The odd r b m I’ve seen looked lower in the water and generally ‘dirtier’. Crest on head helps id too
|
