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Feb 2019
9:24am, 11 Feb 2019
1,809 posts
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J2R
I always think a dunnock sounds like one of those Victorian mechanical bird toys. It's warbling but not melodic, there's no actual tune to it.
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Feb 2019
9:26am, 11 Feb 2019
29,182 posts
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Derby Tup
Lack of melody is spot on. It’s like a sample of notes without them having a connection to eachother
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Feb 2019
9:41am, 11 Feb 2019
11,751 posts
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Rosehip
(Chirpomatic, not chirp! , Chirp is good for learning songs - has a quiz and links to Wiki, it's quite good for £4)
Going back to Barnadette; - The general consensus is that it's probably a new bird, if still alive she would be very old. A barn owl screech has been heard a few times recently too - which implies we have at least one relatively local male.
Still keeping eyes peeled for little owl - but no sign as yet.
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Feb 2019
9:58am, 11 Feb 2019
29,183 posts
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Derby Tup
Rosehip, look in tops of hedges, old walls or fence posts. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one much above maybe 10 - 12 feet about the ground. You’re looking for a bird about the size of an old-fashed jamjar 
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Feb 2019
12:56pm, 11 Feb 2019
3,035 posts
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steve45
A few singing birds in the sunshine this morning-Robin, Dunnock, Wren (lots!), Goldcrest, Greenfinch (3), Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Great Tit. That was about it--I always make note of the calls or songs of species that I hear when out on my run-tend to "hear" rather (or bother!) to actually look because I'm lucky I guess that I learned calls/songs fifty years ago when I started birding! Easier when you're kid.
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Feb 2019
1:49pm, 11 Feb 2019
29,187 posts
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Derby Tup
Simon Barnes in the book above makes the point that hearing birds is almost more valuable that seeing them - there’s no need to look because you’ve heard them
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Feb 2019
1:56pm, 11 Feb 2019
2,258 posts
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jacdaw
I saw the first lapwing of the year today, back on their breeding grounds. It is like clockwork, every year once February is in double digits.
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Feb 2019
2:23pm, 11 Feb 2019
29,189 posts
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Derby Tup
Brilliant. I scoured the fields of Upper Wharefdale yesterday for an oystercatcher but think we were probably a week early
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Feb 2019
4:44pm, 11 Feb 2019
1,004 posts
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bonners
It's interesting about different patches. We have several hundred (if not more this year) lapwing over winter, yet in spring they all bugger off to Denmark according to the RSPB guy I spoke to, they don't breed here.
We've got a regular starling murmuration over the house at the moment for the last week or so. I'd say numbers are still building. Never had one so close to home. Missed it last night but walked past the fields they are roosting in, noisy sleepers aren't they 😁
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Feb 2019
4:50pm, 11 Feb 2019
29,198 posts
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Derby Tup
Murmuration envy
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