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Mar 2021
4:23pm, 19 Mar 2021
1,852 posts
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bonners
Interesting diversity on today's run. Saw a couple of curlew still in the fields, but seem to be being taken over by little egrets and plenty of gulls, mainly herring and black headed gulls. Couple of buzzards overhead and a fast flying bird of prey which resulted in a mass evacuation of the fields.
In the dunes plenty of larks singing and doing their sky dance. On the beach some big flocks of oystercatchers on the shoreline, intermingled with a couple of flocks of the smaller waders. By their flight I'm guessing at dunlin.
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Mar 2021
4:34pm, 19 Mar 2021
49,378 posts
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Derby Tup
Dunlin have black tummies in some plumages which is a good clue
Wonder what the bird of prey was? Peregrine? Maybe merlin?
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Mar 2021
5:39pm, 19 Mar 2021
3,493 posts
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J2R
First chiffchaff of the year today! And exactly where I expected him to be. There are a couple of tall poplars by the river which always seem to be the location of the first local arrival, almost as if the same one keeps coming back to a known spot. It may be the case, of course. I should get to know him. I could call him Charlie Chiffchaff, but of course, he might really be called Carlo. Where is home?
As I type, I see a magpie going backwards and forwards bringing twigs to build a nest in a tall holly tree in the garden next door, and I really want to go out and advise against it. I know that the tree sways wildly when the wind gets up and the nest will not survive - I've seen it happen before.
HappyG, interesting equation, that. Depending on just how much depredation takes place, having the feeders there may still be beneficial for the bird population as a whole. I reckon our feeders must result in the survival each year of loads of birds, as so much is eaten. So even if a few are taken by sparrowhawks, the bird population benefits (though not, of course, the individuals which become the hawk's dinner).
bonners, I love those multi-species walks! I'm aching to get up to the coast and do one of the walks there where I always see a huge range.
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Mar 2021
6:07pm, 19 Mar 2021
4,457 posts
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steve45
Great selection seen up there Bonners.
And a Chiffchaff J2R...
Waiting on Willow Warbler here now..should be within ten days.
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Mar 2021
6:08pm, 19 Mar 2021
49,381 posts
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Derby Tup
Still waiting for a waxwing
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Mar 2021
6:12pm, 19 Mar 2021
17,902 posts
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KinkyS
It's round about now that I start gazing wistfully out of the window, calling to 'my' house martins.
Last year they didn't turn up until June!
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Mar 2021
6:45pm, 19 Mar 2021
1,853 posts
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bonners
@DT, not sure, I have spotted a peregrine, but I've never seen one in straight flight before, rather than diving, but was something that immediately sprang to mind.
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Mar 2021
7:11pm, 19 Mar 2021
49,382 posts
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Derby Tup
I tend to think of peregrine being vertical rather than horizontal hunting birds too. Maybe a merlin
Bradford birders are reporting singing chiffchaff at Bingley
Tomorrow is the day 
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Mar 2021
7:48pm, 19 Mar 2021
1,854 posts
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bonners
For chiffchaff or waxwing 😉
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Mar 2021
8:10pm, 19 Mar 2021
49,383 posts
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Derby Tup
Ha ha
I’ll settle for a chiff
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