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Fetch Birdwatchers

165 watchers
May 2021
10:01am, 10 May 2021
904 posts
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Reiver
We went for a seaside walk after work on Friday in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. There were twitchers with cameras and binoculars swarming around the streets.

Turns out there was a Northern Mockingbird which has found it's way to Northumberland! but it remained hidden while I was there.
J2R
May 2021
10:14am, 10 May 2021
3,622 posts
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J2R
Mocking you, Reiver.
May 2021
10:14am, 10 May 2021
4,590 posts
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steve45
Sedge Warbler (my first of this year and a bit late), Reed Warbler, Cettis ( 3 along a mile stretch of river). No Swift's!
May 2021
10:15am, 10 May 2021
4,591 posts
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steve45
Swifts....not Swift's. ( predictive insertion of apostrophe!)
May 2021
10:59am, 10 May 2021
1,875 posts
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Roberto
Reiver, I was just coming on to say that there is a northern mockingbird at Newbiggin. I haven't had a chance to head down to see it, but feel I should. Might go tonight as it's only 2 miles away.
May 2021
12:07pm, 10 May 2021
905 posts
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Reiver
Hi Roberto, you must be one of the closest Fetchies to me - I'm in Morpeth.
Good luck seeing the NM.
J2R, I liked your comment.
May 2021
12:34pm, 10 May 2021
3,218 posts
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jacdaw
No swifts here. Hardly any swallows. No house martins. No cuckoo.

And the usual conundrum of is it a garden warbler or a blackcap in my garden. Same every year.
May 2021
1:39pm, 10 May 2021
50,082 posts
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Derby Tup
I was lucky last year to hear loads of blackcap relatively early on so when I heard a garden warbler it was quite different. From memory their song isn’t as melodious / pretty / blackbirdy as blackcap. Blackcap mix in another sound that might be a contact call. Difficult to describe but kind of clucky. Sometimes you hear that before the song
J2R
May 2021
2:28pm, 10 May 2021
3,623 posts
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J2R
It's a distinction which I struggle with, too, and I don't hear anything like as many garden warblers as I do blackcaps, to tune my ear. I would have said that the garden warbler song tends to be rather more continuous, and slightly lower pitched, though that rather contradicts what DT says.

I will say, though, that on numerous occasions I've thought what I'm listening to is a garden warbler rather than a blackcap, stopped and waited until I finally get a glimpse of the skulking songster, only to see a distinct black cap.
May 2021
2:46pm, 10 May 2021
50,084 posts
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Derby Tup
Garden warbler can sing for minutes but it’s not as varied or ‘sweet’ as blackcap I think. Maybe they are the ultimate warbler - no real distinguishing features and the best ‘warble’

About This Thread

Maintained by AngelWings
Big Garden Birdwatch 24th - 26th January 2025 rspb.org.uk

BTO BirdTrack: blx1.bto.org

BirdTrack App: bto.org

BTO Website: bto.org

Website for identifying dragon & damselflies: british-dragonflies.org.uk

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