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Apr 2023
8:49pm, 7 Apr 2023
59,088 posts
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Derby Tup
The key is learning the songs of warblers. Chiffchaff is easy. Willow warbler not difficult. Separating Blackcap and Garden warbler (it's early in the year yet Red still) is tricky. Wood warbler is awesome and unmistakable. Grasshopper warbler even more amazing. I struggle to separate Sedge warbler and Reed warbler but seldom hear them. Practise is the secret and now is the time ie spring
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Apr 2023
8:55pm, 7 Apr 2023
2,548 posts
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paulcook
Yes, with age I've learned to appreciate bird song so much more, and (very) slowly learned to pick a few birds out from song rather than mere sight.
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Apr 2023
8:58pm, 7 Apr 2023
20,880 posts
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flanker
I think it depends, at least to some degree, on how your brain processes sound. Even with birds I hear every day, and would know instantly by sight, I struggle to identify by song, despite people telling me the song is unmistakeable.
I can about cope with a cuckoo (although have been known to mix that up at times) but after that it's downhill.
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Apr 2023
9:00pm, 7 Apr 2023
59,089 posts
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Derby Tup
I was out on Tuesday and heard a bird overhead. Pretty much instantly I thought swallow and it was one. And that in spite of not hearing one for at least five months. I spend a fair bit of time outdoors mind and listen hard
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Apr 2023
10:38pm, 7 Apr 2023
5,613 posts
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icemaiden
Watched a red kite building a nest in a tree across the river this evening. It is visible from the route of Bury Field Parkrun.
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Apr 2023
9:27am, 8 Apr 2023
551 posts
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mags
My system 3 doors down had a Sparrow Hawk in her garden!
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Apr 2023
9:28am, 8 Apr 2023
552 posts
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mags
My sister 3 doors down had a Sparrow Hawk in her garden!
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Apr 2023
9:47am, 8 Apr 2023
22,872 posts
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Red Squirrel
I checked calls on a couple of sites. We had a good look at it. Not a blackcap. The call was a cheep-cheep. Really only calling as it flitted from branch to branch. Defo not a chiffchaff rhythm. Intermittent. Hmmm. A woman walking by stopped to have a look and remarked on the difficulty of warbler IDing. :0)
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Apr 2023
9:49am, 8 Apr 2023
22,873 posts
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Red Squirrel
Willow seems likely in terms of timing. We were excited anyway, as both not seen warblers for ages.
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Apr 2023
10:23am, 8 Apr 2023
2,657 posts
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Surelynot
I was very excited yesterday to see the return of sand martins to the river, and then, when I went to collect my car in town, I saw the peregrine falcon that's been spotted on one of the local church spires. I once had my binos with me and got an excellent view of it.
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Bird song watch
Jul 2024