Bird of Prey..

[DaveB]

They're scavengers Mike. At one end of the scale.. they'll take a bit of bread off your lawn, at the other.. they'll take eggs from nests. It's the latter I don't care for much. Now.. if they took slugs or snails, that'd be a different thing. My garden is awash with the bloody things.. so much so that I got a nappy sack the other day and filled it with the little varmints! I took the full bag across the common and released the contents back into the wild!

ATB
DaveB

[Airspeed]

You Bhuddist, Dave!

We know someone who does the same.

I've vacuum packed 3 dozen Starlings and sent them surface mail c/- your local Post Office. Enjoy.

[DaveB]

I don't know about being a Buddhist Mike.. I was told that if you're gonna re-locate these things, make sure it's more than 60mtrs away otherwise they'll come back so I doubled it just to be on the safe side

As for the Starlings.. we have quite enough Mike so you'll be seeing the ones you posted again

ATB
DaveB

[J0hn]

Well if anyone wants some extra Starlings, they can have a few dozen from here - we get loads of the little blighters! In fact, I often go out to shoo them off the feeder and let the Spadgers get a look in. They make a racket, too, and they are generally little bullies.

We saw a note on the local Spar board from some geezer up the road, wanting people who have flocks of Starlings in the vicinity of their home to let him come round and count them, because they are endangered. We had a good chuckle over that one - there are hundreds, if not thousands of the little bleeders in the whole area! Here's a few, enjoying a communal bath on our old shed roof:





Talking of racket - I agree with you, Dave, that Magpies are a pain and should be deported! They make a huge racket and kill nestlings - so out with 'em, I say. We used to have several pairs nesting in the orchard behind our garden, but thankfully, they've disappeared in recent months. We do encourage our feathered friends to come into our garden (which they do, en masse) but yobbos are non grata! Long-tailed tits are one of our faves, and once a year we get a visit from a huge flock of Redwings and Fieldfares. But there's all sorts here, as you can probably imagine, on the border of the Fens. We even had a Moorhen set up camp in our conifer hedge for a week or so one year.



Long-tailed tits, after the many berries in the trees out the back:




Some of the Redwings & Fieldfares on their annual visit:




We also suffer from Sparrowhawk attacks. Such as this little blighter:




We don't like seeing our little Spadger friends being taken - and they don't half shriek, but I guess the hawks need their food, too.

As long as they don't take the rare ones, like this little (in body only - he has a very shrill "peep" sound that winds up SWMBO) Ceti's Warbler:



We aren't exactly ornithologists, but there are so many of the little things around here, you just can't help getting involved!

[Filonian]

I can let you have a dozen Herring Gulls. Buyer collect.

I prefer my car to remain in the colour it was when I took delivery.


Graham

[TSR2]

Hi John,

Lovely shots Check your PM's matey

[Vancouver]

Ah.. thank you both I didn't get a clear view of it's breast feathers and the speed it took off still holding the Starling was breath-taking.. there it was.. gone! Pity they don't go for bloody Magpies though I guess a Magpie would be too big and dangerous for it to handle!

ATB
DaveB

It's a funny old world isn't it. Magpies were once in danger which is one reason (If memory serves) for the kids programme in the 70's with Susan Stranks (hubba hubba tight t-shirts)

[DaveB]

That's the one Magpie I DID like

ATB
DaveB

[dfarrow]

........It's too warm to need a coat .. but I'll risk it .
What do you do if a bird c###s on your car ? ..............................................

........................
......................

Don't ask her out again .....booom boom ,

g'night dave f .

[simondix]

Dave I know it sounds awful but if it happens again leave the Sparrowhawk to get on with it. The victim usually dies even if you rescue it. The Sparrowhawk then goes off and has to kill something else. Yes they do take Magpies and there is a film of one enterprising one holding one under the water in a garden pond and drowning it.