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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject: Twittering Away It Was. |
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Whilst walking through Hunters Bog at Holyrood Park today, I was distracted by the sweet twittering of a small bird on a gorse bush.
I thought it looked a nice wee bird so I took a photo of it, but I haven't got a clue what it is? I know that one of you will know so can you tell me please?
_________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
I might want to offend you again later |
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HighlandNick Founder member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 635 Location: Highlands, Scotland
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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Stonechat. Male......
Favourite nesting place, gorse!! |
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Nick.
Apparently it is on the Amber list, does this mean I was lucky to have seen one? _________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
I might want to offend you again later |
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Wildlifewriter Founder member
Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Norn Iron
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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Haggis Hunter wrote: | Apparently it is on the Amber list, does this mean I was lucky to have seen one? |
It's always good to see a stonechat - though they're pretty common in Scotland and Ireland, Amber List or no.
Decline in European numbers is the old story - loss of suitable habitat on a large scale.
In GB&I, it may not be as bad as that. My own personal opinion is that stonechat numbers here are regularly under-estimated. There could be several reasons for this: they aren't a typical garden bird, so don't show up on the backyard surveys. Also: "our" stonechats moult out of that distinctive breeding plumage which you saw - in winter, they look much like all the other LBJs that are loafing around and I think many are mistaken for robins.
Stonechats are cool. I don't know why - they just are.
-Wlw |
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ghiribizzo Member
Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 510 Location: Ferryport-on-Craig. The Kingdom of Fife.
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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There's lots here in N E Fife near the shore. _________________ Anyone for a Hot Cross bun and a Creme Egg? |
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Firth of Forth Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 1493 Location: East Lothian, Scotland
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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We saw some of those near rannoch at the weekend. They were making a helluva racket. _________________ Utterly smitten by a Captain
And now Mrs Aubrey |
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 9:11 am Post subject: |
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Wildlifewriter wrote: | Stonechats are cool. I don't know why - they just are. |
Funny you should say that, as I was thinking exactly the same. Perhaps it's because it makes such a nice noise, and when you see it is so beautifully coloured? _________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
I might want to offend you again later |
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Wildlifewriter Founder member
Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Norn Iron
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Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 9:37 am Post subject: |
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Certainly they are handsome little articles, but it also has to to do with their confident demeanour.
At my favorite "secret" nature reserve in County Down, I was utterly defied by a pair of stonechats. Doubtless their nest was close by, and they perched on top of a sizeable gorse bush, making that two-pebbles-knocked-together alarm call and daring Wlw to come any closer.
(Not that I would have taken another step, for the gorse was well spikey and poised to attack.)
Later, I saw a pair (it may have been the same birds) dealing with a young magpie which had ventured into the same thicket. They set upon it, beat it up, stole its dinner money, and chased it at least 200 metres down the track.
Then they flew back to the nest area - singing.
Definitely cool...
-Wlw |
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Seacon Founder member
Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 56 Location: Northern Ireland
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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HighlandNick wrote: | Stonechat. Male......
Favourite nesting place, gorse!! |
Saw my first, and only one, of these a few weeks ago whilst geocaching. Had parked on the north County Antrim coastal road around near Glenarm village to find a cache 'Looking Through Madmans window'. On travelling back to the car after finding the cache he was sitting on Whin bushes (as we call them over here in NI) at the seaside edge.
I didn't know what it was, though the colours were so vivid that I went closer for a look. He simply hoped from one bush to another without any care or worry about me stalking him. I got quite close before he finally decided to leave. Thanks for the original post which has now identified this little beauty to me.
This topic brings me onto another request.
Can anyone recommend a bird field guide suitable for Ireland (or UK and Ireland). Something with photographs rather than just colour drawings? Preferably one which could be kept in the car.
Is there a 'definitive works' on this? The bird watchers equivalent of Delia Smith's cookbook! |
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Billy Twigger Founder member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 352 Location: N55 51.686 W5 05.647
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 11:49 am Post subject: |
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The best book for field identification that I have is an RSPB publication.
The cover on mine is different, -earlier print run I guess, but I'm pretty sure that this is it: BIRDS
Now, I know its a guide to birds of Britain and Europe, and by definition, Northern Ireland is not included, but my guess is that you won't go far wrong with it. (WLW will correct me if I'm wrong I hope!) _________________ Let's face the music and dance |
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yob kulcha Member
Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 359
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Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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We saw one of those while we were doing "Moss Troopers" yesterday. Neither of us had seen one before but I remembered this thread.
It's an edumacation in 'ere and no mistake, guv.
While we're here, does anyone know the name of the little bird that tends to hover about 20 feet in the air and make the most tremendous twittering racket? |
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ghiribizzo Member
Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 510 Location: Ferryport-on-Craig. The Kingdom of Fife.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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Skylark. Play Pink Floyd "The Wall". 'Look Mummy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky...'
Then study Hoagy Carmichael. _________________ Anyone for a Hot Cross bun and a Creme Egg? |
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yob kulcha Member
Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 359
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:07 am Post subject: |
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ghiribizzo wrote: | Skylark. Play Pink Floyd "The Wall". 'Look Mummy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky...'
Then study Hoagy Carmichael. |
Thanks Ian. Skylark was my best guess but I'm no ornithologist. Now I've got an excuse to steal "The Wall" back from my kids |
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Firth of Forth Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 1493 Location: East Lothian, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:32 am Post subject: |
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Plenty of them at this cache! _________________ Utterly smitten by a Captain
And now Mrs Aubrey |
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allieballie Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 296 Location: Fife
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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yob kulcha wrote: |
Neither of us had seen one before but I remembered this thread.
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I saw one for the first time this evening and only recognised it because of this thread. Great noise! |
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