Hello! - Recent threads

hi

Sparrow brain — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:27:54 GMT

I am Cheryl, and am not very good at this computer thingy

but any way, hope you all see this

I love watching birds in my community

I am rather excited at the moment as I have some little sparrows hatching in my camera bird box,

its fasanating to watch them come and go, , right from a few months ago, when they started to build the nest, to now feeding the tiny hatchlings

, the only one draw back to this is,,,,,,,, if something goes horribley wrong, which often happens in nature, I will be watching live from my television,

oh well fingers crossed, these 5 little , 2 day old hatchlings will make it

Thanks for reading

Hi

Raven — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:05:13 GMT

Hello, I am new to this site. I am from Cambridgeshre and a keen though by no means expert wildlife watcher. I do research things in my books and on line but I mainly just love being out there. I have an out door job too so can indulge my hobby during work time as well..shhh, don't tell the boss..

Hello

Michelle Fitch — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:06:39 GMT

Im a newbie from Somerset, and have a question or two on housemartins..Perhaps someone could point me in the right direction please, thanks,

UNPLEASANT

mandy — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:12:02 GMT

I recently asked for help regarding a female bird my cay brought in, and received some caring reply's, unfortunately i also received a reply from somebody i care not to mention, basically calling attention to my apparent lack of care for wildlife because i have a cat, who then proceeded to tell me to get rid of her, this really hurt as i love ALL animals, wild and domestic, and try to keep a reasonably happy coexistence between the two. Especially when there are people in my area that happily go out and shoot birds for the pure fun of it, pretty sick , meanwhile both me and my husband try our hardest to control what our cat does, it doesn't always work, so we try and counteract it with doing what we can. We also have dogs and rabbits and a very successful wildlife pond - with breeding pairs of frogs and newts, we feed the birds, but my husband has made special feeding areas the cat can not get at. Unfortunately this particular bird was caught away from our garden.

I wanted help not a put down, and if this is how some of your members behave, then in future ill rethink the way i find help in the future.

Collared Dove

CAROL — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:40:29 GMT

Hi I'm from Devon but currently in Menorca. A young collared dove flew into my window on Friday evening. It was initially stunned so put it in a box. However, it seems reluctant to leave. There do not appear to be any visible injuries but I tried to release it again this morning and it has difficulty in flying. Could it have bruised the musles that enable it to use it's wings.? It did appear to hit the window sideways. Also what can I feed it? I have tried seeds and some small pieces of fruit.

It is currently sitting in the box (top open) and making no move to get out.

I would appreciate any advice you could give

Young Birds

mandy — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:12:58 GMT

Here we are again springtime, when all birds have their young. Unfortunately, its also when my cats do most of their hunting. I recently saved a few creatures including birds recently, but knowing what to do with them afterwords is not always so straight forward, i had a female young blackbird with a broken leg, luckily with advice from members of the RSPB, i knew how to proceed. And luckily she was successfully saved, which is all important in these days due to our wild bird population falling in some areas, starlings are becoming rare to see in my area(Bristol) and Jackdaws, very sad, so saving these beautifull birds should definitely be top priority.

Swifts & new RSPB Logo

Superman — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:12:33 GMT

Hi all,

As I spent most of the morning on my local patch birding yesterday, I saw my first three Swifts this year. Glad to see these high flying superstars are back & hopefully a sign of Spring. I counted 19 species before viewing the Swifts in the sky at the foot of the hill. I was delighted!

On another note, well done to all involved with the new RSPB logo & branding. I am delighted the 'RSPB' name remains & the bird animation remains.

Now, golf or birding today?

Regards

Jim

Blackbird Rescue.

mandy — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 07:27:28 GMT

please, please help. my cat brought in a fledgling blackbird with what appears to be a broken leg. shes very lively and chirping loads. but don't ask me to release her, as shell not stand a chance. so how can i get her to eat, as shes being very stubborn. i know shes probably in a little shock but im a little worried.

I've seen videos of members of the public rescuing their young blackbirds, but at least they want to eat, with their cute gaping mouths, but mine wont, she just chirps a lot.

Fledgling blackbird HELP.

mandy — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 07:24:00 GMT

hello

daynes007@gmail.com — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:14:25 GMT

hi everyone a newbie norfolk birder here

Redstart in rural Aberdeenshire

Alexandra — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:05:32 GMT

Spotted in garden this morning.

Any other sightings?

Busy Nesting

Suttie — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:39:42 GMT

Hello everyone,

It's nesting time! We do our own hairdressing and all year we have been saving our clippings for this time of year.

We have had a lot of fun watching our birds sporting big moustaches as they gather hair for lining their nests. So far interested parties have included, great tits, blutits, dunnocks, sparrows, greenfinchs and Jackdaws. So get clipping in time for next nesting season.

Cheers,

Liz

Help Please

Frizzy — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:28:34 GMT

Hi I've just registered on the forum in the hope of getting a bit of advice. Yesterday OH was hacking down a Ceanothus bush in the garden when he realised there was a birds nest in there, 2 babies were in the nest and one had fallen on the floor, I picked him up gently and put him back. We constructed the bush back together as best we could and I sheltered the nest with some large fatsia leaves, this morning I went to check on them and mum was in the nest with them thankfully. Is there anything else we can do to protect them , someone suggested more shelter with an umbrella or canvas but I'm worried about mum not coming back. Any advice will be very much appreciated. Thanks Frizzy

HELP ADVICE NEEDED URGENTLY

nicola — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:24:44 GMT

I reached into my cat scratch post box to get the dogs ball out and got bit by something I think it is a water rail but not sure any help and advice on what to do with it, I have put the scratch post box outside with the opening covered by a towel with a small opening but unsure what to do?? help please

Hi All :-)

Kate — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:47:49 GMT

I just joined up yesterday after purchasing a few birdie bits in RSPB shop. I've currently got a few feeders in our back garden in Southampton, but hoping to expand/improve on our garden numbers.

The hubby and I are gradually trying to re-landscape the garden to a more cottage and wildlife-esque habitat, as so far we've put in a small pond and attracted frogs, spotted the occasional hedgehog, one sighting of an urban fox the other week, house sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, a pair of robins, the odd wren and pied wagtail, and recently a pair of bluetits. But also unfortunately a rat that seems to have made a nice burrow under my winter honeysuckle :-(

But on a lighter note, I've just spotted Mrs Sparrow collecting stuff for nestbuilding this morning so it must be getting more Spring-like finally :-)

Hello everyone

SpottingScope — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 20:39:18 GMT

Hi all, I'm new here and just stumbled upon 'The Tea Room' so thought I should say hello.

Bird Walking

Superman — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:32:24 GMT

Hi all,

Went for a long walk to shopping centre (to encourage weight loss) & as I passed a river on route I had a look down from the bridge. I was looking for the birds I saw, 2 Grey Wagtails. They were bobbing their tails in amongst the rocks as they searched for food. Even my son remarked on there yellow bellies!

So leave the car behind & you never know what you'll find. I was delighted!

Cheers

Jim

ROOKS!

GreenLizzie — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:33:31 GMT

How can I stop Rooks attacking my bird feeders and taking so much of the food???

GreenLizzie

The Local Council has put signs up to say "Stop feeding the birds"

Cath — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:43:21 GMT

Hi everyone,

My Council has posted "Do not feed the birds" signs on lamp posts at my favourite Sea Front car park for feeding and watching Crows,Pigeons and many species of Sea birds whom all benefit from a very popular Fish and Chip shop in the area. Their oversized portions always mean that the birds get lucky from satisfied car visitors who almost always throw their leftovers out to the hungry watchful eyes of the bird community.

There are several Wheelie bins positioned along the length of the car park for the waste left after eating your Fish and Chips, so the area is extremely tidy. A small Council waste van empties the bins daily, such are the volume of visitors to this coastal car park.

All through the bleak winter months there is still a steady flow of visitors who all help to feed the resident birds and provide them with a much needed fatty feed. Believe me when I say that there is not a scrap of any offerings left anywhere uneaten that would attract rats etc... No mess or annoyance to anyone, rubbish is religiously put into the bins, and any rogue papers retrieved and binned by those who care more than their previous owners.

I can not understand the Council's reasons for erecting these signs ! Where is the problem or harm in it ? So many birds are in need of our help these days, and I feed my garden birds daily without exception. I get a lot of enjoyment from doing the same to the Beach Bird community too. I know I am not alone in doing this, as so many others do the same.

Never have I ever seen Crows in such numbers gathered in one place as I have at this car park....At least 30 plus. They have become a real favourite of mine they are so intelligent. If you stay a while after the rush on the fish and chips has dried up, you will be treated to something breathtaking...the Crows comb the shoreline alongside the Sea Birds, and on weedling out shellfish fly back to the car park and drop their find from a great height to break open the shells ! It is a sight to behold. I watch it time and time again in disbelief at how they have adapted to their seafaring lifestyle.

Please can someone explain why this ban on feeding the birds may have been made? I am so upset as in a local town similar signs went up and I found an old lady with her ritual bag of feed crying on a bench holding a dying Pigeon. Around her were others looking puffed up and unwell. I asked her what was happening and she said the council was feeding the birds food with poison in it to cull the numbers. It was horrific. I am worried that the same fate may be planned for the car park birds...What can I do ? Is this legal ? Please can anyone help or advise me ?

Kindest Regards,

Cath.

email notifications

Superman — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:59:26 GMT

Hi,

Anyone any idea how I update my email address so I may receive notifications of messages?

thanx

Jim

I'm back!

Superman — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:32:27 GMT

Hi all,

Just to say hello, I've been away for a while but have now quit Twitter which was becoming a chore to be honest.

So, I hope to contribute a lot more to our community pages going forward.

Regards

Jim

Wildlife Action Award

Feather — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:40:54 GMT

Hi is there anyone out there who is doing this award. I need help please.

New member Hello

turboman — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:49:17 GMT

Hello I have just joined in the last few minutes, my name is Terry I live in Sunderland and I'm 65 years old. I made my first ever visit to a RSPB site at Fowlmere near Cambridge last year where the highlight of my day was watching a Kingfisher. Yesterday I decided to go to Saltholme reserve near Middlesbrough and what a fantastic day it was. Birds I saw were Goldfinch,Robin,Chaffinch,greenfinch,Redbreasted Merganser (pair of),shelducks,Golden Plover (courtsy of guide in Paddys pool hide,don't know his name but thanks),Tufted Ducks,Moorhens,and more besides. Along with that was the fox that ignored everyone as he ran across the car park and around to the feeders.

I used my camera a lot and got some nice pics and will now look forward to lots more visits to hone my skills at both photography and bird recognition.

Linnets!

mummybirdnerd — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:32:09 GMT

Don't know if this is a bit tragic but I am SO excited to see 2 male linnets at my bird feed station. I am new at this game but the rspb site rates them as red status. YIPEEEEEEEE!

Hello

m4rk — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:56:14 GMT

Thought I would introduce myself to the regulars etc.

My name is mark, I am 48 and live in Ipswich. I have been a proud member of the rspb for a couple of years now although I was a member as a junior when dinosaurs roamed the earth and have never lost my love for garden birds.

My pride and joy is my feeder where my local birds will always find mixed seed, sunflower hearts, black sunflowers, nyger seed, fat balls, suet cake, peanuts, buggy nibbles, apple and dried mealworms.

Because of the variety of food available I get daily visits from great tits, blue tits, long tailed tits, robins, blackbirds, chaffinches, gold finches, dunnocks, collard doves, starlings, woodpidgeons and occasional visits from pied wagtails, siskins, bullfinches, greenfinches and thrushes. I even saw a blackcap in my back garden last year and a couple of nightingales.

The amount of birds I get to feed is due to the fact that I am lucky to live on the edge of a local nature reserve.

I visited minsmere last week and spent a very nice day there, I have not got binoculars or a decent camara yet but spent a few lazy hours in a few of the hides with marsh and hen harriers the highlight.

Anyway, thats me. I will enjoy following some of the threads on here and try to be an active member, although my limited knowledge will mean me asking questions opposed to posting some thought provoking observations.

regards

mark :)