We have just installed two birdfeeders in our garden and we have been very lucky to have had a Hoopooe visit today. We have loads of blue tits which are fun to watch but that was a treat.
Hi Meggsy welcome to the forum
Thats sounds a great spot, i've never seen one so if you have a camera and get a chance to photo it we like to see photos on the forum.
Regards Alan
My photos are here and here
Will do, just hope it comes back, thought it was a woodpecker until it put it's crest up. Sunflower heads were the succesful bait.
I think sunflowers in various forms are the birds favourite, most like sunflower hearts.
good luck for it coming back.
Hi Meggsy.
If your bird was coming to eat sunflower hearts from a feeder, I'm going to be controversial and suggest it could have been a jay. They are a similar colour to a hoopoe and have a bit of a crest which can be raised when they're excited (maybe by tasty food!). Hoopoes use their long, curved bills to probe into the ground for bugs and the like.
Katie
Agree with Katie,
Jays are frequently miss ID'd as Hoopoes because of their very striking appearance.
It's about the right time of year for them to be on the acorn forage!
Then again we may have a very late Hoopoe in the country!
H
Agree with Katie and H more chance of it being a Jay,cannotb see how a Hoopoe would cope on a feeder with that bill and not sure about them eating seed.
birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,just enjoy it while you can.
I would be very surprised if it was a hoopoe but you never know. I once saw one in Spain while playing golf, a very distinctive bird and beautiful to see.
JAy. I can actually guarantee it on description and habits