[SamT]

 

[tlr]

A pretty unusual bird to see at the best of times, this long-tailed skua lives most of its life out at sea - so a rare Sheffield tick!

Long-tailed-Skua by Tim Russon, on Flickr

[andy popp]

Dumb question alert: how to tell different corvids apart? Over the last week or so a pair of corvids have built a large nest in a tree across the street from us, at the same level as our apartment (3rd floor). It's been fascinating to watch them build it and even more so watching their behaviour now, they are always in or very near it, and almost always together, certainly never far apart. One spends time on a roof line that looks down on the nest. They're all black and are pretty hefty birds, but would ravens ever nest in a very urban environment? I also know ravens declined severely here (the country, not the city specifically) until beginning to recover from the 90s. They're just a bit far away to get a really good look at them. Really looking forward to having such a bird's eye view of them over the next few weeks.

Overall, we have a great view of a lot of bird life, in the mornings the street is full of wheeling flocks of seabirds right at our level, often coming within feet. One of our cats cannot cope and spends hours glued to the window making her weird chattering noises.

[JamieG]

Have you heard them calling? That might help you tell. On the rspb website you can listen to most British bird calls. Here’s the raven page. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/raven/

The other option for all black would most likely be a carrion crow. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/carrion-crow/

Rooks tend to live in colonies and jackdaws are quite small with some grey and seem to like chimneys more than trees.

[Johnny Brown]

Sounds like your standard carrion crow. Rooks nest in colonies and have bare white skin on the face. Ravens are significantly bigger birds, simplest diagnostic being a diamond shaped tail compared to the fan shape of the carrion. Jackdaws have grey heads and nest in holes.

Looks like you are on the transition between carrion and hooded crows so they could be used to compare size. Buy some binoculars!

[Fultonius]

I always struggle with rooks, crows etc.

Is this in Denmark?

[andy popp]

I know they're not Rooks or Jackdaws, just unsure about the Crow/Raven distinction - these birds are bloody big (there are other smaller, all black corvids about). Going to look out for the tails tomorrow, which shouldn't be difficult as they're in the air a lot. Haven't heard any calls as the street is noisy and it's still cold, so the windows are shut mostly and we can hear very little.

Ultimately, I don't care, genuinely looking forward to having a grandstand view of them for them for the next few weeks.

Thanks everyone.

Is this in Denmark?

Yes, inner city Copenhagen.

[SA Chris]

Suspect it's something in the hooded / carrion crow mix (they aren't well defined). As JB said, Ravens are considerably bigger beasts, If you've seen them at the Tower of London you'll know. If you listen carefully you'll usually hear them quoting Nevermore

[Johnny Brown]

Most of the other ID points are fairly relative and not so robust without comparison, but heavy bill, shaggy throat, longer wings. But it would be very late in the year for Ravens to be building here.

Typical call is a very deep 'gronk', compared to crows who mostly say 'craw' though also 'g-wong'. Both do all sorts of other vocalisations, especiialy around the nest.

[Johnny Brown]

PS the Collins bird guide app is well worth the £15. The best european bird book in a very well executed app, includes calls for most species.

[nic mullin]

Kingfisher on the upper Don a couple of days ago, and a red kite nearby.

[sheavi]

A Raven at Apparent North this evening.

[sheavi]

Walrus in S.Pembrokeshire

[SA Chris]

I though you were joking, did you actually see it?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-56476760

Puffins are back! Was out on kayak up the coast on Saturday morning, along with Razorbills, Cormorants, Guillemots, Eiders  and the usual Gull fraternity. And a big bull seal followed us for a bit.

[SamT]

Good weekend for me...

Black Cap on Saturday out at Hornsea which is a first time tick.

Lovely closeup of a Redstart on Sunday in Teesdale, along with chiffchaff and snipe.

First swallows and house martins of the year too. 

[SA Chris]

Orca passed practically in view of the house (with a decent pair of binoculars!) as we, oblivious, sat down to eat on Friday night and had a belated birthday beer. Father in Law just up the coast got some video footage.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/3103414/photographer-captures-incredible-images-of-orca-off-north-east-coast/

[tlr]

Blackcaps are nice, and Redstarts are very smart, not got decent pictures of either of those. And it would be amazing to see an orca - we are off to Mull in a couple of weeks hopefully, so might get a minke maybe.

Really looking forward to seeing the eagles too I hope - not seen them in the UK at all.

The bright, dry weather has been good for photos, got a few decent ones in the last few weeks, all within a few miles of home:

Dipper

IMGL9305-2 by Tim Russon, on Flickr

Grey wagtail

IMGL9272 by Tim Russon, on Flickr

Wren in full flow

IMGL9886 by Tim Russon, on Flickr

Pied flycatcher

IMGL9890 by Tim Russon, on Flickr

Treecreeper

IMGL0139 by Tim Russon, on Flickr

IMGL0096 by Tim Russon, on Flickr

[Motown]

Is that the dipper’s tongue tlr? Amazing shot.

[SA Chris]

Great shots a always Tim.

Always think Grey Wagtails are a bit hard done by with that name, the yellow is amazingly bright.

[tlr]

I agree totally, but unfortunately the yellow wagtail is even more yellow, so it got left with grey!

[SA Chris]

Yellow chested vs Yellow arsed?

[tlr]

Yellow and Yellower?

[fatneck]

Great photos as ever Tim! Nice one! Amazing Skua - great tick 

Got a great local tick myself last week with a Whitethroat in our park - even impressed a local birder who's always seen everything before

Was up in Teesdale last weekend and saw first Houseys of the year and one random swift which is by a long way the earliest I've ever seen one! Also great to see lots of Lapwings around.

Also saw a redpoll amongst the Siskins on the feeders at Bowlees which was nice but haven't seen a Redstart for years, and that was in Teesdale - nice one Sam T!

Great time of year for birds!

[JamieG]

Agreed lovely photos. We get grey wagtails on the river by us all the time. Big fan. Definitely undersold by their name.

Also saw my first swifts yesterday at Uppermill as well as some swallows. No house martins yet. Always great to see your first of the year. And with the chiffchaffs shouting away in the park, and the curlew calling up on the moor definitely beginning to feel the first hints of summer.

[SA Chris]

Lapwings yesterday too on on high moor east of Laurencekirk and tree sparrows.