Teesmouth Bird Club

Snorter, well done Paul.

Record flight shot.

Around Jackson's.

(Ta to buzz n woody for the loan of the grebe seed)

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This morning,  cheers to woody and buzz for the loan of the "I spy book of birds"  ;-)

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(For your notes.)

Ian, the next time you go to photograph this bird watch when it picks up a vole nest it will either strip it on the wing or take both the nest and its prey back to its larder that is usually out of the way of prying eyes, the ones that I watched there was usually a buzzard parked up on a vantage point ready to rob the bird of its prey after it had hidden it, (on the bank side of a nearby dyke is what I noticed)

When it takes the whole lot it will use the nests to cover the larder up, it would seem that every single raptor that either happened upon the harriers or watch them would have a go at robbing them, they also seemed to spend a lot of time hunting from a low branch or even more hours on the ground often lifting with the odd victim and back to its larder (bright sunny days) when it would turn very cold they would often just stay on the ground out of the way. (loads more but I am off out, good luck m8)

Quote from: IanF on March 16, 2012, 08:08:54 PM
Sorry Dave, I recall you mentioning the Hen Harriers up your way on private land, but not any description of any behaviour regards picking up balls of grass.

This was totally new to me and many others it would seem.

Good to hear though you've also documented the same behaviour elsewhere.

No botha at all Ian, not having a go at you mate, I cant even remember what day it is at times.   

Quote from: A McLee on March 15, 2012, 10:13:08 AM
Ian,
     This interesting behaviour of snatching voles nests speculatively from the ground as a novel way of hunting, may not have been recorded before, let alone photographed.
Have you thought of writing a brief note, plus photographs, to " British Birds" describing these observations?
Alistair McLee

I photographed exactly this behaviour Oct, Nov, Dec 2011,  Jan, Feb 2012
The county recorder of DBC was informed sometime in November 2011, I also relayed the same info to Ian earlier this year regarding two immature birds in Durham.

This behaviour has been witnessed multiple times over the years by Lord Barnard's keepers in Weardale, so, not new behaviour, recorded AND photographed already.


The foto is an immature rufus bird.


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Thanks lads, I think the new generation of cameras are going to make things a lot easier with the introduction of three new Nikon bodies at a cracking 36 Mega Pixels! Also broadcast quality video recording, I can think of a few canon users that will jump ship now, out of reach for myself with yet another brat to put through university! (cardboard in my boots and @ss hanging out already!!)

http://www.europe-nikon.com/microsites/d800/en_GB/

Coatham Wood.

First thing.

Quote from: JohnM on December 23, 2011, 09:45:05 AM
Taken Yesterday (22nd) at Erington woods car park New Marske. There were 2 Redpolls coming down to the bird table, 1 normal one and this one. Thanks to M.A.B for letting me know about it.

Cracking shots given that its in the shade, great lens the 300 F4 

Pity the sun went in!

Quote from: IanF on December 15, 2011, 09:12:36 PM
One in the harbour again today. It seemed to be catching plenty of dabs off the end of the Pilot Pier.

How long do you boil those "dabs" for Ian? 20mins 

Quote from: tonyg on November 29, 2011, 10:17:39 PM
You may never know this thread may get back to the  point i.e of a TV news story about poisoning.

Doesn't look like that will happen unfortunately, I think the post went dead a while back, thanks to the people who had a go anyway.

I would say though if anyone needs the facts to check the ones published by the police and double check every second hand publication.

(Of on my holidays, somewhere warm methinks)

 

Quote from: Richard Green on November 28, 2011, 06:50:13 PMLegitimate reasons for shooting/poisoning/trapping Birds Of Prey are few if any

There aren't any!!    

(There is one particular case being considered at the moment)

Absolutely no blinkers here either, I wanted to get a reason as to why this particular group " wouldn't be averse to shooting the odd bird of prey if they got in the way."  because after 35 years he has seen very few raptors.

Is it because,,,,,,,,,,,