Pheasants, Partidges and Grouse are game birds and they are encouraged to do well only so they could be shot later in the hunting season. Grouse shoots can earn farmers a lot of money.
It is because of these game birds farmers, landowners and gamekeepers will resort to shooting bird belonging to the Crow species, Birds of Prey and Gulls. All 3 species attack game birds, steal their eggs or chicks. In the North of England a spectacular bird of prey known as the Hen Harrier is persecuted severely because it will take grouse chicks, reducing profitability of shooting on the grouse moors. Crows, Foxes, Weasels, Stoats are all “keepered”.
In the last week I have seen Red Grouse, a Buzzard on a sunny winter day and a pair of Ravens nest building. Was amazing to watch them flap around callling “Pruk” “Konk”…
I have had a lucky start to the year by seeing 2 new species. One was the ghostly Barn Owl and the other was a flock of 38 Waxwings - winter visitors from Siberia. Check out the colouring in this photograph:-
Bohemian Waxwing Male on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
I love Long Tailed Tits they are such an amazing bird. They are just so curious, cute and huggable. I just love how they move around from tree to tree chirping as they go.
Cute… on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Amazing !
Re: Bird Watching/Spotting
^Wow, thanks for sharing this interesting information. That waxwing looks awesome and those Long-Tailed tits are so adorable. Do you have any pics of the Grouse?
Special Announcement:
We have new additions to the two bird families recently. Great and Blue Tit, both pairs, regular visitors of my garden, are now parents of two adorable chicks. They come with their little puffy chicks and feed them and also teach them how to get food from the feeder. Its so interesting watching them learning to survive on their own.
Re: Bird Watching/Spotting
There are more birds to add in my list now…I’ve spotted so many new and beautiful birds in past 2 years in Berkshire and Surrey.
Goldfinch
Green Finch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Red Pole
Wren
will add more later.
Re: Bird Watching/Spotting
This is a picture of a Red kite I took in Maindenhead.
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Birdwatching is a very popular activity in Pakistan. Most of birdwatchers are found in vicinity of girls schools and colleges. :D
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aap ko yahi thread mila tha yeh lateefa post kernay kay liye
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Seriosly I have a very guilty feeling right now…
It’s entirely unrelated to Uncle Falkers comments by the way… you really dont think they let me anywhere near a School in Pakistan… :rotf:
I appreciate most animals but the reason why I have a bad feeling with birds is becuase I am a Raptor man and some will see that as evil or bloody… I cant help it though. It’s what you might call a skill.
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Amazing photos hareem! Where did you take the Redpoll photo? I have seen Redpolls only last year for the first time. I wonder what the status of Kites are in Maidenhead?
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Amazing photos hareem! Where did you take the Redpoll photo? I have seen Redpolls only last year for the first time. I wonder what the status of Kites are in Maidenhead?
I didn't take the pics....I uploaded them from different sites. I need to buy an extra lens for my camera to be able to take such pics. The Red kite's pic I took with my camera though but you see it's not very clear.
I saw a Redpoll/pole (spellling) very recently in my backyard. The kites were released last years in Henley upon Thames and that's why there were everywhere in Berks and Bucks, I can hardly spot them this year, may be they have moved to different parts of UK?
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I have started twitching!
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^why?
(about the Red kites, my husband just told me they are still there as he goes to Berks every weak, I didn't realize that I don't live in Berks anymore, I have moved to Surrey...lol)
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Have you ever seen a Buzzard?
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I managed to get 2 very important firsts in the last 4 days. Both of which were on my 2011 list. Both are declining birds but you just need to know the right places.
The first was a Pied Flycatcher which is a summer breeder in the UK. It arrives in April and departs late summer/early autumn. On Sunday I went fro a walk and a man told me a nest location. They nest in tree holes. Within 10 minutes I had seen it. I was feeling very pleased! They can be difficult to see as they can nest in woodland but also open wooded areas, parkland and farmland.
The second bird also arrives in April and is one of the most skulking birds in the UK. It is best located by its song which is something very unique. It prefers long grass, reeds, thickets, rank vegetation, brambles and very rarely appears in the open. It is a Grasshopper Warbler.
Enjoy it!
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^Nice info. Okay help me with this; where can I find Sunbirds in pakistan in autumn/winter?
I always wanted to show my kids sunbirds, I'm hoping I'll be in Pak this autumn/winter so any chance of seeing them in Punjab area?
A pair used to visit our garden regularly in Rawalpindi/chakwal area, but that was a long time ago [around 18 or 20 years ago].
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Have you ever seen a Buzzard?
A Buzzard has a sort of wedged/curved tail and Red Kite''s tail has corners, that's how I identify them. lol
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Sunbirds tend to be summer visitors to Pakistan.
I went to a wetland reserve to see Little Gull and an upland site to see Dotterel, both of which are passage migrants I failed to see both. they would have been firsts for me.
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I saw this spectacular gathering of Sandhill Cranes on the Platte River in Nebraska a few years back, the sound of 500,000 cranes all cackling at the same time is unforgettable experience!
see for your self!
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^very interesting noise.
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Cranes are amazing birds. Their calls are amazing in flight! I have seen wild Common Cranes in Norfolk and that was a distant neck over the reedbed. Ideally i want to see tjem in flight calling!
I added 2 new birds to my list on Sunday. Bird no1 is a Mediterranean Gull which did not breed in Britain before but have now spread spreading North slowly. It is like a Black-headed Gull but more striking.
The other bird is a very secretive duck called Garganey of which maybe 100 pairs breed inthe UK. Garganey's are unique in British ducks as they are the only ones which visit for the summer.
I saw a much rarer bird which is a vagrant to the UK but one I have seen abroad. It is the Great White Egret. Once upon atime a very rare visitor now there are always quite a few around the country!
