The Hide (chat thread)

littlebug

MeteoritesEire wrote: »

corvids are extremely intelligent(amongst THE most intelligent birds) and I have been noticing similar behaviour near my house.I'm totally convinced they are self aware and are just playing with their reflections-the behaviour is not aggressive at all -I have pictures I'll dig out-hooded crows here too

That's why I thought it was peculiar. I've seen (single) small birds do similar but thought it was strange behaviour for crows, especially in a group and in turn.
I hadn't considered they might be playing with reflection rather than attacking. It was all beak against window but no vocalisation if that's relevant? Is that similar to "your" birds?

MeteoritesEire

I'll elaborate tomorrow -just back from pub-will dig those pics out too.My crows definitely do vocalise-more tomorrow

Mothman

Was listening to the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpecker this morning

Don't know which tree it was in though but will look during next few days

wordsmithi

I bought nyger (niger) seed this morning. I had six goldfinches on my feeder.
A charm of goldfinches! If anyone thinks that birds in Ireland are just brown or dull colours they would get such a pleasant surprise with these beauties. The crimson on the head and the deep yellow stripes on the wings. Magnificent!

MeteoritesEire

littlebug wrote: »

That's why I thought it was peculiar. I've seen (single) small birds do similar but thought it was strange behaviour for crows, especially in a group and in turn.
I hadn't considered they might be playing with reflection rather than attacking. It was all beak against window but no vocalisation if that's relevant? Is that similar to "your" birds?

'my' crows do vocalise and flap their wings at the reflection but no beak on glass.I never see them do this behaviour when they are threatening say the magpies or blackbirds.I searched for a good hour today for the pics but no joy(basically just capturing the wingflaps and reflection anyway)--my picture filing system is diabolical and it hasn't been helped with multiple backups and computer crashes etc etc the usual story.

MeteoritesEire

wordsmithi wrote: »

I bought nyger (niger) seed this morning. I had six goldfinches on my feeder.
A charm of goldfinches! If anyone thinks that birds in Ireland are just brown or dull colours they would get such a pleasant surprise with these beauties. The crimson on the head and the deep yellow stripes on the wings. Magnificent!

couldn't agree more.Here's 5 goldies munching on peanuts at mine

homerhop

Blue tits are getting brazen around us, out filling the feeders with peanuts this morning and one fell on an inch or two from my foot, one little tit flew down looked at me for a few seconds, grabbed the nut and buggered off.

Half-cocked

Spent an interesting morning helping colour ring Brent Geese in Finglas, Dublin.

Squeaky the Squirrel

Why do they do that?^^

Half-cocked

Squeaky the Squirrel wrote: »

Why do they do that?^^

http://www.irishbrentgoose.org/

Lots of info at the above site.

Squeaky the Squirrel

Half-cocked wrote: »

http://www.irishbrentgoose.org/

Lots of info at the above site.

Wonder do the rings affect them?

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/12/flipper-bands-impair-penguin-survival-and-breeding-success/

Half-cocked

They don't seem to. Some geese have been ringed for 12 years now and are coming back to Ireland every winter, often with juveniles in tow.

trebor28

Any experts want to tell me what caterpillar this is?

Rainbowsend

trebor28 wrote: »

Any experts want to tell me what caterpillar this is?

That would be the Beeater caterpillar? Super shot

trebor28

Rainbowsend wrote: »

That would be the Beeater caterpillar? Super shot

not mine obviously, just saw it on the net and thought it was funny!

littlebug

trebor28 wrote: »

Any experts want to tell me what caterpillar this is?

my 8 year old son instantly recognised this while my daughter and I were just coo-ing over the cute caterpillar I think his brain works differently than ours

Bsal

I seen a Skylark doing its display flight today over a field near airside retail park, a lovely sight pity about the weather.

Half-cocked

Just plugged in one of my birdbox cams and discovered a Robin building a nest in it. Did the same last year but didn't use it. I've been told male Robins can build several nests and then the female picks one. Hope the fussy so-and-so picks my nestbox this time!

whyulittle

Just when you think you know the backroads of Offaly, you end up in the centre of Tullamore!

littlebug

whyulittle wrote: »

Just when you think you know the backroads of Offaly, you end up in the centre of Tullamore!

I remember once we left Carraroe in Connemara at about 1am. At 2am we arrived in Carraroe in Connemara :o

Squeaky the Squirrel

^^lol

Half-cocked

Spotted a hedgehog making a run for cover last night when I went out to check my (empty) moth trap. I put out some food and set up the trail camera to see if it would come back. This morning I had over 40 video clips of 2 hedgehogs eating all the food and having a bit of a fight with eachother. Judging by their size they were born last summer, possibly the 2 babies we had in the garden last year. Think I'll keep feeding them until the cold snap has passed and there is more natural food available again. I've had a t least 1 hedgehog hibernating in the hedgehog house I built, but don't know if it is one of these or the resident adult female.

trebor28

great find up in antrim today!

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/55450/Birding_Opportunity.html

i wonder did anyone go up and see it!

Maudi

Half-cocked wrote: »

They don't seem to. Some geese have been ringed for 12 years now and are coming back to Ireland every winter, often with juveniles in tow.

speaking of rings .whilst out wandering the fields south of wicklow town today.i threw my lunch leftovers for the birds.i was surprised to see a ringed rook..he didnt behave as if captive bred..im curious as to who would ring him or why?or is there some ringing programme in the area?

Half-cocked

A Robin laid, then abandoned an egg in my camera nestbox 2 days ago. This morning there was a 2nd abandoned egg beside it! What is going on? Could the cold weather be causing her not to try incubating? Should I remove the eggs later on in the month in the hope that she will try again in the same box?

Mothman

Half-cocked wrote: »

A Robin laid, then abandoned an egg in my camera nestbox 2 days ago. This morning there was a 2nd abandoned egg beside it! What is going on? Could the cold weather be causing her not to try incubating? Should I remove the eggs later on in the month in the hope that she will try again in the same box?

Wait and see, birds lay their clutch and then start incubating. This way they all hatch at same time. You'll likely have another egg or 2 then incubating will start.

Half-cocked

Mothman wrote: »

Wait and see, birds lay their clutch and then start incubating. This way they all hatch at same time. You'll likely have another egg or 2 then incubating will start.

Aha, that makes sense. I never thought about why they all hatch at the same time before.

whyulittle

whyulittle wrote: »

Just when you think you know the backroads of Offaly, you end up in the centre of Tullamore!

It happened again. :o

To be fair, this time I didn't even think I knew where I was going.

littlebug

It's (finally) starting to look like spring has sprung. Saw my first bumblebee in the garden today though the kids saw one yesterday. And I'm starting to see more small flying "things" around so hopefully there'll be plenty for the swallows when they arrive. I remember last year cursing the midges at the Turlough and hoping the swallows would soon turn up to get rid of a few! This year.... no midges yet!

"my" swallows usually turn up around the 16th April. I wonder will they be on time this year.

Zoo4m8

Anybody seeing Greenfinches at their feeders?