[Misc] The Official NSC Bird Spotting Thread.

[Zeberdi]

I’ve had a lot of Swifts screaming around the house the past week or so - the breeders are already on the nest so these will be first year birds and non-breeders for whatever reason. I’ve been meaning to put a Swift box up for years and finally got round to it this evening - fortunately with access to a flat roof, it was easy enough to reach the eaves so no ladders required.

It’s probably too late this year but hopefully next Spring, I’ll have new house mates!

 

[Boroseagull]

I’ve had a lot of Swifts screaming around the house the past week or so - the breeders are already on the nest so these will be first year birds and non-breeders for whatever reason. I’ve been meaning to put a Swift box up for years and finally got round to it this evening - fortunately with access to a flat roof, it was easy enough to reach the eaves so no ladders required.

It’s probably too late this year but hopefully next Spring, I’ll have new house mates!

View attachment 204591

Excellent news Zeberdi - fingers crossed for you. Here in Southern Spain together with fellow birders we all consider the numbers of Common Swift the highest for 3 or 4 years. Last week I was counting the Red-necked Nightjars on my patch that includes a stretch of rio guadalhorce and as dawn broke I estimated 400-500 were feeding very low over the river. As I sit on the terrace writing this there are a dozen of so commons feeding above me. No better sound as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Zeberdi]

Excellent news Zeberdi - fingers crossed for you. Here in Southern Spain together with fellow birders we all consider the numbers of Common Swift the highest for 3 or 4 years. Last week I was counting the Red-necked Nightjars on my patch that includes a stretch of rio guadalhorce and as dawn broke I estimated 400-500 were feeding very low over the river. As I sit on the terrace writing this there are a dozen of so commons feeding above me. No better sound as far as I'm concerned.

Superb.

Other Hirundines are sadly very low in numbers here, especially House Martins.

Andalusia is one of the best birding regions in Europe so I envy your location (although Norfolk is pretty good too!) - Met a bird tour team from Andalusia when I was working at the Rutland Bird Fair some years ago. Extremadura is another great area as is the Ebro Delta of course.

A mouse mat I have from Extremadura (rather an old one!)

 

[Wardy's twin]

Blackbird population threatened by virus

Mosquito-borne killer disease threatens blackbirds

The disease has spread great distances, with scientists racing to understand the risks.

www.bbc.co.uk

BTO are monitoring Blackbirds in our gardens so if anyone wants to help - very simple survey in 5 minute slots - results can be inputted directly online

Blackbirds in Gardens | BTO

Read an article on the provisional findings from the first year of the project, from Bird Table magazine.About Blackbirds in Gardens

www.bto.org

 

[Cordwainer]

I’ve had a lot of Swifts screaming around the house the past week or so - the breeders are already on the nest so these will be first year birds and non-breeders for whatever reason. I’ve been meaning to put a Swift box up for years and finally got round to it this evening - fortunately with access to a flat roof, it was easy enough to reach the eaves so no ladders required.

It’s probably too late this year but hopefully next Spring, I’ll have new house mates!

View attachment 204591

Nice Swift box..hopefully house builders take note. Desperately sad the Swifts decline.

Swifts’ decline: how can Britons help these remarkable birds?

Campaigners are calling for compulsory ‘swift bricks’ in new homes to provide nesting sites

www.theguardian.com

 

[nevergoagain]

Very disappointing summer so far. 2 sets of breeding Magpies are in the trees and they've put paid to all the finches, tits etc. that we usually get. I wouldn't mind if they got rid of the bloody wood pigeons that roost but they are still there. Sorely tempted to shoot the bastards now they've all fledged.

 

[MJsGhost]

I’ve had a lot of Swifts screaming around the house the past week or so - the breeders are already on the nest so these will be first year birds and non-breeders for whatever reason. I’ve been meaning to put a Swift box up for years and finally got round to it this evening - fortunately with access to a flat roof, it was easy enough to reach the eaves so no ladders required.

It’s probably too late this year but hopefully next Spring, I’ll have new house mates!

View attachment 204591

Won't the picture of the raptor in the window scare the swifts away?

I'm not one for nerdy taxonomy, but today I learned that swifts are not closely related to swallows & martins. In fact, swifts are more closely related to hummingbirds.
Tits (any excuse to write TITS) are more closely related to swallows than swifts are...

Every day's a school day!

 

[chip]

Love @Zeberdi's swift nest. Lots of swallows here and lots of insects, but sadly no swifts (for years).

Swifts’ decline: how can Britons help these remarkable birds?

Campaigners are calling for compulsory ‘swift bricks’ in new homes to provide nesting sites

www.theguardian.com

 

[Diablo]

Couple of Barn Owl Boxes here. One has one chick,about to Fly. One taken over by Stock Dove, again only one Chick but again ready to go. I`m told not a good year for Barn owls.
Loads of Lapwings on Brooks. But no chicks seen. Land is to dry. Picture shows last year when several birds had chicks.

 

[Zeberdi]

I'm not one for nerdy taxonomy, but today I learned that swifts are not closely related to swallows & martins. In fact, swifts are more closely related to hummingbirds.
Tits (any excuse to write TITS) are more closely related to swallows than swifts are...

Every day's a school day!

Yes, Swifts aren’t actually Hirundines strictly speaking - genetically Swifts are more closely related to Hummingbirds but they aren’t actually related to them. It’s to do with the evolutionary tree I think.

 

[MJsGhost]

Yes, Swifts aren’t actually Hirundines strictly speaking - genetically Swifts are more closely related to Hummingbirds but they aren’t actually related to them. It’s to do with the evolutionary tree I think.

I've well and truly disappeared down the rabbit hole...

The swift/hummingbird relationship is relatively close - sister group within the same order (Apodiformes). Akin to the (evolutionary) relationship between blue tit & long tailed tit.
Also analogous: humans and chimpanzees (how close a relationship that is from a practical perspective depends upon the company you keep )