Nature quiz.

There’s a guy coming to our farm at the weekend to record Willow tits with his mother.Any photos?

There’s a guy coming to our farm at the weekend to record Willow tits with his mother.Any photos?

Very rare Laffy can't ever remember seeing one in flesh hopefully they are doing well where you are pretty sure they are on endangered list

He said he wants to wander around the Tyne banks and the burn that runs into it-at the moment it’s like the Mississippi

You sure it’s not Kessler?

I've had a couple of collared doves visiting my garden for some months now. Beautiful birds but very timid

Never seen one either, Laffy. Thought I might see a few in the woodlands in and around the Lakes but not to be. Think Zebby is right - must be pretty rare.

https://naturebftb.co.uk/the-projects/willow-tit/

I'm pretty sure I seen one on that run up to Alston just off the A69 a few years back.

Just like all bird watchers though unless you are 100% sure and get a good look at the species then you haven't seen it.

If you do have them on your land Laffy then you are well lucky, I would be out there most days seeing what I could spot.

A very busy (when my backs turned) Homemade feeder hanging old fence post offcut with suet +insect coconut shells.

I've had a couple of collared doves visiting my garden for some months now. Beautiful birds but very timid

They're not all timid, I have one that sometimes looks through our dining room window, We nod heads at each other.........

Strange times.......

Thinking of going up Helvellyn on Sunday Alan-safe to go snow wise?

Thinking of going up Helvellyn on Sunday Alan-safe to go snow wise?

https://twitter.com/LakesWeather/status/1241050770247729153?s=19

Looks a bit hairy.Anything a bit safer?

Not like a capitalist to be risk averse.

If you do Helvellyn from Thirlmere it should be fine Park up at either Swirls car park of Wythburn two great path avoiding any risk.

Enjoy.

Went up Striding Edge a couple of years ago-the dog was shitting itself and refused to budge halfway along.Ended up taking it around by the scree slope-dog was crying.Never have I been so pleased to get down.

Bleak times but have been watching this beauty in the garden this morning.
Saw a Red Kite this morning overhead as well. Used to seeing them above the roads and cross country but now directly overhead us in the middle of a built up area.
Hoping the Swifts may be back any day now to help lift the gloom. Sadly we do not get any Swallows in town.
Anyone seen any Swallows, Martins or Swifts just yet?
The whole family including in-laws were supposed to be up in the Lakes for a fortnight so bit despondent not to be out on the fells and hearing the Curlew but still plenty of beauty in nature even in the middle of town.
Keep well and stay safe everyone.

I noticed some House Martins yesterday, I was surprised to see them actually.

I noticed some House Martins yesterday, I was surprised to see them actually.

More often seen in the beautiful south.

Just seen from my kitchen window, a Sparrowhawk take a blackbird. It had to drop down into the beck that runs through the garden, I was able to get outside sharpish and watch him until he decided the heat had died down fro the other Blackys. Beautiful male Sparrowhawk, I've seen him in the garden befroe but never seen him in action like that.

Just seen from my kitchen window, a Sparrowhawk take a blackbird. It had to drop down into the beck that runs through the garden, I was able to get outside sharpish and watch him until he decided the heat had died down fro the other Blackys. Beautiful male Sparrowhawk, I've seen him in the garden befroe but never seen him in action like that.

Been in this house 10 years only seen Sparrowhawk maybe 5 times but seen piles of feathers obvious kills dozens of times ... absolute killing machines especially the big mature females...

If you have a sparrow hawk nearby they soon make short work of all the small birds nearby before moving on.
Unlike most other birds of prey they tend to be low flyers and tend to be past you in a flash.
As Zebby says they are absolute killing machines.

I reckon I've seen him before a few times, just sat on the end of my shed. We do have a fair lot of small birds in the garden and always have, he'd be a right fat get if he ate them all.....

Sand Martins, have arrived and are nesting along the Eden.

Hard to get a shot of either of the Bull finches which are way too flighty to catch on our feeder.
Taking the piss in tree nearby




Also hearing of sightings of a buzzard Dalston Road /Bedford Road area of Town Crows chasing it off.