Birds 2013

[Greg Beetham]

I like the close up of the Robin as well, (both) I also like that they all get spoilt rotten.
Beautiful photos of the Kingfisher Mark, (what’s that water or ice stuff under the tail? Surely it wasn’t from diving in the water?) The little Wren shot is great as well, you get that with twigs getting in the way and there isn’t anything you can do about it, a shot is better than no shot any day, I don’t think I have ever even scored a Wren of any value, I’ve seen plenty of different ones over the times…briefly.
The poor Heron could have done with pilchard or two by the looks of him; it looks so cold it stands on one foot at a time. Great close-ups of the parrots too.
My spoilt rotten birds here have to contend with the attention of a marauding Brown Goshawk it seems, I saw it hunting for prey in the tree near the bird bath twice today, one was a reasonably close encounter but quite brief after it saw me, I guess if you have plenty of birds hanging about they will attract attention from other types that don’t necessarily eat seed or honey…first hand. Other things have been seen more frequently also, the occasional monitor lizard, owl, falcons of various kinds, a carpet python or two and a tree snake, as well as the usual ‘other peoples’ cats.
Greg

[mvanrheenen]

Hi Greg,

The droplets on the tail of the little Kingfisher are frozen. They turned up exactly the same way in all the shots I took over a period of 1,5 hours. It was freezing about -10 yesterday, so I think the little fellar had some bad luck.

Those Goshawks are masters in clearing whole fields by their presence alone. Sparrowhawks can do that too. I once saw one of those parrots/parkeets being grabbed by one of those Sparrowhawks. It was an ugly sight. Sometimes I see the aftermath of those attacks in the woods:



That's nature for you.

What's normal in your country would sound of alarms in mine. If I ever spot a monitor lizard or python in these parts, I think the local government would dispatch a whole squadron of animal handlers/wranglers It's great we live in such a diverse world!

Mark

[Greg Beetham]

Yeah Mark it’s funny how things are different in different places and the reactions are different too I guess, this fella came out between the bottom step as I was finishing off my beer and it mooched across the driveway behind the car parked under the house, luckily I happened to have the camera handy at the time, it was already nearly dark as I recall so I had to use the flip up flash, it was a while ago now so my memory isn’t total on the detail.
I think there might be a few of those guys around the neighbourhood they’re fairly common, they eat birds, chooks, possums, mice, rats, chihuahuas and cats, my brother photographed one eating a cat with his mobile phone near his workshop which is not far from home, at the end of the next block actually, I wish he would have rung me instead because it was in a darkish location under some trees and a mobile doesn’t do darkish very well.
(I don’t know whose cat it was but it was in someone’s front yard, the full time score was snake 1 cat 0)
Greg
Ps and yes it is amazing how quickly the presence of a Brown Goshawk can get rid of a tree full of birds, they seem to go feral instantly by some kind of telepathy.
A100

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[mvanrheenen]

Yikes! That one fierce looking reptillian! They eat the neighborhood cats and chihuahua's? Could I borrow one for the neighbors poodle?

The only snake I ever encountered in the wild was in Greece. It was blistering hot on the island of Lesbos and what better place for these creatures to hide than in the shade under parked cars?! A lot of tourists, including us, had quite the scare a few times

Mark

[Dr. Harout]

That's a Python.

[aster]

The thread is becoming a wildlife documentary ... : )

Interesting contributions after such lovely, soft and fluffy-looking birdies.

Glad the snake is of danger to you, Greg. Either you're used to being around them or they are used to human presence and fear nothing.


Yildiz

[caporip]

Two from today, shot from indoors as it is very very cold (and I've got man flu).

A200 + 70-400mm @400mm



A200 + 70-400mm @400mm

[Birma]

I love the Sparrow (LBJ) with his whole head in the bird feeder - nice one Caporip

You're right Greg - a python on the drive would not get the same reaction here in the UK! Mind you - if it kept cats away then I might be prepared to keep it around (I prefer the wild birds to next door's moggy!).

[Greg Beetham]

Thanks Mark, Doc, Yildiz and Birma, I thought I'd toss it in the mix (the Carpet Python because of it's association with birds here) as they are quite often seen around here, and many people don't mind them being there either, they get rid of vermin very very well, but unfortunately they are also very adept at climbing trees so they will take birds as well...but that's life I guess.
Greg
There are other Pythons (a very large type as well) but that one above is the most likely to be close to humans.

[mvanrheenen]

My god Caporip, you photographed the first LBJ I've ever seen alive with the front half of its head missing! Great moment you captured there!

The Thrush is easily spooked and does not show itself that easily. Very nice of it to let you take that portrait. I've one in my garden, but it rarely shows itself.

Mark

[Greg Beetham]

I reckon it might be a female sparrow caporip captured there, (the one with the head buried in the feeder), that’s my guess. I like the poor little thrush that is looking so cold and down in the dumps, I’d love to know how such birds survive the winter with their fast metabolic rate trying to ward off the cold and the only thing that will do that is something to eat but there is not much available when it’s all covered in snow and ice, it’s a wonder they don’t move south when winter arrives, I bet there is quite a few that don’t make it…its all very mysterious.
Greg

[caporip]

Thanks Birma. Its the first time 've seen a thrush in the garden so was really pleased.

Yep Greg it was a Sparrow.

Btw, I can recommend the RSPB's sprinkles for Blackbirds and thrushes - little pellets of suet and fruit and seed. Good energy boost for them and they manage to find them in the snow.

[Wildieswife]

O Wow! What great kingfisher shots - I've never got a good one yet. Makes me feel like sitting by the river for a full day in the wind,ice and snow. But perhaps I'll just have a walk and take some village shots

Nice snakes, too. When I sent to the US for my trusty Rocky blizzard stalkers my OH sent for some snake boots as he liked the look of them. He can only wear them when it's warmer and we don't really get snakes here, anyway.

Nice to see the thrush there, too. I haven't seen one in the garden for ages but we have neighbours who use slug pellets Grrr. And one has just moved in with 3 cats Grrrr some more. Should I get a snake..........

Pat

[Greg Beetham]

A mate of mine has solved how to catch untrapable cats, (he doesn’t want his small dragon lizards, skinks and birds converted into cat poo either) he designed and built a trap that even the most sneaky cat can not resist. All you have to do is put a glass partition in the trap, behind which you place a white mouse from the pet shop, the mouse is quite safe (if you build it properly) he re-used the ‘bait’ many times, no cat can resist going in over the pressure plate in the floor once it gets a clear view of the mouse at the end of the trap. It would probably be advisable to keep the glass nice and clean.
R.I.P. puddy tat/s.
Greg
Ps Pat I’m fairly sure even slug guns are classed as a firearm here at least and you must have a licence, be of the correct age, and/or have supervision and be a member of the national gun organization, and/or have a stat dec from a property owner that says you can shoot on his property, and there are minimum sizes that the ‘property’ must be in excess of as well.
It might pay to check if people can shoot slug guns there without any control…or not, or what the requirements are exactly, I am not liking the thought of kids with slug guns looking for targets.

[Wildieswife]

A mate of mine has solved how to catch untrapable cats, (he doesn’t want his small dragon lizards, skinks and birds converted into cat poo either) he designed and built a trap that even the most sneaky cat can not resist. All you have to do is put a glass partition in the trap, behind which you place a white mouse from the pet shop, the mouse is quite safe (if you build it properly) he re-used the ‘bait’ many times, no cat can resist going in over the pressure plate in the floor once it gets a clear view of the mouse at the end of the trap. It would probably be advisable to keep the glass nice and clean.
R.I.P. puddy tat/s.
Greg
Ps Pat I’m fairly sure even slug guns are classed as a firearm here at least and you must have a licence, be of the correct age, and/or have supervision and be a member of the national gun organization, and/or have a stat dec from a property owner that says you can shoot on his property, and there are minimum sizes that the ‘property’ must be in excess of as well.
It might pay to check if people can shoot slug guns there without any control…or not, or what the requirements are exactly, I am not liking the thought of kids with slug guns looking for targets.

The slug pellets I referred to are the pellets, containing Metaldehyde, that people scatter about the garden to kill slugs and snails. They unfortunately harm wildlife and pets, too.
I'd never consider harming or trapping a cat - my comments were in jest. However, I do sometimes chase them out when they breach our defenses! Over here I'd be prosecuted for animal cruelty if I did anything worse and I don't think I could actually harm a cat. I had 2 cats who lasted me over 35 years but since the last one died I'm more interested in my wildlife!

Pat

Pat