Saw a Merlin today, our smallest bird of prey. First one I've seen live for 3 years!! Chuffed. That is all.
I didn't realise that the Merlin was our smallest bird of prey. I always thought it was a Kestrel for some reason. Every day's a school day. Winner 2011 Behaviour: Birds Steve Mills, UK The assassin A severe freeze in December 2010 caused major problems for British birds, especially those needing to feed in mud. Even secretive birds were forced into the open. Knowing any snow-free area was a precious resource, Steve located a tiny patch of exposed grass near where he lives in Whitby, North Yorkshire, and waited. Eventually a snipe emerged and began feeding frantically. 'I was only a few metres away,' says Steve. 'In normal conditions, a snipe would be more cautious.' Within a few moments, though, it had paid the ultimate price. A merlin swooped in fast and low and grabbed it in a flurry of snow. The struggle was short. The merlin pinioned the snipe, stared briefly at Steve and then killed its prey with a series of rapid blows to the head. 'The attack was so unexpected, so dramatic and so close,' says Steve, 'that I was overjoyed to find I had captured the moment, but I also felt great sympathy for the loser.' please log in to view this image
That is a brilliant photo. I've seen a Sparrowhawk on the kill before, just so amazingly quick and ruthless. Birds of Prey really are a sight to behold...
I am in disgrace. Last night in a quiz....we were asked which medium sized bird of prey (milvus milvus) was named UK bird of the 20th century by RSPB. Got thrown by the name and size and said osprey. It was RED KITE.....we have red kites over our house all day long in rural Bucks Really ashamed
Last time I drove towards Oxford on the M40, I was amazed by the number of Red Kites flying by the side of the road. I have no idea why they have appeared in such numbers. But it was very enjoyable watching them.
They were reintroduced into the wild on the Rothschild estate on the Chilterns in 1970 or 80s (?).... And spread from there. It is helped by people putting raw meat down for them. If you go to Stokenchurch common, just off junction 6 M40...you can often count up to 20 or 30 birds just circling. We keep rabbits...and our 5 or 6 birds come daily to check the rabbits health...they only eat dead/ carrion....so a live rabbit is too big and fiesty Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the update. Whilst we are on the ornithological theme, anything not to discuss the team or the match on Saturday, I was also surprised that you can now hardly see a sparrow in London. In the past when QPR has good results at the top level there were in abundance, now there are really scarce. Is this lined to our performance or is there another reason? I hope that nobody has stated eating them!
Beth, I recommend you start a petition to stop your neighbours from breeding golden eagles or your bunnies, cats and dogs may be in real trouble!
What’s the state of play on eating small wild birds in Poland? Certainly in Italy, and I think France and Spain, it’s common practice, they are ‘hunted’ ruthlessly. Quite tasty with a dollop of cheesy polenta on a cold day. Their bones are so light and fine you just crunch the whole thing. Not very filling, which is why you need the stodge.
Luckily "bird" eating is limited to chicken, duck, turkey and goose. But game is popular and available. However, the general public "hunting" passion is limited to "mushrooms", and is this is close to a national sport.
Apparently the U.K. is heaven for European mushroom hunters, as so few of us go foraging, there is an abundance of goodies out there.
There is also a massive migraton of storks between north Africa to central Europe, with several hundred thousands stopping in Poland. They really are a common site and they are a beutiful large and very graceful bird. Regratably, quite a few get shot during their migration "for fun". http://www.bejrut.msz.gov.pl/en/new...the_hearts_of_lebanese_people_?printMode=true
