The Phantom Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 20 minutes ago, Neil Down said: Poor thing looks quite surprised... I think he was absolutely livid he'd been rescued. Some people (and animals) have no gratitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 33 minutes ago, The Phantom said: Never really been that into birds to be honest. Although this year with working from home in the 'conservatory office', I did decide to get some bird feeders to provide a little distraction. Turns out we had loads of tits, robins etc plus bigger collared doves, starlings, crows, blackbirds. My ID is still pretty poor on the little ones, but there were many. Initially had seeds, but they went everywhere and attracted some longtails. Moved to suet balls instead and the feathered friends are still turning up. Maybe many others have done similar to me and your little birds have just found alternative dining opportunities? Separately I know someone who rescued what I think was a young sparrow hawk from drowning in Peel harbour a couple of days ago. How on earth did it come to be drowning in Peel harbour? Was it being sucked down in quicksand-like silt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 1 minute ago, Non-Believer said: How on earth did it come to be drowning in Peel harbour? Was it being sucked down in quicksand-like silt? Nope, actually floating (kind of) in the harbour. I'm guessing he tried to snatch something out of the water and failed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellanvannin2010 Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 7 hours ago, Non-Believer said: I'm on a new development here and with the exception of a couple of regular blackbirds and a thrush, it's utterly devoid of small birds. Feeders stay untouched unless they're attacked by assorted crows and rooks which seem to be plentiful. No shortage of cats though (don't start me), last RSPB UK figures I saw were @ 7.5M cats, all killing a couple of things a week each, at least - no wonder there's nothing left When you look at the new housing estates they have no cover for birds to hide in, lots of wood panel fences and neatly mown grass. Developers should be forced to plant native hedges between properties and build into the houses nesting/roosting sites for birds/bats/insects, specialised blocks are available for this which could easily be accommodated into the new builds. Domestic cats, the MHK's of the animal world 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manximus Aururaneus Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 On 12/9/2020 at 12:06 PM, quilp said: https://www.nhbs.com/manx-bird-atlas-book On 12/9/2020 at 2:50 PM, doc.fixit said: Manx Bird Atlas. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 On 12/9/2020 at 12:06 PM, quilp said: https://www.nhbs.com/manx-bird-atlas-book On 12/9/2020 at 2:50 PM, doc.fixit said: Manx Bird Atlas. Shame it's out of print! Although I did just check out Amazon - they have a hardcover for £226 😳 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilp Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 (edited) Other options available too. There's one by Chris Sharpe, excellent photographer, used to develop, print and enlarge his images years ago. The Manx Bird Atlas is still around at various prices, you just have to know where to look. http://manxbirdlife.im/publications/ The Island has quite a few outstanding Shag's, I noticed... Edited December 17, 2020 by quilp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 On 12/17/2020 at 6:20 PM, quilp said: The Island has quite a few outstanding Shag's, I noticed... So outstanding, they actually attract people from far afield on jetskis... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxy Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 We do quite well for birds and surrounded by trees with no interference from the long distance away 5G nothing to see here pylons. Pheasants, Doves, pigeons, Robins, Ducks, Hen harrier, woodpecker, variousTits (from the MF family apparently), thrushes, crows, blackbirds, magpies, occasional owl & crane (not for hire) and bats (not cricket or tennis). There's others, but can't remember their names. We've had 3 lots of bees earlier in the year and moved them on to bee keepers around the island. Even with a couple of cats, we have safe areas with bird houses being amongst spiked planting, semi caged areas and plastic garden hanging baskets placed on their side as protection to stop bigger birds or cats from getting to another food area. Like I said, we have limited electric smog around us and whether its that or not, then who knows, but it works for us and the birds/animals. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilp Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Last few days has seen ours and next-doors garden teem with birds- little and large. The Cock robin and a pair of blackbirds exhibiting the usual bullying tactics against the others but all are getting crop-fulls. Probably down to the availability of food in the feeders. A couple of the nest boxes appear to have a species over-wintering in them, which is nice. Unable to discern as yet which species they are because they're being very discreet, most likely tits... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc.fixit Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 Still only the robin, a thrush and a pair of blackbirds, (the female is very tame and just happily scratches away just a few feet from where I am working). The trees by the church were absolutely full of rooks today, weird or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellanvannin2010 Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 (edited) Saw my first Swallow of the year yesterday so summer is coming Edited April 1, 2021 by ellanvannin2010 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc.fixit Posted May 28, 2021 Author Share Posted May 28, 2021 On 12/17/2020 at 4:21 PM, The Phantom said: Shame it's out of print! Although I did just check out Amazon - they have a hardcover for £226 😳 gosh, I'm quids in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc.fixit Posted May 28, 2021 Author Share Posted May 28, 2021 Sorted, well ish! I discovered that a pair of jackdaws and a magpie were chasing all the other birds off and/or eating all the food, soooo, Large bird proofed the feeders and the dove cote with little bamboo cages, looks nice, cheap and effective. Not back to normal but lots of new visitors including a couple of bullfinches and a greenfinch..great! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTeapot Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Good year for swifts down my way so far. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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