Chatting to the local farmer (land owner rather than the tenant actually looking after the sheep) and he was claiming that locally nesting Buzzards are killing lambs. I'm suspicious about this, and even web 'rural life' forums you'd kinda think would be anti-raptor seem to be largely unconvinced that this happens. Ravens may seem more likely to blame, but of course a Buzzard's gonna peck at an already dead one. 🤷 #ukBirds#farming
"Britain’s loudest #bird has had a very successful breeding year, with 24% more male #bitterns recorded doing their mating “booming” noise in 2023 compared with five years ago.
To counteract the grey drizzle of today. Here's a couple of pics from a sunny morning earlier in the week. I've been hearing siskins about quite a bit recently but mostly up high and too far off for a photo. But had a small group (~6) feeding on alder-cones (?? is that right) near the river that allowed me to watch from closer. Seem to spend as much time upsidedown as the right way up, and constantly chittering away within the group. #UKbirds#UKwildlife#birding
A bit of frost out early this morning, and extensive flooding, but glorious sunshine too. Seemed to be a day for lots of little birds with wren, goldcrest, treecreeper and long-tailed tits giving good views.
I'm seeing kestrel quite frequently in recent weeks. Yesterday I caught a behaviour I'd not witnessed before - a kestrel expelling a pellet to get rid of indigestible bones. fur etc. Presumably a sign that it had eaten well earlier. #UKbirds#UKwildlife#birding
#birding highlight of this week in the New Forest was finding a group of Dartford Warbler - a first for me. The gorse covered heathland of the New Forest is a UK stronghold for them.
Was expecting stonechat but heard a different call that led me to these #UKbirds#UKwildlife