Teal Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 The last couple of years really have noticed the increase in the song and the general numbers of birds has gone through the roof, not sure if that is down to farming method, good summers or the heavy carrion crow/magpie control, something else or maybe a combination. Be interested if others are seeing an uptick. The number of finches in general, green and gold especially are through the roof. Anyway, not knowingly seen one of these before, and trying to make an effort to identify more of the birds on the farm. This chap was eating grass seeds, and I think it might be a linnet? The red on the top of the head and breast was brighter than comes across in the photo, but know someone on here will have the answer! Edit: updated photographs as originals were poor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 Linnet, perhaps. Not the best photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 It do look like a Linnet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted June 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 (edited) Sorry don't know why the photos are so poor will reupload! Edited June 28, 2019 by Teal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yates Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 That’s a young linnet, not fully fledged as yet. The pinkish markings on its head and breast give it away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 Just now, Teal said: Sorry don't know why the photos are so poor will try a different one.. Yep, cock Linnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 (edited) Certainly looks like a linnet to me, would expect more red on the chest for a male, perhaps a juvenile. Edited June 28, 2019 by TIGHTCHOKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 I'd go with linnet but many years since I last heard or saw one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 4 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Certainly looks like a linnet to me, would expect more red on the chest for a male, perhaps a juvenile. That's my thought, a young bird of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 I have not seen one for many many years either. Back in the late 40s and into the 50s there where hundreds and they nested in the thick mass of gorse on some waste ground on the Tamworth road coming up the Hermitage Hill. The "Tamuth Timber Fettler" will know where I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted June 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 Thanks all - knew you guys would have answer. Thanks for persevering whilst I switched over the original photos. Sounds a good find. Hopefully a few more about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 Certainly seeing a lot more small birds in my garden, i always find it strange how there is nothing in the garden then boom, they all turn up, same when i fill up the feeders. The wood we control the greys in was full of young robins yesterday, predator control certainly helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFC Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 There's a funny thing, I was thinking yesterday that it's years since I'd seen a Linnet. They used to be regular visitors to my Grandad's garden when I was a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 Enjoyed reading a short history of the Linnet, its latin name Carduelis cannabina refers to its preference in the old days for hemp seed, and its name linnet refers to linen which was made from hemp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted June 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2019 Will have to do some more research on them myself, really going to try and make more of an effort with learning to ID and carrying binoculars. Fairly confident I saw a yellowhammer with two recent fledglings yesterday, but never seen one before and I didn't have the binoculars on them for long. A very vibrant yellow. Anyway I'd like some more help please with a different ID! This evening about 10pm there was a loud whistling of three notes that would repeat and then pause and then start up again. To be honest not at all confident on what is making it. It was being carried on the wind and seemed close. Nothing to see on the video just the audio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 We have had more species of Finch and small birds but not as many of say blue and great tits. Where we would see eight to ten of each around the feeders it's down to around four or five. Had gold or fire Crest this year so pleased with that and a breeding pair of bullfinch and wrens. Not seen many linnets round my way in last couple of years. My neighbours feed a lot and some of us control the corvids and squizzers, all helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 11 hours ago, Teal said: Will have to do some more research on them myself, really going to try and make more of an effort with learning to ID and carrying binoculars. Fairly confident I saw a yellowhammer with two recent fledglings yesterday, but never seen one before and I didn't have the binoculars on them for long. A very vibrant yellow. Anyway I'd like some more help please with a different ID! This evening about 10pm there was a loud whistling of three notes that would repeat and then pause and then start up again. To be honest not at all confident on what is making it. It was being carried on the wind and seemed close. Nothing to see on the video just the audio. I haven't listened yet, I'm in work, but my guess is a song thrush, some place high up, hidden? The three notes make me think there saying " what you doing" repeated. I was out last night about half ten not quite dark and could hear what I thought was an owl calling to a youngster? I must have been a few metres away but couldn't spot them in the shadow and gloom, I'll try again tonight, as for the little bats I could see?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down South Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 Could be a Redpole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted June 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 9 hours ago, Mice! said: I haven't listened yet, I'm in work, but my guess is a song thrush, some place high up, hidden? The three notes make me think there saying " what you doing" repeated. I was out last night about half ten not quite dark and could hear what I thought was an owl calling to a youngster? I must have been a few metres away but couldn't spot them in the shadow and gloom, I'll try again tonight, as for the little bats I could see?? I think you could be right! I listened to a few calls on YouTube and whilst not the exact same they were fairly similar and definitely loud enough! Would be interested if you managed a listen in due course. Owls quite easy to ID from their calls, or was it something non standard as communicating to youngster? Interesting figgy about what you are seeing, definitely more finches here too. Bullfinches are lovely have seen plenty here but not recently, see them more frequently in the winter perhaps just with so much cover need to spend more time with the binos. Magpies have just fledged here too, moved the Larsen and picked up one group on the far boundary. These chaps just flew the nest yesterday for the first time, 4 of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 We might well be seeing more song birds and birds in general in fact our most common bird in my back garden is the Wood Pigeon along with several other birds , mainly Black birds and a few Tits and Finches . What do seem in very short supply this year are the Swifts and Swallows , yes there are a few about but not the numbers we have seen in previous years . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 With three crisp calls is it possibly the common blacky that you heard, although the cadence of the call doesn't sound quite right for a blacky. There is a good app called Merlin Bird ID that is a worthwhile resource. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 30, 2019 Report Share Posted June 30, 2019 just had a listen, it seems a little sharper than the thrush I hear, with a shorter note, possibly? But i can only just make it out. I've just been out on My bike around the lanes, coming back through a piece of woodland i stopped dead, some sort of hooping call or soft alarm type noise, couldn't spot the bird never heard anything like it, and only two bunnies. "Owls quite easy to ID from their calls, or was it something non standard as communicating to youngster?" I think it may have been a parent and youngster, most likely a Tawny owl, but they were hiding from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 On 30/06/2019 at 20:59, Teal said: Owls quite easy to ID from their calls, or was it something non Spotted one last night, Tawny owl, sat perfectly still brilliant camouflage, calling too each other but not the normal, too it to woo they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted July 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 Nice spot Mice, yeah they are usually pretty classic! We have a youngster here and it is seriously noisy! Very exciting news today.... I believe I saw the audio culprit and have a confirmation on ID! Thanks for all suggestions. I've now compared the calls of them to my audio clip above and it's a match. Can hardly believe it, but it's a quail! And I certainly saw one today. Feeling pretty stoked about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Teal said: Nice spot Mice, yeah they are usually pretty classic! We have a youngster here and it is seriously noisy! Very exciting news today.... I believe I saw the audio culprit and have a confirmation on ID! Thanks for all suggestions. I've now compared the calls of them to my audio clip above and it's a match. Can hardly believe it, but it's a quail! And I certainly saw one today. Feeling pretty stoked about it! You should feel stoked. I have been looking and listening for quail for a great many years and I have yet to see or hear one. I thought I had cracked it three years ago but the bird turned out to be something else. I presume that the land where you are is chalk? Edited July 4, 2019 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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