[fishini]

All my nest boxes empty now and the tawny owls have just fledged. For those of you with nest boxes don't forget to remove the old nests and sterilise the boxes. Don't use chemicals, boiling water is just as good. I clean mine out in August I put a little straw in them ready for the birds to roost in when winter arrives. The straw gives them a start when spring arrives

[Mr Mercury]

Not 100% sure what I’ve just seen, but I’m almost certain I’ve just witnessed a Sparrow Hawk trying, and failing, to catch a bat on our back garden in the fading light!

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 11 August 2022 - 08:28 PM

[fishini]

Mr Mercury, on 11 August 2022 - 08:26 PM, said:

Not 100% sure what I’ve just seen, but I’m almost certain I’ve just witnessed a Sparrow Hawk trying, and failing, to catch a bat on our back garden in the fading light!

Sparrowhawk's have been known to hunt bats usually the far smaller more agile male

[Mr Mercury]

fishini, on 11 August 2022 - 09:16 PM, said:

Sparrowhawk's have been known to hunt bats usually the far smaller more agile male

There a cpl of large trees opposite and we regularly have a few feathers around, the Mrs has seen a Sparrow hawk de feathering a dove a few years ago and I saw one swooping after a wood pigeon over yonder, again a few years ago, but this was certainly a first. Definitely a small lightening fast male, but it missed.

[spireitetoo]

My tables seem to have been deserted for the last month or so, even the starling and house sparrows seem to have moved on, I'm only topping up once a week or less atm, food that is, fresh water goes out everyday, even tho that isn't getting visited much..

[Mr Mercury]

spireitetoo, on 14 August 2022 - 05:46 PM, said:

My tables seem to have been deserted for the last month or so, even the starling and house sparrows seem to have moved on, I'm only topping up once a week or less atm, food that is, fresh water goes out everyday, even tho that isn't getting visited much..

Exactly the same here, virtually nothing!

[fishini]

spireitetoo, on 14 August 2022 - 05:46 PM, said:

My tables seem to have been deserted for the last month or so, even the starling and house sparrows seem to have moved on, I'm only topping up once a week or less atm, food that is, fresh water goes out everyday, even tho that isn't getting visited much..

If you live in a rural place then they will have access to their natural food. Birds don't need high energy foods when we have a summer like this one. Hence less use of feeders. I'm only using about 3kg a week at the moment. However come mid to late September usage will increase as they start building up their reserves ready for winter. Then clean your nest boxes and fill with straw ready for winter roosting about the end of September.

[fishini]

7 hen harrier nests in Derbyshire this year. The 2 on the grouse moors both were destroyed the other 5 were on national trust land and all succeeded fledging 7 young. I detest gamekeepers or should I say most of them. I do know 2 good ones however the majority are despicable characters

[Search & Destroy]

fishini, on 26 August 2022 - 01:00 PM, said:

7 hen harrier nests in Derbyshire this year. The 2 on the grouse moors both were destroyed the other 5 were on national trust land and all succeeded fledging 7 young. I detest gamekeepers or should I say most of them. I do know 2 good ones however the majority are despicable characters

Yep, generally pricks who think they are policemen ( bad ones)

[Mr Mercury]

I’ve recently downloaded the Merlin bird ID app that picks up and recognises bird song. Excellent tool, have you got it?

[fishini]

At last it's now official. The RSPB has now confirmed what all Derbyshire birders already knew. Derbyshire is the worst county in the UK for needless killing of birds of prey. The vast majority of gamekeepers are truly obnoxious creatures. Magnificent raptors killed just so the rich toffs can have an enjoyable afternoon shooting birds. I have many photos of dead raptors from my time on the Moors. All reported but as per usual the police were not interested.

[Search & Destroy]

Off to see (hopefully) the Rutland Ospreys tomorrow

[spireitetoo]

Don't forget to put a drink of water out for our feathered friends now it's warming up... 👍

[Mr Mercury]

spireitetoo, on 04 June 2023 - 04:57 PM, said:

Don't forget to put a drink of water out for our feathered friends now it's warming up... 👍

The finches are ransacking our sunflower hearts getting through a£8 bag every 2/3 days at the moment.

[spireitetoo]

Mr Mercury, on 04 June 2023 - 05:43 PM, said:

The finches are ransacking our sunflower hearts getting through a£8 bag every 2/3 days at the moment.

Feeding the young uns now, my tables still get decimated by the rookery down the road... they've even learnt how to empty the feeders, they jump and bang it with their beaks and then pick up what falls out... 🤣

This post has been edited by spireitetoo: 04 June 2023 - 06:54 PM

[Wooden Spoon]

fishini, on 15 November 2022 - 06:39 PM, said:

At last it's now official. The RSPB has now confirmed what all Derbyshire birders already knew. Derbyshire is the worst county in the UK for needless killing of birds of prey. The vast majority of gamekeepers are truly obnoxious creatures. Magnificent raptors killed just so the rich toffs can have an enjoyable afternoon shooting birds. I have many photos of dead raptors from my time on the Moors. All reported but as per usual the police were not interested.

I’m clearly ignorant here

What areas have game keepers, who employs them and what is a game keepers remit?

[dim view]

spireitetoo, on 04 June 2023 - 04:57 PM, said:

Don't forget to put a drink of water out for our feathered friends now it's warming up... 👍

There's a crow at the golf club that jumps on folks' bags at the 12th tee and opens the zips. Magnificent specimen.

[spireitetoo]

dim view, on 05 June 2023 - 08:34 AM, said:

There's a crow at the golf club that jumps on folks' bags at the 12th tee and opens the zips. Magnificent specimen.

They're clever and quick to work things out, once 1 starts they all start and puck up on it, you could end up fighting them off with a golf bat..

[hilly81]

B****Y birds have decimated my Strawbs in the last few days

[fishini]

Wooden Spoon, on 05 June 2023 - 07:39 AM, said:

I’m clearly ignorant here

What areas have game keepers, who employs them and what is a game keepers remit?

Grouse moors and all shooting lands have gamekeepers. Estates like Devonshire estate employ them. Thier true remit is to protect the assets such as grouse at all costs. New tactics are now being employed like mannequins being placed and gas guns used at nesting sites. These gamekeepers are ruthless in thier endeavour to eradicate all birds of prey on the moors. I wonder what would happen if people went onto the moors and destroyed thier grouse nests. IMHO any estate where these offences are carried out should lose thier shooting licence for 10 years. It's a proven fact that hen harriers and the like have little impact on grouse numbers. Newly released figures show that 92 hen harriers have been lost in the last 5 years and with exception of 1 all were lost on grouse moors