Author Topic: Birdwatching  (Read 4114 times)

Offline Diane CBPFC

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Birdwatching
« on: May 06, 2013, 05:49:42 AM »
As many of you know, I took up birdwatching for the first time this winter - frankly it kept me sane during that never-ending winter. Now I love it when a new type comes to my feeder so will feed the summer birds too.

Here is a fun project:


What kind of birds do you think they are? They are new to our feeder in northern Alberta today.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/finchIDtable.html

We are talking about this on my Facebook page and are starting to lean on direction in the identification, but thought some of you guys may know about birds.
People will come from strange lands to hear me speak my words of wisdom. They will ask me the secret of life and I will tell them. Then maybe I'll finish off with a song. The Nomad

Sandy Buttcheeks

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2013, 09:35:40 AM »
They're quite clearly seagulls, Diane.

Offline The Peepmaster

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2013, 11:15:15 AM »
My first thought was that they are Redpolls, but the beak would normally be more yellow. certainly looks of that family.
Nostalgia is not what it used to be. 😟

Egg

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2013, 01:23:07 PM »
Spuggies?  :o

Vulture

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2013, 02:28:03 PM »
Vultures?

Offline Diane CBPFC

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2013, 06:04:12 PM »
I don't think some of you are taking this seriously.  :o

On the link provided, the three choices were Purple, House or Cassin's Finches.

I know what they are now; I will let anyone who wants to take a sensible guess, have another go before I tell you.




People will come from strange lands to hear me speak my words of wisdom. They will ask me the secret of life and I will tell them. Then maybe I'll finish off with a song. The Nomad

Offline Mince

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2013, 06:18:29 PM »
I don't think some of you are taking this seriously.  :o

Ignore them, Diane. They are being stupid as usual.

It looks like a Quetzalcoatlus, to me.

Offline The Peepmaster

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2013, 06:53:09 PM »
Sorry, I hadn't looked at your link, Diane. I was going by my own judgement. I notice that you had the Redpoll suggestions on your FB page too, by the way.

It could well be a Purple finch, reading the description and the plainness of the female tends to back that up. It states that the underpants show heavy, broad streaks, but in your photo, none of the birds are wearing any.
Nostalgia is not what it used to be. 😟

Offline Diane CBPFC

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2013, 08:05:23 PM »
Well that was a fun spring group activitiy wasn't it. For a summer activity I suggest you all get knotted.

The answer is Purple Finch.
People will come from strange lands to hear me speak my words of wisdom. They will ask me the secret of life and I will tell them. Then maybe I'll finish off with a song. The Nomad

Offline Roger Kettle

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2013, 08:24:09 PM »
Diane, your suggestion for a Summer activity made me laugh out loud. It's one of those glorious old expressions that you seldom hear these days but, for some reason, works perfectly with the right delivery.
Anyway, if it IS your birthday, have a great one. I'm off to check the calendar on here to find out.

Offline Roger Kettle

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2013, 08:25:25 PM »
It's on Wednesday. Have a great one, Diane!

Sandy Buttcheeks

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2013, 09:33:34 PM »
I don't think some of you are taking this seriously.  :o

Ignore them, Diane. They are being stupid as usual.

It looks like a Quetzalcoatlus, to me.

Well if it is a Quetzalcoatlus, then it obviously hasn't been very well lately.   ;D

Calvin

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2013, 10:15:43 PM »
Diane, I don't think they have any of those finches as native to the UK so it becomes a little more difficult.
As a youngster I was really into bird and birds' eggs identification mainly through the old "Observers book of..." series. If, as a group of four or more 10 year old boys talking about blue tits, coal tits and especially great tits without sniggering like maniacs then I guess we were serious about it.
As a thanks to Roger, that last line from Sandy about the Quetzacoatlus reminded me of the Beau Peep strip where Denis has been ripped off yet again by the pet store. He has a slug in a shoe box that he's convinced is a black panther. I forget the exact lines some 20 years later but the last one was "He hasn't been well."
I have never cracked up as much over any cartoon strip as much as that one, before or since. I giggled about it for weeks after and I have brought it to mind a million times over the years and it still makes me smile. Everyone has their own favourites but thanks for mine.

Offline Roger Kettle

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2013, 10:29:26 AM »
Thanks, Calvin!

Offline The Peepmaster

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Re: Birdwatching
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2013, 11:26:46 AM »
I saw one of the funniest Beau Peep strips ever, in my humble opinion, this week.

Here it is...

Nostalgia is not what it used to be. 😟