West Ham Online

"I thought you might like this video.



It's a compilation of different birds singing. Beautiful photography. If you expand the 'title' under the video it gives a list of species and the times they pop up in the video. Most of the species are familiar to us in the UK, but there are some 'exotics' (the cranes - wow, what a noise!) It was filmed in Belarus. The guy has a channel you can subscribe to. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and maybe it'll take your mind off you-know-what for a few blessed minutes."

"There is a small river near where I live which, being in London, is dotted with tyres and supermarket trolleys, do I just assumed the water would be manky. Especially as the river runs past various industrial estates. Going past the river on the bus today, in a horrible area - a large traffic junction with flyovers, etc, and I spotted a 'little egret' wading in the water. Chuffed with that."

Just back from an Easter break in the states and spent some time in the florida keys. Never got tired of watching the pelican squadrons fly over

Pleased to see our Goldcrests are back-fighting over turf with our resident wren over who gets the insects under the conservatory window sill and gutter - we also have a pair of Mistle thrushes nesting in the creeper on our oak tree

"""Woodpigeon couple back and as useless as ever. Definitely a species that has degenerated with the Anthropocene"" Before the Anthropocene, they never had a salad that suited them so well. (Interesting that you hardly see them on the menu in towns...)"

"Far fewer numbers for me this year, but still bewitching."

Woodpigeon couple back and as useless as ever. Definitely a species that has degenerated with the Anthropocene

"It's all kicking off in Spring fever at our gaffe Ordered and deployed new feeders, the existing battered by squirrels, mags and bloody great black Dornier corvid types that swoop in and scorch earth Absolute flights by the squadron of tits, sparrows and starlings along with woodies, blackbirds, peckers etc In the field behind we have deer, rabbits, foxes, rats, voles and hunting stoats/weasels Wonderful time of the year and so lucky to have access to their lives and habitat - enjoy them all"

"Saw a couple of doves on the overhead cables, looked like they were celebrating the Hammers result. Happy days."

"Just read some extracts from the new book by Frieda Hughes, ‘George, a magpie memoir’.it’s REALLY good if the extracts are anything to go by. Have ordered a copy."

Saw my first Swallow of the year yesterday.

"Give him credit, he stayed up half the night putting that post together."

Pity = attention Just saying

I genuinely pity him.

If you can’t appreciate nature then…

If you can’t appreciate nature then…

Just the other day I saw a nice pair of tits. Get a life.

The brachet’s been moulting by the bail so we’ve been putting it out on the bird table. Always disappears by the next day - may find the time to see which of the local pairs have got the comfy nests.

I have a pair of long tailed tits nesting in the hedge. Haven't seen them here before and I have been here for 12 years. I do have collared doves and they are pretty. Really grating voices though. Also have planty of wood pigeons - they are completely daft and clumsy as anything.

https://youtu.be/ObJdguz_QIg Speaking of all things 'nature' here is another of my favourite YouTube channels. *laughs evilly*

Turtle doves do migrate to/from Africa. En route they stop 8n places like Cyprus and Malta where they are massacred by hunters.

Got a locally nesting pair of collared doves - much more common here than the larger woodpigeons. Think it’s the turtle doves that are migratory.

"Doves not migratory afaik crass. Such a shame, delightful birds"

"8m in Australia these days and we have a local magpie which is unrelated to the European one. It's crow sized and feisty, but not a crow. I recently saw one fly across the road in front of me and collide loudly with a truck. It landed on it's back on the driveway of a petrol station and was kicking it's legs, but I assumed it would die. I ran across the road and picked it up and put it under the trees near where it fell. A few hours later, I went back past there and it was standing up where I left it. So for a few days I took food and water until I didn't see it. Now, whenever I sit at the bus stop opposite the petrol station, magpies come to me and sing. They probably just want food, but it feels like the magpie people are paying tribute to me. Their song is a distinctive piping warbling. I describe it as someone speaking Cantonese through a harmonica. I recorded one, but don't know where to upload it. I don't know what ultimately happened to the one I picked up as they look the same. But I do often see them dead by the road."

Good call on the doves Bru I’m devoid of them so far too They were busy last year but not around Excuse my ignorance but are they migratory? If not internationally but within localised areas?

"zebthecat 11:40 Sat Mar 11 They are very loud aren't they, song it beautiful and their alarm call is a racket. I was once divebombed by wrens that were nesting in a shed and every time I went in there she would go for me. Bruno, I still see plenty of collared doves around, think their numbers are doing ok."