Starlings

[Reg Smeeton]

This has reminded me of a home game I was at probably 10 years ago, maybe longer ago.  A little boring, to tell the truth.  I remember spending much of the game watching a flock of starlings perform over the town centre/North Star from the back of (what is now) the DRS.  That was £15 well spent.

Back in the early 00's I used to be billetted in the Arkells, and a display of starling aviation over Buckhurst Field, was often a welcoming distraction form some of the shit on the pitch....although not a twitcher as such, I do like a bit of bird watching. The best ground I've ever been to for this is Adams Park.....would be good to see a red kite there, as I've seen a few around the Chilterns, and even some stretching down the M4 to Reading.

For a reasonably local display of bird numbers, Slimbridge is worth a visit in winter....good place to take little uns as well.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Back in the early 00's I used to be billetted in the Arkells, and a display of starling aviation over Buckhurst Field, was often a welcoming distraction form some of the shit on the pitch....although not a twitcher as such, I do like a bit of bird watching. The best ground I've ever been to for this is Adams Park.....would be good to see a red kite there, as I've seen a few around the Chilterns, and even some stretching down the M4 to Reading.

For a reasonably local display of bird numbers, Slimbridge is worth a visit in winter....good place to take little uns as well.

They're as common as Sparrows in the Chilterns but the Red Kites are well into Wiltshire as well Reg. I've seen them around Aldbourne and Marlborough.

[Reg Smeeton]

They're as common as Sparrows in the Chilterns but the Red Kites are well into Wiltshire as well Reg. I've seen them around Aldbourne and Marlborough.

Interesting....I thought this might happen, but yet to see any myself.  Do they compete with buzzards, because they're everywhere, you even get them in the Great Copse (Croft Woods)?

[leefer]

Around the Wycombe area there are dozens of Red Kites...in fact they have become fairly dangerous on account of them feeding on the meat of dead animals on the Motorway(M40)...they swoop down at a pace but seem to struggle to get airbourne quickly,i have had two near misses with the lorry with regard hitting them.

Lovely looking birds though.

[horlock07]

Always think its an amazing sight, mesmorising when you do see it!

Always liked the Carling advert (although the beers dreadful), always liked the thought that Starlings liked a drink or two!

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Interesting....I thought this might happen, but yet to see any myself.  Do they compete with buzzards, because they're everywhere, you even get them in the Great Copse (Croft Woods)?

No I don't think they do. I'm no Bill Oddie but I think that whereas Red Kites feed on carrion. i.e they like their meat dead before they eat it (as per Leefer's post) Buzzards feed on live prey.

This was part of the problem for the Red Kite in the first place when, because of their scavenging behaviour they were regarded as vermin (this is back in Victorian times) and they were all but wiped out. The reintroduction programme that's been going on for over 20 years now has been a massive success.  I've seen 2-300 being fed down at Gingrin Farm in the Brecon Beacons.

[sonicyouth]

Buzzards feed on carrion as well.

[Arriba]

Starlings are ace. The best place i've seen their flight displays is around the ferndale rd area, by the crossroads with St marys grove.
Get buzzards in the area behind the holiday inn by coate-liden. Also see the odd muntjac deer there on occasions.
Only time i've seen a red kite was when one was sat on a fence post a mile or two the other side of the old severn bridge.

[DRS]

They are out again over greenbridge

[yeo]

Theres a regular Buzzard at Mannington Park, least I think thats what it is,always get mobbed by the Crows and little Birds of Prey maybe Kestrel/Sparrow Hawks? can been seen hunting and hovering at the grassy bits of Shaw Forest.

[Arriba]

Theres a regular Buzzard at Mannington Park, least I think thats what it is,always get mobbed by the Crows and little Birds of Prey maybe Kestrel/Sparrow Hawks? can been seen hunting and hovering at the grassy bits of Shaw Forest.

I regularly see crows(usually in pairs) attacking buzzards in flight. Never seen other birds of prey doing this though.
Buzzards seem to be thriving as i see them in various places daily on my travels. Magnificent looking birds in the air and when sat still.

[Gnasher]

Around the Wycombe area there are dozens of Red Kites...in fact they have become fairly dangerous on account of them feeding on the meat of dead animals on the Motorway(M40)...they swoop down at a pace but seem to struggle to get airbourne quickly,i have had two near misses with the lorry with regard hitting them.

Lovely looking birds though.

I've seen two Red Kites over Highworth so they're in the Swindon area.

[Batch]

I regularly see crows(usually in pairs) attacking buzzards in flight. Never seen other birds of prey doing this though.

I saw a common pigeon smack a peregrine falcon on the back of the head once. The peregrine was part of a display at The Hawk Conservancy and was sitting on a fence post at the time (great display ).

Peregrines are bloody quick when swooping down, but not so in level flight or from a standing start. Funnily enough there aren't any pigeons around when its up in the air.

They (the Hawk Conservancy) also re-introduced wild red kites back into the valley where it is situated (near Andover). They frequently come in to feed with the display kites, along with wild buzzards.

[Family at War]

Workmate of mine who is retired now reckoned that when he made love to a certain lady and got to the important part it was like having a flock of Starlings go up his ass - quite how he knew I don't know?

[Reg Smeeton]

 Saw a red kite yesterday, between J15 and 16 of the motorway....proper big bugger, well excited