The portrayal of Swindon (is this what they think of us?)

[Dostoyevsky]

On a recent jaunt to the Brecon Beacons I saw a Dipper bird on the boulder of some remote wooded babbling brook. Please tell me this was a rare sighting. I only identified it because I'd seen its unique motion on an episode of Coast a few months before.

[Reg Smeeton]

On a recent jaunt to the Brecon Beacons I saw a Dipper bird on the boulder of some remote wooded babbling brook. Please tell me this was a rare site. I only identified it because I'd seen it's unique motion on an episode of Coast a few months before.

Well you don't get dippers everywhere....favouring hilly, rapid moving streams, and you can't mistake for anything else.

So not a proper rarity, like the bittern I saw a 2 or 3 years ago, but not common as muck either.

[Flashheart]

Can't help but agree with the author.

But as has already been pointed out, it's not a big deal.

Since you are on the topic of nature and walks and what not.... one thing that I do miss about Swindon (and the UK in general) is the temperate climate. I love the sun and beaches and stuff, but one can't quite go out for a good hike as one used to.

[sonicyouth]

Well you don't get dippers everywhere....favouring hilly, rapid moving streams, and you can't mistake for anything else.

So not a proper rarity, like the bittern I saw a 2 or 3 years ago, but not common as muck either.

Dipper is the national bird of Norway.

I've never seen one.

Regarding Swindon, I've never understood the bad press - it's got more character than Welwyn Garden City or the myriad other identikit market towns

[Reg Smeeton]

Dipper is the national bird of Norway.

I've never seen one.

Regarding Swindon, I've never understood the bad press - it's got more character than Welwyn Garden City or the myriad other identikit market towns

There must be plenty of dippers in Norway then....I've seen a few down the years, always like Dosser, in the Beacons,  mid Wales, or perhaps the Lake District.

Late summer early autumn, always seems to be a bit of a quiet time for birds, haven't really seen anything much for maybe 5 or 6 weeks.

[TheDukeOfBanbury]

He probably meant goldfinch.

This is more likely as you said.

Unbelievable this week had a Willow Warbler visit the garden on 2 consecutive mornings.
Not seen it since as likely to be migrating however last year even had a Blackcap visit during November.
House Martins are still in the nest and expect them to depart during the week.

One downside a Sparrowhawk is back taking a Starling and Goldfinch this week.

Glad to see the Greenfinches back. Two years ago numbers took a hammering due to a virus (some say poisoning due to contaminated food in this Country).


My Mate saw a Hobby as well the other day.

[TheDukeOfBanbury]

Well you don't get dippers everywhere....favouring hilly, rapid moving streams, and you can't mistake for anything else.

So not a proper rarity, like the bittern I saw a 2 or 3 years ago, but not common as muck either.

Lots of a dippers on the River Teme.

[BruceChatwin]

What a pleasantly agreeable thread.

[horlock07]

The point at which he refers to Billie as a pneumatic blonde just illustrates that he has no idea what he is taking about!

[Reg Smeeton]

Lots of a dippers on the River Teme.

Lovely part of the world, presumably barbels as well

As A.E. Houseman wrote

Clunton and Clunbury,
Clungunford and Clun,
Are the quietest places
Under the sun.
In valleys of springs and rivers,
By Ony and Teme and Clun,
The country for easy livers,
The quietest under the sun.

[TheDukeOfBanbury]

Lovely part of the world, presumably barbels as well

As A.E. Houseman wrote

Clunton and Clunbury,
Clungunford and Clun,
Are the quietest places
Under the sun.
In valleys of springs and rivers,
By Ony and Teme and Clun,
The country for easy livers,
The quietest under the sun.

Can't buy a Barbel.
Bloody Otters have decimated the low and clear rivers.
Once again the do-gooders have messed up.
Did you know a main reason for the introduction of Otters was to cull the mink.(natural predator)
Caught a Mink only last week on the Cherwell. Vicious little things.

[kerry red]

What a pleasantly agreeable thread.

Monkey spunk

[Reg Smeeton]

Can't buy a Barbel.
Bloody Otters have decimated the low and clear rivers.
Once again the do-gooders have messed up.
Did you know a main reason for the introduction of Otters was to cull the mink.(natural predator)
Caught a Mink only last week on the Cherwell. Vicious little things.

I once saw what might have been an otter, in the Black Mountains, a few years ago now....or it might have been a mink, didn't hang around very long, and I'm not sure I could tell the difference anyway.

[TheDukeOfBanbury]

I once saw what might have been an otter, in the Black Mountains, a few years ago now....or it might have been a mink, didn't hang around very long, and I'm not sure I could tell the difference anyway.

Otters much bigger over twice in size.
Mostly seen a night whereas Mink will be around during day but will sleep when fed.

[TheDukeOfBanbury]

....oh and look for the noticeable white throat of a mink.