Where's the birdwatchers?

[cee-dee]

The feathered variety I mean!

I'm trying to identify some birds which have recently descended on the lake where I walk round every day.

They are around Mallard size, one, (obviously?) the male is bigger. It has a Black head and it seems mostly White underparts. The smaller ones (females?) have Brown heads and a lot less White.

When on the water they don't hold their heads up like Mallard but seem to hold their heads tucked down close to their body and they seem to keep a low profile on the water. They dive for food and are obviously finding plenty. It looks like they are catching fish, the lake was recently re-stocked with small fish but the birds keep well away from people and paddle to the opposite side of the lake if anyone walks round. I can't be sure that it's fish they've caught as they're usually too far away to be sure.

They don't associate with other birds, they don't care for the gulls and I've seen gulls diving at them if they've found food which makes them dive underwater to get away from the gull.

They keep so far away I can't see what the beak is like or see any other distinguishing marks. They all stick together and the numbers vary. There were nine the other day, seven yesterday but only three today. If there's any ice around, they don't come.

They look a bit like Scaups. I'll try to take some pics but the weekend usually has lots of disturbance round the lake so I might not get a pic until Monday.

[jd.linklater]

One of the eggs on the NTU nest has disappeared and the other two still haven't hatched, they have been laid over 2 months now so I guess this year has been unsuccessful. Don't know if they will perhaps mate and lay another clutch?

[fallen-archie]

When you say disappeared do you mean predated or has one been stolen?

[astrologica]

Archie...'my' Martins have still not arrived.☹️ I have almost given up.

[fallen-archie]

It looks like it will be a disastrous season for the house martins, numbers recorded coming through the bird observatories are well down on last year, the birds are in serious decline and at the moment we are not certain why. I am going to put up some nesting pouches for them next year and hope that we can help them out.

[jd.linklater]

I don't know Archie, I look at the nest every couple of days and Thursday last  there were still 3, this morning only 2. Maybe one got broken and the parents ate it. Incubation time is 29-33 days and they are way past that.

[jd.linklater]

First Osprey at Loch of the Lowes hatched this morning.

[fallen-archie]

Yes indeed, great news, let’s hope the other two soon follow suit👍

[jd.linklater]

Second Osprey hatched lunchtime today, third expected over the weekend.

[astrologica]

Archie...they are back!! I just saw them out there..wheeling about in the sky, and going to their usual nesting place. I had all but given up on them, and here they are..a month late! I'm so happy to see them!😀😀

[fallen-archie]

That’s great news Astro, I spotted one today also flying around my house, they are however very late and may struggle to bring up two broods!!

[astrologica]

That's good news Archie, that you've seen them too! That's great hope for their future. I wonder why they are so late? Anyway..their arrival has made me extraordinarily happy today! (Doesn't take much!😀)

[fallen-archie]

I have just heard from a friend who lives in the Isle of Mull confirming that the martins have just arrived there too! Chris Packham has suggested that storms throughout Europe and North Africa are most likely responsible for their late arrival!
I woke up this morning around04.00am to the sound of a blackbird going ballistic, I looked out of the window to see an owl sat above my holly tree talking to its mate across the field!
I thought it would be that or a stoat! Anyway it completely ignored the protestations of the Blackbird and eventually flew of to roost for the day!

[astrologica]

You are very fortunate Archie, to be able to observe an Owl that close. I do hear them occasionally...they hang out at an old quarry near where I live..but they don't venture down near our houses.  I am just happy that we have the Martins back. Like you, I am going to try to put up some artificial nests for them for next year, but I will have to find a victim willing volunteer to go up the ladder to put it up for me. I would feel very honoured if they chose my house to nest in.

[jd.linklater]

Update on Ospreys and Peregrines......

The third egg at the Loch of the Lowes didn't hatch and the mother has stopped incubating it but the two other chicks are doing well.

The NTU Peregrine nest has lost another egg so only one remains, it was laid on 19th March and the mother is still sitting on it The male hasn't been seen in a few weeks, so maybe that's the problem, maybe she hasn't had enough food. 

Such a shame.

There were four Peregrine eggs hatched at St John's church in Bath but one chick died, the other three fledged yesterday but have only been brave enough to reach the roof of the nest box. They are in terrific shape.

The three at Norwich Cathedral are putting on loads of weight and have nearly lost all their downy feathers so they will probably be fledging by the end of the week. 

[fallen-archie]

Thanks for that JD your update clearly demonstrates the precarious position that nature finds itself in full of both triumph and tragedy made worse by our own interventions, We continue to clear rough areas and silage fields before the birds have had a chance to breed? We net hedges in order that they can be removed during the nesting season, birds of prey continue to be persecuted around grouse moors despite it’s illegality, and now there is to be a cull of ravens from a grouse moor in Scotland authorised by the very authority set up to protect wildlife.
If I have learnt one thing in life it is that I get on better with wildlife than I do with humans! Trouble is there is too little of one and far too many of the other!!!

[fallen-archie]

Fantastic news coming out of Bowland this morning, for the first time since 2015 there are two nests each containing 4 Hen Harrier chicks in Bowland, what makes this extra special is that both nests are being serviced by a single male bird who is performing really well at keeping all 8 chicks fed! Ihopethey successfully fledge and that they are allowed to remain here for future lovers of these birds to admire!

[bankhaunter]

Three 'Bobs' on the Dovey.

Unfortunately on the upper Severn the sand martins seem to be fewer in number each year, I suspect summer floods haven't helped.

[cee-dee]

I noticed two Wood Pigeons landing on the garden fence so watched them. Both had their beaks open and it semed like their throats were "throbbing", it looked like they were panting in the heat. I've never seen birds doing that before so has anyone else seen it?

[fallen-archie]

Yes indeed they do pant just like dogs, you should see things like pelicans or toucans doing it 😀
Do you have a bird bath in your garden because they really appreciate it this time of year!

[cee-dee]

I've never had a Pelican or a Toucan sitting on my fence, I've only seen them it wildlife programmes

I don't have a birdbath but I used to have water around but I found insects liked it too.