What did you see in your binoculars today? (2 Viewers)

[Patudo]

Not that it really matters, as both are wonderful flyers, but check out that long tail and the V pattern on its chest - it's a juvenile barn swallow. Good luck to the little fella, they've got the odds stacked against them - hobbies, then having to fly across the Med and then the Sahara and back again ...

Good on yer for letting them nest on your property.

 

[PatR]

Not that it really matters, as both are wonderful flyers, but check out that long tail and the V pattern on its chest - it's a juvenile barn swallow. Good luck to the little fella, they've got the odds stacked against them - hobbies, then having to fly across the Med and then the Sahara and back again ...

Good on yer for letting them nest on your property.

You are right!

I am off to SpecSavers tomorrow!

We have about 20 in the eaves with some very hungry little ones and it is a joy to watch (and listen) to them.

 

[rran6136]

A sea eagle came inland and was gliding around and then stopped to hover in place, presumably to scan the ground for yum yums. Tracked and savoured using 8x32 NLs. Then I felt like I was being watched from behind, I turned around and an alpaca from a nearby farm was surveilling me curiously. He was also savoured using the bins.

 

[ReinierB]

Curlew sandpiper. In Dutch we call it a "bewijsplaatje". Not that it is a great picture, but to prove that I have seen one.
Taken through my ATC.

 

[Maljunulo]

A male Goldfinch, gathering what I think may be the first thistle seeds of the season.

The thistle is 94 yards away, per my brand-new rangefinder, but I think I see a gone-to-seed flower where he perched.

MORE: I happened to be looking at the thistle, and a male Goldfinch alighted on it. I could see him pulling seeds out of a gone-by flower. Another one came along and displaced him. After they both left the seedy flower was bigger and fluffier, after they both pulled at it.

There is another one there now, and clumps of seeds (or so-called “thistle down”) are drifting away as he is pulling them out of the flower.

Now that they have been picking at it, there are three obvious seed heads.

Habicht 8X30 W

 

[Tringa45]

Last night in a clearing at the edge of a heath, several nightjars. Up to three were visible at one time and they circled us and flew only 2-3 m over our heads with an unique flight pattern and call.
Nevertheless, I didn't have the impression that they were reacting to our presence in any way, we were just in the right place at the right time.
They appeared about 30 mins. after sunset and their proximity and apparent speed made the use of my 8x56 SLC largely superfluous, although I did use it to observe one which repeatedly landed in the same branch of a dead tree.

John

 

[Maljunulo]

Fifty years ago, I used to see (and hear) Nighthawks (Cordeiles minor) which I think is a relative, almost every evening.

If I have ever seen a Nightjar, I didn’t know what it was.

It has been many years since I saw a Nighthawk.

 

[jafritten]

This is one of four long-eared owls that roost in a tree in a nearby village. My little son spotted them the other day when he was on a treasure hunt with friends. Not what they were looking for but an exciting find. I looked at the owls in the evening light through my Leica Ultravid 8x32.

 

[Maljunulo]

A very dramatic photo.

Well seen.

 

[jafritten]

A very dramatic photo.

Well seen.

Thank you.

 

[rran6136]

A remorseful looking kookaburra

 

[Maljunulo]

Watching a Red-tailed Hawk, sitting on a light, in the pouring rain. This is the second time I've seen this behavior. (109 yards)

Either they don't mind getting wet, or this one is so hungry that it doesn't care.

It flew away after about an hour and a quarter, and about 35 minutes after it stopped raining.

Habicht 8X30 W

 

[PatR]

This lovely Buzzard was minding its own business when one of those pesky grey squirrels, or tree rats as they are known in these parts, decided that the stare was enough and came to an abrupt halt and decided that perhaps it might be wise not to be a fly-by breakfast.

Watched throught the delightful Kowa YF II 8x30's and photo taken with a Lumix S5 IIX and a Sigma 150-600mm Sports lens.

 

[Maljunulo]

A wise squirrel indeed.

It is our Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and was introduced to Britain in 1876, per Wikipedia.

Enjoy.

 

[PatR]

A wise squirrel indeed.

It is our Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and was introduced to Britain in 1876, per Wikipedia.

Enjoy.

Typical. GI Squirrels.........Over paid, over fed, over sexed and over here!

 

[Maljunulo]

Typical. GI Squirrels.........Over paid, over fed, over sexed and over here!

Does that go back to WW2 or WW1?

 

[PatR]

Does that go back to WW2 or WW1?

WW2 and generally attributed to Tommy Trinder, a British comedian of the era who subsequently went on to work with (arguably)
the funniest US comedian of the era, the late and truly great, M/Sgt Ernest G Bilko, aka Phil Silvers.

 

[Viraj]

I had a quick birding session at River Corrib - Waterside, Galway, Ireland. View attachment IMG_9182.jpegHundreds of Gulls were there enjoying the nice weather. I had my Monarch 7 8x30 and took a few photos through them. I was fortunate to include three new bird species to my life list including Red-Crested Pochard.

 

[Maljunulo]

Three new ones is really exciting.

 

[Viraj]

Three new ones is really exciting.

Because I am quite new to birding 😃 There are many more bird to see 😊😊