Wild Birds of Europe

Miranda1 wrote in post #19429782
Sid, wow what an interesting encounter with the Goshawk! Northern Goshawks are a fearsome raptors, especially the females which are quite large. I have only ever seen a wide Goshawk once here in the city where I live and it was during the winter, I watched a Northern Goshawk swoop in and capture a pigeon by the side of the road, I stayed in my car and watched him for quite a while, he eventually carried the carcass off, it was an experience I will never forget.

I was just hoping to see it, never expected to be handling it! They are an awesome bird to be sure, I've seen an adult female in the locality a few times and caught it just failing to catch a jackdaw in mid air, a couple of crows joined in and chased the goshawk off, all very distant of course! Our hen muncher may be this ones offspring.

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Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19429914
Wow, what a story, Sid. It sounds absolutely brutal! Poor chickens. Good thing that nothing is wasted. But my, it’s harsh out there.

Your pic of the goshawk stuck in the run may be taken with a smartphone but you got it. And it is pretty unique too. That was quick thinking!

Nature is just that, seems brutal or cruel to us but human emotion doesn't come into it out there, whatever the predator or prey. My matter of factness over it does nothing for the chicken keeper who is devastated every time one of her birds has been got. Although she is practical about it and has put the carcasses out for the buzzards herself. Waste not want not!
It was almost dark at the time so I'm surprised what the mobile phone actually managed! Thanks.

cheers!

Another mother and child shot thanks to ducky, poor ducky

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2nPm​z8B

sidknee wrote in post #19430070
Nature is just that, seems brutal or cruel to us but human emotion doesn't come into it out there, whatever the predator or prey. My matte of factness over it does nothing for the chicken keeper who is devastated every time one of her birds has been got. Although she is practical about it and has put the carcasses out for the buzzards herself. Waste not want not!
It was almost dark at the time so I'm surprised what the mobile phone actually managed! Thanks.

cheers!

Another mother and child shot thanks to ducky, poor ducky

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2nPm​z8B DSC00553-22-09-24-14-57-35 by Sid Simmons, on Flickr

LOL, poor ducky. Sorry for laughing.

I hear you, Sid, it’s definitely us with our human emotions and most always taking the side of the underdog. But nature is indifferent, one way or the other. At least when animals kill there’s no malice. But I can understand how ‘the chicken keeper’ () is devastated losing a bird like that.

I enjoyed the pics of the goshawk being chased away. Cool to have captured it. I’m always in awe when much smaller birds go after birds of prey. Even tiny swallows will attack. They seem utterly fearless.

Grote stern(sandwich tern):

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sidknee wrote in post #19429710
Thanks Levina, no it flew on by, the bird had bigger things on it's mind......

Short story, the was a chicken carcass it was interested in.

Long story, Over the last few weeks week have had 2 chickens killed and partially eaten in their run. On the second occasion a large bird of prey was seen flying off. Suspect it could be a goshawk. Chickens are now in an enclosed run. Last night at about 7.30 just at putting away time one of the ducks in a separate open run was killed by a large bird of prey which flew off as the pen was approached. Tonight as I was walking at dusk I could here the chickens clearly in distress and found 2 live chickens and a dead one and a wildly flapping juvenile goshawk all stuck in the enclosed run. A towel was quickly fetched and I fairly easily caught the goshawk with the towel over it. It stayed remarkably calm until I started to uncover it for a pic before release but a quick flap and wriggle and off it went no time for pics!
Obviously a determined bird, it had got in through a gap where two edges of chicken wire meet on the top of the enclosure. A bit more security is required!
rubbish phone pics are all that was managed unfortunately.

Of course the upside to the carnage, the goshawk doesn't eat much, head and organs mainly, is the buzzards get to dine out for a day before the foxes take the rest after dark. Of course there are photo opportunities that arise from that and on the day poor ducky was out there the whole buzzard family came by

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goshawk, juvenile

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2nPt​uPq DSC00593-22-09-24-14-58-9 by Sid Simmons, on Flickr

common buzzards, juvenile shouting at female parent

You don't need TV, you've got al the drama in your backyard! Reminds me of a dutch expression: "de een zijn dood is de ander zijn brood"(the dead of one is the bread of another (very simple translation)).

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19429571
Still, it’s not your every day trip and you came away with decent shots. I would be sooo seasick! Love the diving gannet in particular.

Not really complaining but was hoping for more, like the diving gannet. I seem not to be afflicted with seasickness, while it was not storming the ship did move quite a bit on the waves and several people were seasick.

pcs wrote in post #19430287
Not really complaining but was hoping for more, like the diving gannet. I seem not to be afflicted with seasickness, while it was not storming the ship did move quite a bit on the waves and several people were seasick.

You can’t go anywhere when on a boat, so you need some luck. The diving gannet was really nice.

I get seasick. I was on a boat of one of the radio pirates in the North Sea, back in the 70’s. Veronica or Noordzee, forgot. And I was sick to my stomach, even though we had a calm sea then too. I remember Earth & Fire were on board and all the guys were so nice, trying to help. I was very young then.

I have been really neglecting my photography the last few weeks - just haven't felt any motivation but here are a couple from my morning walks

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19430102
LOL, poor ducky. Sorry for laughing.

I hear you, Sid, it’s definitely us with our human emotions and most always taking the side of the underdog. But nature is indifferent, one way or the other. At least when animals kill there’s no malice. But I can understand how ‘the chicken keeper’ () is devastated losing a bird like that.

I enjoyed the pics of the goshawk being chased away. Cool to have captured it. I’m always in awe when much smaller birds go after birds of prey. Even tiny swallows will attack. They seem utterly fearless.

She was the oldest duck in with 4 males who don't know what to do with themselves now ducky has gone to the great pond in the sky, she was their leader and they struggle to even come out the hutch first thing in the morning without her rushing out first to get the food bowl quickest!

I've seen swallows mobbing a sparrowhawk twice this summer and I've got pictures somewhere of swallows mobbing a buzzard from a couple of years ago. It always amazes me that bigger birds almost always just give up and move on.
Talking about dining on duck....... adult female doing just that

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PSteven wrote in post #19430366
I have been really neglecting my photography the last few weeks - just haven't felt any motivation but here are a couple from my morning walks

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Maybe it’s the time of year, Paul, with birds leaving or already gone, rain, chilly. Could be. It’ll pass!

The pheasant is handsome as ever. And I like the robin a lot. There’s a bit of a rim light around him. I think it’s a lovely pic.

pcs wrote in post #19430284
You don't need TV, you've got al the drama in your backyard! Reminds me of a dutch expression: "de een zijn dood is de ander zijn brood"(the dead of one is the bread of another (very simple translation)).

You're not wrong about that and as it happens I do not watch tv at all. Your dutch expression seems right on the money to me, thanks for the education. cheers!

sidknee wrote in post #19430406
She was the oldest duck in with 4 males who don't know what to do with themselves now ducky has gone to the great pond in the sky, she was their leader and they struggle to even come out the hutch first thing in the morning without her rushing out first to get the food bowl quickest!

LOL. Men…

Agreed, it is quite amazing and awesome to watch.

Talking about dining on duck....... adult female doing just that

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2nPt​v2z DSC01042-22-09-24-15-30-49 by Sid Simmons, on Flickr

Awww… Looks like you were uncannily close to him. Again! Excellent shot, Sid.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19430407
Maybe it’s the time of year, Paul, with birds leaving or already gone, rain, chilly. Could be. It’ll pass!

The pheasant is handsome as ever. And I like the robin a lot. There’s a bit of a rim light around him. I think it’s a lovely pic.

Thanks Levina. You hit the nail right on the head though I do actually find many fantastic photo opportunities in Autumn and it is a fantastic season. Sunrise at a less painful hour too

Alk/razorbill auk. Not my best shots but trying to show a few more european(dutch) species(and these are my only shots of the alk).

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PSteven wrote in post #19430505
Thanks Levina. You hit the nail right on the head though I do actually find many fantastic photo opportunities in Autumn and it is a fantastic season. Sunrise at a less painful hour too

I agree, it is a fantastic season, with beautiful autumn colours. But it’s the rain and wind and cold that make it so unpleasant to be out. My worst months are November and December. Grey months I call them, especially November. I shouldn’t wish for a ‘real winter’, not with the price of energy soaring as they do at the moment, but normally I would take freezing temps and snow and ice over the grey misty nothingness any time. I love a white world, especially for photographing birds. Still, many people almost desperately need a mild winter this year so the white stuff better stay away.

Good point about the late sunrise!

pcs wrote in post #19430533
Alk/razorbill auk. Not my best shots but trying to show a few more european(dutch) species(and these are my only shots of the alk).

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Think of it this way, Patrick: you got to see them and photograph them, both I have yet to do! So it’s 2-0 for you on the Razorbill auk.

So much depend on luck on these trips. I think you did well.