How come birds are always look for a quiet place to hide?

[purplerabbits]

Well it's not the best time of year for birdwatching in woods, but since work sent me to Aviemore, a weekend in Aviemore and Boat of Garten seemed like a thing to do. The ospreys had fucked off to Africa, the crossbills were nowhere to be seen and I heard but didn't see crested tits (well I may have seen a *glimpse* but not so's it counts.)

But anyway, the weekend list:

Songthrush
Blackbird
Robin
Dunnock
House sparrow
Wood pigeon
Collared Dove (new one for me)
Blue tit
Coal tit
Great tit
Long-tailed tit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Siskin
Starling
Jackdaw
Mapie
Carrion Crow (a few slightly hooded, but mostly not)
Rook (on the way up, not actually in Aviemore)
Swallow
Mallard
White mallard
Greylag goose
Little grebe
Grey heron
Oystercatcher (also on the way up, Aviemore not being known for its shore birds)
Meadow pipit
Pied wagtail
Treecreeper (new for me)
Buzzard
Peregrine
Kestrel

Heard but didn't see - tawny owl, crested tits


Also chickens, turkeys and white ducks!

Which makes my life list 85 - or 83 if you don't count free range fowl :-)

Plus I had a pleasant weekend walking in woods and mostly being on my own, which I would love to be able to do more often, especially when the woods include red squirrels - not to mention the chance to catch a steam train as the actual practical and sensible way to get to a place I was going.

Comments

[lovelybug.livejournal.com]

Lovely bird icon!

[protocol-rain.livejournal.com]

How can one hear toits and not see them? I didn't know they made a noise...