*BIG grin*

[missyburd]

This is completely off topic so hope you don't mind, I knows this is a bike site an 'all :oops: BUT......














I have rung FOUR birds this weekend, THREE species and most importantly TWO OYSTERCATCHERS (which in case you don't know are the subjects of my third year dissertation) !!!!:cheers::smt040:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

MYC is one happy bunny :-D

I thought I'd share a few pics and also apologize if I'm going overboard with the smileys, I'm still buzzing BUT not as much as I am after a good bike ride ;-) ... :D:D:D



http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098140_424826.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098136_7265441.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098148_2826120.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098146_8117502.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098127_6871434.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098128_5524656.jpg

:smt040

[dizzyblonde]

ere you smile away lass...great pics.....more!!!!!

[missyburd]

ere you smile away lass...great pics.....more!!!!!

facebook, 2 albums worth ;-)

[Dave20046]

lol I thought you meant rung asin rung their necks at first...lovely image of you strangling birds.

good for you though, looks cool :D

[maviczap]

That's what I first thought too :p

[missyburd]

thought you might, but then also thought you'd get the gist as you got further down the page :-P

[MR UKI (1)]

I'd ring 4 birds if I had any of their phone numbers. I'll get my coat.

Excellent pics though by the way :)

[jumjum_0214]

I'd ring 4 birds if I had any of their phone numbers. I'll get my coat.

Excellent pics though by the way :)

:smt040 :smt046 :winner:

[missyburd]

I'd ring 4 birds if I had any of their phone numbers. I'll get my coat.

Excellent pics though by the way :)

Hahaha love it!

Oh and thankyou :mrgreen:

[missyburd]

In case there are any birdy people on here, these are the other species we caught:

Curlew
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6097825_1852897.jpg
Wigeon
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6097837_6825653.jpg
Common Snipe (my second favourite, gorgeous colours)
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6097855_8352504.jpg
Dunlin

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6097865_1683736.jpg

And finally, Redshank
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098120_487695.jpg

I will stop now :-)

[Baph]

Those weren't on the Warren were they? That slate fence is remarkably familiar....

Good pics, and a good job done well. :)

[MR UKI (1)]

I'm intrigued as to how you catch them?

[missyburd]

Those weren't on the Warren were they? That slate fence is remarkably familiar....

Not entirely sure about where you are on about, but we were at Morfa Aber, nature reserve near Bangor, huge mudflats out there?

I'm intrigued as to how you catch them?
By a method called "cannon-netting", this pretty much sums it up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_netting


Ta for the comments guys. Was an amazing experience, everything in my bag reeks of estuarine mud and oystercatcher poop (they have very freeflowing sphincters and are most obliging when it comes to providing faecal samples LOL) but it was well worth it :-D

[Baph]

Not entirely sure about where you are on about, but we were at Morfa Aber, nature reserve near Bangor, huge mudflats out there?


Ah, not quite where I thought but I know the place well.

The best photo I've seen of Morfa Aber:
http://knol.google.com/k/-/-/3tf9hlkb8sif2/rnzdlc/aber-sun-trees.jpg

[missyburd]

Baph you've changed your avatar!!!!! #shock horror# :-P

Lovely pic btw. Certainly is a very pretty place.

[Baph]

Baph you've changed your avatar!!!!! #shock horror# :-P


See the thread in Idle Banter for why...

[pencil shavings]

oh wow!! you really did go brid catching!! I just thought you spelt watching wrong!! haha :)

[missyburd]

oh wow!! you really did go brid catching!! I thought you spelt watching wrong
unlike you who actually did :confused: :p

[kitkat]

nice birdies. while at sea life centre in scotland, DD saw a golden eagle (now that is a bird). When I first read this I thought you had killed them too.

[madness]

Cool pics. Looks like you had an ace day.

[Bluepete]

Very cool MYC!

That snipe is gorgeous. I worked for the RSPB years ago, we used to do species protection for hen harriers and peregrines. But the best bit was ringing a brood of barn owls! Three small lumps of smelly cream fluff they were! All at the Brampton reserve near Carlisle.

Pete

[missyburd]

Very cool MYC!

That snipe is gorgeous. I worked for the RSPB years ago, we used to do species protection for hen harriers and peregrines. But the best bit was ringing a brood of barn owls! Three small lumps of smelly cream fluff they were! All at the Brampton reserve near Carlisle.

Well I never did, you learn something new every day :-D :mrgreen: The snipe had by far the most beautiful plumage, you just can't appreciate that sort of thing from a distance. Hope I can get woodcock pics at some point :)

[Bluepete]

Hope I can get woodcock pics at some point :)

Fnerk :D

Just spat me coffee out ;)

[missyburd]

Fnerk :D

Just spat me coffee out ;)
Ah you missed this thread then http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=126403&page=3&highlight=woodcock

:p

[pencil shavings]

unlike you who actually did :confused: :p


:(

Turns out i was trying to say bird lol :rolleyes:

[missyburd]

:(

Turns out i was trying to say bird lol :rolleyes:
#wind wind wind up# :-P

[pencil shavings]

yeah i did get the joke ;)

[punyXpress]

" She's an Oystercatchercatcher, you know... "

[Miss Alpinestarhero]

Woe great pics MissYC!

I did see a fleeting glimpse of some on facebook but never got round to actually looking..! I love the bird with the big orange beak, its gorgeous :smt040

[missyburd]

I love the bird with the big orange beak, its gorgeous :smt040
Yep that's an Oystercatcher. I've been watching them from a distance for my diss so to actually get one up close was amazing. They have amazing geostable heads too which stay in one place when you move their bodies about, had lots of fun playing haha.

[Mej]

Awesome, my missus is really into Birds of Prey as her parents own a rescue centre down here. She bought an owl round to show my parents yesterday, i'll post a pic.

[Mej]

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp169/J2UK/DSCF2182_Comp.jpg

[pencil shavings]

beautiful...

slightly off topic, but i had a dream about an owl last night. It just kept spinning its head around lol

[Mej]

beautiful...

slightly off topic, but i had a dream about an owl last night. It just kept spinning its head around lol

Shes a proper softy, my girlfriend has raised her since she was a baby :smt051

[Gene genie]

very pleasant way of spending a weekend, looks like you had a ball.:smt117
i remember when i used to chase birds at weekends, lomg time ago now though.;)

[missyburd]

Awesome, my missus is really into Birds of Prey as her parents own a rescue centre down here. She bought an owl round to show my parents yesterday, i'll post a pic.
Lovely birds, owls are great.

Speaking of, we found a couple hunting late afternoon a couple of weeks ago, not a great pic but the contrast is alright :-)

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2268/62/4/879760552/n879760552_5933301_5231.jpg

[Bluepete]

We have a day booked, huning with Bords of Prey in March! All the familly, hopefully a couple of rabbits to cook after the hunt! Not sure what birds we'll be using, last time I went hunting, we used a pair of Harris Hawks at a place just off the A65 at Settle. Very good fun!

[missyburd]

We have a day booked, huning with Bords of Prey in March! All the familly, hopefully a couple of rabbits to cook after the hunt! Not sure what birds we'll be using, last time I went hunting, we used a pair of Harris Hawks at a place just off the A65 at Settle. Very good fun!

I've been there, they've got a very scary vulture called Vera :-D

Here she is:
http://photos-b.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v357/62/4/879760552/n879760552_4644681_5267.jpg

[Quiff Wichard]

I have ringed a few birds in my time

[punyXpress]

Shes a proper softy, my girlfriend has raised her since she was a baby :smt051

She may be, but she's giving your avatar lizard the eye!

[Mej]

She may be, but she's giving your avatar lizard the eye!

lol, not a chance. he is my baby. :)

[Mej]

I've been there, they've got a very scary vulture called Vera :-D

Here she is:
http://photos-b.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v357/62/4/879760552/n879760552_4644681_5267.jpg

that sounds cool, my missus held a vulture at one of the Bird of Prey shows, had a wingspan of 10ft and it was a baby. :smt104

I'll try and find a pic,

[Mej]

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp169/J2UK/PICT0207.jpg

There was a Golden Eagles there as well, massive birds

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp169/J2UK/PICT0180.jpg

Anyway i will stop hijacking your thread now :)

[Miss Alpinestarhero]

Yep that's an Oystercatcher. I've been watching them from a distance for my diss so to actually get one up close was amazing. They have amazing geostable heads too which stay in one place when you move their bodies about, had lots of fun playing haha.

Lol must be fun to watch..!

Barn owls and eagles are gorgeous, I managed to see a wild one (an owl that is..!) when I was in Greece on holiday, felt mighty privelleged (sp?!) to have seen it :mrgreen:

[missyburd]

Great pics J2UK. YC and me held a Bengal Owl and another one which I can't remember the name of when we were at the falconry, beautiful critters and so light! I've once had to hold a barn owl for a few hours so kids could come say hello, she was lovely. Orchid her name was hehe.

[Bluepete]

I was watching a tawny owl last night! (No there was nothing better to do)

Pete

[missyburd]

We saw a barn owl hunting while looking for woodcock last night :-)

[missyburd]

A few more for anyone interested, I can now add Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Nuthatch to my ring-tick list woo!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs025.snc1/2569_160320135552_879760552_6274812_289026_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs025.snc1/2569_160320155552_879760552_6274814_3195048_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs025.snc1/2569_160320165552_879760552_6274816_4565374_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs025.snc1/2569_160320200552_879760552_6274821_220679_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs025.snc1/2569_160320205552_879760552_6274822_4543393_n.jpg

Beautiful huh? :-D

[Wideboy]

Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Nuthatch


TEEHEEHEE :smt081

sorry couldn't resist, nice pics :)

[pencil shavings]

wow! really cool!! how did you catch it?

[missyburd]

wow! really cool!! how did you catch it?
Tis called mist netting. A fine net with large pockets is strung up between two poles and the birds fly in and fall into the pockets, they then get picked out and ringed (or if already ringed then the number processed) then after a few minutes they're released again, none the wiser! :)

Got a goldcrest too but it escaped out the net before I could get a photo which was a shame :rolleyes:

[pencil shavings]

nice :) easier than running around trying to catch one!! lol

[missyburd]

nice :) easier than running around trying to catch one!! lol
Oh yes. Have to do that when hunting for woodcock (well not running after them but creeping up on 'em and taking em by surprise lol!) definitely a knack to it!

[ThEGr33k]

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2433/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6098127_6871434.jpg




This is SICK! You shouldnt cut their legs off!!!! :smt106

[Dave20046]

meh they don't need them they can fly anyway...walking's for losers.

[ThEGr33k]

meh they don't need them they can fly anyway...walking's for losers.

LoL... :( I had to walk a lot the other day :smt017

[Dave20046]

me too bloody bike's off thine road innit!
Although I resort to 4 wheels when I can :pig:

Think I've got to the bottom of the great brake mystery too.

[Jillyburd]

Have just seen photos and think you did an amazing job darl. Well done. Too many species are going amiss these days. Love the curlew and the oyster catcher. Gorgeous pics. :D

[missyburd]

Aww thankie Jilly! It is most enjoyable once you get over the initial shock of holding the birds!

[Jillyburd]

Don't mind holding them, had to catch a blue tit and then a flipping wood pidgeon in our house last year whilst trying to keep the dog at bay. Quite like the flappy things, don't like the crawly beasties though! Good job, you'll be on the cliffs with the puffins soon?! :D

[missyburd]

Don't mind holding them, had to catch a blue tit and then a flipping wood pidgeon in our house last year whilst trying to keep the dog at bay. Quite like the flappy things, don't like the crawly beasties though! Good job, you'll be on the cliffs with the puffins soon?! :D

Hehe, well I had the chance to do that this year but I think I've missed it now, hopefully next year though. I haven't even seen a puffin yet, I'd really love too though, they're gorgeous and actually sound like clowns :-D

When I say the shock of holding them I don't mean in a bad way, it's lovely to actually have one there in your hands. They're just so light and delicate! The small birds especially. Then we have these big pliers for squeezing the rings on, takes a lot of practice knowing how hard you can squeeze and such. They're a lot hardier than you think but I'd still hate to harm one! I couldn't forgive myself. I'm too gentle apparently. Funnily enough I was told the same thing when I took a CBT, I was too frit to rev the t1ts off the bike lol! :rolleyes:

[Jillyburd]

The wee creatures are pretty hardy. Think they go into a state of inanimity when caught to fool us into thinking they're brown bread? If they struggle they're likely to harm themselves so maybe a self preservation thing they have built in. Who knows? I am a bit of a bird brain though! :rolleyes: Groan!

I was chucked off a game of Risk once because I'm too soft. It's not a bad thing to be a softy! :)

[missyburd]

Lol I can be a hard nut sometimes, someone's gotta keep the fella in his place haha

[Speedy Claire]

Sweet.... lovely pics Maria.

[missyburd]

Thankyou Claire :-)