Any bird watchers here? I mean the feathered type?

**98tls** · 6th July 2013, 16:48

Heard a loud bang and looked up to see this guy bouncing off one of our bay windows so went outside to find him lying on the ground in la la land,picked him up and put him in a shoe box and took him around the back then locked the cat in the sun room and left the shoe box on the coffee table outside,he wasnt up to much for around 1/2 an hour then off he went as far as the trellis,pretty wee thing so took this pic,what sort of bird is it?After a few minutes off he went with nothing more than a headache i would say.

**spookytooth** · 6th July 2013, 16:50

its a gold finch fairly common in NZ

**98tls** · 6th July 2013, 16:54

Cheers fella,the mrs is almost disappointed

i think she thought it was something more exotic..

**Grizzo** · 6th July 2013, 17:05

Damn, I was hoping for a spotted tit. Hehe.

**scissorhands** · 6th July 2013, 18:10

I had some rosellas nesting just 3m from me now, under the eves, but some spotted starlings ate their babies so they fucked off last week or so.

A female blackbird [brown colour] sits outside my bedroom window and lounge window, and we chat most days.
I used to put some blackbird song thru the stereo.... causing 5 of the males were perched on a limb looking through the windows.

Mario the goose down at Western Springs is getting a bit old, but there're all mating up again and I saw him flying. Its what the Ambden Geese males do to show they're keen on you, follow a female for a short burst of flight across the pond.

We have tons of those golden finches when the grass is long enough to seed. They perch on the vertical stalks till they bend to the ground then eat the seed head.

Also have malay doves in a boundary tree, and a kingfisher who visits sometimes

**unstuck** · 6th July 2013, 18:15

As long as its not a waxeye, if we get waxeyes in the garden here, it will be snowing within 24hrs.

And it has been cold enough, I want my summer back you fickle bitch.

**awa355** · 8th July 2013, 00:16

Its a Sparrow, in fancy dress.

Here's an old tale, dont know how accurate it is.

" If the birds are out feeding in the morning rain, the rain will clear up. If there are no birds out feeding, then the rain has set in".

I always forget later if I had seen any birds out that morning.

**unstuck** · 8th July 2013, 07:58

Bit like the southland saying "If you can't see Stewart Island it is raining, If you can see it, it is going to rain.

**Big Dave** · 9th July 2013, 01:19

Yeah - I often grab the camera when they visit my place:

Rainbow Lorikeets are pretty common. Clowns. There is a flock that visits most days. Usually good for a grin.

bird1 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

Sulphur Crested cockeys not that common - which is probably good because they make a racket - but they drop in occasionally:

bird2 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

bird6 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

Galahs are more common. They do some funny stuff.

bird7 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

bird9 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

Magpies are common. So are Plovers.

the Magpie Larks are welcome though. Beautiful song. And they belt it out on my TV aerial.

bird8 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

Down by the watercourse a lot of the native birds have returned - including the Cormorants and Shags.

bird4 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

And there are tons of Ducks.

bird5 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

Rainbow Bee Eaters visit only occasionally:

bird3 by Big Daves Pics, on Flickr

There are finches that do amazing aerobatics too - but I only have ordinary pics - they move FAST.

**awa355** · 9th July 2013, 02:51

BD, What settings on your camera do you use? I've found birds about the hardest creature to photograph. The shutter lag on digital cameras doesn't help either.

Perhaps I should use the 'continuous' burst mode.

**Big Dave** · 9th July 2013, 11:48

The 'Sport' setting on my Nikon defaults to ASA400, and the fastest shutter speed. I use that if there isn't time to set up properly.

If there is - ASA400, 1/1000 and the smallest F-stop that will allow the fast shutter speed.

**sugilite:Me** · 9th July 2013, 12:18

We have been getting more and more pheasants around home of late, see them almost daily now. I'm always keeping an ear out to make sure no prick comes along and shoots them!

**scissorhands** · 9th July 2013, 12:25

Originally Posted by sugilite

We have been getting more and more pheasants around home of late, see them almost daily now. I'm always keeping an ear out to make sure no prick comes along and shoots them!

where do you live?