Singing Birds and Hen Harrier

[simoncurson]

Hi all,
Not a lot of news bird wise - just that all the winter birds are in now. I did see a male Hen Harrier up on Wilverley Plain on 23rd Nov.

In the past 2 days a lot more birds have been singing, I think it is due to the mild weather. Around the house here in Christchurch has been 2 Song Thrushes, Great Tit, Woodpigeon and Robins. Down the road I heard a Goldcrest singing and even a bit of Blackbird song.
Anyone else heard any singing birds of late?

Cheers

Simon Curson

[Si]

Hi Si.
Heard Song Thrush singing last weekend & Mistle Thrush the weekend before. Robins & Wrens will be singing all throughout the winter now.

Could the reason of the other birds singing (apart from the Robin's & Wren's) be the patterns of daylight & night being similar to that of spring, this being one of the stimuli that kicks off the breeding season?

Havn't seen any Harriers or any Shrikes yet.

Simon Currie

[simoncurson]

You could be right with the daylight hours thing. We shall see if the Song Thrushes stop singing in a week or two. Any cold weather would stop them singing I reckon.
1 Great grey Shrike around - see separate notice.

Simon Curson

[simoncurson]

This morning on a brief visit into Burley and surrounding area there were at least 3 singing Song Thrush as well as several Robins, 1 Woodpigeon and 2 Wens.
So it seems that it is not just the Song Thrushes around my home that are singing, but others elsewhere. Let me know if you have them singing near you.
Cheers
Simon Curson