One for johnalison perhaps

[Tradewinds]

Seen in Woodbridge today. Daughter is struggling to identify the bird.

We think turnstone maybe (legs were orange) but aren't that sure.

TIA

 

[sailorman]

Turnstones

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Seen in Woodbridge today. Daughter is struggling to identify the bird.

We think turnstone maybe (legs were orange) but aren't that sure.

TIA

View attachment 101125

Lovely.

They really do turn over stones too.

 

[Habebty]

Saw loads of them on someone's boat at Wrabness. The boat will need a good jet-wash.

 

[sailorman]

Saw loads of them on someone's boat at Wrabness. The boat will need a good jet-wash.

we have had then on the pontoon a couple of yrs ago

 

[johnalison]

You called sir?
I have nothing to add. They are rather comical little birds and there are quite a lot around. I've seen half a dozen on halfpenny pier.
I went on a bird walk at Walberswick last week with an amazing guide. He would point to a piece of blank sky and say "there's a redpoll coming in". I saw several new birds, even a snow bunting on the beach.

 

[Tradewinds]

Aha.

Late on parade but grateful none-the-less for your affirmation of what everybody else knows (except me and my daughter!).

Thanks all.

 

[Tomahawk]

One of those flying things that craps all over your boat.
Seeing different makes of flying crappng things seems to give happiness to some people. But oddly enough those people don’t seem to volunteer to clean up the crap left by their beloved flying crapping things. I would feel much more kindly towards said flying crapping things if the people who like to look at them came and regularly cleaned the crap left by the flying crapping things.

 

[wingdiver]

we have had then on the pontoon a couple of yrs ago

and very recently too - on your new pontoons

 

[johnalison]

One of those flying things that craps all over your boat.
Seeing different makes of flying crappng things seems to give happiness to some people. But oddly enough those people don’t seem to volunteer to clean up the crap left by their beloved flying crapping things. I would feel much more kindly towards said flying crapping things if the people who like to look at them came and regularly cleaned the crap left by the flying crapping things.

I am mystified as to why you even bother to go to sea. It seems to me that you would only be content to be sailing round in circles in the middle of the Atlantic with nothing but waves to break the monotony. With the current elimination of pelagic birds by your plastic-loving friends, and shore birds by dog-owners, it looks as if your ideal world will soon be with us.

 

[sailorman]

and very recently too - on your new pontoons
View attachment 101160

Those bolt heads need changing to Coach bolts

 

[seivadnehpets]

One of those flying things that craps all over your boat.
Seeing different makes of flying crappng things seems to give happiness to some people. But oddly enough those people don’t seem to volunteer to clean up the crap left by their beloved flying crapping things. I would feel much more kindly towards said flying crapping things if the people who like to look at them came and regularly cleaned the crap left by the flying crapping things.

Cheer up! !!

 

[Gargleblaster]

It seems to me that you would only be content to be sailing round in circles in the middle of the Atlantic with nothing but waves to break the monotony. With the current elimination of pelagic birds by your plastic-loving friends, and shore birds by dog-owners, it looks as if your ideal world will soon be with us.

In the middle of the Atlantic it is amazing how many birds you see on a daily basis. the Sheerwater are constantly present gliding and only rarely flapping their wings. dipping a wing extremity into the water to turn. In the western Atlantic Petrels can often be seen. In the South Atlantic Albatross join the Sheerwater and with their massive size dwarf teh Sheerwater. But the comparison is more like a Jumbo flying alongside the Red Arrows. for shear flying ability give me the Sheerwater every time.

I like to think I can predict weather by the behaviour of the Shearwater. I definitely believe they know of an approaching depression and start to behave in a slightly more frantic way. They certainly know when a High is present as they settle on the water through lack of wind.

No shearwater, albaross or petrel has ever defecated on my deck. I have had land birds who have landed on deck for a rest when out of the sight of land and made a mess. But it is such a joy to be joined for even a brief period when they overcome their fear of man to rest their muscles.

 

[johnalison]

In the middle of the Atlantic it is amazing how many birds you see on a daily basis. the Sheerwater are constantly present gliding and only rarely flapping their wings. dipping a wing extremity into the water to turn. In the western Atlantic Petrels can often be seen. In the South Atlantic Albatross join the Sheerwater and with their massive size dwarf teh Sheerwater. But the comparison is more like a Jumbo flying alongside the Red Arrows. for shear flying ability give me the Sheerwater every time.

I like to think I can predict weather by the behaviour of the Shearwater. I definitely believe they know of an approaching depression and start to behave in a slightly more frantic way. They certainly know when a High is present as they settle on the water through lack of wind.

No shearwater, albaross or petrel has ever defecated on my deck. I have had land birds who have landed on deck for a rest when out of the sight of land and made a mess. But it is such a joy to be joined for even a brief period when they overcome their fear of man to rest their muscles.

Shearwaters are among my favourite birds. Most of my visits to the West Country have allowed me to sight them, especially off Start Point, where I think they nest at nearby Berry Head. My favourite memory is of watching a hundred or more of them off the South Coast of Ireland, on the same day as we saw a couple of hundred gannets doing their plunging thing.

If you haven't already got it, I can recommend Adam Nicolson's 'The Seabird's Cry', once you get past the first chapter. There is a lot about shearwaters and albatrosses as well as local seabirds. Available in paperback.

 

[Tomahawk]

I am mystified as to why you even bother to go to sea. It seems to me that you would only be content to be sailing round in circles in the middle of the Atlantic with nothing but waves to break the monotony. With the current elimination of pelagic birds by your plastic-loving friends, and shore birds by dog-owners, it looks as if your ideal world will soon be with us.

I love sailing..
I just don't love cleaning up the bird shit.

 

[johnalison]

I grumble occasionally, but all birds except wood pigeons are welcome on my boat.

 

[tillergirl]

Herring Gull by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr

P1050012 by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr
P1010320 by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr

 

[sailorman]

We took it to Ijmuiden

 

[Habebty]

I grumble occasionally, but all birds except wood pigeons are welcome on my boat.
View attachment 101258

Have you trapped it’s tail in a port light?

 

[Rum Run]

A few seasons back there was an Atalanta moored close to my boat at West Mersea and it became the nesting spot for a pair of Herring gulls. By the time the chicks had fledged the rear cabin top looked like a farmer had overwintered a herd of bullocks on it!
The birds were here first though so while I would not let them nest on my boat I'm not cursing them for trying