?

"'Mike'" wrote in message ...



"Bill Grey" wrote in message
...

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news


"harry" wrote in message
...
On Jan 13, 9:52 am, "'Mike'" wrote:
Opened the front door just now and startled a bird on the lawn opposite.

Flew AWAY from me and I could only see its back. Blackbird size, dark
wings,
but a very vivid yellow back.

Looked in the bird book and the nearest I could see was the Golden
Oriole
but reading its habit I don't see how it could be.

South East Coast Isle of Wight

Any suggestions?

Mike

--

...................................
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
...................................

Green woodpecker? They look a bit yellow in some lighting.
.................................................. .........................


Thanks Harry, but I don't think it was that big, but I do know there are
Woodpeckers in the woods at the front and the back. I will go for the
Grey Wagtail and watch to see if it turns up again. Thanks again.

Mike

If it weas a grey wagtail you surely would have noticed the bit that gives
it its name - a longish tail.

I'd be interested to know what you really did see.

BIll


It took me by surprise when I opened the door and it was off in a flash. I
was so impressed, if that is the right word, by the vivid yellow that I
didn't take toooooooo much notice of detail except that it was 'about the
size' of a Blackbird and its flight pattern was about the same.

I put some seed down on the path between the lawns hoping it would come
back, but all I got was a trio of Pigeons cleaning up :-((

I do have my camera ready ........ 'if' ;-}

Mike


--

....................................
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
....................................

I hope it is a Golden Oriole , absolutely love them, especially that
wonderful song. And I would say it is a good description of one.
Believe it or not I still remember where I heard and saw my last Golden
Oriole. And of course my photo wotsit memory is legend.
The Swedish name is Somargylling which does not really endorse my "expect
the unexpected", but wouldn't it be luvverly :-)
Bill....

'Mike' wrote:
I put some seed down on the path between the lawns hoping it would
come back, but all I got was a trio of Pigeons cleaning up :-((

I'm not sure that seed would attract either wagtail or woodpecker, even if
pigeons didn't get there first... No idea about oriole!

I wonder if dried mealworms would be better. Wilkinsons have them.

Mike.
--
If reply address is (invalid), remove spurious "@"
and substitute "plus" for +.

On 13/01/2011 13:08, Turnstone wrote:
In message , Ragnar
writes

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...

"Mike Coon" wrote in message
news harry wrote:
Green woodpecker? They look a bit yellow in some lighting.

And they are keen on any lawns that might have ants.

Mike.
--
If reply address is (invalid), remove spurious "@"
and substitute "plus" for +.



I am quite convinced it was the Grey Wagtail and that it flew up from
the
brick path between the lawns, so what I have done is to scatter some
bird
seed on the path and will keep and eye on events from the Lounge or
Dining
Room Windows. The front door has obscure windows so I can't see through
there before opening it!!!

Mike

Problem is Mike that although Grey Wagtail has vivid yellow on it's
belly it
does not have a yellow back which you originally stated. Whereas Green
Woodpecker does have a vivid yellow lower back, seen only in flight.
R.


And a GW is c. 25% larger than the blackbird to which this bird's size
was compared.

Doubt if 25% is significant for a brief glimpse. Yellow back says green
woodpecker to me - lots of them in the grasslands of Bushy park.
Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...


"Bill Grey" wrote in message
...

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news


"harry" wrote in message
...
On Jan 13, 9:52 am, "'Mike'" wrote:
Opened the front door just now and startled a bird on the lawn
opposite.

Flew AWAY from me and I could only see its back. Blackbird size, dark
wings,
but a very vivid yellow back.

Looked in the bird book and the nearest I could see was the Golden
Oriole
but reading its habit I don't see how it could be.

South East Coast Isle of Wight

Any suggestions?

Mike

--

...................................
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
...................................

Green woodpecker? They look a bit yellow in some lighting.
.................................................. .........................


Thanks Harry, but I don't think it was that big, but I do know there are
Woodpeckers in the woods at the front and the back. I will go for the
Grey Wagtail and watch to see if it turns up again. Thanks again.

Mike

If it weas a grey wagtail you surely would have noticed the bit that
gives it its name - a longish tail.

I'd be interested to know what you really did see.

BIll


It took me by surprise when I opened the door and it was off in a flash. I
was so impressed, if that is the right word, by the vivid yellow that I
didn't take toooooooo much notice of detail except that it was 'about the
size' of a Blackbird and its flight pattern was about the same.

I put some seed down on the path between the lawns hoping it would come
back, but all I got was a trio of Pigeons cleaning up :-((

I do have my camera ready ........ 'if' ;-}

Mike

All the best for a good photo next time.

Bill

In article , Mike
Coon writes
'Mike' wrote:
I put some seed down on the path between the lawns hoping it would
come back, but all I got was a trio of Pigeons cleaning up :-((

I'm not sure that seed would attract either wagtail or woodpecker, even if
pigeons didn't get there first... No idea about oriole!

I wonder if dried mealworms would be better. Wilkinsons have them.


There's bound to be a robin which'll make short work of those.
--
Sue ]

"Darkside" wrote in message
...
In article , Mike
Coon writes
'Mike' wrote:
I put some seed down on the path between the lawns hoping it would
come back, but all I got was a trio of Pigeons cleaning up :-((

I'm not sure that seed would attract either wagtail or woodpecker, even if
pigeons didn't get there first... No idea about oriole!

I wonder if dried mealworms would be better. Wilkinsons have them.


There's bound to be a robin which'll make short work of those.
--
Sue ]

'Heard' one but not seen it yet. Not my garden, it's my daughter and son in
laws. We are looking after the house, gardens and business whilst they are
cruising ;-))

Sun should be shining by the time they get back ;-)

Mike


--

....................................
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
....................................

I lived many years in the Isle of Wight and remember there were many green
woodpeckers at Osborne House - easily seen from the car park out over the
grass. When I was a coach driver in 1985, I once took a party of twitchers
there at their request as they said Osborne was well known for green
woodpeckers. There were loads there then. Hopefully there, you should be
able to say yeah or nay to what you saw.

Richard


"Bill Alexander" wrote in message
...
?

"'Mike'" wrote in message ...



"Bill Grey" wrote in message
...

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news


"harry" wrote in message
...
On Jan 13, 9:52 am, "'Mike'" wrote:
Opened the front door just now and startled a bird on the lawn
opposite.

Flew AWAY from me and I could only see its back. Blackbird size, dark
wings,
but a very vivid yellow back.

Looked in the bird book and the nearest I could see was the Golden
Oriole
but reading its habit I don't see how it could be.

South East Coast Isle of Wight

Any suggestions?

Mike
/snip

Thanks Richard.

No not a Green Woodpecker. We had lots of those at our last house out in the
country, besides, this bird wasn't that big. It seems, talking to locals in
the know, that it might have been a Golden Oriole.

Watch this space ;-)

Mike

--

....................................
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
....................................




"ddfc" wrote in message
...
I lived many years in the Isle of Wight and remember there were many green
woodpeckers at Osborne House - easily seen from the car park out over the
grass. When I was a coach driver in 1985, I once took a party of twitchers
there at their request as they said Osborne was well known for green
woodpeckers. There were loads there then. Hopefully there, you should be
able to say yeah or nay to what you saw.

Richard


"Bill Alexander" wrote in message
...
?

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...



"Bill Grey" wrote in message
...

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news

"harry" wrote in message
...
On Jan 13, 9:52 am, "'Mike'" wrote:
Opened the front door just now and startled a bird on the lawn
opposite.

Flew AWAY from me and I could only see its back. Blackbird size, dark
wings,
but a very vivid yellow back.

Looked in the bird book and the nearest I could see was the Golden
Oriole
but reading its habit I don't see how it could be.

South East Coast Isle of Wight

Any suggestions?

Mike
/snip

On Jan 17, 11:01*pm, "'Mike'" wrote:
Thanks Richard.

No not a Green Woodpecker. We had lots of those at our last house out in the
country, besides, this bird wasn't that big. It seems, talking to locals in
the know, that it might have been a Golden Oriole.

Watch this space ;-)

Mike

--

...................................
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
...................................

"ddfc" wrote in message

...



I lived many years in the Isle of Wight and remember there were many green
woodpeckers at Osborne House - easily seen from the car park out over the
grass. When I was a coach driver in 1985, I once took a party of twitchers
there at their request as they said Osborne was well known for green
woodpeckers. There were loads there then. Hopefully there, you should be
able to say yeah or nay to what you saw.

Richard

"Bill Alexander" wrote in message
...
?

"'Mike'" *wrote in message
.. .

"Bill Grey" wrote in message
.. .

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news

"harry" wrote in message
...
On Jan 13, 9:52 am, "'Mike'" wrote:
Opened the front door just now and startled a bird on the lawn
opposite.

Flew AWAY from me and I could only see its back. Blackbird size, dark
wings,
but a very vivid yellow back.

Looked in the bird book and the nearest I could see was the Golden
Oriole
but reading its habit I don't see how it could be.

South East Coast Isle of Wight

Any suggestions?

Mike
/snip- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The problem is that Golden Orioels fly South for the winter, not North

Golden oriole is only a little smaller than a green woodpecker. Problem with Golden Oriole is that it just isn't plausible one would be anywhere near here in winter, or at least not alive. There isn't anything for them to eat here - they eat fruit and insects. Golden Oriole migrate a looooong way. They spend our winters in Africa south of the equator, not just beyond the Sahara but well beyond the Sahara. So if it is here, it is very, very lost. Recent horrible weather over extensive areas of NW Europe make the possibility that there is an alive GO this far north really rather implausible. Especially given the tiny number of birds that come here even in summer. You are more likely to see some North American blown over in a storm than a GO.

A rather yellowish bird that you can see in winter in Britain is the siskin Eurasian Siskin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It's more finch-sized than blackbird sized. But given that you were willing to accept it might be a yellow wagtail, perhaps you over-estimated its size. The Goldfinch also has patches of bright yellow. European Goldfinch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It's quite easy to make scale errors with a fleeting glance. I'd say green woodpecker, caught from an unlikely angle, remains the most likely.

'Mike' wrote:

[snip all]

In an amazing coincidence, I've just been on a lunchtime walk and saw a
Green Woodpecker and a Grey Wagtail within a few feet of each other.

The Green Woodpecker flew off away from me, and did indeed have a
lovely yellow/green back. The wagtail, however, just moved further
into the branches of the tree over the water so I didn't get to see
that fly off.

Now I see Green Woodpeckers fairly frequently - Grey Wagtails a lot
less so (in fact, probably ony half a dozen times since I started this
doing walk during my lunchbreak a couple of years ago), so to see both
really close together and in light of this thread seemed quite strange!

--
Chris

"CT" wrote in message
...
'Mike' wrote:

[snip all]

In an amazing coincidence, I've just been on a lunchtime walk and saw a
Green Woodpecker and a Grey Wagtail within a few feet of each other.

The Green Woodpecker flew off away from me, and did indeed have a
lovely yellow/green back. The wagtail, however, just moved further
into the branches of the tree over the water so I didn't get to see
that fly off.

Now I see Green Woodpeckers fairly frequently - Grey Wagtails a lot
less so (in fact, probably ony half a dozen times since I started this
doing walk during my lunchbreak a couple of years ago), so to see both
really close together and in light of this thread seemed quite strange!

Serendipity

Tina

?

"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...

On Jan 17, 11:01 pm, "'Mike'" wrote:
Thanks Richard.

No not a Green Woodpecker. We had lots of those at our last house out in
the
country, besides, this bird wasn't that big. It seems, talking to locals
in
the know, that it might have been a Golden Oriole.

Watch this space ;-)

Mike

--

...................................
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
...................................

"ddfc" wrote in message

...



I lived many years in the Isle of Wight and remember there were many
green
woodpeckers at Osborne House - easily seen from the car park out over the
grass. When I was a coach driver in 1985, I once took a party of
twitchers
there at their request as they said Osborne was well known for green
woodpeckers. There were loads there then. Hopefully there, you should be
able to say yeah or nay to what you saw.

Richard

"Bill Alexander" wrote in message
...
?

"'Mike'" wrote in message
.. .

"Bill Grey" wrote in message
.. .

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news

"harry" wrote in message
...
On Jan 13, 9:52 am, "'Mike'" wrote:
Opened the front door just now and startled a bird on the lawn
opposite.

Flew AWAY from me and I could only see its back. Blackbird size,
dark
wings,
but a very vivid yellow back.

Looked in the bird book and the nearest I could see was the Golden
Oriole
but reading its habit I don't see how it could be.

South East Coast Isle of Wight

Any suggestions?

Mike
/snip- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The problem is that Golden Orioels fly South for the winter, not North

Maybe it did fly south? We have ringed them a good deal further North than
the UK :-)
Bill....

?

"CT" wrote in message ...

'Mike' wrote:

[snip all]

In an amazing coincidence, I've just been on a lunchtime walk and saw a
Green Woodpecker and a Grey Wagtail within a few feet of each other.

The Green Woodpecker flew off away from me, and did indeed have a
lovely yellow/green back. The wagtail, however, just moved further
into the branches of the tree over the water so I didn't get to see
that fly off.

Now I see Green Woodpeckers fairly frequently - Grey Wagtails a lot
less so (in fact, probably ony half a dozen times since I started this
doing walk during my lunchbreak a couple of years ago), so to see both
really close together and in light of this thread seemed quite strange!

--
Chris

Not really if there were some really early ants about.
Bill...who used to watch Grey Wags, in a truly wonderful place, dissecting
darters and damsel flies, or maybe that was Yellow Wags? :-)

In article , CT
writes
'Mike' wrote:

[snip all]

In an amazing coincidence, I've just been on a lunchtime walk and saw a
Green Woodpecker and a Grey Wagtail within a few feet of each other.

The Green Woodpecker flew off away from me, and did indeed have a
lovely yellow/green back. The wagtail, however, just moved further
into the branches of the tree over the water so I didn't get to see
that fly off.

Now I see Green Woodpeckers fairly frequently - Grey Wagtails a lot
less so (in fact, probably ony half a dozen times since I started this
doing walk during my lunchbreak a couple of years ago), so to see both
really close together and in light of this thread seemed quite strange!


When a grey wagtail flies away across water you see a little yellow blob
bouncing up and down. It's too small to mistake for a thrush-sized
bird.

--
Sue ]