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
....................................

'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?

Grey Wagtail?
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/images...ey_Wagtail.jpg

--
Chris

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.

"CT" wrote in message
...
'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?

Grey Wagtail?
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/images...ey_Wagtail.jpg

--
Chris

Thanks Chris, I think that's the one. Will have to look out for it again.
I wasn't ready for anything there, I was on my way down the drive to fetch
the Wheelie Bin back ;-)

Mike


--

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

"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


--

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

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 +.

"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

--

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

"'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.

"Ragnar" wrote in message
...

"'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.


:-((

Confused he will be ;-)

I only saw it in flight AND going away, AND it was a vivid yellow.

Won't argue with you, but keeping an eye open. Have scattered seed where it
flew of from.

Mike


--

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

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.
--
Turnstone

"'Mike'" wrote:

Thanks Chris, I think that's the one.

__Sure?__
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...ole/index.aspx

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

And you do live in an exotic part of England. (Highest sunshine hours
in the UK, isn't it?)

J.

Any possibility of yellow wagtail?

"CT" wrote in message
...
'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?

Grey Wagtail?
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/images...ey_Wagtail.jpg

--
Chris

Lovely picture, but the OP did say a vivid yellow back !

Bill

"'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

"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
....................................