Bob is off to twitch a Dusky Warbler in tonight's Emmerdale.
Steve Judge said
Fri Jan 28 5:07 PM, 2022
Thanks for update John. I saw the Great Northern Diver on Salford Quays as well. Me and my wife had a great view of it while eating a meal at the Quayhouse Beefeater pub!
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Jan 28 12:50 PM, 2022
Steve Judge wrote:
On Winterwatch tonight there was a cracking photo taken by John Tymon of a Great Northern Diver.
Taken in Salford , the Juvenile from a few years ago :)
Steve Judge said
Thu Jan 27 10:14 PM, 2022
On Winterwatch tonight there was a cracking photo taken by John Tymon of a Great Northern Diver.
Adrian Dancy said
Mon Dec 21 5:54 PM, 2020
On Mastermind tonight (BBC2 7.30) one of the specialist subjects will be 'seabirds'.
Chris Harper said
Sun Dec 13 7:53 PM, 2020
Enjoyed Countryfile this evening focussing on the waders of the Stour Estuary in Essex.
3 slight errors which were a little sloppy: a Dunlin showed a picture of a Curlew, a Redshank showed a Black Tailed Godwit, and a Swift a Swallow.
If anyone fancies watching on catch up it's a fun hour.
John Watson said
Sun Dec 6 3:06 PM, 2020
Y'day re-watched Endeavour episode "Oracle", and admired the feeding swallows behind the characters on the canal bridge - on New Year's Day
pete berry said
Mon Nov 30 2:42 PM, 2020
This should be re-titled birders on television. I'm sure on the advert for the RSPCA it's our Paul Heaton who is one of the RSPCA officers shown in the advert.
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Nov 28 10:22 PM, 2020
Just had to post this. Just watched Sky highlights of South Africa v England T20, and was amazed to see a family party of 6 Egyptian geese 'fielding' at cover point as Johnny Bairstow smashed the ball, thankfully, to the leg-side boundary.
Mike Chorley said
Sun Aug 2 8:26 PM, 2020
Some interesting footage on tonight's BBC Countryfile of Nightjars including some nice thermal imaging of a bird churring and in flight. Will have to do for this year I supose
Rob Creek said
Mon Jul 27 9:59 AM, 2020
I had to laugh earlier watching Lorraine with Christine Bleakley (Lampard). They went live to London Zoo where Bill Bailey was at the Penguin enclosure doing his Save the Zoo campaign.
He pointed out a couple of Herons at the back that know its nearly feeding time, and they were pretending to be Penguins. Comedy genius when he put a voice to it saying honestly Im a Penguin. Might have a slightly longer beak but Im still a Penguin
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 27th of July 2020 10:00:29 AM
Mike Chorley said
Tue Jul 14 8:33 PM, 2020
Also on North West Tonight....so plenty of chances to catch up with it in the next 24 hours
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jul 14 6:38 PM, 2020
sid ashton wrote:
The Bearded Vulture in the Peak District was featured on the BBC Breakfast programme today at just before 8.00am.
And on Radio 5 Live and Northwest Today on BBC Lunchtime. I think most interviewees were folk who had been yesterday, shame they didn't yomp over today as I could have given them chapter and verse
sid ashton said
Tue Jul 14 11:06 AM, 2020
The Bearded Vulture in the Peak District was featured on the BBC Breakfast programme today at just before 8.00am.
sid ashton said
Tue May 5 4:11 PM, 2020
Simon Gough wrote:
BBC have just shown a series called Wild Arabia, a couple of bits were really brilliant for the bird footage. In episode 2 there is a sequence about Verreaux's Eagles, some stunning footage and a commentary error into the bargain.
Episode 3 has a sequence from some irrigated crop fields which is completely brilliant, with some cracking birds and some lovely footage of a ringtail Hen Harrier chasing wagtails around the place. I managed to pick out at least 4 ssp of Yellow Wagtail and that was without pausing it. Doubt I'll see a real one this year, so this will have to do...there is also one bird in the footage that might re-jog some memories from the Magic Moments thread as well.
Yes Simon a really interesting programme especially for ourselves as we spent almost eight years living and working in the Sultanate of Oman. We were based in the North of the country and it was only towards the end of our time there, late 1981 early 1982, did I get the chance to go down to the southern Dhofar region where the programme was filmed. Always having had an interest in birds I do recall watching what I was later told were probably Verreaux's Eagles . We were looking at a possible pipeline route so we were well out in the wilds having our packed lunch one day and above was the acrobatic display of these striking birds taking place - so it's only taken almost 40 years to "confirm" what I was told at the time.
I didn't notice the commentary error in the sequence that you mentioned however, too busy reminiscing tales of yesteryear !!!
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 5th of May 2020 08:00:20 PM
Simon Gough said
Tue May 5 12:58 PM, 2020
BBC have just shown a series called Wild Arabia, a couple of bits were really brilliant for the bird footage. In episode 2 there is a sequence about Verreaux's Eagles, some stunning footage and a commentary error into the bargain.
Episode 3 has a sequence from some irrigated crop fields which is completely brilliant, with some cracking birds and some lovely footage of a ringtail Hen Harrier chasing wagtails around the place. I managed to pick out at least 4 ssp of Yellow Wagtail and that was without pausing it. Doubt I'll see a real one this year, so this will have to do...there is also one bird in the footage that might re-jog some memories from the Magic Moments thread as well.
vic chatterton said
Sat Sep 7 12:44 PM, 2019
I remember watching an All Creatures Great and Small Programme some years ago (the James Herriot one) and there was a "helluva" Bee-eater movement during one programme!
Mike Chorley said
Thu Aug 29 7:34 PM, 2019
Not just film and TV. A recent professional stage production in London of a play set in the industrial NE of the U.S.A. had a sound track for a garden scene featuring a Chiffchaff. Ironic given that the sound designer had made such a thing about the 'sound design' for the piece.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 29 12:21 PM, 2019
Most bird sounds on TV programmes and film are added in with little regard to validity I'm afraid.
Garry Chesters said
Thu Aug 29 12:17 PM, 2019
While binge watching Peaky blinders, when I reached season 3 ep.3 I realised, in a night scene there was a Red necked nightjar calling in the distance. I have looked up the filming locations and it is filmed in the UK. Never on the continent, as far as I can see. This species was only recorded once in England around 1850, the bird was deceased.
S3 E3, about 16.5 minutes in until the 20th minute. It is difficult to hear as the actors are talking and playing with a gun, but it is definitely R.N. Nightjar, I think. I think the scene was filmed at tommys House, i.e Arley house in Northwich, But cannot be sure!
Puzzling! Does anyone have a feasible explanation?
-- Edited by Garry Chesters on Thursday 29th of August 2019 12:18:39 PM
Chris Chandler said
Sun Jul 21 12:38 AM, 2019
Watching Line of Duty on netflix tonight. Nice Lesser Whitethroat singing in the background as they examined a murder scene (s4 e5). Can't imagine its a bird they'd bother adding in post-production (unless the sound tech is a secret birder )
Craig Higson said
Wed Mar 27 8:49 PM, 2019
Another classic faux pas last night on "Vera". In a scene up on the moors, with not a tree or bush in sight, a chaffinch was singing away quite merrily. Now I don't doubt that you can see a Chaffinch up on the moors but Ive never noted their affinity for singing from the tops of stunted heather plants.
Nice little piece on BBC's News at 6 about the start of re-location to a better habitat for some of Madagascar's endangered endemic Pochard. On the IPlayer until 9 a.m. tomorrow.
phillipskelly said
Sat Nov 10 3:00 PM, 2018
Earlier today (possibly about 12.30pm) while watching 2nd practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix in San Paulo , I spotted 2 long legged waders on a grassed area at the very edge of the track - possibly Southern Lapwing.
Mark B-Seifert said
Wed Jan 4 6:02 PM, 2017
Short notice but Granada News tonight will have segment about Martin Mere.
Craig Higson said
Sat Dec 31 7:40 PM, 2016
Watching one of those Alaskan Bush people type programmes on Discovery and the main bird I can hear is Willow Warbler. Didn't realise they were an Alaskan species!?
Mike Chorley said
Thu Oct 27 7:35 PM, 2016
Shannon Llewellyn wrote:
Didn't watch the last series (reading the books, and so didn't want spoilers!), but beyond the Wall was usually filmed in Iceland, I think.
Still, though, if you can accept dragons, divination using fire and blood magic, then surely chiffchaffs singing at the onset of winter shouldn't be too much of a stretch! Clearly the Westerosi chiffchaff (Phylloscopus westericus) is non-migratory and sings to maintain territory throughout the year...
Maybe it's a Narnian sub-species
Shannon Llewellyn said
Thu Oct 27 1:18 PM, 2016
Didn't watch the last series (reading the books, and so didn't want spoilers!), but beyond the Wall was usually filmed in Iceland, I think.
Still, though, if you can accept dragons, divination using fire and blood magic, then surely chiffchaffs singing at the onset of winter shouldn't be too much of a stretch! Clearly the Westerosi chiffchaff (Phylloscopus westericus) is non-migratory and sings to maintain territory throughout the year...
Mike Chorley said
Wed Oct 26 8:38 PM, 2016
Maybe they all film in the same part of Ireland
JamieDunning said
Wed Oct 26 12:43 PM, 2016
The walking dead is another US drama with an all British line up of bird song. Chiffchaff survive the apocalypse...
Chris Porter said
Wed Oct 26 12:05 PM, 2016
Andrew Huyton wrote:
Anyone else noticed the excessive use of Chiffchaff singing in tv programs these days? Outside of bake off tent i can just about stomach but north of the wall with winter coming in Game of Thrones, was that really needed sound crew?
Good spot. The summers and winters in that world can last many years, so maybe we should ask George RR Martin how this affects migration, breeding and hibernation patterns.
Adrian Dancy said
Mon Oct 24 6:30 AM, 2016
There will be an article about twite on Radio Manchester this morning ( Alison Butterworth and Phil Trow) between 6.00am and 9.00am.
Andrew Huyton said
Fri Oct 21 1:25 AM, 2016
Anyone else noticed the excessive use of Chiffchaff singing in tv programs these days? Outside of bake off tent i can just about stomach but north of the wall with winter coming in Game of Thrones, was that really needed sound crew?
Mike Passant said
Sat Oct 8 8:59 PM, 2016
Barb and I watched a film this evening "The Shallows" a variant of the "Jaws" theme set in Mexico with a nice young lady surfer injured and stranded on a tidal offshore rock besieged by a Great White Shark.
Her sole companion was an injured gull. You may justifiably suppose it would be a Laughing Gull; -but no, it was a Silver Gull, (native of course to Australia).
I nudged Barb and said I bet this film was really made in Australia, and sure enough at the end the location was seen to be Lord Howe Island.
sid ashton said
Wed Oct 5 8:25 PM, 2016
The short Mike Dilger film about the Purple Swamphen (Gallinule) mentioned by Rob Creek in his Alkborough Flats (Lincolnshire) post on 5th September has just been on this evening's One Show BBC1 - last item on the programme.
Doc Brewster said
Tue May 24 7:27 PM, 2016
Currently repeating Iolo Williams 'The Brecon Beacons' programme on BBC 4 at the mo. Next episode tonight at 7.30pm. Last night was Winter & tonight it's Spring. Well worth watching, for what it's worth I rate Iolo as one of the best wildlife presenters on TV, after Sir David of course, as everybody is
Simon Gough said
Mon May 16 7:18 PM, 2016
Last night's Countryfile was quite good, featuring bird ringing on Alderney. A Bird Observatory is being established on the island and the BBC's Mat Baker was the man on the spot. They showed some great little passerines, including a Bonelli's and Subalpine Warbler. It's on the iPlayer for the next month it appears
sid ashton said
Mon Apr 4 9:09 PM, 2016
Just saw the BBC news report of the Mute Swan holding up the traffic as it strolled down the centre of Great Ancoats Street this morning. The drivers were all patient and it didn't come to any harm apparently.
Mike Chorley said
Mon Nov 9 11:26 PM, 2015
Chris Sutton wrote:
The Lost Kingdom - The opening scenes of episode 1 set in AD866 showed the King of Northumbria with what looked like a Harris Hawk. Humm ?
...........and a load of pumpkins, judging by the photos! Obviously Leif Ericsson got farther south than people thought
Chris Sutton said
Mon Nov 9 10:26 AM, 2015
The Lost Kingdom - The opening scenes of episode 1 set in AD866 showed the King of Northumbria with what looked like a Harris Hawk. Humm ?
Steve Christmas said
Sun Nov 8 10:00 PM, 2015
Collared Dove just calling in Downton Abbey. 30 years before their time!
Craig Higson said
Sun Nov 8 7:04 PM, 2015
sid ashton wrote:
What was so special about the Sparrowhawk that Mr Packham was going on about on Autumnwatch this evening, does anyone know please? Did I miss something?
Suppose it depends on what your favourite bird is, and Chis Ps must be a Sparrowhawk. The individual was pretty stunning. I thought it was great to hear someone of his standing to choose a British raptor rather than rattling on about something more exotic.
sid ashton said
Thu Nov 5 10:50 PM, 2015
What was so special about the Sparrowhawk that Mr Packham was going on about on Autumnwatch this evening, does anyone know please? Did I miss something?
Tim Wilcox said
Fri Jul 17 7:44 PM, 2015
Sandwich Terns picked up by the BBC at St. Andrew's just now
Tim Wilcox said
Thu Jul 16 6:37 PM, 2015
Twite heard calling at 6.30 from The Open live coverage at St.Andrew's
Keith Mills said
Tue Jun 9 7:05 AM, 2015
Just watched David Winnard's talk on That's Manchester tv (channel8).. .....Wild flowers, mainly the edible ones, in the urban areas of Greater Manchester. Mushroom too. Not birds I know, and possibly a repeat, but great stuff!
Rob Thorpe said
Thu Feb 5 10:24 PM, 2015
Pink-footed Geese over Emmerdale Village this evening.
John Rayner said
Tue Dec 23 8:31 AM, 2014
'The Quantum Robin' is the first part of this BBC iPlayer programme.
In a nutshell describes how Quantum Physics is helping explain a European Robin's ability to navigate using the earth's magnetic field. All happens in the Robin's eyes apparently.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 08:46:26 AM
Rob Creek said
Tue Dec 2 4:36 PM, 2014
Bernard McGurrin wrote:
Rob Creek wrote:
Tim Wilcox wrote:
Wigan Flashes and Willow Tits on Countryfile right now
Yeah I saw it Tim, quite interesting, had no idea there were 20 pairs there.
Hi Rob, were the 20 pairs said to be in the wigan flashes area or in the corridor, as i understand it the corridor stretches from pennington flash through lightshaw and three sisters as well as wigan flashes, when presenter Ellie Harrison was talking to Holly Brice the lady doing the survey they were actually sat in front of the main lake at three sisters and the corridor was mentioned there, i heard mark champion mention the 20 pairs whilst at the feeders at the flashes.
The way I understood it Bernard was that the guy featured was referring to Wigan Flashes as he said ... We currently have 20 pairs here ... So that's how I took it anyway.
Taken in Salford , the Juvenile from a few years ago :)
Enjoyed Countryfile this evening focussing on the waders of the Stour Estuary in Essex.
3 slight errors which were a little sloppy: a Dunlin showed a picture of a Curlew, a Redshank showed a Black Tailed Godwit, and a Swift a Swallow.
If anyone fancies watching on catch up it's a fun hour.
Just had to post this. Just watched Sky highlights of South Africa v England T20, and was amazed to see a family party of 6 Egyptian geese 'fielding' at cover point as Johnny Bairstow smashed the ball, thankfully, to the leg-side boundary.
They went live to London Zoo where Bill Bailey was at the Penguin enclosure doing his Save the Zoo campaign.
He pointed out a couple of Herons at the back that know its nearly feeding time, and they were pretending to be Penguins. Comedy genius when he put a voice to it saying honestly Im a Penguin. Might have a slightly longer beak but Im still a Penguin
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 27th of July 2020 10:00:29 AM
And on Radio 5 Live and Northwest Today on BBC Lunchtime. I think most interviewees were folk who had been yesterday, shame they didn't yomp over today as I could have given them chapter and verse
The Bearded Vulture in the Peak District was featured on the BBC Breakfast programme today at just before 8.00am.
Yes Simon a really interesting programme especially for ourselves as we spent almost eight years living and working in the Sultanate of Oman. We were based in the North of the country and it was only towards the end of our time there, late 1981 early 1982, did I get the chance to go down to the southern Dhofar region where the programme was filmed. Always having had an interest in birds I do recall watching what I was later told were probably Verreaux's Eagles . We were looking at a possible pipeline route so we were well out in the wilds having our packed lunch one day and above was the acrobatic display of these striking birds taking place - so it's only taken almost 40 years to "confirm" what I was told at the time.
I didn't notice the commentary error in the sequence that you mentioned however, too busy reminiscing tales of yesteryear !!!
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 5th of May 2020 08:00:20 PM
Episode 3 has a sequence from some irrigated crop fields which is completely brilliant, with some cracking birds and some lovely footage of a ringtail Hen Harrier chasing wagtails around the place. I managed to pick out at least 4 ssp of Yellow Wagtail and that was without pausing it. Doubt I'll see a real one this year, so this will have to do...there is also one bird in the footage that might re-jog some memories from the Magic Moments thread as well.
I remember watching an All Creatures Great and Small Programme some years ago (the James Herriot one) and there was a "helluva" Bee-eater movement during one programme!
Most bird sounds on TV programmes and film are added in with little regard to validity I'm afraid.
While binge watching Peaky blinders, when I reached season 3 ep.3 I realised, in a night scene there was a Red necked nightjar calling in the distance. I have looked up the filming locations and it is filmed in the UK. Never on the continent, as far as I can see.
This species was only recorded once in England around 1850, the bird was deceased.
S3 E3, about 16.5 minutes in until the 20th minute. It is difficult to hear as the actors are talking and playing with a gun, but it is definitely
R.N. Nightjar, I think.
I think the scene was filmed at tommys House, i.e Arley house in Northwich, But cannot be sure!
Puzzling! Does anyone have a feasible explanation?
-- Edited by Garry Chesters on Thursday 29th of August 2019 12:18:39 PM
A Robin makes BBC news
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-46859574
Maybe it's a Narnian sub-species
Still, though, if you can accept dragons, divination using fire and blood magic, then surely chiffchaffs singing at the onset of winter shouldn't be too much of a stretch! Clearly the Westerosi chiffchaff (Phylloscopus westericus) is non-migratory and sings to maintain territory throughout the year...
Chiffchaff survive the apocalypse...
Good spot. The summers and winters in that world can last many years, so maybe we should ask George RR Martin how this affects migration, breeding and hibernation patterns.
Barb and I watched a film this evening "The Shallows" a variant of the "Jaws" theme set in Mexico with a nice young lady surfer injured and stranded on a tidal offshore rock besieged by a Great White Shark.
Her sole companion was an injured gull. You may justifiably suppose it would be a Laughing Gull; -but no, it was a Silver Gull, (native of course to Australia).
I nudged Barb and said I bet this film was really made in Australia, and sure enough at the end the location was seen to be Lord Howe Island.
The short Mike Dilger film about the Purple Swamphen (Gallinule) mentioned by Rob Creek in his Alkborough Flats (Lincolnshire) post on 5th September has just been on this evening's One Show BBC1 - last item on the programme.
Currently repeating Iolo Williams 'The Brecon Beacons' programme on BBC 4 at the mo. Next episode tonight at 7.30pm. Last night was Winter & tonight it's Spring. Well worth watching, for what it's worth I rate Iolo as one of the best wildlife presenters on TV, after Sir David of course, as everybody is
Just saw the BBC news report of the Mute Swan holding up the traffic as it strolled down the centre of Great Ancoats Street this morning. The drivers were all patient and it didn't come to any harm apparently.
...........and a load of pumpkins, judging by the photos! Obviously Leif Ericsson got farther south than people thought
Collared Dove just calling in Downton Abbey. 30 years before their time!
Suppose it depends on what your favourite bird is, and Chis Ps must be a Sparrowhawk. The individual was pretty stunning. I thought it was great to hear someone of his standing to choose a British raptor rather than rattling on about something more exotic.
What was so special about the Sparrowhawk that Mr Packham was going on about on Autumnwatch this evening, does anyone know please? Did I miss something?
.....Wild flowers, mainly the edible ones, in the urban areas of Greater Manchester. Mushroom too.
Not birds I know, and possibly a repeat, but great stuff!
In a nutshell describes how Quantum Physics is helping explain a European Robin's ability to navigate using the earth's magnetic field. All happens in the Robin's eyes apparently.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04v85cj/the-secrets-of-quantum-physics-2-let-there-be-life
Only available till this Friday.
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 08:46:26 AM
The way I understood it Bernard was that the guy featured was referring to Wigan Flashes as he said ... We currently have 20 pairs here ... So that's how I took it anyway.