Birds On Television

Rob Thorpe · Status: Offline

RE: Birds On Television

Steve Judge · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

On Winterwatch tonight there was a cracking photo taken by John Tymon of a Great Northern Diver.

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

On Mastermind tonight (BBC2 7.30) one of the specialist subjects will be 'seabirds'.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 cry

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

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 smile

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 27th of July 2020 10:00:29 AM

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Also on North West Tonight....so plenty of chances to catch up with it in the next 24 hours

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 biggrin biggrin biggrin

sid ashton · Status: Offline

The Bearded Vulture in the Peak District was featured on the BBC Breakfast programme today at just before 8.00am.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

Most bird sounds on TV programmes and film are added in with little regard to validity I'm afraid.

Garry Chesters · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

A Robin makes BBC news biggrin

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-46859574

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

Short notice but Granada News tonight will have segment about Martin Mere.

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 biggrin

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

Maybe they all film in the same part of Ireland biggrin

JamieDunning · Status: Offline

The walking dead is another US drama with an all British line up of bird song.
Chiffchaff survive the apocalypse...

Chris Porter · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Online

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 smile

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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 biggrin

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

Collared Dove just calling in Downton Abbey. 30 years before their time!

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

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? hmm

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Sandwich Terns picked up by the BBC at St. Andrew's just now

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Twite heard calling at 6.30 from The Open live coverage at St.Andrew's

Keith Mills · Status: Offline

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 · Status: Offline

Pink-footed Geese over Emmerdale Village this evening.

John Rayner · Status: Offline

'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.

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

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

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.