Wild bird identification....

[ipek]

I've recently become quite keen on checking out the birds that visit my Sussex garden.  I am doing quite well identifying most of them from my little RSPB handbook, but have seen 2 that I cannot find in the book.

Anyone know of a very good website with pictures or ID forum?

[spudqueen]

Have you tried the RSPB web site? Don't forget though that in the spring there are many young birds which don't look the same as the adults, robins for example don't have a red breast.

[gen2]

In my opinion, by far the best site around for answering this type of question is the Bird Forum.  It has a huge membership and its forums are subdivided into a multitude of categories.  There is also a database and a gallery of photographs of birds.  It will take a while to find your way around it all.  Members are of all abilities.  I have been a member for about 9 months have have found everyone very friendly, helpful and informative.

Here is the link bird forum

Incidentally, they also have forum sections for other aspects of nature, catering for; flowers & trees, fungi, butterflies and moths, other insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and 'other'.  Best answers are given if you include a photo.

[Cetti]

Welcome to the club ipek and now you will be well and truly hooked for life!  Well done if you can identify the garden birds so fast as it took me forever, so you must be a natural.

I would go with spudqueen and say your first port of call would be the brilliant RSPB site as not only do you have each bird but the call and possibly a video as well.

Another  book (you can never have too many!) that is very helpful is the Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guide  entitled 'Garden Birds'. It's written by Dominic Couzens who is the Editor of Birdwatching magazine, so you know it will be correct. Happy Birding!

[Robinia]

As well as those mentioned the British Garden Birds is a good one too  www.britishgardenbirds.co.uk

Cetti - you're back!  I've been asking for a while whether anyone had 'seen' you. Hope you're ok.

[Robinia]

Mmm that doesn't bring up the home page.

             Try this

[ipek]

Thanks you 'guys'.  If only these birds would be thoughtful enough to let me know when they're coming and then sit still long enough for me to focus the camera, I'd be laughing!

gen2 - I did join the Bird Forum before posting this, but thought they might be too big and international to bother with IDing the odd bird - but I will go back and look through the forums.

spudqueen - I did consider this aspect and indeed one did look and behave like a fledgling (a bit scruffy and looked like it was waiting to be fed, rather than helping itself from the feeder).  But I still couldn't find anything that it might turn into!

Cetti - Hello old friend, long time no see!  Yup, I'm hooked alright and will see if I can get hold of the book you recommend.

Robinia - Thanks for that.  I've had a look at quite a few sites for British birds and drawn a blank, I was wondering if the latest one could be a foreign visitor.

[Robinia]

 ipek you could always try describing it & we'll spend many hours trying to guess what it is as we did with Cetti's 'headless' bird picture recently!  (the pic was headless not the bird!)

[Cetti]

Robby and ipek!! 

Great to be back with you. I encountered the Screen of Death, so was computerless for about 5 weeks ...also  developed the computer equivalent of the Dt's so it's really lovely to see you all again. :)

[Robinia]

Glad you're sorted Cetti - I was afraid you'd got stuck up a tree chasing a rarity!!