Sunday 11 April 2010

Look who's Back!

Out birding Wanstead Flats this morning and I heard a funny noise I could not place. No, not a Robin. A repeated "Whoop whoop whoop" led me to Wanstead's favourite escape, the White-cheeked Turaco, sat in a tree being hassled by Magpies and Jays. Despite its suspect origins (it's on my list!) it's a thrilling bird to see. When it flies, revealing the red wings, it's simply breathtaking.


As I was very near home, I dashed back to get the kids, but returning with them there was no sign. How can such a huge and brightly-coloured bird just disappear? On the short walk home, explaining about dipping to my disappointed offspring, we had just got to our street when I noticed it in a bush above our heads. It was about five feet away. We stopped talking about dipping.




We had simply wonderful views as this thing peered down at us, before it flew off into nearby gardens - gardens on our side of the street! We ran the short distance to the house and dashed out into the garden. I stood on a little garden table, cupped my hands together, and made a "Whoop whoop" kind of sound. Twenty seconds later and it was in our garden with the whole family watching. I continued to "Whoop" at it until our neighbour came out....

11 comments:

  1. I love your photographs!
    As I have only lived in England for a short while, I am starting to get to know the local birds. I love the breeding plumage of the starlings, and the mad idiocy of woodpeckers all trying to outdo each other.

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  2. that turaco is brill! I want one!

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  3. This bird has been visiting our garden for about 2 years. I'm amazed he has got through two winters.
    I keep hens and he seems very interested in them, particulay Wilma! I have watched him parade around her, showing off his wingsToday he visited us while the hens were out in the garden and he went into their run to feed on their food. I could have caught him if I'd known who he belongs to. But then I'd miss him visiting us, he's quite friendly and you can get very close to him.

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  4. This bird has been visiting our garden for about 2 years. I'm amazed he has got through two winters.
    I keep hens and he seems very interested in them, particulay Wilma! I have watched him parade around her, showing off his wingsToday he visited us while the hens were out in the garden and he went into their run to feed on their food. I could have caught him if I'd known who he belongs to. But then I'd miss him visiting us, he's quite friendly and you can get very close to him.

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  5. I used to this bird all the time when we lived across from the flats. It's truly breathtaking. Lovely pictures!

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  6. Hi, I just saw this/one of these birds in my garden on Blake Hall Crescent. Quite incredible. Hope you see this message so you know he or she is back in town....

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    1. It is the same one! A friend of mine lives on Belgrave Rd (so very near you, your gardens could well back onto each other I suppose) and had it in his garden yesterday eating cherries.

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  7. I've recently moved to Park Road in Wanstead and today is the third time I've spotted him in the tree at the front of our house. He appears to fly in, spread his wings to reveal the bright red tips, then hop off into another garden.

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  8. Just spotted this bird today in Wanstead Park : ) Have wondered what this is for a long time!

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  9. Seen again today and gutted I wasn't able to get a photo.

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  10. I saw him today in Aldersbrook. He looked all black with red wings like the one in your final photo!

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