Author | Lightnews

Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 7h

Two jackdaws, same red-tiled roof as yesterday, but no rain. I was glad they flew towards me because I was able to be 100% sure of my identification. One had been standing tall on an aerial, the other a bit hunched up, tricky to be sure both were jackdaws.

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 1d

I can't think that there can be any nicer 'bookend' to neatly wrap up the FBsOYD calendar month than a gorgeous female Northern cardinal! 😍

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 1d

Wasn't it? 😄 However, I don't think the jackdaws will manage another calendar month of such FBOMD ubiquity! 🙂

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 1d

Two jackdaws perched on TV aerials above red roof tiles glistening with rain. We're in November. But I didn't spot the jackdaw planning conference for this month! Deferred until tomorrow by the inclement weather possibly?

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 2d

A commotion of tchaking arose. I looked out: no visible birds, no jackdaws! I went out & looked upwards: several jackdaws were taking flight from the rooftop. Thus, my October ends with jackdaws as FBOMD 27/31 days!!

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 2d

Concise. Brilliant (as usual). 🎯 An avian and meteorological report suitably redolent of a 'gothic novel' atmosphere and hence consistent with the approach of the 31st October ...

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 3d

Similarly, I seem to recall, that Big Ginge gets fretful that you might be neglecting to provide his dinner during summertime afternoons when broadcasters are successively airing multiple FIFA or UEFA tournament matches. Another cause of BG's unique feline facial expression of suspected outrage! 🥅⚽️🐈

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 3d

Yes! The jackdaws resumed their usual FBOMD result after yesterday's blip. Half a dozen on the roof opposite which I saw before a five commuter herring gull flyover. Finally, the pair-bonded, loved up jackdaw pair really do 'own' that specific chimney pot! 💘

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 3d

I was surprised and delighted to spot a Female Common merganser (Goosander - Mergus merganser) in an unexpected place this morning. At c. 10:50hrs on the R. Sow in Victoria Park in Stafford just downstream of the slight weir. Soon flew off! Water too shallow for diving!

Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 3d

I think Big Ginge's look of appeal is very distinctive. It makes a big impression on me! I remember a similar photograph that you posted just after the autumn 2024 clock change. Such that I was thinking about the impact of the clocks going back SPECIFICALLY on Big Ginge in the run up to the event.

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 3d

Oh, that is really nice. 😄 A chaffinch in your garden. It's a long time since I have seen the species in the garden, although I know where I can find them in the district.

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 3d

Phew, that's posted, which must be a weight off your mind! There's definitely a link between curious, sociable jackdaws and chimney pots!! 😁

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 4d

What a gloomy day that must have been for you so many hours of daylight seeing no birds at all! 🐦💔 A dependable Northern cardinal retrieved that dire situation. Great cardinal contribution.

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 4d

Yay! White-throated sparrows sprinkling some avian stardust in the backyard. 🌟

Recently seen online (The Economist) a 2ndhand write up of Univ of Chicago Institute for Climate & Sustainable Growth research paper on effects of 1950s Four Pests Campaign in China. ALL 'sparrows' are much on my mind. 💕

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 4d

Good shout out! I heard about this on BBC R4 'Today' programme this morning. It is an opportunity to achieve some positive ecosystem change at such a threatening time for biodiversity nationally and internationally.

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 4d

Lone commuting herring gull snuck in as FBOMD. Only 2nd gull October FBOMD. Looking sharp right, I saw a jackdaw couple perched opposite one another on a chimney rim carrying out feather self-maintenance. Oh, it was such a near FBOMD miss for Team Jackdaw!

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 5d

🤣🤣🤣

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 5d

Jackdaw hopped up from far side of a roof and perched on the lip of a chimney pot. FBOMD as 1st identifiable avian. Two disappearing pairs of very distant wings looked corvid-like but I was unable to guess the species with realistic prospect of accuracy!

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 6d

Yes, you're right to acknowledge how well @carolynjane.bsky.social captures and conveys those rooks in flight coping with strong, gusting winds! 👏

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 6d

Ah, welcome to the Brown thrasher. 🤎 Back as FBOYD after a few months off (I seem to recall), coming through as 🥇🐦 on Sunday because the other species were unspottable in the fog! 😄
A bit of an Aesop's fable sort of route to being your First Bird given the bird's ground foraging habit? 🤔

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 6d

Well done to those Common starlings coming to the rescue of your birdless start to the morning! 👏

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 6d

A loose formation of tiny wings turning back in swirling gusts around sunrise time down the road were FBsOMD. I am calling them as jackdaws given how spread out this group were. Pigeons flying in the same number stick together more closely.

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 7d

Two jackdaws were FBsOMD after the clock went back to GMT. Both were looking up the road, one stood on a wire balloon chimney top, the other stood on a brick stack adjacent to a chimney pot.

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 8d

Ah, interesting, I didn't realise North America is changing clocks a week later. Agree that daylight already seems much diminished 5 weeks on from the equinox. Good luck with your reading stack! 📚 I am, alas, behind with my reading 2025 YTD. 🙄

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Deeside Sparrow @deesidesparrow.bsky.social · 8d

They are wonderful. 😄

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