Merlin App Appreciation plus General Birding Chat

[DiggoryVenn]

A thread for all lovers of the Merlin app (app that allows you to identify birds by their sound). A place to share what you have spotted, ask questions and any other bird chat.

Caveat: I am pretty much a novice birdwatcher myself.

Mine for today: not sure about the Cetti's warbler but I could positively identify the rest.

A raven! I want one!
Merlin is fab.

We have a number of goldfinches - they swoop from the top of tree to the top of tree. That's where to look.

I've just spent a lovely morning at RSPB Ham Wall with a guide (can you hire a guide privately through the website), and we were lucky enough to hear a bittern booming. We didn't see it but we probably heard it about 20 times whilst we were there.

Also saw a marsh harrier, great egret, gadwall, teal, wigeon, pochard and some herons nesting.

It was a great way to expand my knowledge. What is really annoying though, is that the Merlin app doesn't seem to automatically save my recordings any more.

That sounds like a great way to learn @DiggoryVenn . I checked and it’s not an option in any of the RSPB reserves near me. Such a shame, as it’s a good way to learn regardless of how much you already know.

I went to a National Trust Estate near me. It was a wet day, so the birds weren’t that active, but I still got great views of a tree creeper winding its way up multiple trees, a jay (which I hardly ever see around here) and ravens.

There’s such a change in the air lately - quite literally! So much birdsong and I can see that the local jackdaw population have already paired up. Baby Jacks are on the way! 🐦‍⬛

It's not always advertised that guides are available @Festina - always worth giving your local nature reserve a call. They can very likely recommend someone to give a tour, even if it's not listed on their website. E.g. I know Minsmere do private tours ('hire a guide') but they can cover other local RSPB reserves too (North Warren, Dingle Marshes) if you ask them. If there's no visitor centre they usually keep their publicly offered services low key.