h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One Chiff-chaff.
Small, compact and VERY loud Excellent alarm clock.....if you have to be awake at 3.30 in the morning
Can say it's own name, which it does for around 15 hours a day!
Can catch it's own food, so no feeding required. Any takers?

Please bring large net, binoculars and deerstalker hat. May require patience and a long wait to catch it.

Disclaimer:
No responsibility will be taken for loss of sleep once ownership has been established.
Ear plugs not included.

Do they make good play-mates for black squirrels though? I can just go introducing new things into the delicately balanced eco-system that is my 'gardens' you know ... You may have to keep him for another season or three, while I do some further research.

Chiff chaffs, eh? Last in the queue when songs were given out. Dull in plumage and behaviour. Sits in the same bloody tree all bloody summer. Yeah, I can see your frustration

If you want, I'll bring my tin whistle over and chase the bugger away.

After an hour or two you might wish he was back though...

Why did it have to choose my tree!

KB.
Would like me to tell you where you can blow that whistle?

Ah! Your favourite bird...

Reminds me of Kew Gardens

I'll see if I can find 'our' Chiffchaff on Sunday when I'm next in Kew.



MMF

Would it like a friend?
At least 'our' one at Kew does'nt wake people at stupid times of the morning

I'm sure it would... That is why it is singing at that time of the morning...

Unless they are both the same sex

The it would be stereo, and also a major crescendo!



MMF

One is bad enough, i'm sure it must be male as it is so noisy

How can you say that?



MMF

Quite easily
I'm sure that bird has a recording of it's song, which it plays when it's resting

I can empathise with you, Venus. Each morning I am awakened by a flock of Cockatoos, a couple of Kookaburras, some Koels and finally by a family of Eastern Rosellas when the sun rises!

Who needs an alarm clock? Here are some pictures of just a few of my visitors..http://members.ozemail.com.au/~oldzac/page12a.htm



Peeb

The problem with the birds in Oz is they look good but squawk a great deal.

Ours look drab, and sing beautifully, except maybe Venus' chiffchaff!

If only they'd swap plumage or calls.

Btw, the sulphur crested cockatoo reminded me of flying pigs when I saw them.

MMF

MMF, we Aussie people also look good but squawk a great deal as well...

But have a listen to this, though, and you hear something truly amazing..http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/tvandsoap.html?in_page_id=1887&in_article_id=385372

Pure



Peeb