Topic: A Strange Bird

[tuinman]

I nipped down to the alotment there and was walking up the path when an olive green bird flew up and away, it was the size of a raven and i think there was also a bit yellow on the wing feathers. It was pretty quick so i only seen it for a couple of seconds. I've never seen a bird like it here so i will try to get a photo of it if i can. Does it sound familiar?

[dandelion]

It wasn't a parrot was it? Flocks of escaped parrots now breed in urban areas. I've seen them here in London and in Brussels.

http://www.d76.us/photos/images/dsc_3330fb.jpg

[manicscousers]

could it ha ve been a jay, but they're a browny colour, with a flash of white so, maybe not  :)

[tuinman]

my first thought was also "parrot" but didn't think it possible. be taking camera next time.

[dandelion]

Definitely possible:

From today's guardian newspaper (article on the Big Garden Birdwatch)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Could also have been a green woodpecker. Was it fat and heavy bodied, and flying in spurts with small glides between them?

[sawfish]

If it was the size of a raven then it must have been some sort of parrot. The only other I can think of would be a European Roller its about the size of a jackdaw and usually seen a few times a year in various parts of the British Isles.

http://en.arocha.org/images/shared/1195l.jpeg

[Trixiebelle]

Could also have been a green woodpecker. Was it fat and heavy bodied, and flying in spurts with small glides between them?

Don't think so Robert. I was nowhere near that area on the date in question!