The Parakeet (formally The Parrot) Thread (i.e. DJ not required - Lounge suit only because ...)

[lozzyloz]

Or a Norwegian Blue perhaps?

[Moos]

Bootiful plumage, and there are indeed buckets of them in Peckham Rye park, where we have only the finest wildlife. And my family from time to time.

[okcomputa]

Hate to piss on anyone's fire, but check this pic out:

Ok, it's before they cleaned the pond a couple of years back - but heck, it's a turtle>:D<

[blinder999]

downsouth Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> They normally reside in Dulwich Park. I think they

> are green parakeets which are noisy little so and

> so's.

>

I saw two of them flitting about on Underhill Rd as I went to get my newspaper this morning. Way prettier than the usual scuzzy pigeons.

[SimonM]

Have them seen them often in Underhill - 5 is the record for our garden. The "African Queen! story is, I think, a dead granny but has a pleasing symmetry given that the author of the book on which the film was based lived in Underhill Road....also believed to be an urban myth is the theory they are all descended from a pair Jimi Hendrix kept.

I am sure I saw a turtle in the Japanese garden pond in Peckham Rye park last week....I know there used to be several in Dulwich Park lake

The Trees of Peckham Rye Park,.....number 1, The Larch....

[lozzyloz]

I wonder if they taste as good as Pigeon? Perhaps a nice alternative to BBQ Grey Squirrel.

[Brendan]

You?re probably onto something there. Just the locally sourced, low fat, kind of food that will do well in ED. Perhaps I should set up a stall in the warehouse or on Northcross road selling bbqed parakeet-onna-stick.

[Michael Palaeologus]

"..........otters noses, wolf-nipple ships - get 'em while they're 'ot - they're lovely"

[Moos]

Can back up your turtle claim, Simon, I've seen him too.

[SimonM]

...Not seen the Kingfisher for ages though :'(

[Moos]

No, nor I.. :-(

I think DM carried out her threat and wore him to Cheltenham.

[Jah Lush]

Over the last few weeks I've seen a couple of Parakeets in my neighbours back garden, which backs onto mine in Melford Road. They like the apples in the apple tree, which is huge. This morning six of them flew into the tree. They are lime green with a hint of yellow. Absolutely beautiful site. Unfortunately, the local Magpies aren't so keen. I think they feel they are invading their space.

[SimonM]

Round the corner from Melford in Underhill, we have had up to 5 parakeets in the garden hacking merrily away at the bird feeders, which hang from the apple tree. They do not seem interested in the apples though. It is fun to watch them trying (and failing) to face down the squirrels. Anything that scares of them bastard murderin' magpies is a good thing I reckon!:)) The other day the same apple tree had two greater spotted woodpeckers hammering away at the trunk....

[Jah Lush]

The gardens that back on to mine in Melford Road are on Underhill and Wood Vale, so I guess you're just around the corner from me Simon. It's a great place for bird watching from my bedroom and living room windows as it's all trees out the back there, though I'm not much of an ornithologist.

[PeckhamRose]

What happened to the Kingfisher in Peckham Rye Park?

Anyway, parakeets, yes, theory is that on the lot of the African Queen made in England they were brought in to make the film look authentic and they flew away.

It's fun watching the squirrels hassle them in the trees. With earplugs in.

[SimonM]

I look out for the kingfisher every time I go through the Japanese Garden but, alas, no sign of it. I have seen the "African Queen" theory before - there is a neat symetry to it as C S Forester lived on Underhill of course - but I also read somewhere that they are all descended from a pair Jimi Hendrix kept in the 60's: so choose your urban myth according to taste! :))

[Asset]

history of ring-necked parakeet according to RSPB

[2degreesfrommadness]

Sightings of turtles actually tend to be terrapins, usually the red-eared slider variety which are sold by pet shops around the size of a two-penny piece (cute!) and then grow to size of large tea plate ( not so cute). Used to be a large population in docklands as they outgrew their cuteness following the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fad.

"Heroes in a half-shell!"

[Michael Palaeologus]

Saw some of the little green chaps in Greenwich Park over the weekend and in Brockwell Park a few weeks ago. Other than the well known flock in SW London, has anybody seen them further afield?

[Msgee]

There's thaaaaaaaasands of them in Nunhead Cemetery. It's like the Guatemalan rainforest in there on a steamy day.

Not to mention the spider monkeys.

But we like to keep that quiet.