This was a strange one!

[dk1677]

Chipper #23 is out there, I saw him yesterday but he ran off when I opened a window. This afternoon he was there again at about 25 yards . I slowly opened the window a bit and hes still there so I pick up the 850 and loaded a RWS SHP and as I was sliding it out I saw he was gone so I kept it out in case he came back. Now there was a fine misty rain and there were birds all over my yard and some chipping sparrows and wrens just a yard or two from the window. As I was waiting a wren fly's up and lands on the 850's front sight! His feet just touched the cover over the sight when he must have seen me and he took off. Needless to say the chipper didn't come back. Then later on I see a tree rat in my apple tree , I grab the 850 and find him at about 20 yards or so on a branch looking right at me , I get his head in the scope and let one go and watch as he falls about 15 ft to the ground ( thinking as hes going down its a kill) and he lands on his feet and takes off like a rocket into some bushes. I even go out to look for a blood trail but there is none. In retrospect I think I must have shot just a little high but It sure must have given him a scare hehe.

[shadow]

Sounds like you gave him a buzz cut with the pellet. Nothing get's a critter up and moving like lead passing by them really really close lol. Ed

[only1harry]

Could have just grazed it.  They spook and loose their balance sometimes.  It's happened with to me too.  I missed a Gray with the 350 when I used to shoot it with open sights off-hand, once upon a time   They have even fallen off the tree when I was just target shooting and didn't know there was 1 there.  The report of the gun just spooks them and they lose their grip, especially when sitting/resting on a thin branch.  I have actually watched a squirrel through the scope shake and quiver after I had shot its partner.  I felt sorry for it and let it go.. because I knew I would get it the next day or following week   When you have shot well over 100 squirrels, you tend to see a few "strange" things 

[oldpink]

I, too, had a House wren land on the barrel of my CFX when I was out at the range a couple of months ago.
It was sitting in my Sight-N-Clean rest while I was standing only a yard away.
The little fellow was incredibly bold, and he sat there for over a minute looking at me.
Wrens are surprisingly brave.
Only Black Capped Chickadees are even bolder in my experience.

[timegoat]

Never had a bird land on my rifle, but had a dragonfly do that once. It was cool. A bird would be cooler.

Had a miss on a Red Squirrel last year, maybe two years ago, like Harry I was using open sights. It didn't drop to the ground but it took off up the tree it was in like lightning and didn't give me a chance for a second shot. Smart move... musta been last year since I remember posting about it at the old GTA.

oldpink, I agree with the chickadees. They'll come to the feeder when I'm standing a few feet away from it. My Mom tells me they're brave enough to be fed by hand too. Ain't tried that one yet.

- Mark

[The Knot]

When the seed gets low in the feeder right outside my door the chickadees fly into my house and land on my mtn bike thats hanging by the door .A few chirps later and i refill it for them sometimes walking right by them to do so .

[shadow]

The chickadee's are friendly little birds I have them hang with me in my hide at times. Ed