Religion and Ethics Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: wigginhall on October 21, 2012, 03:34:11 PM
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The bittern has landed. First bitterns have arrived at my local patch in London. But the early ones usually move on, and eventually several of them settle in for the winter, and provide a great bird-watching spectacle, although they are elusive on some days.
If you are in/near London, you can visit any day - just go to Hammersmith and catch the bus to the WWT at Barnes.
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The odd Bittern seen in Kent too. Always good to see.
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Butterly migration is starting to reveal its secrets! And one particular butterfly, the painted lady, stands out as having an incredible migration pattern. In some years(2009) huge numbers are seen in the U.K., often in Spring, and their migration can span a distance of 9000 miles. One fascinating fact is that they undertake this migration in a 'series of steps by up to six successive generations'.
Richard Fox, survey Manager of Butterfly Conservation said, ""The extent of the annual journey undertaken by the Painted Lady butterfly is astonishing. This tiny creature, weighing less than a gram, with a brain the size of a pinhead and no opportunity to learn from older, experienced individuals, undertakes an epic intercontinental migration in order to find plants for its caterpillars to eat. Once thought to be blindly led, at the mercy of the wind, into an evolutionary dead end in the lethal British winter, this amazing combination of mass-participation citizen science and cutting-edge technology has shown Painted Ladies to be sophisticated travellers."
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3493
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Great article, Antithesis. I never realized that they do a reverse migration. 2009 was amazing, they were everywhere.
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Fascinating stuff, Antithesis.
Not seen one Painted Lady this year >:(
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That's the one with that odd booming call?
Julie
Indeed it is.
A sound that is, thankfully, becoming more common.
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We were at Lakenheath several years ago, and a bittern started booming, and my wife's face was a picture, as she had never heard one before, and she was frickin schemazed.
Just remembered that last year, one of the bitterns in the Barnes reserve started to boom, causing great excitement, but I doubt they would breed there.
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Decent amateur film of bittern, with loads of people going, 'oh look, it's a bittern'. Also, you will not hear the booming on computer speakers - use headphones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky5IYXhraMg
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That's the old hide. I got some great photos of Bittern from the new Island Mere hide earlier this year. Well worth a visit in spring
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Went to Spurn yesterday to find 'fall' conditions with hundreds of blackbirds, redwings, song thrushes, fieldfares, robins with a scattering of ring ouzels, bramblings and siskins. Unfortunately, what's good for the birder, isn't necessarily good for the birds. Many birds started to migrate in clear conditions from the Scandinavian quarter, but met the gloomy, foggy and dismal conditions of the last few days on the U.K. east coast. Many became disorientated, and many have died.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3505
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Just had 18 waxwings in my garden. For those interested it looks as if it's going to be a 'waxwing year' with waxwings reported from a wide range of areas. It's an impressive bird which shows little fear of humans, and is often seen in suburban gardens and supermarket car parks! Normally they are very scarce winter visitors, but this year looks as though it might be outstanding. :)
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Yes, seen locally in London as well. Lots of stuff moving yesterday also, with waxwings, bearded tits, marsh harrier, fieldfares, redwings, goldeneye, red-throated pipit, moving through, (in London). Of course, I missed most of them!
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The woodpecker in my mum's garden had me smiling this week. He was trying his best to 'hammer' into her concrete garden post. Ouch! The visiting nuthatch is costing a small fortune in peanuts. :o
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Just a wee bit of a moan. Will someone please invent a hedgecutter that has a sensor that can detect the correct angle to trim a hedge, some of the hedgerows are looking decidedly ragged at the moment. :(
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Wonderful sight this afternoon - a huge gathering of Canadian geese on a local lake, and on the other side of the lake a heron, so, sooo, still - just watching. A lot of chattering and then suddenly, 75% of the geese took off, flying low across the water.
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Last week I was looking out of the window and there in a tree were approximately 20/30 black/grey birds with crests on their heads, the like of which I had never seen before. Fortunately our eldest was able to confirm I was actually seeing what I was seeing. We looked on-line, and in our bird book, and the only bird which matched the description of the birds we saw was the crested lark. However, they are very rare, usually inhabit the ground and unlikely to be seen in a village setting, very strange. Has anyone got another explanation?
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Last week I was looking out of the window and there in a tree were approximately 20/30 black/grey birds with crests on their heads, the like of which I had never seen before. Fortunately our eldest was able to confirm I was actually seeing what I was seeing. We looked on-line, and in our bird book, and the only bird which matched the description of the birds we saw was the crested lark. However, they are very rare, usually inhabit the ground and unlikely to be seen in a village setting, very strange. Has anyone got another explanation?
Hi Atteq,
Yes. They were almost definitely Bohemian waxwings. This year has been a bumper year for them. Size of starlings, pronounced crest, beautiful birds and entirely wild. Have a nice day. :)
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Must have had about 50 Cedar Waxwings in my mountain ash tree yesterday. Very sharp looking birds.
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Everyone has suggested waxwings but they are much prettier than the birds we saw.
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Everyone has suggested waxwings but they are much prettier than the birds we saw.
Atteq,
Unless you get a really close look, it is often difficult to see any features such as the yellow in the tail, or even the white in their wings, and the red tips which provides the wax in waxwing are extremely difficult to see, unless you are very close indeed. Lighting conditions also play an important part in how they look. Crested larks are an extreme rarity in this country and more than one appearing in the U.K. at any one time is, I think, unknown.
Incidentally, Powwow, I once saw a cedar waxwing(great rarity over here) in Nottingham, U.K. amongst a flock of several hundred Bohemian waxwings some years ago. Lovely bird!
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Yeah, the first snowdrops have emerged!
I did my usual thing of counting the flowering plants locally (London), and about 20 at the moment, some of them of course, winter-flowering, e.g. cherry, jasmine.
If you have a sweet box shrub (sarcococca confusa), you will be aware of its incredible sweet smell right now, as it is flowering. We call it the handcream bush. If you don't have one, buy one, as it is brilliant. One note of caution, poisonous, so maybe not with kids around.
Anyway, I was sniffing a local one, and a bee was also flying round it!
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Feels like Spring here, soft sunshine and clear, sweet air. Not a lot in flower though except winter jasmine. Waking up to birdsong.
Roll on the daffodils coming out.
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Far, far from spring here in Alberta. I did manage to take my bike out for a ride along the river yesterday. Took pictures, they're on my blog on nglreturns. Some ducks and a lone Canada goose that didn't make the trip south for the winter.lol
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We tend to be fooled into thinking Spring is just around the corner, but a change in pressure and we're back in wintertime again. It is possible that the rest of January may turn cold, maybe even enough for snow.
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We tend to be fooled into thinking Spring is just around the corner, but a change in pressure and we're back in wintertime again. It is possible that the rest of January may turn cold, maybe even enough for snow.
Agreed! I have been at Spurn in April observing wheatears, chiffchaffs and willow warblers(all Spring migrants) during a snow shower. Tenacious little beasties. ;D
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First crocuses open today here in my garden south Bucks. Yo, spring is here :)
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Out on the bike trails the other day I saw several Ravens. Don't usually see many of them in the city. Waiting for the Ospreys to return to the bottom of my hill this spring. I've noticed the ducks etc. flying north over the past couple of weeks.
The Bow River never totally froze over this winter. Odd, we haven't had an early spring, like this appears to be, since I can remember.
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Nice to see ravens and ospreys, powwow. I saw a smew and a bittern this week, in the middle of London, sort of.
Yes, crocuses, snowdrops and daffs in some London gardens now. And loads of catkins.
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From my bedroom window I have just been watching a magpie and a rabbit dancing around each other in the wildlife reserve behind our back fence, WOW! :)
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Floo, was it a tango, and who won?
The birds here are already starting to gather nesting material. Spring flowers have their leaves through but only the gorgeous snowdrops and primulas/primroses are in flower.
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Anyone who would like a lift during this current spell of dismal weather might like to look at these captivating mammal photos. :)
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3655
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Anybody in Norfolk at the moment, who likes birds, head to the Anmer/Bircham area, where a white-tailed eagle (sea eagle) has been delighting people with frequent flights, or sometimes it just sits in a field. Damn and blast, I am stuck in London at the moment.
http://tinyurl.com/ckmy9gb
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Floo, was it a tango, and who won?
The birds here are already starting to gather nesting material. Spring flowers have their leaves through but only the gorgeous snowdrops and primulas/primroses are in flower.
Still only snowdrops out here, it has obviously been a cold one for this part of East Anglia.
Lots of wood pigeons treating the garden like a knocking shop though. >:(
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Anybody in Norfolk at the moment, who likes birds, head to the Anmer/Bircham area, where a white-tailed eagle (sea eagle) has been delighting people with frequent flights, or sometimes it just sits in a field. Damn and blast, I am stuck in London at the moment.
http://tinyurl.com/ckmy9gb
Ooh, how exciting, is it likely to stick around do you think?
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Yes, it could stay for a while, as they often do. There was one last year I think. Of course, it's a question of luck if you see it, but there may be a bunch of birders hanging around, who will give info, esp at week-end.
Other news in Norfolk, there have been a couple of hen harriers at Roydon Common recently, and the golden pheasant showing well at Wolferton triangle.
Also a few red kites being seen.
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/gallery.asp?SpeciesID=2430&L1=0&L2=1&L3=2&L4=282
Also, might as well add others, a dipper has been nr Thetford recently, and otters are being seen at Strumpshaw Fen, easy to photo apparently.
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A few wheatears and sand martins have arrived, but they're mostly on the Scillies and in these foreign southern places like Devon and Cornwall, no doubt waiting for a change in weather from these bitter cold north easterlies, when they can fly north and enjoy a right royal Yorkshire welcome. :D
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I see the blackthorn is coming into flower now, and looking very nice in some hedges next to the cherry blossom, a kind of white and pink froth against the black boughs. But yeah, freezing!
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I came across this sad story about your Pontfadog Oak yesterday.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/britains-ancient-pontfadog-oak-felled-by-windstorm/article11447385/
Ospreys haven't started building their nest down my hill along the river yet.
http://www.enmax.com/Energy/Res/Greenmax/Osprey+Camera/OspreyLiveCamera.htm
Pictures of the osprey nest from a few years ago
http://www.hancockwildlife.org/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=175415&page=47
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I see the blackthorn is coming into flower now, and looking very nice in some hedges next to the cherry blossom, a kind of white and pink froth against the black boughs. But yeah, freezing!
This is interesting, here in middle England, it has taken until the beginning of this week for the cherry blossom to appear.
Another glorious day and the leaves on the trees have only started to appear this week too, and the later 'leafers' eg. ash, oak and poplar, are still bare.
The fields are sooo dry, poor farmers. There are water-spraying machines of all kinds everywhere. In some places, where I was walking today, the ground is so parched it is cracked. And it's been like this for a while now.
Please, some rain, preferably at night! Thank you.
The magnolias are now in full bloom - wonderful sight ....... quite late, as well.
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A gorgeous day in south Bucks too, I just fall back in love with nature like a teenager on days like today. Even the simplest flowers like daisies or cherry blossom have charm and wonderful symmetry. Dandelions are out in vast numbers by the roadsides of the Chilterns. Takes me back to my misspent youth when I'd spend entire spring days collecting dandelion heads to make dandelion wine, ready for the autumn.
Has anybody here made anything with dandelions ?
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I was drinking in the wild flowers today, Torrers, and I know just what you mean by symmetry - one never tires of the magnificence of their design.
No, can't say I've ever made anything from dandelions, except chains, but I loved Dandelion and Burdock as a child. Gosh, haven't tasted that in years ..... wonder if it's still around.
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We regularly buy dandelion and burdock, but pick dandelions to make a chain? :o :o If you pick a dandelion you will wet the bed.
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We have a quince bush (tree?) in our garden and it is covered in gorgeous dark pink blossom - more than I have seen in the previous 4 years here - I'm hoping this means we'll get a bumper crop - as it was pitiful last year.
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Ah, I guess if you're not looking for it you don't notice it.
It's many years since I made a dandelion chain Ket ..... and I've never heard of such a curse, ha ha ...
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Our quince is looking spectacular this year too. Our's is bright orange. The spring flowers have also been exceptionally beautiful, so this late season must have suited them.
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I see the blackthorn is coming into flower now, and looking very nice in some hedges next to the cherry blossom, a kind of white and pink froth against the black boughs. But yeah, freezing!
This is interesting, here in middle England, it has taken until the beginning of this week for the cherry blossom to appear.
Another glorious day and the leaves on the trees have only started to appear this week too, and the later 'leafers' eg. ash, oak and poplar, are still bare.
The fields are sooo dry, poor farmers. There are water-spraying machines of all kinds everywhere. In some places, where I was walking today, the ground is so parched it is cracked. And it's been like this for a while now.
Please, some rain, preferably at night! Thank you.
The magnolias are now in full bloom - wonderful sight ....... quite late, as well.
Yes, we seem to have gone from monsoon weather to ultra-dry. Several of my yuccas have died, their stems had rotted, because of all the rain I guess. But now everywhere is looking parched again.
Still, some glorious weather. We are predicting a fine May and June, and then heavy rain in July and August, just in time for the holidays.
Magnolias were wonderful this year - there are about 10 of them in my street in London, both the normal kind, and the star.
Another plant I am raving about is the pieris japonica, one of my neighbours has one, and it has white flowers with red early leaves, and together they are stunning. Must buy one. Warning: poisonous.
Botanical note: this plant has pseudo-leaflets; not a lot of people know that.
Just realized, they are part of the heath family, therefore don't like lime. My part of Norfolk is fairly alkaline, so would have to grow in tubs, etc.
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Yes, my daughter has lost a yucca too. I was over there the other day helping her to dig it up .... very tough job!
Some good news though elsewhere, for the humble honeybee, now the EU have banned neonicotinoid pesticides. Unfortunately, only for 2 years at the moment, but it's something.
I came across this:
"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth man would have no more than four years to live" ~ Einstein
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Yes, good for the bees. But arable farming is very chemicalized - on fine days like today, you will see the farmers out with their sprayers. Insects and birds - bye bye.
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It's a difficult solution .... organic farming is great in theory but not so easy to apply en masse.
Back to grow you're own - it's just finding the time for many working folk.
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Well, we are living through a mass extinction of insects, animals and birds. I suppose this is the price we are paying for affluence and progress. Hmm.
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Absolutely, and probably from interfering with nature in the first place.
Anyways, I'm off out now to interfere with nature meself, got some grass to cut!
Don't mind mowing the lawn. :)
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I just bought a hedge trimmer. Great fun. I stand on the step-ladder, with the missus holding on for grim death, now that's what I call trust.
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Hey check it out everybody. Had a look at the web cam and the ospreys are nesting at the bottom of my hill!
http://www.enmax.com/Energy/Res/Greenmax/Osprey+Camera/OspreyLiveCamera.htm
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Dear Mr. Wallo,
Why would I get my gun? Ospreys aren't pests. You on the other hand.....
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Hey check it out everybody. Had a look at the web cam and the ospreys are nesting at the bottom of my hill!
http://www.enmax.com/Energy/Res/Greenmax/Osprey+Camera/OspreyLiveCamera.htm
Powwow, thank you so much for this live camera link, I'm going to try and watch it whenever I have a chance! :)
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Hi SweetPea,
I'm already addicted to watching them. lol
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Ah, powwow, if you are still there. There has been one lone birdy on the nest for sometime, the female I presume? Anyway, at one point, just for a second, the male(?) flew in and landed on her back, he stood there for five seconds or so then flew off. Do you know why he should display such behaviour?
Btw, I don't think he was up to anything - I could see his legs! :D ;D
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SweetPea,
Oh, I missed that. Well I notice the sparrows do the same thing when they are mating. They males jump on for a few seconds at a time. They have been adding sticks to the nest for the past few days. The male was still adding to it this morning. Perhaps it's time to fertilize. lol
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SweetPea,
Oh, I missed that. Well I notice the sparrows do the same thing when they are mating. They males jump on for a few seconds at a time.
A bit like men then ? All done in a few seconds.
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Dear Powwow,
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
Gonnagle.
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Is bird porn allowed on a Sunday?
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Dear Mr. Gonnagle,
Well don't your buzzards have a fancy nest there. Looks windy today. Thanks for that, I'll be keeping an eye on your birds as well.
Ketty,
Bird porn on Sundays? Ya, I don't like the sparrows and their porn on my fence every day of the week! And when the squirrels start at it in my backyard, I chase them off to the next door neighbours.
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. . . And when the squirrels start at it in my backyard, I chase them off to the next door neighbours.
:D :D :D A bucket of cold water will do it. ;)
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SweetPea,
Oh, I missed that. Well I notice the sparrows do the same thing when they are mating. They males jump on for a few seconds at a time. They have been adding sticks to the nest for the past few days. The male was still adding to it this morning. Perhaps it's time to fertilize. lol
Powwow, I was watching them bringing more sticks to the nest earlier today.
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Dear Powwow,
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
Gonnagle.
Gonners, great stuff - and the camera is nearer. An interesting observation - the Canadian nest has twigs but the Scottish nest has no sticks visible - looks more mossy.
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Hi SweetPea. I was amused earlier. The female needed to do something so she went to the other side of the nest and rearranged a couple of sticks. I want to see them bring a big trout back to the nest for a feast.
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More mossy, more cushy, I could almost use it as a pillow, I almost wish I was an egg.lol Gonnagle's is actually in a tree or it looks that way. Mine, top of a pole on a board.
(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/013-8.jpg) (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/JohnCm_bucket/media/013-8.jpg.html)
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Hi SweetPea. I was amused earlier. The female needed to do something so she went to the other side of the nest and rearranged a couple of sticks. I want to see them bring a big trout back to the nest for a feast.
Yes, I think I saw that. The trout will certainly be a good watch! :o
I can't make out if the Scottish nest is in a tree or on a cliff-top/bank ....
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More mossy, more cushy, I could almost use it as a pillow, I almost wish I was an egg.lol Gonnagle's is actually in a tree or it looks that way. Mine, top of a pole on a board.
(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/013-8.jpg) (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/JohnCm_bucket/media/013-8.jpg.html)
Wow, that's quite a balancing act for those wee (large) buddies! :o
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Today I looked at the RSPB Willow Warbler page and my heart sank because I couldn't find the Listen' link on the left-hand side. However, I thought it would be very surprising if they had removed the bird song altogether, so persevered and cursored through the page listening to every line and found a greatly improved listen immediately below the picture of the bird. It's 01:58 minutes long. I have my little recorder all ready to take with me to the Forest tomorrow, when my brother comes to visit, so have recorded it; firstly to make sure I know the song well, and secondly to play it in various areas, in hopes that an anxious WW will sing to challenge!
The more I listen to it, the more I think I have almost certainly heard a WW during the last few years, but have mistaken it for a Chaffinch song, sung by a bird who's forgotten to put the 'per-CHOO' flourish at the end of his song!
Dave-at-the-gym has suggested a good spot for easy access and a place where I should hear others - he's written me a list of 6 or so- woodland birds. At least the weather is going to be just right it seems.
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Today I looked at the RSPB Willow Warbler page and my heart sank because I couldn't find the Listen' link on the left-hand side. However, I thought it would be very surprising if they had removed the bird song altogether, so persevered and cursored through the page listening to every line and found a greatly improved listen immediately below the picture of the bird. It's 01:58 minutes long. I have my little recorder all ready to take with me to the Forest tomorrow, when my brother comes to visit, so have recorded it; firstly to make sure I know the song well, and secondly to play it in various areas, in hopes that an anxious WW will sing to challenge!
The more I listen to it, the more I think I have almost certainly heard a WW during the last few years, but have mistaken it for a Chaffinch song, sung by a bird who's forgotten to put the 'per-CHOO' flourish at the end of his song!
Dave-at-the-gym has suggested a good spot for easy access and a place where I should hear others - he's written me a list of 6 or so- woodland birds. At least the weather is going to be just right it seems.
And I wish you the best of luck, Susan. I hope that a willow warbler will sing its delightful song right next to you.
I have just come back from a holiday to Lesvos, where a nightingale sang every single day just outside our balcony, and in full view.
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Dear Susan,
This morning I woke up ( habit forming ) and after my initial struggle to the kitchen, coffee and checking that I had put a steredent tablet in the old mans wallies I turned on the telly to check the news, doom and gloom all round.
But after reading your wonderful little post I am thoroughly cheered up, it does my wee Christian heart the power of good to know that in this little world of ours their are good people like yourself, people like you who stick two fingers up at life and say sod you lot I am off to experience the simple wonders of nature.
God Bless you Mrs B.
Gonnagle.
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antithesis
How wonderful to hear, and see, a Nightingale. Do they ever come to this country? I still remember back in the 70s, rushing home from teaching each day to listen to a bird that sang its heart out with a continuous, beautiful song, perched on the chimney of a near-by house. What sort of size is a Nightingale I never did work out what it was.
Gonnagle
Thank you! :) I'll report back on what we see and hear later on Tuesday, or Wednesday.
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We have been practically falling over willow warblers in London at the moment, I have never heard so many. Some years I don't hear any, but this spring has been amazing. I think one day the local nature reserve recorded 22. A very sweet song with its descending scale.
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Heard the first cuckoo on May 1st. It seemed quite lonely.
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Good news, Ekim as the cuckoo is one of the species in decline. Yes, they can sound lonely especially against the calls of the other birds.
Btw, there are sites online that ask people to record when and where they have heard a cuckoo.
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Different camera angles on the Scottish osprey today and they do appear to have some quite substantial sticks around the nest. This morning the hen, while sitting on the nest, was doing a lot of calling ...... perhaps asking Mr O to hurry up with that meal, ha ha.
Here is a blog that accompanies the webcam:
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/
Some interesting entries. The observers talk of the male bringing the female a pike (quite a large fish), so they are identifying the fish - a top blog. At log entry for May 1st there are some stunning pictures of the osprey fishing and in flight. NB surrounding scenery ....
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antithesis
How wonderful to hear, and see, a Nightingale. Do they ever come to this country? I still remember back in the 70s, rushing home from teaching each day to listen to a bird that sang its heart out with a continuous, beautiful song, perched on the chimney of a near-by house. What sort of size is a Nightingale I never did work out what it was.
Gonnagle
Thank you! :) I'll report back on what we see and hear later on Tuesday, or Wednesday.
Hi Susan,
Yes, nightingales are still in England, although they are much reduced. Kent is their stronghold, although they can breed as far as Yorkshire. I think that there are still one or two pairs on Thorne Moors, near Goole. They are the size of large robins, with warm brown plumage and reddish tails. Usually in this country they keep well hidden though.
Cuckoos are becoming pretty scarce now, as others have said, which is such a shame. Well heard, Ekim. Last year was the first year since I started birding in 1975 that I hadn't heard or seen a cuckoo in this country. Incidentally they can make a bubbling call, as well as the normal cuckoo call.
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Ah, well, the bird I refer to looked more like a large thrush, as it had a speckled light-coloured breast and brownish wings, but it definitely wasn't a song thrush because the song was fluid, not repetitive. However, I suppose I could easily have mis-remembered. *sigh* :) I had a little pair of binoculars at the time, so had a reasonably close-up view. I suppose I'll never really know what it was.
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Recording of willow warbler here, an interesting one, showing the subtle variations which you get in this song, not just a pure descending scale, but close enough to identify the species.
http://sounds.bl.uk/Environment/British-wildlife-recordings/022M-W1CDR0001394-0800V0
This is a poor film off youtube, out of focus, but records the song OK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjiV8et8C34
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Thank you - I'll listen to those later. I have had a really excellent day. My brother arrived about 10:0 and we went to the hotel on the cliff top for coffee on the terrace - and chat of course. Then he drove us to the place where Daveatthegym said there should be a WW. There was a lull in the traffic as we got out of the car and - wonderful! - there was the WW singing on the other side of the road, just where DATG had said it would be. I have recorded it to check with him later. We then walked down a path to an area of woodland where there were quite a few birds, also a cucckoo. I've recorded . We then went to Linwood where there is a pub with excellent food - and of course constant bird song all around, mainly a very dominant chaffinch. When DATG has told me what the other birds are that I've recorded, I will tell you what they were.
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Dear Susan,
If you ever catch on tape the mating call of the Pointless Albatross, save it, it could be worth a fortune.
Gonnagle.
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Brilliant, Susan. So glad you heard it. Lovely liquid song, isn't it?
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Susan, reply 84 ..... glad you had an enjoyable day and success at last in seeing and hearing the willow warbler! Lovely :)
I'm still intrigued with the two osprey nests. According to the Scottish blog, as it has been so hot there today, both the male and female birds have been panting with their beaks open (rather like a dog) to release excess heat because they have no sweat glands.
Just caught a glimpse earlier of one egg in the Canadian nest. These two birds are so sweet (excuse me) ..... they do a lot of cuddling. :D :)
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Tomorrow I shall be asking Dave-at-the-gym to identify the other bird songs I've got on tape, although most were chaffinches, blackbirds and song thrushes.
Can't see[/see] any of them, I'm afraid, SweetPea, but it has been such an interesting exercise over the past ten years becoming confident in recognition by song, ande I can tell where they are approx because of the hearing aid technology available today.
This morning at 05:58 I had my little radio on to listen to Tweet of the Day, but heard nothing!! Well, except for DA's voice of course, so it just goes to show how age-related hearing loss affects things. :)
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I found out today that nothing has come out on the mini tape recorder on Tuesday. <sadface> I shall have to go back there and record it again.
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Your previous point about age and hearing can be quite amusing, as some older birders look baffled when you say, oh listen to that goldcrest, or whatever. Not funny for them, I guess. Try this.
http://sounds.bl.uk/Environment/British-wildlife-recordings/022M-W1CDR0001425-0400V0
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Several skylarks in the fields opposite us. Sometimes when the dog gets me up at stupid o'clock they are the only birds singing, sometimes I can see them up above the hedge. I wonder how the countryside must have sounded in the days of John Clare, the birdsong must have meant the countryside was never quiet.
If we are lucky we see hares on the way into town. Heartbreaking to see one run over last week. Most farmers round here like them although one or two shoot them. They are the only game to have no closed season, meaning farmers can kill them during the breeding season, meaning many leverets die. There is a campaign to get the law changed but so far the govt. aren't interested.
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We still have plenty of hares in Norfolk - I saw 7 the other morning, sort of shuffling around, as they do.
Watched a TV programme last night, and on the soundtrack there were tons of willow warblers! It must be a good year for them.
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We still have plenty of hares in Norfolk - I saw 7 the other morning, sort of shuffling around, as they do.
Watched a TV programme last night, and on the soundtrack there were tons of willow warblers! It must be a good year for them.
I love hares, I have hare art all over my home, they do pretty well here but aren't easy to see and don't seem to like the fields closest to us much. Seeing 7 would be heavenly.
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Yeah, I like hares. They can be surprisingly dopey at times, just sort of sit there, and let you get quite close.
Your comment about skylarks made me feel gloomy, as there are still plenty of them in W. Norfolk, but most farmland birds have been badly hit. Meadow pipits are well down; turtle doves almost gone; cuckoos ditto; corn bunting, hanging on; sparrows, ditto; tree sparrows, gone. It's progress, you see.
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We still have skylarks, but, as Wigs says, numbers are falling. Turtle doves are all but gone from this area, as are spotted flycatchers and corn buntings. Rather sad.
However, to lift the gloom, I was at a location 20 mins from my house at 6 am this morning, watching and videoing two otters at a certain location. I watched them fishing for about an hour. Marvellous sight! They are very regular at this location, and you are almost guaranteed seeing them. I won't mention the exact location, except by PM, in case of endangering them.
Love hares, too. In fact I'm a sucker for most kinds of wildlife. :D
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I think it was Thetford which recently had a family of otters swimming up and down, and apparently you could just photograph them from the bridges in town. I don't know if they're still there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FLEzdYJaDc
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Love otters, haven't seen them in the wild but visit the sanctuary near Diss.
Last year at Sea Palling a friendly seal bobbed around where out kids were paddling. Fab rock pools there, too, formed in the artificial erosion barriers. Never seen so many starfish, some twicw the size of my hand, some the size of half of the top of my little fingernail.
Noticed this morning that we have house sparrows nesting somewhere in the roof around our chimney.
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I'm disappointed with the 'Tweet of the Day' at two minutes to six each morning. Not enough bird song; too much talk!
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For the romantics amongst us...a new species of the family, fairyflies. Its name is tinkerbella nana. Nana, incidentally, was chosen as the species name, as a play on nanos(Greek for dwarf) and Nana, the name of the dog in Peter Pan.
Before the romantics get too carried away, however, it is worth noting that it is a type of parasitic wasp whose length is 2.5 times the thickness of a human hair. :)
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Great name! I used to collect weird scientific names, e.g. arthurdactylus conandoylensis. There are tons of them.
Aptostichus barackobamii.
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I have a new bird problem this year. Last year it was a long tailed tit who was in love with himself and kept trying to woo his reflection.
This year it is a wren's nest.
A couple of weeks ago when our garage door (up and over) was opened we noticed a wren going in and out and an accumulation of leaves and other stuff in the strutts which holds the door together.
We daren't close the door, for what is at the top would fall to the bottom.
I have since read that the male wren makes several nests until the female has chosen her favourite.
Does anyone know how long I have to leave the door up and open whilst she makes up her mind?
I'm a female so I do have some sympathy with her. :)
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I have a new bird problem this year. Last year it was a long tailed tit who was in love with himself and kept trying to woo his reflection.
This year it is a wren's nest.
A couple of weeks ago when our garage door (up and over) was opened we noticed a wren going in and out and an accumulation of leaves and other stuff in the strutts which holds the door together.
We daren't close the door, for what is at the top would fall to the bottom.
I have since read that the male wren makes several nests until the female has chosen her favourite.
Does anyone know how long I have to leave the door up and open whilst she makes up her mind?
I'm a female so I do have some sympathy with her. :)
Especially as Mr Wren usually has several Mrs Wrens.
Wrens' nests are exquisite, we had one a few feet off the ground in the thick ivy on our bird cherry. It was woven from ivy leaves, grass and mud, and lined with moss. It was the perfect height for the children to see the babies - in the end I don't know how they all fitted in. One morning they fledged when the children were at school, then the nest came loose so it got taken into school.
We had a great tit that kept attacking the wing mirrors on our Disco one year.
Now we have sparrows nesting by the chimney so we can't light the woodburner. Brr!
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Especially as Mr Wren usually has several Mrs Wrens.
So this nest could be simply a twinkle in Mr Wren's eye. ;D
To shut the door or not shut the door, this is the question.
The nest is unfinished, no eggs or evidence of another woman as yet.
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Especially as Mr Wren usually has several Mrs Wrens.
So this nest could be simply a twinkle in Mr Wren's eye. ;D
To shut the door or not shut the door, this is the question.
The nest is unfinished, no eggs or evidence of another woman as yet.
I should think it will be ok, the nest is probably abandoned. The important thing is that there are no eggs.
It is perishing this morning. Am beginning to get very peeved with the sparrows. I will have to persuade the dog to cuddle up with me.
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If you are interested in red kites, the maps in this short article are interesting. The first map shows the situation around 40 years ago, where they are restricted to an area of Wales, and are hidden on the map; the second shows the incredible expansion, across central England, into E. Anglia, up into Scotland, and across to Ireland. The third map shows the winter range, pretty similar.
I remember seeing a red kite at Lakenheath in Suffolk, a few years ago, and the warden didn't believe us! Now, they are quite common on motorway journeys. Recently, on a drive from London to Norfolk, we saw buzzard, red kite, kestrel, and sparrowhawk, all from the car.
http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-of-month/red-kite?dm_i=IG4,1H15S,39GZTU,507ND,1
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Dear Wigs,
Yes I remember watching on telly about motorways and birds of prey, something to do with there prey making there homes on motorway embankments, progress for you. :o
Gonnagle.
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If you are interested in red kites, the maps in this short article are interesting. The first map shows the situation around 40 years ago, where they are restricted to an area of Wales, and are hidden on the map; the second shows the incredible expansion, across central England, into E. Anglia, up into Scotland, and across to Ireland. The third map shows the winter range, pretty similar.
I remember seeing a red kite at Lakenheath in Suffolk, a few years ago, and the warden didn't believe us! Now, they are quite common on motorway journeys. Recently, on a drive from London to Norfolk, we saw buzzard, red kite, kestrel, and sparrowhawk, all from the car.
http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-of-month/red-kite?dm_i=IG4,1H15S,39GZTU,507ND,1
We had about eight red kites over our garden yesterday, plus a few gulls; I guess there was something edible on the neighbour's lawn judging by the commotion. It's quite a sight to see such large birds of prey so close up diving down to grass and up again. The seagulls were trying to mob the kites, despite being way outnumbered and considerably out-sized. Plucky or what.
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Yes, red kites and buzzards are often seen now drifting over parts of London. You will get ospreys visiting water bodies on their migration. My local reserve (Barnes) gets several every year, but they don't hang around.
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I've just been watching a magnificent male bullfinch, hovering under my rose bower, presumably picking off the greenfly.
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Rhiannon,
I have been watching the wren's nest over the last few days. There seems to be no further action going on so I guess there's no further action, for Mr Wren. I shall close the garage door at the end of the week.
Every morning, during the dawn chorus I'm woken up by bird song which if it were in words, would be singing, 'I know a song that will get on your nerves'
I've listened to a bird song website, could this be a great tit? A question asked to anyone.
I heard a cuckoo today, I haven't heard one for years. :)
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Just went to the local nature reserve, and there are 19 lapwing chicks around the place, not bad for a London site. The adults are busy fending off various predators, such as crows, jackdaws, herons, etc., and their aerial battles are amazing really. I watched one chase off a heron, which is about 10 times its size.
The hawthorn is well out now, lovely frothy white sprigs of it, but although the may may be out, don't cast a clout yet, as it is freezing!
Also, the cow parsley is now looking nice, although technically a weed. A bit later, watch out for wild carrot, often with its single red flower in the centre; formerly known as Queen Anne's Lace. Not a lot of people know that.
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Rhiannon,
I have been watching the wren's nest over the last few days. There seems to be no further action going on so I guess there's no further action, for Mr Wren. I shall close the garage door at the end of the week.
Every morning, during the dawn chorus I'm woken up by bird song which if it were in words, would be singing, 'I know a song that will get on your nerves'
I've listened to a bird song website, could this be a great tit? A question asked to anyone.
I heard a cuckoo today, I haven't heard one for years. :)
The great tit song is often transcribed as 'tea-cher tea-cher' and it is rather repetitive. I often get a pigeon on the roof, doing that awful cooing sound at 4am. It's lurve!
http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/news/latest/2012/wp_and_cd_song
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I assume everyone knows that channel 301 is showing live webcams from Springwatch all day?
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My local patch in London has found a pair of redshank nesting, with 4 young. This is nothing remarkable really for a wetland, except that it's two miles from Hammersmith! Can we protect the young from assorted predators, e.g. herons, crows, jackdaws, fox, etc.? Probably not.
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Oh, yes ..... these birdies do run the gauntlet at times.
Talking webcams, I'm still keeping an eye on the Scottish osprey nest that Gonners posted a link to and also the Canadian nest Powwow linked.
The Scottish eggs should have started to hatch 4 days ago and the observers are getting a little concerned. Everything crossed!
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Well, the crows get shot, as on quite a few nature reserves. But strangely, the foxes are allowed to breed, and of course, the others are protected, e.g. herons. One year, we had a pair of avocets, very unusual in London, which produced 3 young, who grew to quite a size - and got eaten.
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I love crows.
Slimbridge had to call in the hunt once to deal with foxes destroying the nests of rare breeds. They'd tried all the 'humane' ways, and shooting.
Not legal any more of course.
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Yes, I like crows, very intelligent and sort of characterful. Although jackdaws are even cuter - I see them at my local patch begging for chips, in the cafe.
I'm trying to remember what they do at Welney - I think they trap the mink, and shoot the foxes. But at the local patch, we often see a fox sunning himself somewhere. Mind you, they kill swans also.
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I went off crows somewhat after seeing a huge flock of crows killing one of their own when I was a student. A bloody and vicious sight that I remember whenever I see one now. Well 'ard they are. Magpies I like though. Gorgeous birds.
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I once had a very close relationship with a jackdaw. This was when I was a child of about 9 or 10. It will sound quite unbelievable to most of you. He (Jack) was obviously very tame and had belonged to someone as he had had his wings clipped but for some reason he had strayed away and attached himself to me. We couldn't keep him indoors for obvious reasons so he stayed loose and free in the garden but I only had to open my bedroom window and call his name and in he'd fly.
I once found him struggling to pinch a silver mirror from my mother's dressing table and he got up to lots of antics which annoyed the neighbours no end. I was able to walk into town and he would follow me, flying from my head to roof top and back again, as I walked along. I was the envy of my friends but I must admit I did have to wash my hair a lot.
He stayed around during the whole of my summer six weeks holiday and I really, really loved him.
Then one day I was taken out for the day by my parents and when I came home he had gone.
I asked around the neighbourhood and someone in the next road said they had taken him to the blue cross. I asked and asked to be taken there to collect him but no one would take me. I think he had upset so many people in the local neighbourhood my parents were beginning to feel embarrassed. If there are any conspiracy theories to be had in this world, I think this was one of them!
Even today I cannot pass a Jackdaw without calling his name and it always looks as though they are listening.
I love these birds. They remind me of my lost best friend.
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Chins, reply 122
What a wonderful but heartbreaking story ..... poor wee Chins!
This isn't nearly as interesting as your story but, at about the same age you were, I/we woke-up one morning to find a cuckoo perched in a deserted nest in a cooking apple tree, at the end of the garden. It was calling - very demanding and very hungry. Can't quite remember, but I think we fed it for about 4-5 days, and then it was gone ...
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Dear Sweetpea,
Heartbreaking!!, Chins had a Jackdaw as a friend, lucky sod, but then I had a dug ( not a dog a dug ) much better than a Jackdaw.
Gonnagle.
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Gonns, I just meant the part when she came home and 'Jack' had gone ..... :'(
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Dear Sweetpea,
I know!, just pulling your leg. ;)
Gonnagle.
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I once had a very close relationship with a jackdaw. This was when I was a child of about 9 or 10. It will sound quite unbelievable to most of you. He (Jack) was obviously very tame and had belonged to someone as he had had his wings clipped but for some reason he had strayed away and attached himself to me. We couldn't keep him indoors for obvious reasons so he stayed loose and free in the garden but I only had to open my bedroom window and call his name and in he'd fly.
I once found him struggling to pinch a silver mirror from my mother's dressing table and he got up to lots of antics which annoyed the neighbours no end. I was able to walk into town and he would follow me, flying from my head to roof top and back again, as I walked along. I was the envy of my friends but I must admit I did have to wash my hair a lot.
He stayed around during the whole of my summer six weeks holiday and I really, really loved him.
Then one day I was taken out for the day by my parents and when I came home he had gone.
I asked around the neighbourhood and someone in the next road said they had taken him to the blue cross. I asked and asked to be taken there to collect him but no one would take me. I think he had upset so many people in the local neighbourhood my parents were beginning to feel embarrassed. If there are any conspiracy theories to be had in this world, I think this was one of them!
Even today I cannot pass a Jackdaw without calling his name and it always looks as though they are listening.
I love these birds. They remind me of my lost best friend.
Oh my love... :'(
We used to have an old cottage, the jackdaws nested in the chimney and I used to lie in bed with my baby listening to them scrabbling about.
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Chins, that's a lovely story, if not a little sad.
Some birds can be highly intelligent . . . but not the big fat pigeon that struts around my garden. He's the special needs of the bird world.
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Found a bee orchid today - so tiny, and so beautiful, rather like me. Also the first cygnets, very pretty. Saw redshank chicks perilously feeding in a muddy pool, with no adults in sight, oh hell, all the predators are sharpening their teeth/claws. On Sunday, finally heard a cuckoo.
http://tinyurl.com/mmwlxyu
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Found a bee orchid today - so tiny, and so beautiful, rather like me. Also the first cygnets, very pretty. Saw redshank chicks perilously feeding in a muddy pool, with no adults in sight, oh hell, all the predators are sharpening their teeth/claws. On Sunday, finally heard a cuckoo.
http://tinyurl.com/mmwlxyu
Lovely Wiggs. I have seen the bee orchid in the glades at our local woods.
There is a lake at the same wooded area and the other day I witnessed two great crested grebes tending a nest amongst some water lilies.
The Scottish osprey webcam is still of interest. On Saturday, 'Lady' the female hatched, what observers believe, could be her 50th chick.
This is Lady's 23rd breeding year ...... go Lady! There are four eggs, only one has hatched; there is a chance the 'last' egg could still hatch, but it's looking doubtful now. Still, the sole chick seems to thriving. :)
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I've counted three eggs in the osprey nest.
http://www.enmax.com/Energy/Res/Greenmax/Osprey+Camera/OspreyLiveCamera.htm
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Powwow, yes, I got a glimpse of the Canadian eggs last night. Fingers-crossed they, or at least one, have been fertilised.
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Saw 3 bee-orchids today, hey, this is easy. I pointed one out to my wife, and she actually thought it was a bee at first. Great camouflage.
Thick cloud today, so the insects fly lower, so the swifts do also; saw about 40 flying just over our heads, quite an experience really just to stand and watch them zip a couple of feet over you.
Saw some sand martin chicks in the nest, as there is a camera in one of them.
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I can understand your wife thinking the bee-orchid a bee, a clever little flower.
Out walking yesterday, we had swallows flying really low and kindof dive-bombing us ..... great! :)
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Terrific flyers, swallows and martins, catching flies on the wing, way to go, love to watch them.
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There's a hedge just near here where I heard goldfinches a couple of years ago (I know they were goldfinches because I managed to make a good recording on my little tape recorder and Dave(atthe gym) identified the song). I've also been listening to the song on the RSPB goldfinch page and much to my delight, I heard them again today.
Re Tweet of the Day: The girl who is doing the commentary is, in my opinion, talking too much and not letting us hear the tweet enough!
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I had to literally dig out the water hose at the allotment, as we haven't used it for two years, as the summers were so wet. So apparently this summer is better! Well, it's certainly very dry.
Can't find the allotment thread - anyway, fruit this year are incredible. We have a tayberry bush, and the fruit on it are like mini-footballs. But some of the strawberries are still green - shows how cold the spring was.
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Dear Wigs,
But some of the strawberries are still green - shows how cold the spring was.
Ah!
Definitely a better summer this year all my tomato plants are showing fruit. :)
Gonnagle.
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Yeah, me too. Where's powwow - this year my Black Russians are looking huge, whereas last year they all got eaten by slugs.
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I'm still watching the Scottish Wildlife Trust osprey webcam. The sole chick fledged yesterday. She left the nest at 10am and did not return until 6.55am this morning. According to the accompaning blog, throughout the night she endured a huge thunderstorm but due to the satellite transmitter she is wearing the observers knew she was safe, amongst dense woodland at the edge of the nearby loch.
The parents perform their duties in excellent fashion. During the recent hot spell, the female has been shielding the now huge chick with her wings and also preventing it from sometimes getting too near to the edge of the nest. Meanwhile, the male has returned good numbers of fish everyday. On one occasion seven were brought to the nest over a 12 hour period. He has been great too at warding off possible intruders.
The observers and blog are both very good - the observers, for example, being able to identify five of the seven fish brought to the nest on the occasion previously mentioned.
At the moment, you can see mother and chick feeding together, on the nest. The chick has white tips to her feathers.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/#
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Well done Ms Pea. I should really pay a visit to Rutland Water to see the ospreys, but I am a lazy blighter.
All quiet now at the local bird reserve in London, until autumn migration starts. But I am off soon for a tour of the Norfolk reserves, to see the usual delights of spoonbills, eagles, crossbills, corncrakes, and other delights, well, maybe. Or it might be just a few pigeons.
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Sounds wonderful. My nearest wildlife reserve has also gone quiet now. But here I have been observing a family of great crested grebes. Just recently, caught parents and chicks swimming and fishing.
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Gorgeous. The best thing with them is when the adults carry the young on their back, incredibly cute. They don't do it for very long, several weeks. Swans do it also, and there are some stunning photos of adult swan sailing along with several young 'uns on board. Awww!
http://tinyurl.com/m9eo4rc
http://tinyurl.com/ml5gph6
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Luverly...... too cute for words! :)
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I just thought I'd be a party pooper and remind everyone that Autumn birdwise has well and truly started in the last few days, with returning migrant waders/failed breeders from the arctic gracing us with their presence, especially wood/green sandpipers, little stints and even the odd pectoral sandpiper. :D
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Yes, I noticed today that the noticeboard at my local is full of green and common pipers.
Autumn!
Seen some nice butterflies recently, probably because of hot weather. Plenty of commas, also more skippers than usual, plus of course the various browns.
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Agreed Wigs, butterflies are everywhere at the moment. Plenty of speckled woods/meadow browns/ringlets and even small tortoiseshells seem to be a bit more common than in recent years. Just hope that our bad spring hasn't dealt too savage a blow to early butterflies though.
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Or a sparrowhawk? They kill everything - near me, they kill the parrots, and eat them.
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Agreed Wigs, butterflies are everywhere at the moment. Plenty of speckled woods/meadow browns/ringlets and even small tortoiseshells seem to be a bit more common than in recent years. Just hope that our bad spring hasn't dealt too savage a blow to early butterflies though.
I'm hoping that August sees tons of the big 'uns, Nymphalidae (sp?). We are even thinking of a trip to see swallowtails, but maybe they have disappeared - dunno.
Quote from Norfolk Wildlife - 'numbers decline from early August'. Bugger.
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Hi Wigs,
Swallowtails. That got me thinking. Many moons ago two of us decided to try to see every native butterfly in Britain.(actually there are only 60+). We eventually managed to see all but two(mountain ringlet and chequered skipper), but some of the places we went to were fascinating. Bernwood Forest was one such place which we visited for white admiral and the renowned black hairstreak. Part of Bernwood is called Hell's Coppice, and, because this was an area much loved by Victorian lepidopterists, I believe the phrase "see you in Hell" was often used by them as a form of greeting.
Also remember, when visiting the Scillies for a short toed eagle some years ago, I managed to see two monarchs on a small lump of rock from a bobbing boat. They had made the trip all the way from America.
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Brilliant. There is a railway embankment in Norfolk (disused), that has a ton of different species, but I can't remember its name. It might be Narborough? It has brown argus and grayling, plus hairstreaks, grizzled skipper, etc.
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Hi Prof.
Both possible. Is it also possible it might have flown into something? I have seen examples of dead birds showing no sign of injury which have bounced off a car or a window. Shock can kill a bird. And even a broken neck shows little visible sign of injury on a bird.
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Dear Wigs and Antithesis,
Autumn eh! I will cling with my fingernails to this wonderful summer we are having >:( >:(
Gonnagle.
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It's OK Gonners. There are two different autumns. There is human autumn, which you can put off until October, really, and there is animal autumn, which starts in late June. I mean, some return migration starts then, so birders like to joke, 'here's autumn'.
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Just been to the allotment, and there are a lot of bumble bees at the moment. I counted 50-60 on one herb bush alone. The strange thing is about 2 weeks ago, there were tons of honey bees, and hardly any bumbles, so maybe they take turns. Off to consult insect books now.
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Great news, Wiggs! And the EU have banned the use of bee-harming pesticides for 2 years. It's something.
Yesterday, I was at my sister and brother-in-law's small holding. We found a bees nest in one of the fields. The bees were entering the hole in the ground bottoms first. It was funny and interesting to watch, they were like little helicopters..... "returning to base... coming in to land".
My sis and bro-in-law will have to put some kind of barrier around the nest because horses use the field and bees, apparently, get very upset around horses. We wondered why.... horsey smell perhaps?
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I've never heard of that about horses and bees. Just checked, it is certainly part of the lore about keeping bees, that they don't like horses, and will attack them, and even kill them. Recently, there has been strange bee behaviour because they became short of drinking water, and visited strange ponds and so on, so bee-keepers are advised to provide plenty of water for them, e.g. a small pond.
Yes, good news about the pesticides.
They seem to have quite small nests, up to 50 bees in it.
In other news, not many wasps around at the moment, apparently they were decimated by bad winters and summers. Bad news for gardeners, actually.
In other news, more eagles seen in Norfolk, Gordon Bennett.
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Yes, I was thinking, I'm not sure it's going to be that easy for my sis and bro-in-law to tackle the problem.
Exciting news about the eagles in Norfolk! :)
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Advice for bee-keepers seems to be to keep them at least a field's distance from horses; but with bumble bees, you can't do that. Probably they often turn up in the same field. But probably as long as they have drinking water, they are OK. So droughts could be a problem, and bee-keepers should have ponds, or containers full of water, which are replenished frequently.
There are hives on my allotment, and it's nice to see the honey bees on all the flowers.
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As far as I know, this is the first time they have found a bees nest at the small holding. But they have four fields which accommodate five Dexter cattle and two horses, so I guess there may have to be some shuffling about.
It is interesting where the bees have come from though. There are three surrounding properties in the area, so perhaps someone is a bee-keeper. There are plenty of water troughs in the fields for the animals...... maybe that was part of the attraction.
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Yes, but bee-keepers keep honey bees, not bumble bees, which are completely wild. They are quite different, and the nest of the bumbles is tiny compared with the honey bee, maybe 50 bees, whereas a hive might have 30, 000 bees!
So a bee nesting in the ground is not a honey bee, which is not wild in the UK.
Well, correction to that, there are wild colonies of honey bee, which maybe were once held by a keeper, so I don't know if they are truly wild or feral.
Anyway, they look very different!
PS. this is complicated! There are also mining bees, mason bees, etc. which look a bit like honey bees.
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Yes, of course, that's true. These bees were much smaller than the usual bumble bee, almost like baby bumbles - perhaps they were.
Just seen your edited post and yes, the bees just didn't look like your regular bumble bee.
Tiny, two black stripes with a greyish yellowy look to them.
The mystery deepens! :D
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A fair of long-tailed tits... :)
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Yes, of course, that's true. These bees were much smaller than the usual bumble bee, almost like baby bumbles - perhaps they were.
Just seen your edited post and yes, the bees just didn't look like your regular bumble bee.
Tiny, two black stripes with a greyish yellowy look to them.
The mystery deepens! :D
They sound like honey bees to me. I think there must be a bee keeper in the area. It could be that a commercial keeper has left some hives on an nearby farm for a while, to aid pollenation.
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A fair of long-tailed tits... :)
Eh, watchit, mister! ;)
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Yes, of course, that's true. These bees were much smaller than the usual bumble bee, almost like baby bumbles - perhaps they were.
Just seen your edited post and yes, the bees just didn't look like your regular bumble bee.
Tiny, two black stripes with a greyish yellowy look to them.
The mystery deepens! :D
They sound like honey bees to me. I think there must be a bee keeper in the area. It could be that a commercial keeper has left some hives on an nearby farm for a while, to aid pollenation.
Cybers, well, this is why it's a bit of a mystery. I think they have to be bumbles 'cos their bums are rounded. :D It's just their colour scheme doesn't seem quite right. I've googled and found it still quite hard to identify anything.
Anyway, next time, I'll take my camera and try and upload to Flicker, so we can study them!
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Every year my mum's paths are infested with masonry bees. They are very docile and when they enter the house she just picks them up in her fingers and puts them back outside. We've tried to fill in all the cracks in her paths but each year they return to make a home. They are like tiny bumbles.
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I lived in a house in Berkhamsted, where every year the front door key-hole had a nest in it, presumably by a carpenter bee? We put notices up warning people, but of course, didn't kill it.
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For anyone interested, there's an Horizon programme on BBC 2 tonight at 9pm entitled ' What's Killing our Bees?'
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Dear Antithesis,
Thank you, interesting programme, first thing and probably the most obvious, more Bee friendly plants next year ;)
And the man ended with "perhaps it is us that are destroying the Bee's" no perhaps about it, intensive farming >:(
Gonnagle.
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Overall, I thought this an excellent programme. Not being a great fan of Bill, I thought his presentation here very good, am sure it was because of his interest and fondness for bees.
It seems there is, as was thought, a combination of reasons for the plight of the humble bee, but I'm still against the use of neonicotinoids.
That was very interesting, the find that urban bees were flourishing..... sems even amongst any pollution in the atmosphere. They are avoiding any pesticides although not the bad long winters.
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Overall, I thought this an excellent programme. Not being a great fan of Bill, I thought his presentation here very good, am sure it was because of his interest and fondness for bees.
It seems there is, as was thought, a combination of reasons for the plight of the humble bee, but I'm still against the use of neonicotinoids.
That was very interesting, the find that urban bees were flourishing..... sems even amongst any pollution in the atmosphere. They are avoiding any pesticides although not the bad long winters.
Yes, I thought it was a well balanced programme also. Obviously there's so much still to be understood. After living through the dire effects of DDT on our birdlife in particular, I also support the European two year ban on neonicotinoids.
Interesting comments in the programme associated with genetically modifying plants so that such pesticides are not needed. Bound to be contentious, of course.
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Very good programme, which explained a very complex subject.
The urban bees were fascinating - in Paris, they produce twice the honey of rural ones. Wow.
In Norfolk I am surrounded by these arable deserts, with one crop stretching for a mile, and little for bees and butterflies to feed on. But our garden gets lots of both, so you can make a difference. Grow flowers - e.g. buddleia, cotoneaster, herbs, ceanothus. Beware some hybrid plants, which have no pollen or nectar.
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Yeah, we have over a 100 bumble-bees in our allotment; also various butterflies, including the gatekeeper, and some skippers, and speckled woods. No peacocks or red admirals yet, but August is a good time.
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Why I love my Alberta
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/08/08/calgary-grizzly-bear-video-dancing-alberta.html
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Went to our local EH property yesterday, place was swarming with bees and butterflies, even the plants for sale. We had a bumble bee nest in the ivy on our wild cherry, it is deserted now which seems early, but no-one has disturbed it so I have to assume they've done their thing for this year.
The fields opposite have oil seed rape on them this year, but the ditches are full of willowherb and meadowsweet, and the field margins have what appears to be wild oat growing in them, alongside hogweed, mayweed and even poppies. The result is that our walks are full of bug spotting opportunities. I know most of the farmers round here but these fields are leased by a chap from t'other village, and I'd love to meet him and ask if he has deliberately tried to attract wildlife.
Lots of skylarks, too, :) but no hares. :(
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It's a shame we can't post pics on here because I have a flower in my garden that I'd like to identify - only because I'd like to buy more of it. It's tall (probably standing about 4' high) with a single spike of 'fluffy' purple flower - the flower head itself is similar in shape to a red hot poker but it's a lot longer and narrower, maybe about 18". The bumble bees LOVE it - it really is bumble bee party central.
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Liatris spicata aka gay feather?
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Liatris spicata aka gay feather?
HURRAH!! Thanks Rhi.
That's the one. I must get more, the bumble bees are so entertaining to watch on it. Gayfeather - that's easy to remember.
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I have a flock of Spruce Grouse visiting my back yard twice a day. Dad and mom with 16 baby chicks. So cute.
http://www.avianweb.com/sharptailedgrouse.html
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I have a flock of Spruce Grouse visiting my back yard twice a day. Dad and mom with 16 baby chicks. So cute.
I've seen Spruce Grouse on visits to Canada - nice "back yard" bird.
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August is proving a good month for butterflies, iz coz sun iz sheening, innit.
Anyway, waves of different species so far - e.g. a lot of gatekeepers, meadow browns, also peacocks, red admirals, skippers, commas, common blue, holly blue.
I've also seen some of the less common ones, such as small heath and small copper. And my star find, I've seen two clouded yellows, and it seems to be a good year for them. Some nature reserves are recording them every day. I think they migrate every year in small numbers.
Here is a nice pic of small copper.
http://tinyurl.com/kg8pxx3
And here a nice custardy clouded yellow:
http://tinyurl.com/mzac8oa
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-23768626
A dolphin has been seen many miles inland, swimming up the River Dee towards Chester.
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Oh, that doesn't sound good. Can they get him back out to sea?
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Oh dear! :( I hope people leave it alone. Hopefully its inner compass will start to realise it's heading the wrong way. ???
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The dolphin is probably looking for someone or something to kill.
lhttp://luna.pos.to/whale/gen_art_killer.html
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The dolphin is probably looking for someone or something to kill.
lhttp://luna.pos.to/whale/gen_art_killer.html
Interesting article. The problem is I think is in the 'smiley' mouth and the fact that we love to anthropomorphise things.
I can see the headlines now: "Lone killer dolphin on rampage in River Dee."
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They will hop right on to the river banks and drag little people into the water by their ankles. Then they shred their victims with their razor teeth. They don't eat them, they just do it for kicks.
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They will hop right on to the river banks and drag little people into the water by their ankles. Then they shred their victims with their razor teeth. They don't eat them, they just do it for kicks.
HA!HA!
Apparently the dolphin has gone back out to sea now.
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For now maybe. It will be back, with friends.
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People enjoy swimming with dolphins, so they can't be evil predators.
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This is really excellent news
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/white-tailed-sea-eagles-breed-in-east-of-scotland-for-first-time-in-nearly-200-years.1376994728
Sea eagles breeding for the first time on Scotland;s East coast in 200 years.
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This is really excellent news
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/white-tailed-sea-eagles-breed-in-east-of-scotland-for-first-time-in-nearly-200-years.1376994728
Sea eagles breeding for the first time on Scotland;s East coast in 200 years.
I agree AM, especially as a nest was destroyed in Angus in June when the tree holding the nest was chopped down! Maybe this chick will be the first of many over the years to come. ;D
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Looks like there's a large invasion of silver y moths going on at the moment. They love gardens, and feed on nectar like butterflies. They migrate to the UK from May onwards in small numbers, but this year seems to be a vintage year for them, with probably many hundreds of thousands making landfall. If anyone wants to identify them, try this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Y
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Birding wise, the first flush of Autumn is in full swing. Spurn has been reporting 30-50 willow warblers passing through(almost certainly British in origin), with the first pied flycatchers being seen. If the winds veer anyway near the east, and the high pressure continues, some unusual birds might well drop in on the east coast...maybe this weekend.
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Dear Jim,
East coast sea Eagle, probably charge punters who take pictures, one day I will fix this chip on my shoulder. :o
Gonnagle.
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Yep.
Maybe it'll end up as a mega-chicken supper in Craigmiller?
Seriously, though, alongside the osprey and the beaver (including the ones the authorities didn't want released but are free nonetheless), these are great bits of news.
Now for the lynx.
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I got a picture of the grouse visiting my yard yesterday. Sorry about the quality, they don't let people get near them.
(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1010197_zps6189ebec.jpg) (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/JohnCm_bucket/media/P1010197_zps6189ebec.jpg.html)
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Nice photos there. They look very cute - also the flowers look nice. Is that a woman's leg I can see in the corner of the frame, or a tree-trunk? Your secret is safe with me.
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LOL, that's what a woman's leg looks like to you Mr. Wigginhall? YIKES MAN!!
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Let me tell you, I had a very sheltered childhood. The closest I ever got to a woman, except my ma, was when my cousin's girl-friend once looked at me across the garden, and I swear, she whispered 'my legs are yours'. As you can imagine, this started me off on a long career of horticulture.
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Personally, I prefer drinking Grous.....
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I am covered in love bites not supplied by my husband! :o
The insects around along our bridle path at the back of our house love me to pieces.
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So who's this other lucky man floo? lol
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As Floo has mentioned those little critters who appear to be in love with both Floo and me, I'd like to mention yet another.
'Tis the season of the fly...
Those little ones, that run round in squares and like to warm their feet on anything vaguely above room temperature, including me.
They always remind me this Ogden Nash poem...
The Fly
God in his wisdom made the fly
And then forgot to tell us why.
:)
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He sure did! ;D
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I am covered in love bites not supplied by my husband! :oI take it a blind man called at your house then
The insects around along our bridle path at the back of our house love me to pieces.
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Wot about the dolphins?
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They're very tasty.
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I suppose if you had done, you'd do a lot of blubbering?
Sorry.
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Never mind.
I expect it tasted a bit like albatross.
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I've never tasted smoked rubber. Is it a bit like chicken?
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Raw seal heart is quite tasty I hear. Former governor general seemed to like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Loo8XXkfu8
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Ok, this is my first attempt at uploading photos to Flickr.... so don't get too excited. :D
They were taken on a walk, locally, the other day. See if you can spot the bee on the wild orchid and the dragonfly on the piece of floating twig. The chestnuts are on their way too. Click on a picture for an enlarged view.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/100827880@N05/
The wild orchid, this year, has been magnificent - it seems to be everywhere.
On the lake pictured, I have seen greater-crested grebes nesting and fishing; last autumn, a huge gathering of Canadian geese; what seems to be a lone heron, that is very territorial; and just this afternoon, there were four buzzards overhead doing a lot of calling and two hovering - no doubt, with an eye on a meal.
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Lovely pics. I've seen a ton of buzzards this summer, obviously breeding in Norfolk. I get nervous that the shooters will shoot them.
It's amazing to see a buzzard hover, for such a big bird.
Canadas - yes, you get big flocks, moulting I guess. I'm not sure if they are flightless for a while.
Lovely lake.
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Yes, they were definitely buzzards, we recognised the call, and as you say, it is unusual to see them hover. Must say, it wasn't for long and then something distracted them and they were gone, over the tops of some trees.
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It's a strange call, like a cat mewing, or a baby crying. But I've got to love it now. It's a kind of sign of wildness, somehow.
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Yes, and I always think, the call seems almost too high-pitched for such a huge bird. If you didn't know otherwise you could mistake it for a much smaller bird.
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Yes, and many birds of prey have similar calls, rather thin and reedy. I expect there's a theory about it somewhere, as there is (I think) about exotic plumaged birds, which tend to have scanty song. So pheasants sort of croak.
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Yep, I agree with Wigs that quite a few birds of prey have really similar calls.
Interestingly, rough legged buzzards are pretty adept at hovering, although it's too early to see them in the UK yet.
Quite a few birds which live in forest areas often have unusual and far carrying calls, and this includes many of the pheasant family.
When it comes to bird song though, the best songs tend to be from those species with the most unremarkable colours, such as the nightingale and a whole variety of Eurasian warblers. However the warblers of North America, which tend to be much more colourful and distinctive, have rather unremarkable songs.
Incidentally, I suggested in mess 201 that if the winds turned easterly and we had some rain, last weekend might turn up some unusual birds on migration. I'm pleased to say that this duly happened, and, all along the east coast from Durham to Norfolk great birds resulted. Spurn and Flamborough(which are my stomping grounds) had good numbers of wrynecks, the odd icterine and barred warbler, and a excellent sprinkling of whinchats, wheatears and redstarts.
Hopefully I'm off to Spurn again tomorrow, so we'll see what turns up!!
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Here in Kent the numbers of Wrynecks is unusually high. But lots of other good stuff around.
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We are attracting a lot of young sparrows to our bird table. One can only suppose this is due to late nesting because of the unusually cold spring?
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59 curlew sandpipers at Titchwell this am. No, I'm not there, worst luck.
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Yes, and I always think, the call seems almost too high-pitched for such a huge bird. If you didn't know otherwise you could mistake it for a much smaller bird.
The same with red kites; in a large bird you'd expect a deep call, but their call is really quite high pitched and thin.
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It's a strange call, like a cat mewing, or a baby crying. But I've got to love it now. It's a kind of sign of wildness, somehow.
I love the sound of a sky lark; so lonely. When you hear a skylark sing you know you are away from the city.
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Yes, that's true, except in Richmond Park, London, where skylarks sometimes breed.
Insects - I was remarking to my wife that we never see bluebottles these days, and I'm sure when I was a kid there were tons of them, anyway, we went off to the allotment, and not bluebottles, but there are a lot of greenbottles, rather fascinating creatures. I suppose they are carnivorous.
Their larvae are used to calculate the time of death in dead bodies. Not a lot of people know that.
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Wiggs, I've watched CSI... Grissom uses bugs to determine TOD all the time. :)
Yes, we have greenbottles this year. And a houseful of moths, because of having windows open in the evenings.
Skylarks...we have them in the fields on the edges of our village, including opposite our house. When the dog gets me up to go out at stupid o'clock I often see them above the hedge.
Our resident sparrow flock that live on our lane seem to have done well this year in terms of numbers. And an Indian summer is forecast.
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Yes, I was thinking about Grissom, a great character.
Good news about sparrows; yes, I am seeing quite a lot in the dusty parts of the roads now. There are even a few in London.
In Norfolk, we always have skylarks overhead in spring; and this year, we had buzzards. Just hope they don't get shot.
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Some may be following this already, anyway....
The Scottish WLT chick has started her migration and is now well on her journey south. Mother went on ahead about 4 weeks ago and left father to continue to feed the chick (Blue YZ) until she was able to fish for herself. This involved several aborted attempts, here is a wonderful pic of one of those initial fishing outings:
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/2013/08/23/blue-yz-goes-fishing/
On one attempt she was harassed by a heron but Dad was quick to intervene and (according to observers) quite a battle ensued before the heron was sent on it's way.
It's rather lovely.... although Blue YZ is now on her travels, father hangs around for a few days to be sure she is gone, before he starts his migration.
So far, the chick has covered a total of 1,280mls in just 5 days which included a 16hr non-stop flight across the Bay of Biscay..... not bad for a youngster, she is just over 3 months old. Her flight speeds varied from 9mph over the Bay of Biscay (weather there can be very turbulent, at times) to 46mph over the Celtic Sea.
At one point she crossed the Cantabrian mountains which lie between northern and southern Spain. Many of the peaks reach 6,000ft with the highest exceeding 8,000ft. It's amazing to think that the next set of data may reveal that she has arrived in Africa.
Although it is wonderful to be able to track these birds, it does concern me a little that they have a satellite tracking device strapped to them. Blue YZ has a pliable ariel that stands out on her back. So far, there have been no calamities reported even though she has tumbled through trees on her maiden flights. But it would be good if she could be totally free of a harness.
May the Light be with you, Blue YZ, throughout your further adventures.
If you want to follow Blue YZ here is the link to Scottish WLT tracking:
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/osprey/
Here you will find data on previous years' chicks, too. Also, on the Scottish WLT blog there are some stunning Google Earth pics of places the osprey have been visiting.
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Great stuff, Ms Pea, and very moving. It's great that humans have helped here, rather than destroying stuff.
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Great stuff, Ms Pea, and very moving. It's great that humans have helped here, rather than destroying stuff.
Sorry, I've been out.
Yes, it is moving; and the rangers and observers are sooo dedicated.... a very good trust.
Having followed the webcam and blogs on the osprey family throughout the summer, I'm really going to miss them. It's actually been a wonderful insight into parenting skills, which I'm sure we humans could learn from.
Roll-on next summer.... which should be interesting because the female, mother osprey is now 25yrs old, and has been returning to the Loch of Lowes for as many years. The SWLT say they await her arrival next year with uncertainty.
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What I want to know is:
A. How a slug managed to find its way to my dining room door
B. Now that I have a chance to look at one close up, what are those tiny little white things running around on it?
I love slugs, and snails even more. Exquisitely beautiful. I can watch snails for ages.
As to how they end up inside, I think usually they hitch a ride on something. Plant pots, buckets, trouser turn-ups...I used to have a long-haired cat who often came in with slugs stuck on her fur, sometimes so deeply I had to cut them out with scissors.
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I will pick a couple of bucketfulls from my allotment Rhi, and send them to you!
Even they shouldn't be able to make it back from there....
;)
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We find slug trails in our sun room, but no slugs. I can't for the life of me see how they get in, or where they go to. The floor is tiled, and there is no way they can get under the skirting boards, very strange!
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I have a suspicion my son brought it in. It was right in the middle of the door in a warm, dry room with not the slightest hint of a trail behind it and now I come to think about it he was talking about getting a slug for a pet just a day or so ago. He's fascinated by them.
For some reason I forgot to put it outside. I looked for it this morning and it had gone. I hope he put it out or god knows where it might have got to.
Bless him. They are fascinating creatures.
My boy loves them too. I am deeply proud to have a son who would rather make slug and snail homes than squash them.
Earthworms are also a big hit.
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I will pick a couple of bucketfulls from my allotment Rhi, and send them to you!
Even they shouldn't be able to make it back from there....
;)
I was once at a coffee morning for the local cat's shelter when it was discovered that every potted plant for sale came with at least a couple of very large garden snails. I genuinely did offer to take them home and set them free in my garden.
But then I don't grow fruit and veg.
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Bless him. They are fascinating creatures.
My boy loves them too. I am deeply proud to have a son who would rather make slug and snail homes than squash them.
Earthworms are also a big hit.
Maybe he has the makings of a great naturalist.
Charles Darwin spent years of his life studying humble earthworms.
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We get slugs in the kitchen, when we have the window open, I guess they just crawl in. I scoop them up and chuck them out, and then spend about half an hour washing my hands. Yuk.
I had a row years ago on the allotment, when the woman in the next plot saw me scattering slug pellets. She ranted and raved, but I made the point, no slug pellets, no French beans. And this is true. Some years, they attack tomatoes.
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My grand daughter loves slugs, snails, spiders, tadpoles, woodlice..even earwigs. When she discovered what a naturalist is, she then decided that when she grows up, she wants to become one. We'll see. :)
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The boy currently wants to be a footballer. ::)
My daughter wants to be a naturalist. Her ambition is to study Sable Island.
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Just out of interest... does anyone take any notice of their local geology?
Its an oft forgotten element of the natural world, influencing everything we see around us. There are plenty of local sites, usually old quarries, dotted around the country.
Personally it helps me to gain a coherant understanding of my surroundings... but then I am bias, because its part of my job.
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I do on holiday, Samuel. I sometimes go to Hunstanton, and marvel at the cliffs with their vivid strata. In London, it's not so obvious really.
http://tinyurl.com/kxgl37l
Was walking by a lake yesterday, watching the swallows and house martins skimming low over the water, about 6" up at times. They come very close, so you get very good views. Off to African skies - please take me with you!
Sometimes we are lucky enough to see a hobby appear, to snaffle one of them for breakfast or lunch.
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Hi Samuel,
Yes indeed. I live in an area where the cretaceous and jurassic are close to each other. Over the years I've visited several quarries, and the coast, of course, to find examples of typical fossils of the areas. Incidentally, the Yorkshire Wolds with their chalk base, produce quite a distinctive flora.
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Just come back from the Spurn area, where I had unbelievable views of a rarity, a great snipe. Usually, they are extremely difficult to see. This one was a doozy bird which has found a very convenient ditch, and, from time to time, comes right up onto the bank and walks amongst the birders' tripods. It must be because it has hardly ever seen a human being in its life, and, therefore, has no fear of humans. I saw it down to about a metre, and took some great video of it. It reminded people there(about 60 birders) of a certain steppe grey shrike a few years ago in Lincolnshire, which actually perched on a birder's head. ;D
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Great stuff. One of my few rarities - a brown shrike - was pretty tame as well, just sat in the same bush for about 4 weeks next to the M25.
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Just out of interest... does anyone take any notice of their local geology?
Its an oft forgotten element of the natural world, influencing everything we see around us. There are plenty of local sites, usually old quarries, dotted around the country.
Personally it helps me to gain a coherant understanding of my surroundings... but then I am bias, because its part of my job.
Which is ?
(sorry being nosey)
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Just out of interest... does anyone take any notice of their local geology?
Its an oft forgotten element of the natural world, influencing everything we see around us. There are plenty of local sites, usually old quarries, dotted around the country.
Personally it helps me to gain a coherant understanding of my surroundings... but then I am bias, because its part of my job.
Kind of. I don't know much about geology, but here in East Anglia we don't have ancient stone monuments because we don't have large stones. We do have lots of flint though, and they are unmissable in the fields and in our buildings. We also get what looks to my inexpert eyes to be quartz pebbles.
As a gardener, I can't miss the fact we live on heavy clay soil near chalk hills.
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Have you made any spiced bramble jelly this year ?
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For those that are thinking of doing some traveling may I introduce the jewel of my province. Waterton Lake National Park. Where the Rocky Mountains meets the Canadian Prairies. Located in the southwest corner of Alberta bordering British Columbia and Montana.
I plan on making a day trip into the area this week to load up on pictures for a wildlife site i belong to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0wSbILb1us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BNbphWPeiWo
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Powwow, your national park looks stunningly beautiful. And your comments and YT links are good for local tourism too.
We are off to California next month to visit my sister-in-law and niece. Part of the holiday will include a four night stay in Yosemite NP.... (luckily our accomodation has not been burnt down!).
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Great pix, powwow. We are still thinking about our trip to Canada next year. Currently, we are considering Quebec, plus of course staying with you for a month, as planned. Only joking. I think my wife sees it as a great opportunity to speak French without going to France. There's method in her madness.
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Yesterday, I saw a wasp catch a small bug and fly off with it. This is the first time I've seen this happen, and all the gardening books say that wasps are the gardeners' friend, so now I have proof.
On the beach on Saturday at Titchwell, absolutely beautiful, warm, and summery. Also lots of interesting birds about, as you would expect in Sept.
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Dear Nature Lovers,
One potato, which weighs in at 2 lb 11 oz, tis a monster :o :o
Gonnagle.
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But does it look like a willie? Yours, concerned nature lover.
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Wigginhall NO! You can catch a glimpse of Quebec from the air as you fly out here to Alberta and holiday in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast of British Columbia. Your wife won't regret it, I guarantee that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=76Bl_xiaVec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GimA4_3mLtY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lww6Y4hlQR4
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Yesterday, I saw a wasp catch a small bug and fly off with it. This is the first time I've seen this happen, and all the gardening books say that wasps are the gardeners' friend, so now I have proof.
On the beach on Saturday at Titchwell, absolutely beautiful, warm, and summery. Also lots of interesting birds about, as you would expect in Sept.
Watched a wasp stinging moth to death one morning last week. Astonishing.
Anyone else noticed how small conkers are this year? So far, at any rate. Not much bigger than peas.
Orb web spiders are out! yay! One of my favourite autumn sights. :)
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Yes, many wonderful webs at the moment, watch out also for the wasp spiders, which are quite common in London, not sure about other parts. A very handsome spider indeed.
http://tinyurl.com/ka8t9rh
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Incidentally, I believe that the male orb spider tears off its own genitals. Caution: do not try this at home.
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Things are looking up for house sparrows, it seems, with evidence that populations are stabilising.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3965
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We have a large flock of them on our lane, they follow us along as we walk and make a huge racket.
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Yes, the decline is leveling out.
There was also some advice about how to encourage them, e.g. if you have a garden, leave some untidy areas, for insects, grow some plants good for roosting, e.g. hawthorn, ivy, if you put out bird food, have some large seeds in it, and wash the feeders at regular intervals, to stop viruses, etc., and put up nest boxes (32 mm entrance).
I had to cut back our ivy, as it was becoming like a jungle, and the sparrows used to love it.
And don't use insecticides! Also for bees and other insects.
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For me, one of the most handsome of birds which occur in Britain is the red backed shrike. The adult male is a striking bird. For those who have never seen one, here is a typical photo of one.
http://scotlandcaravanholidays.typepad.com/.a/6a010535844fa1970c0120a7755c5d970b-800wi
or
http://letterfromnorfolk.wordpress.com/tag/red-backed-shrike/
In the last few years a pair of red backed shrikes have bred at an undisclosed location on Dartmoor
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3973
which, I think, is great news because they died out as a British breeding bird late in the 20th Cent. I remember seeing the last breeding pair at a place called Santon Downham, in Norfolk, in 1988. Although the location was a picnic site, the breeding area had been roped off. Unfortunately, this didn't stop the inevitable disturbance and attempts at egg collecting. I believe the next year produced only a male which tried forlornly to look for a non existent mate.
However, this masked invader is a regular passage migrant to the east coast, sometimes in quite good numbers, where they can sit out conspicuously on fences and branches. This time of year is perfect for them to appear, and several have already shown their impressive sense of occasion by appearing on cue.
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I didn't put any bird seed out for a couple days so that the sparrows would clean up all the scattered seeds.
Well when i did put fresh seed out yesterday things got crazy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fjj32CavzU0
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I am not putting out anything apart from food scraps for the birds at the moment until winter sets in. The sparrows are fighting over the bread I put out earlier.
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For me, one of the most handsome of birds which occur in Britain is the red backed shrike. ....
Great news about the breeding. Let's hope we get more - even back here in Kent.
I always enjoy seeing them - in the UK and abroad.
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I always knew we had wolverines in my province and it's great that somebody actually got some of these critters on video. Good job!!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wolverines-caught-on-hd-video-for-first-time-1.2424605
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Great pix, pw.
It's been a stonking autumn for birds in the UK, many rarities, tropicbird, ovenbird, brown shrike, baltimore oriole, blah blah blah. Naturally, I didn't see any of them. None the less, had a fab day in Titchwell last week, bright sunshine, many interesting birds, e.g. little stint, then walked on the beach.
Next week sees the publication at last of the new atlas of British breeding birds, 700 pages of it! The first for 20 years, it will show many changes in bird distribution, e.g. the expansion of buzzard and raven, and the shrinkage of nightingale and cuckoo, although in Scotland, things look brighter.
Also, quite modestly, I can mention that I worked on a tiny bit of it. Published by BTO, £70 I think.
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Just back from a break in the Highlands.
Sunday was stunning. I've seen Glencoe in sun, rain and white-out conditions, and scraped off the fungus while stumbling the West Highland Way yonks ago, but I've never experienced the brilliance of Sunday.
Autumn leaves were still turning ( very late for up here), and Autumnal colour was glorious in a cloudless, crisp day, with a fair sprinkle of snow on the bens and hills, and a dusting of frost on the ground.
As the frost lifted, it formed a mist which rose leaving the greens and browns of the ground and the pristine white of the mountains separated by a layer of twisting opalescence that even I could appreciate.
Combine that with the roar of a red deer, call of buzzard and, high over all, the clear sound of a golden eagle, and the tang of pine and peat, and the whole experience was pure magic.
I just had to sample nature's bounty in the form of GlenTurret malt to finish off the experience.
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Glorious post Jim. Now, where's my boots ..
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I can empathize with that, Jim. Takes me back to some wonderful times spent in Scotland, especially in a beautiful place we called 'Eagle alley' (Findhorn Valley). :)
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ant;
Did you visit the Findhorn community??*
* - Fundamentalists should look away now.
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Dear Jim,
GlenTurret a close cousin of Grouse I will keep an eye out for it, what did you sample, 10 year old, seventeen year old??
Although the person who writes the bollocks below, saying that some numpty actually pays for this rubbish.
The nose is full with malted barley and toasty cereal. Notes of nutty oiliness, a touch of fruit peels and a herbal tones. There is a good oaken honeyed sweetness. The palate is fruity and rich with thick sweetness and well-balanced oaked tannins. A touch of cut hay and a little earthen notes. The finish is of medium-length with a beautiful sweetness.
A touch of cut hay :o :o :o :o
Gonnagle.
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Gonners;
Glenturret is the distillary from which the base malt for the Famous Grouse * is made. It is definately worth a visit; the visitors centre is not the usual tourist tat. The display and IMAX set up is visually stunning, and a generous sample of two of the products of the firm are available. I've been there a few times, now.
* - Apart from Glenturret itself (the 17 year olld), samples of Grouse, Black Grouse, Black Grouse Alpha ( probably the best blend I've tasted), and Snow Grouse were available as samples.
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Dear Jim,
Oh you sweet talker!! we have a meet up at the end of this month myself and Gordon like a wee dram or twa, will keep an eye open for this Genturret ;)
Gonnagle.
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Sounds amazing Anchorman. We are already having snow avalanches here.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/avalanche-warning-in-place-for-k-country-1.2126792
Here's a pic from last year. My little flock of grouse warming themselves against my greenhouse
(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/003-25.jpg) (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/JohnCm_bucket/media/003-25.jpg.html)
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ant;
Did you visit the Findhorn community??*
* - Fundamentalists should look away now.
Afraid not, Jim, although we knew something of them at the time. We basically went up the A9 to Tomatin, then off left following the River Findhorn to the Dalmigavie area, a most beautiful area. I can still remember the red deer and the mountain hares on the hillside, my first singing ring ouzel, a majestic soaring golden eagle and a pair of goshawks. It was a privilege to be a part of such unspoiled and open countryside.
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Grouse, powow?
OK, I suppose....but you can't drink em.
Even if you put ;em in a liquidizer.
(Sorry).
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Hey Anchorman,
We drink weird things in Canada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ONbXtifdtc
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Oh, wow! Jim and Ant, reading your posts had my heart racing. :)
Jim have you visited the Findhorn community? If so, I'd be interested in your views - if we can go off topic for just a couple of posts.
Wiggs - great stuff, getting an entry in the new atlas for British breeding birds. :)
And Powwow - love the pics of the grouse snuggling against your greenhouse trying to escape the snow.
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SweetPea.
It's been more than a few years since I visited the Findhorn Community. I had a friend who worked in the REAL village of Findhorn.
Trust me, the members of the community, though they tried to integrate with the locals, were regarded as a nuisance at best, and a bunch of hippy time wasters at worst...shall we say relations were, despite the .FC's efforts and public profile, strained!
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SweetPea.
It's been more than a few years since I visited the Findhorn Community. I had a friend who worked in the REAL village of Findhorn.
Trust me, the members of the community, though they tried to integrate with the locals, were regarded as a nuisance at best, and a bunch of hippy time wasters at worst...shall we say relations were, despite the .FC's efforts and public profile, strained!
Jim, this made me laugh - if I'd been around at the time, I would probably have been one of the nuisances. :D
But I'm very fond of a book by Sir George Trevelyan, one of the FC members (also a member of 'The Essene Network') - 'A Vision of the Aquarian Age' which can be found now as an online book.
http://www.sirgeorgetrevelyan.org.uk/Vision.html
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I'm slightly miffed - tried posting this post earlier but it vanished. ???
Here goes, once more....
Have recently returned from a holiday in California, visiting relatives. Part of the trip was a stay in Yosemite National Park. We were sooo lucky, the park reopened, after the government shutdown, just days before our visit. Here we had sightings of the steller jay (related to the blue jay); the American kestrel - beautiful colours; and mule deer, so-called because of their huge, mule-like ears. The mountains were breathtaking - no waterfalls, due to the lack of rain. We climbed Glacier Point to a vista point at 7,214ft for a 360 degree, panoramic view of Yosemite valley - and the day was clear, words cannot describe...
Then we travelled west to San Francisco to visit my niece. She took us on various tours including a morning at Muir Woods - home to some giant redwoods and Bohemian Grove, a summer meeting place for US artists, musicians and dignitaries. Also, Pier 39 which is a natural sanctuary for sea lions that arrived there after the San Fran earthquake, in 1989. There were some sightings of pelicans too, along the bay.
Finally, we drove south down the Pacific Highway to my sister-in-law, 60mls south of Los Angeles. Stops at Monterey and more sea lions and pelicans. No whales though, which can be seen here from April through to December.
Then a detour along the 17 Mile Drive through Peeble Beach and some famous golf courses. Stunning scenery, and a squirrel-like creature, amongst some rocks, we have yet to identify.
Where my sis-in-law lives is really desert, surrounded by hills and mountains, and everything is parched at this time of the year. She kept saying how beautiful it was in the spring, after the rain. But driving back home from Heathrow it was wonderful to see the green again of our lush countryside.
Both my sister-in-law and niece have bird feeders and visiting hummingbirds. We tried to get pictures but the hummers were too quick!
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Have made this a sticky to ensure it doesn't get culled.
Update: in view of the 'thanks' below for making this sticky, I'll confess that this was Rhiannon's idea and not mine!
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Cheers, Gordon.
Thank you for that lovely description, Sweetpea.
Was watching a flock of starlings earlier this week, a long line of them moving across the grass, picking up food; every now and again a few of them would rise in the air and then fall back to the ground; and sometimes they would all suddenly fly to the nearest tree, and sit there whistling and chattering. Then back they go to the ground, in their long line. Well, they are my favourite bird, I love to listen to them in the trees, doing their wolf-whistles.
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Thanks Gordon. :D
Excellent posting, SweetPea. :)
Bill Oddie's rant against this 'green' government might be worth a look for those interested. The full article appears in the issue of Birdwatch, on sale next week. However you can get a flavour of his views here.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4083
*Incidentally there is a photo of me in the present edition. I'll say no more than the words 'great snipe'. ;)
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Thanks Rhiannon. ;D
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Big old grizzly scares off stills shoot in British Columbia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qT5j7HWS3qI
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Yeah! Saw two bitterns today; seeing one is pretty run of the mill at the local patch (Barnes WWT), but today I'd seen one from a hide, skulking in the reeds, and then walking back through the reserve, a guy popped out of the observatory and said, bittern ahoy, and there was another one, actually walking up and down in another reed-bed. This one was 'bitterning' for a while, i.e. pointing his neck upwards, which gives good camouflage, I suppose. Fabulous creatures.
Sometimes we get up to 4 or 5, if the weather gets very cold. Last year, one was heard booming in early spring, but they never stay for the summer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16259794@N08/9431634646/
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Wiggs and Ant, my recent holiday in the US will stay with me forever. Re Yosemite NP, you know, there is something about mountains, I've noticed this elsewhere..... they are very mystical - you can see and even feel their aura - quite extraordinary. One view, known as Tunnel View, I can only think gave some kind of optical illusion. It was as though you were seeing 3D within 3D.
I can understand why gurus like to sit on a mountain top!
~~~~~
Wiggs, great picture of a bittern, and how lucky to be able to see them quite often. I have never seen one in reality.
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Humpback encounter off our Vancouver Island
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SQBxGQKYqkE
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As winter sets in, I always notice the new buds on various plants, looking forward to spring! I notice it with blackcurrant bushes, which have had new buds for about a month; and after pruning, they just grow some more. Then yesterday I noticed it with the local magnolias, absolutely packed with buds. There's hope!
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Humpback encounter
isn't that one of those dodgy singles bars in the West End?
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Was there a singles bar in the video clip? Sorry I missed it.
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Hi Prof.
Both possible. Is it also possible it might have flown into something? I have seen examples of dead birds showing no sign of injury which have bounced off a car or a window. Shock can kill a bird. And even a broken neck shows little visible sign of injury on a bird.
That's what happened to one of the peregrine falcons which hatched at Norwich cathedral this year. It had an argument with a van (or similar) and lost, unfortunately.
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Polar Bear cam over in Churchill.
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/mammals-animals/bears-and-pandas/polar-bear-cam-highlights-eorg/
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Two red admiral butterflies has been flying around one of our bathrooms today. Sadly one is now dead and the other isn't too lively. :(
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I just saw a big fat bumble-bee flying around a mahonia, which is in full bloom, and then I heard a goldcrest singing. We also saw a cherry tree in flower. It's spring!
Lovely sunny mild day, just right for a walk.
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I just saw a big fat bumble-bee flying around a mahonia, which is in full bloom, and then I heard a goldcrest singing. We also saw a cherry tree in flower. It's spring!
Lovely sunny mild day, just right for a walk.
Know what you mean. Heard a song thrush in full song today while cycling. Brilliant!
It reminded me when we used to do a 'bird race' on Jan 2nd(usually too hungover on the 1st) and we would tick off song thrush by its song just before dawn, and then tick dunlin, redshank and purple sandpiper at Bridlington by the light of the harbour lights. Silly days. ;D
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Oh Bridlington - brings up good memories.
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Well, I didn't realise I could get so attached to a bird. The young osprey, Blue YZ, that the Scottish WLT have been tracking this year has disappeared. It seems contact has been lost with her transmitter. This could mean a number of things eg. a problem with the equipment, but the observers fear she may have taken her last flight. Bless her, she made the long sahara crossing but when she eventually arrived in Guinea Bissau and had had a well earned rest, they noticed she was hardly moving from a roost and thus probably not fishing. Oh, I'm quite heartbroken....
On a brighter note, a male osprey the SWLT have been tracking since 2012 is doing really well and is safely overwintering around spots close to the Sengal river.
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It reminded me when we used to do a 'bird race' on Jan 2nd(usually too hungover on the 1st) and we would tick off song thrush by its song just before dawn, and then tick dunlin, redshank and purple sandpiper at Bridlington by the light of the harbour lights. Silly days. ;D
What a bunch of wimps. Ill be out from before dawn to dark on 1st Jan 2014 - unless it's too wet and windy ;D
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It reminded me when we used to do a 'bird race' on Jan 2nd(usually too hungover on the 1st) and we would tick off song thrush by its song just before dawn, and then tick dunlin, redshank and purple sandpiper at Bridlington by the light of the harbour lights. Silly days. ;D
What a bunch of wimps. Ill be out from before dawn to dark on 1st Jan 2014 - unless it's too wet and windy ;D
I know! I know! :-[ However we did win it one year with a total of 99 species. ;D We finished off at Hornsea, buying fish and chips at the seafront, and throwing chips to the gulls in order to entice a Med. gull(which we knew was there) to join them..which it duly did. ;D
Good birding on Jan 1 2014 by the way. :)
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Anyone who wants to see the devastation caused by the December storm and surge on East Coast nature reserves might like to look at this page:
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4113
My particular patch includes Far Ings, Blacktoft and, of course, the Spurn area.
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Anyone who wants to see the devastation caused by the December storm and surge on East Coast nature reserves might like to look at this page:
It's painful to see the devastation at some of my favourite coastal reserves in East Anglia. We got off pretty lightly here in Kent.
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you know, there is something about mountains, I've noticed this elsewhere..... they are very mystical.
Nice to see some appreciation of geology crop up. Something to consider further SweetPea - the particular kinds of bedrock and processes that occur in any given area utterly dictate the character of the landscape and habitats and to a large extent will have steered the course of human activity within that place. Think coal mining... but also in much more subtle ways than that too. So, if that is true, and if as individuals we feel some special connection to a landscape it is actually the geology that is at the root of it. I grew up on Chalk, put me in any chalk landscape and I feel at home. Large features like mountains are impressive, especially if they are unfamiliar, but I bet the rocks under your back garden (so to speak) are having just as much of a profound affect on your experience of the natural world... its just it isn't as obvious.
:)
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Anyone who wants to see the devastation caused by the December storm and surge on East Coast nature reserves might like to look at this page:
It's painful to see the devastation at some of my favourite coastal reserves in East Anglia. We got off pretty lightly here in Kent.
I didn't realize it was that bad. Poor old Snetti.
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you know, there is something about mountains, I've noticed this elsewhere..... they are very mystical.
Nice to see some appreciation of geology crop up. Something to consider further SweetPea - the particular kinds of bedrock and processes that occur in any given area utterly dictate the character of the landscape and habitats and to a large extent will have steered the course of human activity within that place. Think coal mining... but also in much more subtle ways than that too. So, if that is true, and if as individuals we feel some special connection to a landscape it is actually the geology that is at the root of it. I grew up on Chalk, put me in any chalk landscape and I feel at home. Large features like mountains are impressive, especially if they are unfamiliar, but I bet the rocks under your back garden (so to speak) are having just as much of a profound affect on your experience of the natural world... its just it isn't as obvious.
:)
Samuel
That's a very interesting post. As a child, I was surrounded by mountains living in Gairloch, Wester Ross; so maybe they are a kind of part of me. I'm not sure I noticed their aura as much then as I do now, but last year in Turkey and this autumn in Yosemite NP, it felt very strong. There was plenty of granite around in Yosemite too, and very probably granite can be found in parts of Gairloch.
Since leaving Scotland I have lived in rural areas of both clay and sandstone and other places more urban of which the geology, I'm not sure. At the moment we are on sandstone and I love it. There are two areas where roads have been carved through sandstone hillocks, that have an attraction. And when there is a really hot summer, like this year, any tracks around fields or local hills are like walking on a sandy beach...... of which Gairloch has many. So, maybe connections, as you say.
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Rarest bird in the country at the moment is on one of my local patches at Patrington Haven(close to Spurn Point). So, today I was up at 5 am, out by 6, and just beat the morning traffic crush through Hull, to arrive at Patrington. Haven as dawn was breaking. Managed to park the car close to the walking point, and after about a mile and a half walk along a muddy track, there it was, a first year ivory gull from the high arctic, a ghost of a bird which duly performed beautifully. This is only the second one I've ever seen, the first being at Saltburn in 1986. A bonus was finding a male hen harrier while watching the ivory gull. Returned home somewhat smug and somewhat knackered.
Anyone who wants to see photos of the bird, try
http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery9
and scroll downwards.
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Congrats. Not seen one yet - but they are great looking birds.
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you know, there is something about mountains, I've noticed this elsewhere..... they are very mystical.
Nice to see some appreciation of geology crop up. Something to consider further SweetPea - the particular kinds of bedrock and processes that occur in any given area utterly dictate the character of the landscape and habitats and to a large extent will have steered the course of human activity within that place. Think coal mining... but also in much more subtle ways than that too. So, if that is true, and if as individuals we feel some special connection to a landscape it is actually the geology that is at the root of it. I grew up on Chalk, put me in any chalk landscape and I feel at home. Large features like mountains are impressive, especially if they are unfamiliar, but I bet the rocks under your back garden (so to speak) are having just as much of a profound affect on your experience of the natural world... its just it isn't as obvious.
:)
Yes, this is very true. I grew up on Essex clay and live on clay and flint. Local buildings are faced in flint. There are no standing stones here but Grimes Graves in Thetford point to the importance of flint to ancient people. It is a very powerful stone and I feel a huge attachment to it, and it's probably no coincidence that I collect studio pottery.
I love vast, rocky, mountainous landscapes but they always freak me out slightly, and I'm not sure if I could make my home somewhere like that.
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Yes, this is very true. I grew up on Essex clay and live on clay and flint. Local buildings are faced in flint. There are no standing stones here but Grimes Graves in Thetford point to the importance of flint to ancient people. It is a very powerful stone and I feel a huge attachment to it, and it's probably no coincidence that I collect studio pottery.
I love vast, rocky, mountainous landscapes but they always freak me out slightly, and I'm not sure if I could make my home somewhere like that.
Yes, I remember visiting Grimes Graves years ago. I remember climbing down a ladder and exploring the short tunnels where they dug out the flint. Fascinating experience! I used to go field walking in Lincolnshire, where one of our number discovered a perfectly formed flint arrowhead. I still have a flint scraper which I found, from those days.
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you know, there is something about mountains, I've noticed this elsewhere..... they are very mystical.
Nice to see some appreciation of geology crop up. Something to consider further SweetPea - the particular kinds of bedrock and processes that occur in any given area utterly dictate the character of the landscape and habitats and to a large extent will have steered the course of human activity within that place. Think coal mining... but also in much more subtle ways than that too. So, if that is true, and if as individuals we feel some special connection to a landscape it is actually the geology that is at the root of it. I grew up on Chalk, put me in any chalk landscape and I feel at home. Large features like mountains are impressive, especially if they are unfamiliar, but I bet the rocks under your back garden (so to speak) are having just as much of a profound affect on your experience of the natural world... its just it isn't as obvious.
:)
Yes, this is very true. I grew up on Essex clay and live on clay and flint. Local buildings are faced in flint. There are no standing stones here but Grimes Graves in Thetford point to the importance of flint to ancient people. It is a very powerful stone and I feel a huge attachment to it, and it's probably no coincidence that I collect studio pottery.
I love vast, rocky, mountainous landscapes but they always freak me out slightly, and I'm not sure if I could make my home somewhere like that.
I chime in with your last point, as I grew up near the Pennines and Peaks, and was always scrambling around the bare outcrops, Heathcliff-like. But when I got older, to my surprise, I started to find them a bit bleak. We had a holiday a few years ago right next to Kinder Scout, and I found it too bare really. Well, Norfolk is pretty remote, but plenty of villages also. My favourite place is Bath - very civilized, and from the town centre, you can see cows grazing, so it's a nice mix of town and country.
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We have blossom on our flowering cherry tree! It must think it is spring as it is so mild for the time of year. It is about 12C at the moment, in spite of the strong wind.
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Yes, we have a cherry tree flowering in our street, plus lots of other flowers, e.g. plenty of roses, and the usual winter flowers, e.g. mahonia. It is very mild, and wet!
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Calgary's top ten cute animal stories for the year.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-s-top-cute-animal-stories-of-2013-1.2473837
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Powwow, do you know what happened to your ospreys, this year? Transmission was lost on the webcam after the floods in your area, I know; but were you still able to watch their progress, yourself?
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Hi SweetPea,
I don't don't know what happened to the live feed but it went down before the flood hit. The island that the Osprey nest is on got heavily damaged and the Zoo just opened up again a few weeks ago. I would think that the pole that the nest is on would have survived. I do some checking on what happened to them and get back to you.
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Thanks, Powwow.
You may have noticed, I was following the progress of the Scottish WLT osprey chick, and now they have nothing from her transmitter, and fear she may have departed this life. So, I know of only one (but of course, there are others) that is doing alright, at the moment - last year's SWLT osprey chick. Have fingers crossed the Canadian chicks are ok.
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Sorry SweetPea, I can't find out if the chicks survived the flood. Next time I walk down my hill to the river I will see if their pole still stands. If it's there I know chances are they made it. Here is some pictures of the chicks just before the flood.
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/thousands-flood-enmax-website-following-hatching-of-osprey-chicks-1.1330903
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Sorry SweetPea, I can't find out if the chicks survived the flood. Next time I walk down my hill to the river I will see if their pole still stands. If it's there I know chances are they made it. Here is some pictures of the chicks just before the flood.
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/thousands-flood-enmax-website-following-hatching-of-osprey-chicks-1.1330903
Ah, never mind. I was reading the link..... great that Calgary have built so many nesting platforms. And the picture of the osprey looking into the camera is a scream.... "hey, you lookin' at me?" (in a Canadian accent, of course :D ).
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At the moment in Norfolk, we have big flocks of pink-footed geese on the fields at the back of the house, where the sugar beet has been harvested. This temporarily leaves plant debris on the soil, which the geese love, and the farmers don't mind, as they have got their beet in.
It's wonderful to watch them arrive, circling down in big skeins, making their rather wild shriek as they do so, and then another skein arrives. They say that on a moonlit night, they will stay to feed, but on dark nights, they fly back to the saltmarsh to roost. I'm not sure how many there are, but around 200, 000, I think, so we get a few thousand fly onto the fields locally.
We also went down to see the wild swans at Welney, mostly whooper swans from Iceland, but also some Bewick's from arctic Russia. Just a touch of wildness for us, and an amazing spectacle at the moment, with massive floods right down the river Ouse, but safely contained by the banks which have been built.
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Saw the first snow-drops peeping through yesterday, not open, but you can see the white buds, getting ready! Also, other bulbs now poking through the earth, daffodils I suppose. Axial tilt rocks!
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Peregrines regularly nest on top of our local hospital (Charing Cross), so now, if you know where to look, you will often see one perched on a balcony, about 3 floors from the top. They are supposed to have a cache of food up there, and sometimes they come whizzing over the local bird reserve, hungry for a moorhen or something, I suppose. Of course, nearly everything takes off, although the herons usually hold their ground.
Yesterday, the bittern was perched up in the reeds, about 5 feet off the ground, preening. Quite an odd view.
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It's midwinter's day today.
OK, not astronomically speaking, granted, but in terms of average temperatures, today marks the real midwinter in the northern hemisphere.
but hey ho ...
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midwinter ? what midwinter ?
there are snowdrops in flower in the chiltern villages this morning. :D
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Yes, snowdrops out in London also, tons of birds singing, bees around, one of those mild winter days. The daffodils are well up now, and the buds on the magnolias are looking like hand grenades, about to explode. Let's hope it's not too mild, or it could be a disaster later on, if there's a cold snap.
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Catkins and snowdrops all very advanced around here. Plenty of buds on the laurels and magnolias, Bullfinches, great tits, robins and yaffles, all in evidence by their songs and calls. In the last two weeks or so, winter thrushes seem to be more common in suburbia too, presumably because the winter berries in the hedgerows are no longer plentiful.
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Birds singing here too, and ladybirds are about, looking drowsy. Much colder today though, this worries me. Our snowdrops always seem to be late but there is a white periwinkle and comfrey in flower. Put some old apples and grapes out for the thrushes. Fields opposite us have plentiful muntjac and roe deer hoof prints in the mud.
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My little grouse visiting my yard this morning.
(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/007_zps70076d27.jpg) (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/JohnCm_bucket/media/007_zps70076d27.jpg.html)
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I have some Fuchias that have been in bloom in the garden since November - this is clearly wrong!
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It is wrong, but I'm just envious.
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Observed in our garden:
Blackbirds prefer red grapes, apple, green grapes, in that order.
And a hungry great tit can see off a robin.
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Had a great walk on the beach on Sunday - Titchwell - the sun was out, the tide was very low, so we walked a long way out to the strand line, where there thousands of birds scurrying about feeding frantically; also big piles of shells, and most interesting, lots of old tree roots in the sand. So I am wondering when there were woods out there, I suppose when the sea was lower? Well, I googled it, and some people are saying it's the remains of a Bronze Age forest, from about 5000 years ago. People also apparently find tools and stuff out there.
Anyway, if you are in the area, you need a low tide to see it, so check tide tables.
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Wiggs, you are sorely trying my new year's resolution of not being jealous of people living in Norfolk.
Incidentally, have you seen the stuff about the 800,000 year old footprints found off Happisburgh?
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Wiggs, you are sorely trying my new year's resolution of not being jealous of people living in Norfolk.
Incidentally, have you seen the stuff about the 800,000 year old footprints found off Happisburgh?
Amazing, isn't it? From a time when Britain was still joined to Europe.
The Titchwell submerged forest seems to show that the land extended further out; but it also seems to be connected with the last ice age, when the sea was lower. I must say, it is hard to get concrete information about it.
Incidentally, crocuses are out in London.
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I'm looking forward to watching this documentary special in march.
http://www.cbc.ca/wildcanada/
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Incidentally, crocuses are out in London.
Bloody Unions!
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Quite mild on the allotment today, and I was looking at some flowering veg that somebody had let go to seed, and I noticed three bumble bees feasting on them. Not my first bees of the year actually. I wonder if it gets cold again, if they seek shelter - I guess so. Of course, lots of birds singing now, I notice dunnock every morning now, and the blackbirds have started their dusk serenades, very nice to hear again. Again, maybe they shut up, if it gets cold?
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The great spotted woodpeckers are starting drumming now. Where we live, every morning now, we can hear a green woodpecker yaffling like some demented animal and the echoing hollow sound of a great spot. Interesting that both species have become more common in the last 25 years or so. Great spots are supposed to have benefited from the decrease in starlings, and the starlings' increasing preference to nest in buildings...also, I believe, more great spots are visiting bird feeders in gardens. Not sure why there is an increase in green woodpeckers in Britain, unless it's the warmer winters over a 20 to 30 year period, but evidence seems to suggest that they are more numerous and more widespread.
Unfortunately our third species of woodpecker is not doing nearly so well. The diminutive lesser spotted woodpecker(size of a chaffinch) seems to have contracted its range over the same period, and, in some areas, where it was relatively common, it's now virtually absent. The last time I saw a breeding one was a few years ago near York, although I have seen a wintering one much closer.
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I was out in the garage this morning and I heard a woodpecker working on a tree next door. Found this site with some good pictures of the birds in my city.
http://www.birdscalgary.com/category/woodpeckers/
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I was out in the garage this morning and I heard a woodpecker working on a tree next door. Found this site with some good pictures of the birds in my city.
http://www.birdscalgary.com/category/woodpeckers/
never been to Canada, JC, but I have been to California, especially around Yosemite. Seen a good range of woodpeckers and sapsuckers, including both downy and hairy woodpeckers. The commonest. I remember, was the acorn woodpecker which was actually considered a pest because of it boring holes in fence posts and telegraph posts. The rarest one was the red cockaded woodpecker that I saw in Florida. The most impressive was the pileated woodpecker, a magnificent beastie. Like many other birders I used to have fantasies about finding an ivory billed woodpecker in the swamps of the southern U.S....even though it is almost definitely extinct! :(
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We get both greater spotted and green woodpeckers in our garden. The green are more numerous and feast on ants on our lawn and on the cricket field behind us. We deliberately leave part of our lawn long and never use chemicals, which may account for why they find so much to eat. They are extraordinary birds, almost reptilian in appearance. I startled one when I opened the curtains this morning.
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Wandering round Barnes on Friday, which is a really pretty 'village' in London, anyway they have a nice village pond, which I usually have a look at for birds, and there were a pair of Egyptian geese, with 7 goslings! Pretty early, although Egyptians are noted for early breeding. Tons of people firing bread at them, which probably isn't very good for them. Remember - don't feed bread to swans, as it can kill them.
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Wandering round Barnes on Friday, which is a really pretty 'village' in London, anyway they have a nice village pond, which I usually have a look at for birds, and there were a pair of Egyptian geese, with 7 goslings! Pretty early, although Egyptians are noted for early breeding. Tons of people firing bread at them, which probably isn't very good for them. Remember - don't feed bread to swans, as it can kill them.
You can buy huge bags of duck food fairly cheaply on-line, and decant it into smaller bags to take out to 'feed the ducks' - let's face it, if you have small kids around then you just have to at some point.
Bread isn't just bad for swans and ducks, it actually fouls the water itself, especially on small ponds. Our local town council has banned feeding bread to the ducks on the town pond for this reason.
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We get both greater spotted and green woodpeckers in our garden. The green are more numerous and feast on ants on our lawn and on the cricket field behind us. We deliberately leave part of our lawn long and never use chemicals, which may account for why they find so much to eat. They are extraordinary birds, almost reptilian in appearance. I startled one when I opened the curtains this morning.
Great stuff, Rhi. I've never had a green woodpecker in the garden. I remember seeing my first one years ago, and the feeling of wonderment it engendered though. :)
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I don't know why they are so abundant round here, sometimes there are half a dozen feeding on the cricket field. There is an old orchard nearby - for now - which might account for it.
On paper we live somewhere that shouldn't have much exciting birdlife, apart from woodpigeon and crows - we live on the edge of the village surrounded by arable farmland. But if I get up early enough I can see larks over the field opposite - again for now as the landowner wants to put a few houses on it - and every night we hear tawny owls; walking along the lane we are accompanied by a flock of chattering sparrows. And one day I walked into the kitchen to find a female sparrowhawk eating a woodpigeon just a couple of yards from our back door.
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It's probably because you have your eyes open, Rhiannon - most people don't. In our garden in Norfolk, which is also in arable land, we have had sedge warblers, corn buntings, turtle dove, goldcrest, great spot woodpecker, fieldfare, and we get pink-footed geese in the fields.
Just walking along the Thames, noticed a ton of blackthorn flowering now in the hedges. So I have seen the hedges beginning to flower, birds breeding, and bees buzzing, this week!
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It's probably because you have your eyes open, Rhiannon - most people don't. In our garden in Norfolk, which is also in arable land, we have had sedge warblers, corn buntings, turtle dove, goldcrest, great spot woodpecker, fieldfare, and we get pink-footed geese in the fields.
Just walking along the Thames, noticed a ton of blackthorn flowering now in the hedges. So I have seen the hedges beginning to flower, birds breeding, and bees buzzing, this week!
Couldn't agree more, Wiggs. I remember years ago a little owl took up residency on the edge of the cliffs leading to Filey Brigg. It could be seen by anybody walking by, and loads of holidaymakers passed it without noticing it at all.
Incidentally has anybody noticed greenfinches coming into their gardens or on their feeders? The reason I'm asking is that in recent years their numbers have dropped dramatically, mainly because of them contracting a disease(Trichomonosis) which leads to greenfinches(and to a lesser extent chaffinches) not being able to digest their food. Symptoms can include lethargic fluffed up birds, sometimes with uneaten food around their bills, and wet plumage around their bills and faces. Pigeons are thought to be the main carriers(and wood pigeons have hugely increased in suburban gardens). The disease is passed on by regurgitated food, so one suggestion which might help is to regularly clean bird feeders and put fresh water regularly in bird baths.
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Dear Bird spotters,
Okay come clean, countryfile on the TV highlighting Portland, Swallows arriving, this time of year our have I got it wrong.
Gonnagle.
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Dear Bird spotters,
Okay come clean, countryfile on the TV highlighting Portland, Swallows arriving, this time of year our have I got it wrong.
Gonnagle.
Yes. There are reports of swallows from various places on the south coast.
I believe that some swallows now spend the winter in southern France. Maybe these are the early returners. It has been very mild (amongst all the rubbish weather coming our way.)
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It's probably because you have your eyes open, Rhiannon - most people don't. In our garden in Norfolk, which is also in arable land, we have had sedge warblers, corn buntings, turtle dove, goldcrest, great spot woodpecker, fieldfare, and we get pink-footed geese in the fields.
Just walking along the Thames, noticed a ton of blackthorn flowering now in the hedges. So I have seen the hedges beginning to flower, birds breeding, and bees buzzing, this week!
Couldn't agree more, Wiggs. I remember years ago a little owl took up residency on the edge of the cliffs leading to Filey Brigg. It could be seen by anybody walking by, and loads of holidaymakers passed it without noticing it at all.
Incidentally has anybody noticed greenfinches coming into their gardens or on their feeders? The reason I'm asking is that in recent years their numbers have dropped dramatically, mainly because of them contracting a disease(Trichomonosis) which leads to greenfinches(and to a lesser extent chaffinches) not being able to digest their food. Symptoms can include lethargic fluffed up birds, sometimes with uneaten food around their bills, and wet plumage around their bills and faces. Pigeons are thought to be the main carriers(and wood pigeons have hugely increased in suburban gardens). The disease is passed on by regurgitated food, so one suggestion which might help is to regularly clean bird feeders and put fresh water regularly in bird baths.
Maybe, chaps. I can remember going on holiday as a kid and buying spotting guides; my family knows very little about wildlife, if anything at all, so I'm not quite sure why it mattered so much to me not only to notice the creatures around me, but to know what they were called.
No greenfinches, funnily enough I noticed this the other day because usually I can hardly keep up with feeding them. :( Lots of chaffinches and sparrows though.
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Dear Bird spotters,
Okay come clean, countryfile on the TV highlighting Portland, Swallows arriving, this time of year our have I got it wrong.
Gonnagle.
Yes. There are reports of swallows from various places on the south coast.
I believe that some swallows now spend the winter in southern France. Maybe these are the early returners. It has been very mild (amongst all the rubbish weather coming our way.)
Absolutely! There are a few swallows arriving.. but they really start arriving in numbers in late March and April. However from late February and into March the first push of sand martins start arriving. They can often be seen on inland reservoirs/lakes, at first in the south of the UK then increasingly on inland waters further north. They are one of the earliest of our summer migrants.
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Bang (if you'll pardon the expression) on cue the frog spawn appeared in my garden pond last Friday. Very similar date to the previous ten years.
This morning I counted 29 frogs in the pond (and I am sure there were more) in, what can only be described as, a mass orgy. The pond is only about 8' x 6'. Crowded or what!
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I love my Rocky Mountains.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LFS1cBD-Tdo
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Great picture on the March page of the Countryfile 2014 calendar: a photo of a female Mallard duck chasing an Osprey.
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Dinosaur Provincial Park Alberta Badlands. A must see if any happen to come to my province.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FqngadhPGWc
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Hello Spud,
What do you think of my duck pictures? (smiley face)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/029.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/006-14.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/024_zpsa4a32c66.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/037-8_zpsab056e55.jpg
And a lone Canada Goose on the river ice at the bottom of my hill
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/103-1_zpsb6a37b22.jpg
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Very good, Johnny. Liked the horticultural pictures in particular.
We had a family of lost ducklings in our garden one day last summer. They were following their mother, who was trying to find water, having got them out of the nest. We gave them lunch (bread soaked in water) then let them rest before setting off down the road!
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Chasing snowflakes.
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/blog/chasing-snowflakes
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Chasing snowflakes.
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/blog/chasing-snowflakes
Beautiful pictures
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Tres joli, monsieur. T'es pas fou, quelquefois.
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Yes, I'm soooo done with snow flakes for this year.
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Spooky. It just started snowing. Big huge fluffy flakes. It's actually coming down thicker and thicker. Oh well, we will be in the +double digits by Friday and next week I turn the heaters on in my greenhouse.
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Lovely pics, JC. :)
Can I suggest a visit to this site?
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4255
The revolution in photographic technology in my lifetime has been remarkable. Rarely do I go birding now without a cluster of photographers with their huge telephoto lenses ready to shoot(interesting word) at anything which captures their fancy. It's a form of collecting which, thankfully, has completely replaced the Victorian idea of shooting the bird literally.
I video birds with a HD movie camera, but the power of the magnification allows me to 'shoot' without disturbing the bird at all.
My favourite photo on the above site is actually the blackbird, as it captures its outspread wings in pristine detail at the exact moment when its wings were at their fullest extent.
The bittern shot looks as if it's an escapee from another planet ;D
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Thank you antithesis,
That site is great! I can learn from it. My picture taking usually is a, see something, jump off my bike, quickly get out the camera, take pic, and hop back on the bike.
I should actually learn from my brother, he's been into cameras for decades. So was my dad, we have all his cameras and equipment from the 1940s onwards.
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Good grief, warm sunny day, magnolias are out, butterflies are out (saw a brimstone), the local peregrines are sitting on two eggs, springle is sprungling.
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Gorgeous today, wasn't it? Cherry plums in full bloom here and saw my first honeybees of the year.
Think it might even dry the soil out enough for a spot of digging later this week.
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Dear Rhiannon,
Think it might even dry the soil out enough for a spot of digging later this week.
Spring is in the air, when a young mans fancy turns to thoughts of......................
My thoughts are of giving the greenhouse a damn good clean out, do you own one of those steam wallpaper strippers, excellent for such a job.
I have just put my tomato seeds in, not in full sunlight, I think that has been my downfall when starting them off, Alicante and plum San Marzano.
Gonnagle.
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I've just been digging, and it was OK, a bit claggy, like one of my granny's puddings. This year, we are trying Jersey Royal spuds, which I didn't know you could get. Of course, spuds need lots of rain!
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Basements are flooding around the city because of the sudden warm up. But the bright side is getting my greenhouse ready, turning on the heaters and moving my geranium cuttings and seedlings into it.
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Anyone who remembers the use of DDT as a pesticide will also probably remember the catastrophic effect it had on our birds of prey.
Well, there is another very real threat which goes by the name of diclofenac. Diclofenac is a powerful anti inflammatory drug which has been used on cattle in India, Pakistan and Nepal. It is extremely toxic to vultures, and its use in these countries has wiped out entire vulture populations. These countries have now banned the veterinary use of this drug.
However it is now becoming widely available on the EU market, and has been authorised for use on domestic animals in Spain and Italy, where many of our European vulture species live. According to a technical dossier put together by SEO/BirdLife, the RSPB and the Vulture Conservation Foundation, this will cause a European mass execution of charismatic, endangered and ecologically valuable wildlife.
Anyone who thinks that the veterinary use of this drug needs to be banned, I urge them to read the following and sign the petition by clicking on the change.org link.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4266
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Anyone who thinks that the veterinary use of this drug needs to be banned, I urge them to read the following and sign the petition by clicking on the change.org link.
Already signed.
Anyone who has been to, for example, Monfragüe in Spain would be horrified at the possible effect on the European vulture population.
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I can't believe diclofenac is safe for any animal.
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Dear Antithesis,
Sorted ;)
Gonnagle.
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http://spectator.org/articles/48925/ddt-fraud-and-tragedy
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http://spectator.org/articles/48925/ddt-fraud-and-tragedy
JC:
Try this:
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/165/3889/199.short
And this, which mirrors the evidence I have found in my own part of the world(East Yorkshire) where the sparrowhawk, from a position of no known breeding records whatever(used to be numerous) has made a remarkable comeback after the banning of DDT.
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2404515?uid=3738032&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21103642520897
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Beautiful day today, it really felt like Spring, all the hedges are turning white with blackthorn blossom.
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Try this anti from the University of Nebraska.
http://dwb.unl.edu/Teacher/NSF/C06/C06Links/www.altgreen.com.au/Chemicals/ddt.html
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The daffodils at the moment are glorious. :)
A local dual carriageway has them in abundance on both sides. I remember when I was travelling to work everyday they made the journey more enjoyable. Think they are probably my favourite flower.... love the way they turn their heads to the sun.
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Men and their toys. Exploring the Frankslide south of my city. 1903 a chunk of the mountain came down and buried the town of Frank. I always get an unsettled feeling when driving that stretch of highway. Another chunk of the mountain will come down some day. It is constantly monitored to warn those below to get out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8ddW_ydbLVo
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Monitoring Turtle Mountain Frank Slide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UpjUT7lyWbk
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My daughter is terrified about the prospect of Yellowstone blowing. It's obviously only a matter of time, but the bison are migrating right now, not escaping.
I got a second-hand rug with thick wool tufts on it. I gave it a wash and stuck it out in the sun to dry. Since then it has been visited constantly by small birds - mostly tits and greenfinches - collecting wool for their nests.
I haven't the heart to move it.
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My daughter is terrified about the prospect of Yellowstone blowing. It's obviously only a matter of time, but the bison are migrating right now, not escaping.
Glad I went there last year ;D
I read that the ground should show uplift before an eruption and this is not happening - yet.
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In all seriousness my daughter sometimes can't sleep for worrying about it. I blame Horizon. >:(
If it's going to go, it'll go. Not much point getting fussed about it.
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Actually the ground is swelling upwards there. But the scientists will warn us here before we get wiped out. You Brits will survive with a 20 degree temp. drop. Animals do sense when an earthquake is going to happen and the bison began running out of the park right before a 4 point something quake.
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I guess the big problem for us is going to be the subsequent food shortage. But I think I'm probably more at risk driving to the supermarket right now.
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Actually the ground is swelling upwards there. But the scientists will warn us here before we get wiped out.
I know. I should have said increase in rate of uplift.
It is a great place to go with wonderful scenery and wildlife. The Grand Prismatic Spring is a "bucket list" special.
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Poor kittens, they must be hungry. I'm sure hunting has been bad for them this winter with the record amount of snowfall. A mountain lion warning has gone out, their tracks have been found just outside my city. I will have to pay attention when biking the river valley.
Here's a kitty just hangin around on a road north of my city. Are they not beautiful cats?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l0IvsDw43ps
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Big kitty cam west of my city
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cBUP3sbDXyM
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It's supposed to be an early spring, certainly I keep stumbling over blackbirds' nests in the garden. One of them right next to the shed, so every time we go out in the yard, the poor thing has to fly off the nest; hope the local cat doesn't notice.
Had a week rambling round Bath, amazing how different things can be seen, e.g. wild garlic everywhere, lots of stag beetles, lords and ladies, buzzards of course. If you are in Bath on holiday, head to South Stoke for some brilliant walks.
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Walked the dog in misty drizzle - cowslips and cow parsley out, I love the smell of the latter. Counted three pairs of skylarks...and was that a swift that I saw?
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Saw a ton of sand martins on Wednesday, whizzing around, chirping, one of the sounds of summer. My local bird reserve has a purpose-built bank for them to nest in, and we get up 80 pairs. Also with cameras in the back, so you can watch a nest with eggs and young. Sometimes in hot weather, one of the foxes sleeps on the top!
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Dear Nature Lovers,
http://tinyurl.com/klf7xpa
What is it??
We are talking Texas USA.
Gonnagle.
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Just thought I'd make all you guys and gals a little bit jealous. At the moment I'm in Lesvos taking a break from some hard birding. Sat out on the balcony looking at bee eaters, warblers, alpine swifts and a nightingale singing in full view as I type. Ah well, must go, as we are meeting friends that we haven't seen for 3 years for dinner soon. Wish everybody well. There, that's my postcard for the day. :D
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Never heard of Lesvos. Just looked at some images. Very beautiful.
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Just thought I'd make all you guys and gals a little bit jealous.
You succeeded. Just checked my records and it's 8 years since I was there. Enjoy some great birding.
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Mr. Gonnagle,
I'm thinking it's some type of flying ant?
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They were right about it being an early spring. First year that I can remember when the May has actually been out on May Day.
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The Ospreys are back on their nest at the bottom of my hill. Sitting on their eggs.
https://www.enmax.com/community/keeping-up-with-the-ospreys
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The Ospreys are back on their nest at the bottom of my hill. Sitting on their eggs.
https://www.enmax.com/community/keeping-up-with-the-ospreys
Please don't shoot any of them.... ;D
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I reckon JC is wondering which of his many rifles to use in order to take it out! ;D
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Just for BA and that floo person,
What me?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=80ZrUI7RNfI
By the way I don't break the law. Them buzzards are quite safe.
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Just for BA and that floo person,
What me?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=80ZrUI7RNfI
By the way I don't break the law. Them buzzards are quite safe.
Phew that is a relief! ;D
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The Ospreys are back on their nest at the bottom of my hill. Sitting on their eggs.
https://www.enmax.com/community/keeping-up-with-the-ospreys
Wonderful, Johnny.
The ospreys at the Scottish WLT at Loch of Lowes have also returned. They are sitting on three eggs, at the moment. The observers (and myself) were very happy and amazed that the resident female osprey, that has been returning to the site for over 25 years, has arrived again this year. The sole chick, she and her partner produced last year, was sadly lost from satellite transmission, in the autumn. But the previous year's chick, Blue YD, now 2 years old is doing so well. He is on his first northward, spring migration and has reached the northern coast of Spain, having left his wintering grounds in Senegal on April 24th. Not bad going, eh...
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/#
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They were right about it being an early spring. First year that I can remember when the May has actually been out on May Day.
Rhi, I was walking in a field, the other day, adorned with buttercups and surrounded, on all sides, by hawthorn..... just stunning. Then onto a wee wooded area with bluebells in all their glory. :)
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We just walked past a field full of cow parsley, with a few trees in it, and it looked completely beautiful, like a vision of heaven.
Weather cool and cloudy today, therefore tons of swifts wheeling around low over our heads. I'm always glad to see them, and hear their screams. Also reed warblers, garden warblers, and a couple of little ringed plovers, so cute. And the common terns are back also, squabbling with the gulls over the breeding rafts.
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I love wading through cow parsley on a sunny day, or just after rain. In combination with the hawthorn blossom it's just heavenly.
I fantasise about having a little shop called Shabby Parsley.
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There is plenty of cow parsley along the bridle path, which is at the back of our property. I can't say I like it much and smite it with my walking stick if it is too intrusive.
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There is plenty of cow parsley along the bridle path, which is at the back of our property. I can't say I like it much and smite it with my walking stick if it is too intrusive.
Oi. This isn't the place for anti-cow parsleyism.
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I can't say I like it much
To put this in context, floo doesn't like anything much.
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Untrue! ::)
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Talking about cow parsley still, we walked past a ton of it on Sunday, near the river (Thames), and I also noticed a clump of plants quite similar, but with yellow flowers. I think it's alexanders, which used to be used in cooking. Presumably it's one of the umbelliferae, which is a massive family, including things like chervil, cicely, angelica, and of course, who could forget, pig-nut.
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Could be Alexanders, which is indeed edible. The flowers are greenish. I used to have some plants bought from a specialist nursery; given the number of highly toxic umbellifers, foraging any of these from the wild isn't recommmended.
I also used to grow sweet cicely, which us very pretty and gives an aniseed sweetness to fruit puddings and the like. And I still grow angelica, mostly because of its stature at the back of a border. And fennel of course. Best plant for hoverflies that I know.
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I have a lovage plant on the allotment; a big plant, about 7 feet tall in summer. Smells and tastes delicious, like a mild celery, and a very handsome plant. I think this is also an umbellifer, although I think the family is now called Apiaceae, for some reason. Yes, water dropwort is poisonous, and grows next to wild celery. They say that one root can kill a cow.
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Ooh yes, lovage soup is a real treat. I used to grow all kinds of old herbs at my old cottage, but haven't got round to it since we've moved.
Hemlock is also similar to cow parsley. Once my daughter's friend sneaked some cow parsley into a salad as a way to trick her mum. Both girls are it and when I found out I went ballistic. Luckily the mum was able to check that the plant from which she'd picked it really was cow parsley. Thank god for the internet.
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I used to live near a big council estate in Fulham, and I used to take the dog round it, and one day, noticed there were patches of deadly nightshade growing! Quite a handsome plant actually, with pretty flowers and berries; I think it does grow on rough ground, etc., although maybe it is naturalized rather than native.
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A Song Thrush has taken up residence in the trees in the large gardens in the road behind. It is singing its heart out and must be going through the whole repertoire I think!! Lovely.
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A Song Thrush has taken up residence in the trees in the large gardens in the road behind. It is singing its heart out and must be going through the whole repertoire I think!! Lovely.
I agree with you Susan. Just returned from holiday, and the first sound that struck me was the beautifully rich and varied notes of a song thrush. What I like about a song thrush's song is that it often repeats a short phrase perhaps three times leaving me waiting for the next phrase which could be entirely different.
Incidentally I also came back to news that a pair of Mediterranean gulls are nesting in a colony of black headed gulls about 10 miles from where I live. They are very rare breeding birds in Britain so I'm quite chuffed. :D
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3 Golden Eagles socialising on the thermals in Glen Mhiabhaig on Harris last week. I thought at the time (apart from intense joy and gratitude at seeing them at all) that three would surely be a crowd amongst nesting eagles, and an email to/from the ranger at the N Harris Trust confirmed that they would have been juveniles which haven't formed pair bonds yet and so are still just about tolerated by the resident adults. What Golden Eagles do in the five or so years between fledging and breeding apparently remains largely a mystery. Red deer, but a long way off high on the ridges. Red grouse which simply dematerialise while you get your camera ready.
Harris is the best place on Earth, but can that be our secret please?
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Sounds amazing, Drepf.
Saw a yellowhammer today. I know it's not as exciting as a golden eagle, but I've never seen one round here before. I made sure I pointed it out to the dog.
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Dear Drepf,
Harris is the best place on Earth, but can that be our secret please?
To late my friend, Harris is like God, words fail, okay I will try 8), wild and Majestic ( stolen from Byrons Dark Lochnagar :P )
Gonnagle.
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3 Golden Eagles socialising on the thermals in Glen Mhiabhaig on Harris last week. I thought at the time (apart from intense joy and gratitude at seeing them at all) that three would surely be a crowd amongst nesting eagles, and an email to/from the ranger at the N Harris Trust confirmed that they would have been juveniles which haven't formed pair bonds yet and so are still just about tolerated by the resident adults. What Golden Eagles do in the five or so years between fledging and breeding apparently remains largely a mystery. Red deer, but a long way off high on the ridges. Red grouse which simply dematerialise while you get your camera ready.
Harris is the best place on Earth, but can that be our secret please?
Oh, wow..... lucky you, drepf. Living in Gairloch, Wester Ross, my parents would talk of seeing golden eagles. I was too young to remember. Harris and Lewis.... places that can challenge anywhere on earth.
This afternoon I caught two Canada geese with three goslings, on camera, at a local lake. There was a guy, with a tripod and a looong lens, filming great-crested grebes that were on the opposite side of the lake. He let me have a view..... 'dad' had been fishing and was returning with goodies to the nest which was beautifully placed on a lily-pad.
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A Song Thrush has taken up residence in the trees in the large gardens in the road behind. It is singing its heart out and must be going through the whole repertoire I think!! Lovely.
I agree with you Susan. Just returned from holiday, and the first sound that struck me was the beautifully rich and varied notes of a song thrush. What I like about a song thrush's song is that it often repeats a short phrase perhaps three times leaving me waiting for the next phrase which could be entirely different.
Incidentally I also came back to news that a pair of Mediterranean gulls are nesting in a colony of black headed gulls about 10 miles from where I live. They are very rare breeding birds in Britain so I'm quite chuffed. :D
I always like to see the Med gulls. They sometimes breed at Snettisham, and you can spot them a mile away, as one of them will stand at the edge of the colony, looking very superior and bossy, and sort of huge, although they're not that big. Wonderful bird.
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Incidentally, some nice birds around N. Norfolk at the moment, for example a hoopoe at Holkham, and the usual spoonbills flying around.
In Cornwall, 44 red kites at Pendeen! Plus a black kite.
12, 000 posts! Yaffa-maffa-gaffa - that is the sound of the Oldham clog-dancers celebrating.
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I love wading through cow parsley on a sunny day, or just after rain. In combination with the hawthorn blossom it's just heavenly.
I fantasise about having a little shop called Shabby Parsley.
like that ;)
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Although there have been a small group of cranes in the U.K. for many years(around Horsey in Suffolk mainly) they haven't bred in western Britain for circa 400 years. All this could change however, as a healthy wild chick has been born to hand reared parent birds at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. Cranes were once plentiful but hunting and a loss of habitat in the 1600s led to their demise. Last year they did manage to rear a chick but it died before leaving the nest.
If anyone wishes to see live webcam of the adults and chick, follow this link:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/experience/webcams/slimbridge-rushy-pen/
but, be warned. You may be underwhelmed by a lack of action for long periods. This site also caters for live webcam of ospreys and badgers at Caerlaverock and beavers at Martin Mere.
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The Song thrush I thought had taken up residence appears to have gone. Pity. However, the Blackbirds are singing particularly well this, year I think.
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Orchids emerging now; I just saw southern marsh orchid, bee orchid and spotted orchid on my route. The bee is like a tiny jewel; fortunate, as some primitive barbarians dig them up for their garden, but can't find them, and I ain't telling.
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A pair of cranes are nesting presently circa 15 miles from where I live. Also, quite close, is a kingfisher's nest, with the parent birds busily feeding young. Unfortunately, at another area that I visit, the avocets have lost most of their chicks so far to predation.
About 12 years ago I was a voluntary warden near Spurn helping to guard a little tern colony. They nest out in the open on sandy areas. We had no problem keeping the holiday makers/visitors away, and we set up an electric fence to dissuade foxes. Unfortunately a pair of merlins moved in, and they simply picked off the chicks one by one. So the idea was mooted that some form of chick shelters could be used, such as plastic pipes, and little wooden shelters that the chicks could hide under if under threat. Although that year we lost nearly all the chicks(I think only two survived) the next year was far more successful, and the little tern chicks used the wooden shelters to hide not only from aerial predators but also when the weather was particularly windy, wet or hot.
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antithesis
Yes, my local WWT place has used little wooden shelters to protect little ringed plover chicks, who were getting a hammering from crows and herons. They also started shooting a lot of crows as well. This did work, although unfortunately the LRPs are not hanging around in spring, as they used to. The lapwing chicks use the vegetation likewise, plus of course, the parents attack any aerial predator.
Brilliant about the cranes; I sometimes go to Lakenheath to see the pair there.
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There are also a few nesting sites for Black-winged Stilts this year including one not far from me. Another effect of climate change?
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Wiggs,
Ah, Lakenheath. Saw my first ever golden orioles there. They nested in poplars, I think. :-\
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There are also a few nesting sites for Black-winged Stilts this year including one not far from me. Another effect of climate change?
Hi Rob,
Excellent. I was just looking at this article on them a short while ago.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4422
Maybe a warming climate and an excellent early Spring?
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Wiggs,
Ah, Lakenheath. Saw my first ever golden orioles there. They nested in poplars, I think. :-\
Sadly, there has been no successful breeding there for several years. No confirmed sightings at all this year.
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Wiggs,
Ah, Lakenheath. Saw my first ever golden orioles there. They nested in poplars, I think. :-\
Sadly, there has been no successful breeding there for several years. No confirmed sightings at all this year.
Rob, albeit Southern California, but my sister-in-law sent me pictures, the other day, of orioles on her bird feeders. She said, they were only there for the summer which would please the hummers, that usually have the feeders to themselves.... she makes a special, sugary drink for them.
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Rob, albeit Southern California, but my sister-in-law sent me pictures, the other day, of orioles on her bird feeders. She said, they were only there for the summer which would please the hummers, that usually have the feeders to themselves.... she makes a special, sugary drink for them.
Hi,
Yes, I have always enjoyed seeing the orioles on my visits to USA/Canada. In fact, although they are similar looking, the new and old world orioles are not closely related. Convergent evolution in operation.
The hummers are great too. I have some pictures I took in Yellowstone and the iridescent pink on the Broad-tailed Hummingbird is stunning. I'm off to Costa Rica next year when I should see 40 species of hummer.
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On stilts, been reading about a bad drought in Spain, which is forcing some birds to wander all over Europe. It could be warming, of course.
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Anybody see Springwatch? They found a ton of cuckoos, through using a lure. I was surprised there were so many, maybe just a hotspot.
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Rob
Stop. You're making me jealous. >:( I plan to go to Costa Rica within the next few years. You should see lots of different tanagers too...and wood creepers, another example of convergent evolution. I've been to Ecuador and the birds were absolutely gorgeous. Seriously, have a great time. ;D
SweetPea,
Beautiful birds. I saw a baltimore oriole in 2004 at Headington in Oxfordshire. Actually there's a European golden oriole at Spurn at the moment.
Wiggs,
About the only place where cuckoos are regular in East Yorkshire(except on migration at the coast) is Blacktoft Sands, probably because of the large number of reed warblers present here.
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Two mornings ago I was sitting in front of my greenhouse having my coffee and watching the birds at the feeding bench when i caught something out of the corner of my eye. A huge skunk had wandered up to where I could almost reach over and touch it. Very interesting situation for me. It did not notice me and i know making a sudden movement would not be wise. So I hoped for the best and just cleared my throat. It looked up at me sniffed and then ran off through my yard. Yikes, that could have been a very stinky situation. So yesterday night I go and open my back door ant there it is right at my door. I kinda made a quiet shriek noise and it also looked shocked backed up as I slammed my door shut. So, I've been ill due to shingles and i woke up an hour ago drenched in sweat having had a dream that that skunk was living under my bed with it's babies. I caught the babies and put them into a hamster cadge and was trying to coax the mom skunk out of my house by holding the cadge in front of her. Well my little nieces were in my way and just kept getting in my way. I was angry at them and I also didn't want them to be sprayed. Then I woke up. I think that skunk is here to stay unless I have it trapped.
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Three chicks! I just wish she would stand up or dad would fly in with a fish!
https://www.enmax.com/community/keeping-up-with-the-ospreys
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Three chicks! I just wish she would stand up or dad would fly in with a fish!
https://www.enmax.com/community/keeping-up-with-the-ospreys
Oh, Johnny, that's great news! Sadly, the Scottish WLT ospreys have not been so lucky. They started with three eggs, then one of the eggs was attacked at some point by a carrion crow whilst mum and dad were both elsewhere. The observers waited and waited, with fingers-crossed, for one or both of the other eggs to hatch.... but 'twas not to be. But this female, being nearly 26 years old, has done so well. This is only the second time in all those years, there have been no hatchlings.
Btw: sorry to hear you have been so poorly..... shingles is a very unpleasant condition. Hope you are recovering well.
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Very dry in London now, we are charging off to the allotment twice a week to water everything. Don't worry, come the holidays in August, it will rain every day.
Found a blackbird caught in a fruit-net on someone's plot and managed to cut it free, but it looked very groggy. Hope it survives. Cats all around of course, bastards.
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Hi Wiggs,
Blackbirds and goldfinches are the commonest visitors to the garden at the moment. Haven't been able to get out for the last two weeks though due to a broken rib, but I plan to go up to Wykham Forest soon hopefully to the place where honey buzzards are breeding.
You might be interested in this take on the new EU policy on agricultural land which, frankly, implies rank hypocrisy under the auspices of a 'green' label.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4456
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I think I just saw a red kite over the fields opposite my house. :o
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And I think there are wheatears, too!
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No red kite today. I got a buzzard instead. Think there was another one off over the trees so maybe there is a nest.
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Buzzards are everywhere now; we see them overhead in central London, and red kites. Driving to Bath at Easter, we saw about 15 on the M4.
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Yes, buzzards have been plentiful around here for a while, but I've never seen red kites here before.
Had to google the wheatear to check what it was.
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I'm hoping to see goshawks in August, as we are spending a week in Wye Valley, and there are quite a few in the Forest of Dean. No, on second thoughts, August is just about the worst time! There are wild daffodils as well, also not out. There's always the pub.
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I'm hoping to see goshawks in August, as we are spending a week in Wye Valley, and there are quite a few in the Forest of Dean. No, on second thoughts, August is just about the worst time! There are wild daffodils as well, also not out. There's always the pub.
And the wild boar. Lots of them in the FofD.
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60 years since ospreys returned to Loch Garten, and three young produced this year.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4479
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60 years since ospreys returned to Loch Garten, and three young produced this year.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4479
Wonderful, Ant..... makes up a little for the disappointment at Loch of Lewes, this year.
Btw: how's the broken rib? Sounds very painful, poor you...
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It's so dry in London now, that we are forced to get to the allotment twice a week, in order to water everything. Some summers we don't even get the hose out! But I think since Easter, we have watered nearly every week, and some plants are wilting really, as watering is not really adequate. Also, many are going to seed, which I think results from dry weather - I sowed some chard a few weeks ago, and it has grown and gone to seed already. Quite bizarre.
If you believe in rain dancing, now is the time, folks.
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Yes, same here in Worcestershire. Who would think we would be begging for rain! I think some heavy thundery showers are forecast for the end of the week.... fingers crossed.
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I haven't seen a honeybee for ages!
Lots of bumblebees.
But no honeybees!
I have been looking out for them but they are absent!
Even on popular shrubs like buddlia.
I find it worrying!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25656283
Julie
Rose, I've been worrying about the bees again, this year. I walk sometimes in a field that has a wildflower border, and on several different occasions I've literally counted the bees that were within my sight and there have been very few. Hang-in there, bees we love you, but above all need you!
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I find that bees have seasons; earlier in the year, we saw a lot of bumble bees, but today the allotment was full of honey bees. I don't know enough about them to say any more; but I am thinking about butterflies, whose great season is August (apart from a few early ones such as brimstone).
Something interesting I noticed locally - I saw a magnolia flowering for the second time. I don't know if this is the sunny weather or not. It's odd to see flowers and leaves, as usually magnolias just have flowers first.
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I had a second crop of flowers on my plum tree, which have started to turn into fruit... The first flowering were all destroyed in a hail storm, which did for all the fruit trees in the area that day.
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I find that bees have seasons; earlier in the year, we saw a lot of bumble bees, but today the allotment was full of honey bees. I don't know enough about them to say any more; but I am thinking about butterflies, whose great season is August (apart from a few early ones such as brimstone).
Something interesting I noticed locally - I saw a magnolia flowering for the second time. I don't know if this is the sunny weather or not. It's odd to see flowers and leaves, as usually magnolias just have flowers first.
Glad to hear you've been seeing plenty of bees, Wiggs. Re butterflies, I've seen an awful lot over the last few weeks in one particular place, that is mostly wilderness. Can't believe how, this year, all the wild grasslands about and beneath hedgerows have gone berserk. It has to be all the rain, and mild spring that we had, this year.
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The trouble is, that honey bees are not usually wild.
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Here, in East Yorkshire we've had perfect growing conditions.. plenty of rain, plenty of sun, warm.. unlike last year when we had little rain during the growing season. Onions, carrots, parsnips, runner beans, beetroot all doing well.
On a different note, good numbers of butterflies at the moment..ringlets, meadow browns, tortoiseshells, gatekeepers etc. but very few whites about.
Saw a couple of treecreepers today on my local patch, first for the year for me. Lovely birds, always busy finding insects as they circle round tree trunks.
About the rib. Yes, I'm cycling and dancing again, but carefully. Apart from getting comfortable at night, everything's okay. Thanks for asking, SweetPea.
Incidentally, while cycling I regularly come across bees in the road, which are alive but seemingly unable or unwilling to fly. Are they traffic casualties?
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I keep finding bees in the road or on the pavement, just sort of sitting there, but not dead. I don't know if they have just emerged or are about to die or what. We try to rescue them, and they will crawl onto a twig sometimes.
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Bees don't live long. The honey bee spends its early life looking after brood, and the rest foraging. The death of a bee normally occurs out of the nest/hive.
If the weather has been unusually hot or dry, then you might save a life by giving a little water or putting the bee in the shade with some flowers, but in general, they live a short and busy life, then die of exhaustion.
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For those interested:
A pair of bee eaters are breeding on the Isle of Wight. Only the third recorded time they have bred in the UK. Unmistakable and very exotic looking birds. :)
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Just been on a fantastic dusk/evening walk round some hills and holloways near me. Fabulous to see the countryside in such unfamiliar light. Fields of wheat became snow covered hill sides. The arching hazel and ivy over one holloway made it feel like walking down a badger set. Made all the more real after briefly meeting one crossing our path. The last section - called Hell Lane - lived up to its name. Treacherous underfoot, uncertain in direction, inconsistant in character. Then, after being emersed so in dark wildness it turned suddenly, brutally, into a Tarmac road running on past houses and farms. So jarring it took a few hundred yards to adjust. Might try a bit more of this night walking.
Anyone else get up to this sort of thing?
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Sounds fascinating, Sam. and, I agree, the countryside takes on a whole new atmosphere at dusk and dawn. It reminds me of when I have waited for nightjars to start churring in Suffolk,
Also I once did the Lyke Wake Walk, an interesting experience as we set off in the dark.
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For those interested:
The pair of bee eaters on the Isle of Wight have fledged four young. Also, a pair of glossy ibis were displaying and nest building in Lincolnshire, but that is as far as it went. On my own patch a pair of montague's harriers bred, producing one juvenile. It's been quite a year for 'exotic' species. :)
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For those interested:
The pair of bee eaters on the Isle of Wight have fledged four young. Also, a pair of glossy ibis were displaying and nest building in Lincolnshire, but that is as far as it went. On my own patch a pair of montague's harriers bred, producing one juvenile. It's been quite a year for 'exotic' species. :)
A good year. Such a shame about the Black-winged Stilts at Cliffe in my home county. Four young hatched but none survived the first few days.
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Passenger pigeons were once one of the most numerous birds in North America. It was a migratory bird which lived in enormous flocks. However hunting this species for food(often used for slaves and the poor), and mass deforestation led to a catastrophic decline in the 19th C. 100 years ago, the last known member of this species, a female called 'Martha', died in Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio at 6 p.m. on September 1st 1914.
Our only migratory dove in the UK is the turtle dove, and it is rapidly declining. For every 20 doves we had in 1970, there is now only one. The bird's UK extinction as a nesting species is a real possibility.
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I've been watching the shield-bugs on the allotment; they are now a nice shade of bronze, much darker than their summer bright green. I think they will hibernate soon, but there is still a bit of time to see these ace insects. Notice the lovely diamond-shaped panel on their backs, the scutellum, I think, which sometimes looks rather sparkly; it's party party party time!
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Saw a very reddish tailless squirrel yesterday. Very strange.
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Saw a very reddish tailless squirrel yesterday. Very strange.
Are you quite sure it wasn't a guinea pig ? :)
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The Black and the grizzly bears have been coming into the city lately. And last week they shot to death a mountain lion that was hanging around the doors at one of our hospitals. There was a big outcry about that. We don't understand why wildlife officers couldn't have tranquilized the kitty and just moved it into the mountains like they have been doing with all the bears.
The flock of grouse that visit my yard for seed everyday is healthy. It was down to two birds this spring and now I have counted 18 of them.
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At one campsite in Alberta, I think it was, where our daughter and family had parked their RV, there was a warning about grizzly bears and rattlesnakes. They didn't see a bear, but they did see a rattlesnake.
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The Black and the grizzly bears have been coming into the city lately. And last week they shot to death a mountain lion that was hanging around the doors at one of our hospitals.
What? The bears are shooting the lions? Aw, c'mon, that's not fair - they've got to leave something for the hunters.
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Fish and wildlife officers dearest Cyber, fish and wildlife officers. I just took for granted that you would know that bears don't use guns, I do.
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Monarch butterfly pop. growing!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/monarch-butterfly-population-rebounding-after-record-low-1.2786440
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We have lots of butterflies in our garden, and I saw a Monarch earlier this year. I don't think I have seen one before.
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I've never seen one floo. I did see a hummingbird for the first time in my back yard about a month ago. It checked out all the red flowers in my yard and a one point it came under my red umbrella and hovered very close to my face. For a second I thought i was about to be attacked by a killer humming bird. But it was just checking out my red umbrella, chairs and table. I need to have some flowers that they like for next summer. I was pretty excited about that visit.
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I've never seen one floo. I did see a hummingbird for the first time in my back yard about a month ago. It checked out all the red flowers in my yard and a one point it came under my red umbrella and hovered very close to my face. For a second I thought i was about to be attacked by a killer humming bird. But it was just checking out my red umbrella, chairs and table. I need to have some flowers that they like for next summer. I was pretty excited about that visit.
How lovely, it must have been exciting to see one. :) The UK doesn't play host to those birds, I don't think. Birds flock to our garden bird table, lots of robins, starlings, sparrows, rooks, magpies and tits. We sometimes have birds of prey sitting on the garden fence, kestrels, buzzards and sparrow hawks. My next door neighbour told me that when she was looking out of her bedroom window last week at about 10.30pm she saw a barn owl sitting on out fence, sorry I missed it.
We have a small wildlife preservation area behind our property, so this no doubt means we get a plentiful supply of wildlife. However I could do without Mr Ratty, who inhabits our garden. I HATE RATS! He waits for the birds to drop things onto the ground from the bird table for his delectation and delight. If I see him from the window I yell at him to go away. Before doing so Mr Ratty defiantly sticks two whiskers up at me! ;D
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I've watched to Monarch butterfly migration at Point Pelee in Ontario. It is amazing.
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The UK doesn't play host to those birds, I don't think.
No I'm afraid not. Although, every year there are reports of hummingbirds in gardens that turn out to be Hummingbird Hawkmoths.
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That's great floo. I'm kinda known as the bird guy around this area. This morning I had the sparrows, chickadees and magpies of course. But my little flock of grouse and a few blue jays showed up.
Anna's hummingbird nest in my city.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-qfZ53Mcuo
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That's great floo. I'm kinda known as the bird guy around this area. This morning I had the sparrows, chickadees and magpies of course. But my little flock of grouse and a few blue jays showed up.
Anna's hummingbird nest in my city.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-qfZ53Mcuo
I have never heard of a chickadee before. I looked it up and it isn't surprising I hadn't heard of it as it is native to your part of the world. :)
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Very cute little birds and very friendly. They are always the first ones to the feeders in the morning and the last to leave in the evenings.
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Did some biking yesterday. Saw a raven and deer, that's about it. The needles of the Larch trees are changing colour. Rocky Mountains looked wonderful but they don't show up very clear in my pictures. Hungout along the river bank and built my InuksuK before I left, nice big rocks there for that.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020335_zpsf4d6404c.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020326_zpsfad6ebd0.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020317_zps7c403d41.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020311_zps472e7295.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020342_zps980b8797.jpg
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Johnny, I googled 'Inuksuk' after looking at your photos, and found, what I thought I might, something wonderful:
"Inuksuk means 'in the likeness of a human' in the Inuit language. They are
monuments of unworked stones that are used by the Inuit for communication
and survival."
So, another Inuit passing will recognise your message? Love it...
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Thanks SweetPea, that's my Cree version. We don't have many Inuit visiting this area. But hey, ya never know.
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Took the dog for a walk in the rain and saw three skylarks. Also a huge mixed flock of crows and jackdaws. I know they are common but they are such clever, attractive birds and a big flock of them is quite a sight.
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I'm very fond of jackdaws. They are such brilliant inquisitive little birds. At the local bird reserve, there is a cafe, and the jackdaws hop around the tables outside, looking for bits of food. I have even seen them waiting next to someone eating chips, hoping for spillage.
Near me in London, the crows patrol the Thames foreshore every day, when the tide has gone out, finding different kinds of food I guess, inverts etc.
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I like crows and rooks, there is something almost other-worldly about them. I suppose they are the birds that appeal to my inner goth, given the dearth of ravens round here.
Jackdaws are really fun, we used to have them nesting in our chimney and springtime looking after my babies was always accompanied by the sound of them scrabbling around in the chimney breast next to the bed.
My boy and I had chips in one of the town gardens after school recently and a squirrel sat just feet away waiting for his. I'm not a big fan of grey squirrels but this was really cute.
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The grouse stopping in for breakfast.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/6500e948-48bf-40c0-98b4-a25613233e1a_zpsbb77f49f.jpg
Biking yesterday.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020410_zps140bb465.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020404_zps3b7e5077.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020396_zpsf58a2fad.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020393_zps4efbb283.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020390_zps90aae9e8.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020389_zpsdab85473.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020387_zps1068a53f.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020413_zps9960ea62.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020412_zps9a99daa8.jpg
My perch.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020362_zps728eb048.jpg
And I'm done
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020366_zpsf4010a5c.jpg
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Is there anything better than a fresh, shiny conker?
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Is there anything better than a fresh, shiny conker?
I loved playing conkers as a kid. Many schools have banned them in case the little darlings get hurt, health and safety gone completely MAD! :o
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I thought the ban was a myth? But nobody plays it now because of drilling the holes - people don't have the time and manual hand drills are a thing of the past.
I well remember the squashed clinkers on the playground - slippery and disgusting.
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There was a little earthquake in my home town. How cool is that? As long as they stay little by the way.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/2-7-magnitude-earthquake-confirmed-near-banff-1.2802161
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Great news, the bears are using the wildlife crossings in my Rocky Mountains!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/parks-canada-video-catches-1st-black-bear-to-use-wildlife-crossing-1.2804341
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Lots of rain has filled the ditches in W. Norfolk, or drains as they are called here, so when I went for a walk across the fields, I noticed a few snipe taking off, (wisps as the groups are known). They shoot off in a zig-zag pattern, so are more difficult to shoot than the idiotic pheasants, which sort of lumber about like elephants in the air. Normally, we don't see snipe on farm land, but the fields and drains are full of water right now, and also, I dare say, millions are arriving here from further east, in the winter migration.
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There were some red strawberries on our allotment today. And it's 27 October - I guess it has been so warm this autumn.
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I just can't believe how warm it is for November 1st! I have just had my second walk of the day and didn't need a jacket over my T shirt, I might even put shorts on later!
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It was +16C here yesterday. We may have snow today. Was still gardening for two customers yesterday afternoon and I am about ready for winter to set in but one never knows around here. We have had a warmer Christmas than Houston Texas in the past.
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East nearly meets West. Yesterday there was an eastern crowned warbler(a vagrant from the Far East) near Saltburn in Cleveland. Today there is a blackpoll warbler,(a vagrant from North America, especially Canada), at Spurn, roughly 30 miles from where I live. The wonders of bird migration. :)
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antithesis,
I had to google the blackpoll warbler. You know the males I wouldn't notice and have probably at a glance thought they were some other bird. But the females i have noticed from time to time. I see I'm on their migration path.
Started snowing yesterday and hasn't let up yet. Put the other two bird feeders out yesterday and have begun throwing seed up into the spruce trees as well.
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The white stuff is here.
My car, front and back yards this morning.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020481_zpsce138897.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020485_zpsd0c00e5c.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/JohnCm_bucket/P1020482_zps44877147.jpg
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Grizzly Bear takes up photography.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grizzly-bear-gets-behind-photographer-jim-lawrence-s-lens-1.2822627
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My husband called me down a few minutes ago. Just as he was going out for his afternoon walk he discovered by the front door a hedgehog curled up on stone, we found years ago, which looks like a hedgehog! I haven't seen a live hedgehog, or a dead one for that matter, for many years! I have put it in our back garden where hopefully it will hibernate in comfort and safety.
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I love hedgehogs - they are sadly in decline. :(
Fab skies at the moment - amazing sunsets and a hugest moon tonight. I love clouds. No matter how bad things are the clouds are still here.
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Sadly there was a dead hedgehog outside our house on the road this morning! Even though I put the hedgehog we found yesterday among the foliage in our back garden it is conceivable it squeezed under the side gate and down the drive onto the road. It just seems too much of a coincidence for it to be different one! :(
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What a lovely thread.
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Most evenings and some afternoons around here there is the horrifying cry of an animal screeching in what sounds like agony. It's just beyond the garden fence which is too high to see over. I considered calling the RSPCA but my neighbour assures me it's just a vixen that is probably having the time of her life.
I would call the RSPCA anyway, just in case, I am sure they wouldn't mind.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29931463
How come the landowner gets off scot free? Are we to believe it didn't know what its gamekeeper was up to?
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Most evenings and some afternoons around here there is the horrifying cry of an animal screeching in what sounds like agony. It's just beyond the garden fence which is too high to see over. I considered calling the RSPCA but my neighbour assures me it's just a vixen that is probably having the time of her life.
I would call the RSPCA anyway, just in case, I am sure they wouldn't mind.
Def sounds like a vixen calling. The noise is ungodly. But the RSPCA can advise and check if need be. You can probably find a recording of a vixen in heat online but you might need to be careful which websites you click.
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Rat gobblers.
http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-08/newly-discovered-plant-species-eats-rats-named-after-famous-naturalist
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Lone wolf
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/grey-wolf-travelling-alone-spurs-questions-for-alberta-traveller-1.2834763
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What you do if you were surrounded by a pack of these pups? Look at those eyes, KILLERS! (smilies)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjPi1hW-xt0
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A white deer spotted in the Thunder Bay area.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/rare-white-deer-spotted-in-northwestern-ontario-1.2840863
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A white deer spotted in the Thunder Bay area.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/rare-white-deer-spotted-in-northwestern-ontario-1.2840863
Maybe an albino White-tailed Deer?
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On my second walk of the day I was fascinated to see a squirrel chasing a magpie around someone's front garden. There was a tasty piece of bread on the lawn they both wanted. The squirrel saw the magpie off.
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I once saw a squirrel v magpie fight in a tree. I couldn't be sure which one was defending its nest and which one was the would-be predator. The noise was ungodly and the tree was shaking - it must have lasted five minutes or so.
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A huge flock of fieldfares flew over the house today. First proper frost, too.
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I saw a butterfly in the garden today! It was daylight but it flew towards the welcome lights we have in the window, twice. It was definitely a butterfly but I don't know what sort, as against the window's light and the welcome lights, it simply looked black. It's very cold here in East Anglia.
It reminded me of Hans Christian Anderderson's story of the Little Match Girl ... which made me feel a little sad.... :(
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I'm in the same region as you and saw a butterfly on the wing last week, think it was a tortoiseshell. Yesterday I moved a pile of books and found a very sleepy one that had been hibernating. One daughter put her on her hand whilst the other made her a winter home out of a cardboard box with breathing holes and an escape route, and then they put her in the box and moved her to the shed. Come the spring they will move her box outside ready for when (if) she wakes up - few survive hibernation.
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Last day of 2014. Mega rarity seen. Little bustard at Fraisthorpe, Yorkshire. Managed to rush to Fraisthorpe to see bird. Cracking views.
First one in Yorkshire since 1954, when a bird near Preston was shot!
Picture of bird here:
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?rty=0&r=0&gallery=0&v=0&off=451955
And here(in flight):
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?rty=0&r=0&off=451909&gallery=0&v=0
Happy New year, everyone. :)
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Antithesis
How very exciting! I'll have a look at the link in a minute.
I went out for a walk round the block at about 2:30 this afternoon, even though it was grey and gloomy. Warm though. As I was walking up a tree-lined road, I heard a blackbird singing quite a full-on song. Definitely not a robin or a song thrush. It's a bit early, isn't it?!
I went to those links but there seem to be only very small pics at top right hand corner.
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Antithesis
How very exciting! I'll have a look at the link in a minute.
I went out for a walk round the block at about 2:30 this afternoon, even though it was grey and gloomy. Warm though. As I was walking up a tree-lined road, I heard a blackbird singing quite a full-on song. Definitely not a robin or a song thrush. It's a bit early, isn't it?!
I went to those links but there seem to be only very small pics at top right hand corner.
Hi Susan,
Nice to hear from you. About this time of year, and with a mild spell, you can sometimes hear the songs of blackbirds, robins and song thrushes. I used to go on bird races on Jan 1st and we'd tick off these by song alone.
Incidentally, just below and to the left of the picture, you'll see what looks like a small magnifying glass with a plus sign inside. Click it and you should see a larger version of the picture.
Look after yourself. :)
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Well done, antithesis, I saw it on Birdguides, and felt a twinge of envy for those who would see it. What a corker! I have seen nothing of great note of late, but as others have said, plenty of birds singing already. 4 bitterns at my local patch yesterday - must be frozen somewhere else, as they don't like ice.
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Thanks Wiggs. Nice to hear from you. I intend going out tomorrow to see if I can start my new year listing on a high. Have a good new year. :)
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I couldn't find that little icon, but one of my sons is visiting tomorrow, so I'll get him to sort it out for me.
I do hope I get to hear that Willlow Warbler again this year.
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My son sorted out the picture for me!
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My son sorted out the picture for me!
Great. :)
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Snowdrops are out! Also saw some catkins, but they might be on a winter-flowering shrub. Small signs.
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No snowdrops here yet. A white periwinkle is out though. The evenings are getting lighter.
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Plenty of catkins out, up here in East Yorkshire. Pretty sure they're early. Snowdrops out too, and believe it or not a few daffodils..must be an early flowering variety. Saw three dunnocks chasing each other, wing flicking. Small signs indeed. Funny how the older I get, the more I look forward to Spring. :)
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Saw hazel catkins out walking the dog. Wood pigeon seem to be courting too.
I love Spring. Everything about it is fresh and soft and sweet. Well, apart from the rampant sex.
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Woodpeckers
Last week, I thought I heard a woodpecker when walking into town) but thought it was unlikely; there did not appear to be anymachinery around, let alone one which made a noise like that.
Today I heard two of them, one in a large, old tree on one side of the road and another from a garden on the other. I stopped to listen again and there was no traffic noise at the time. There are plenty of trees in the nearby gardens, but it seems surprising that there should be woodpeckers there, even though it's only a few miles to the edge of the Forest.
What do people here think?
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It could well be a woodpecker - almost certainly Great Spotted. I have been hearing them for a few days now. If they find a good drumming post the sound can carry a long way.
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Thank you. I have just been talking to my neighbour and she has heard that they are becoming more common.
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Thank you. I have just been talking to my neighbour and she has heard that they are becoming more common.
Where I am in Kent there is a noticeable increase in the breeding population of Great Spotted Woodpecker. I wish the same could be said for the Lesser Spotted.
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The frozen bubbles of Lake Minnewanka and the lake on my last visit.
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/2015/02/03/photos-frozen-bubbles-make-alberta-lake-pop-for-photographer/
http://s899.photobucket.com/user/JohnCm_bucket/media/090.jpg.html
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On woodpeckers, every time I go out at the moment, I hear the kick-call of a great spotted, even in the back gardens; I guess they are revving up for spring. Also, noticing quite a lot of song thrushes, to my surprise, but apparently the local commons (this is London) have an ideal combination of rough grassland (for food) and patches of woodland (breeding and song). No doubt, this is disappearing in many parts.
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In recent days we have had a few redwings, fieldfares and two mistle thrushes coming in the mornings especially onto our crab apple tree, no doubt because of the recent harsh weather...but no song thrushes.
We also saw a great spotted woodpecker in the garden, and are now, fairly regularly, hearing the yaffling call of a green woodpecker.
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Sitting on our garden fence this morning were two very amorous pigeons snogging each other! Spring must be trying to sprung. :)
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Some of you will perhaps remember that I mentioned seeing a very rare bird, called a little bustard, at the end of last year. It's rather sad news that almost undoubtedly the same bird has been found by the side of the road in Norfolk after being very recently shot with a shotgun.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4856
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Some of you will perhaps remember that I mentioned seeing a very rare bird, called a little bustard, at the end of last year. It's rather sad news that almost undoubtedly the same bird has been found by the side of the road in Norfolk after being very recently shot with a shotgun.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4856
Been reading about this. I'm disgusted.
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Some of you will perhaps remember that I mentioned seeing a very rare bird, called a little bustard, at the end of last year. It's rather sad news that almost undoubtedly the same bird has been found by the side of the road in Norfolk after being very recently shot with a shotgun.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4856
That is awful. I hope they catch the b*stard who did it! >:(
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What possible reason could anyone have for shooting a bird like that - it's completely stupid.
Haven't heard the woodpecker again, but there seem to be quite a few song thrushes around.
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Some of you will perhaps remember that I mentioned seeing a very rare bird, called a little bustard, at the end of last year. It's rather sad news that almost undoubtedly the same bird has been found by the side of the road in Norfolk after being very recently shot with a shotgun.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4856
No! I just don't understand why anyone would do this.
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What a savage - jail him.
Back to bird song - in Norfolk, now hearing wren, yellowhammer, song thrush, dunnock, great tit, blue tit, and the local rooks are going bonkers on the nest. Heard that moorhen, mallard and mistle thrush have been seen with chicks!
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The frozen bubbles of Lake Minnewanka and the lake on my last visit.
Minnewanka? :o
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The frozen bubbles of Lake Minnewanka and the lake on my last visit.
Minnewanka? :o
Tis but a small pleasure.......
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For those who are interested. Latest from the BTO cuckoo tagging program shows two of the tagged cuckoos(Ash and Hennah) have started on their migration to the UK.
http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking?dm_i=IG4,35G9V,39HEGP,BAICI,1
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The garden blackbird has started building its nest. It's quite amusing to see it fly along with a huge green moustache. Copious supplies of frog spawn appearing in the rain filled cart tracks.... they never learn.
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Skylarks singing on the wing opposite our house today.
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Got the full set now in local gardens - snowdrops, crocuses, daffs. Sprungle is springling.
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First bumble bee and butterfly today, and freezing cold it is, too. The magnolia buds are huge!
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These rather fantastic photographs were taken yesterday. Well worth looking at.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4886
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Parrots bad; lots of parrots, very bad. We've had to take down our peanut holders now, as at first light, they are attacked by hordes of ravening parrots, well, that would be OK, but of course, they make a ghastly screech, something like a 1000 cats in the throes of something unpalatable.
They wake up the neighbours, so no more peanuts. I'm wondering if the local restaurants would be interested in roast parrot? Parakeets, technically. They are quite handsome, and make a fine sight of an evening as they fly in small flocks back to their roosts.
It's quite funny sometimes, as I come across birders along the Thames scanning the trees, and I rush up excitedly, thinking they have a rare bird, and they are from out of town, and want to see the ***** parrots!
http://tinyurl.com/pmd78et
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I appreciate the frustration, Wigs. I've only ever seen 3 in Yorkshire and quite a lot down south but in Sri Lanka I've seen thousands. We have our own problems with wood pigeons though, which can eat all the food put out for the other birds. We even get a few stock doves coming into the garden now.
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Yes, we are swamped by pigeons as well. I think at the last count there were 6000 parrots in west London. There is talk of culling, but I draw back from that.
I just checked again, and there is an estimate of 50, 000 in London!
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Yes, we are swamped by pigeons as well. I think at the last count there were 6000 parrots in west London. There is talk of culling, but I draw back from that.
I just checked again, and there is an estimate of 50, 000 in London!
The pigeons around here need to go on a diet they are obese!
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Poor pigeons! :o
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We are struggling with a dry spell at the moment, as on the allotment the taps are still shut off for winter, so looking forward to April.
Birdwise, 2 eagles recently in East Anglia causing excitement and panic among birders. Where the ¢¢¢¢¢ are they?
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Yes, noticed the other day, the ground is baked and cracking already. Rain much needed.
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First cuckoos have been sighted/heard....in Kent and East Sussex. Spring is definitely burgeoning. :)
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. Spring is definitely burgeoning. :)
Indeed, today I received my first insect bite of the year, looks like it was a gnat. :(
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Yes,
As we are early into Spring, you might say that was the sting in the head! :-[
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Robins seem to make a career choice out of shadowing humans at work in the field. I have one that is always close by watching when I am busy in the garden and I have come to know his range and his habits. He often comes within inches of me while I work and yesterday, for the first time, he came and took food from my hand. Its nice to have some company while I work, not to mention his flow of shrill music.
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Just spent a few days in Bath, well, on the edge of, and I was staggered at how many nuthatches were singing in woodland nearby. Also buzzards flying close to the town centre, what a brilliant place. Time to move?
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Hi Wiggs,
My son lives at Bathford, very near Bath. Definitely good for birds, including dipper, hawfinch and grey wagtail, and, yes, plenty of buzzards as you say. Beautiful area too.
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Love the video, Johnny. The adults have unusual ears.
How are you local osprey doing this year? I'm just catching up with the osprey at the Scottish WLT. They have a new female on the nest, this year. The famous 'Lady' that had returned every year for the last 25 years has sadly not returned this time, so they are not certain of her whereabouts, but I guess it doesn't take much working-out.
This year's female has laid three eggs and she and her partner have recently been fending off gulls, crows, geese, buzzards and other osprey. The observers, as usual, are very good and run an excellent blog.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
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Ah, wonderful! And all the best to them. :)
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Saw a hobby soaring and calling on Putney Common, about a mile from Hammersmith, possibly breeding. Shows how much they have spread. Often see them hawking for dragon-flies and swallows near the river. Also waiting for the first breeding buzzards in west London, as they are often seen.
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When our daughter and her family visited our son-in-law's relatives in Banff last year, they were warned to be careful in case they encountered any bears on the trails they were exploring.
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Exploding blue tits yesterday, one of our nests fledged, and there were tiny blue tits on the grass, and one of them had staggered across the road, and sat there calling for food. The neighbour has 4 cats, so I have to resist the instinct to pick the chicks up.
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I see the robin has been voted, by a large majority, as our British bird. I voted for the robin as it is so iconic, imo.
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Bringing in a bit of gardening, many veg and fruit going into overdrive, for example, strawbs are plentiful, and also blackcurrants are looking good, french beans motoring, blah blah blah, many bees. London is bone dry though (3% of the normal rainfall in June), so we are having to dash to the allotment and water everything. Forget sweet peas unless you can water well. But I think some areas are wetter.
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I see the robin has been voted, by a large majority, as our British bird. I voted for the robin as it is so iconic, imo.
Yesterday, a friend and I were wondering why it wasn't the wren. Used to be on the threepenny bit for a start :), it has the most amazing song and, as far as I know, does not migrate away from here.
Chaffinches and Greenfinches are doing very well around here this year which is good to hear.
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I see the robin has been voted, by a large majority, as our British bird. I voted for the robin as it is so iconic, imo.
Yesterday, a friend and I were wondering why it wasn't the wren. Used to be on the threepenny bit for a start :), it has the most amazing song and, as far as I know, does not migrate away from here.
Chaffinches and Greenfinches are doing very well around here this year which is good to hear.
But how often does one see a wren compared to a robin?
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Wren was on the farthing
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Wrens are shyer, that's true, but they are still singing away right now very loudly. But I can see why people pick robins, as they are friendly to humans, whereas wrens dive for cover.
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Wren was on the farthing
Oh yes, of course - thank you!! :D I did know that, but it temporarily slipped my mind!!!
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How about a dancing gull, to lighten/lower the tone of some of the other threads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6l-905zD0
Looks promising. :) I just might get my dog to recite the 7X table. There's hope yet. ;)
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Amazing. We'll have to call that gull Susan (the tap dancer).
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Just got back from a week in Norfolk. Not a wildlife trip especially, but then in Norfolk it doesn't need to be as it will pop up regardless. On the bit of seaside we hung out on we saw grey seals, terns and a common lizard - the first lizard I've seen in the wild in the UK.
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When we lived in Cambridgeshire in the 80s we discovered a dead coypu in our garden in St Neots. Unfortunately it appeared that one of our dogs or cats had done for it. :( As all coypus in East Anglia had apparently been exterminated, we reckon it must have the last one left!
Also whilst we lived in Cambridgeshire we saw a wallaby standing on a grass verge yards from our house. That was really weird as there was no zoo in the vicinity from which it could have escaped. I don't remember how it came to be there, or what happened to it.
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Wallaby in Cambridgeshire
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-19965072
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NS I see that sighting was in 2012, mine was in the mid 80s.
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Floo,
Small groups of wallabies have lived in the wild in various parts of the UK since at least the 1940s. Its quite possible that you saw one of these 'wild' wallabies.
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Coypu always remind me of the Barbara Vine novel A Fatal Inversion. That was set in Suffolk.
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Isle of Man wallabies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-29222704
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The famous 'June gap' with butterflies has come to an end, I think. Anyway, this week on the allotment, I saw a lot more, including meadow brown, one of the skippers, ringlet, red admiral, comma, and large white. It should get better as well, into August, and there are predictions of a painted lady influx.
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A few minutes ago two pigeons were sitting on our garden fence snogging with their beaks, which is fairly common. Suddenly one mounted the other, it was over in a few seconds. Now that is something I haven't witnessed before in birds, although common in dogs, I must have led a sheltered life. ;D
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Many people know about the success of the ospreys in Scotland, but it is not often broadcast that there is now a viable population of ospreys in the centre of England after a reintroduction programme from 1996 to 2001, centred around Rutland Water. Indeed, this year has seen the fledging of the 100th chick as a result of this. Two ospreys have also now managed to breed successfully in Wales, hopefully helping to re-establish ospreys in Wales for the first time in 400 years.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5135
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Good news for birders and birdwatchers, 2 pairs of bee eaters have bred in Cumbria. As the eggs have now hatched the location is no longer being kept secret.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5149
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That is good news. I didn't even know we had Ospreys in my area, until I caught a news item on the nest the city built just at the bottom of my hill several years ago.
Now I was just reading on the cbc that Brits are alarmed at the increase in seagull attacks on people along your coasts. Any truth to that? Somebody reported that it was like that great movie, The Birds.
There has been quite a number of reports of seagull attacks just lately. An elderly woman was left with a nasty cut on her head after one such attack. I wonder what has made the seagulls so vicious all of a sudden?
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Good news for birders and birdwatchers, 2 pairs of bee eaters have bred in Cumbria. As the eggs have now hatched the location is no longer being kept secret.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5149
Great news. I kept seeing reports of flocks of them in different places, so I thought they might breed.
Joking at my local patch (London), that the autumn return migration is now on, but it's true. All the usual suspects, green sandpipers, common sandpipers, snipe coming back, dunlin. In fact, some of them start returning in June (from Iceland?).
Off to Titchwell soon, oh goody gum-drops. Expect a ton of ruff, spotted redshanks, little gull, and probably a big snorter or two.
Seeing comma butterflies everywhere now, gorgeous orange colour.
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Life on the farm - I am used to farmers in the fens growing daffodils - sometimes in spring you go round a corner, and there's a huge yellow field, which hits you in the eye. But I was surprised recently to see that the farm next door is growing Michaelmas Daisies, which are of many different colours. They are being harvested right now, so you see lorries full of them bouncing along the farm tracks. A few fall off, so we stick them in a vase.
Growing flowers seems common at the moment, probably more money in it than the previously dominant sugar-beet.
They use hand pickers sometimes, wow, that looks back-breaking work.
There are also some small growers, who use a big back garden to grow them, so if you are looking for a business opportunity, go for it!
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We get fields around here growing borage, both for its oil and as a salad flower.
Once when out and about exploring I came close to the headquarters of a well-known supplier of garden seeds. All around were fields of sweet peas. I on,y saw it once but I've never forgotten it. :)
There's a fashion now for unkempt, natural-style flower arrangements. Traditional flowers of any kind should sell well. Gerberas and leather leaf have had their day.
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Nothing prettier than a plot of wild flowers. In the late spring my hillside is a real sight of native prairie flowers. Had a terrible time trying to rid myself of a wasp nest close to my backdoor. It was in the ground under a bush. This morning I see that a critter visited overnight and took care of the problem I'm thinking a skunk.
Johnny, I love wild flowers. I walk through fields sometimes were the farmer has left strips at the edges to accommodate them. Don't know how it is for you in Alberta, but here we are not supposed to pick them, which makes sense really..... but I do sneak one or two occasionally.
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Nothing prettier than a plot of wild flowers. In the late spring my hillside is a real sight of native prairie flowers. Had a terrible time trying to rid myself of a wasp nest close to my backdoor. It was in the ground under a bush. This morning I see that a critter visited overnight and took care of the problem I'm thinking a skunk.
Agree, I try to welcome wild flowers to my garden. In the spring part of my lawn is full of cowslips. We even still have a handful of poppy fields round about.
This is the first year for ages that we haven't had wasps in the attic, although a few weeks ago I got up at five to find a couple of dozen of them in the house - no idea why. They are at that stupid stage now and we often get driven indoors by them. Under our wood store we have a nest of the cutest bumblebees, black with orange bottoms.
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Interesting about farming borage. The other one I just remembered are gladioli, which have been farmed here for yonks. Again, quite a sight to see lorries bouncing along with a load full of them in the back. One nice thing here is that daffodils have invaded many ditches and field boundaries, from being grown as a crop, so every spring, there are daffs everywhere along the verges.
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I often look at the Birdguides' photos of the week. I find them visually stunning. The progress of digital photography in the last two decades has been fantastic. It is now possible to take photographs of wildlife of extremely good quality within a reasonable budget, although the equipment for these particular photos probably cost a great deal more.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5181
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No sunshine again today. The city is a blanket of smoke due to forest fires in Washington state and British Columbia. Health warnings out and we have been told to keep our windows shut.
How awful! :(
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The other day there was a warning that someone had killed a poisonous false widow spider in our part of Wales. When I was outside checking on the washing about 30 minutes ago, I spied on the patio a spider with the white markings on its back, which I had seen in the picture of this particular spider. I killed it immediately, better safe than sorry, although normally spiders don't bother me, as I like them. I have warned the neighbours to be wary.
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They aren't massively dangerous, Floo, although they can give a painful bite.
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I keep picking up deer ticks. I swear they have learnt to pole vault.
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My cat and dog both have some anti tick stuff. The car has still had a couple. She's not the friendliest and getting them off is ...interesting. :o
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On one of my daily walks yesterday I found a dead woodpecker on the pavement, which was rather sad. :(
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This morning I saw a tree in someone's front garden covered in magpies. I have never seen more than about two or three at any one time.
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Autumn migration is slowly coming to a close. Some of the highlights for me have been the falls of goldcests/redwings/blackbirds/robins/fieldfares on the east coast, especially during the fine and dry spells we have had early to mid October. Occasionally at Spurn we have had goldcrests by the bucketload, in the grass, on small bushes and occasionally almost underneath my feet. Also the number of sub rarities and rarities have been extremely varied from great grey shrikes to Pallas's warblers(a superb little gem of a bird, like a goldcrest on steroids).
Only today I've seen a skein of pink footed geese, with their clipped mournful calls, winging their way in from Scandinavia. I am reminded of many a day's sea watching when I've seen small flocks of redwings coming in from the North Sea, making landfall and diving into the nearest bushes or hedges exhausted. Nocturnal migration, too, must be a fascinating experience, not often witnessed. Anyone interested, have a look at these two short videos showing chaffinches and bramblings dropping onto a vessel in the Baltic for a well earned rest.(the bramblings can be identified by their white rumps which show in the vessel's lights)
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5314
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I saw redwings are on the near endangered list. :(
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Are you sure, Rhi? Redwings are extremely common in Scandinavian countries. The endangered list is also called the red list.(which now includes turtle doves and puffins, by the way) Could you be confusing the red list with redwings? Just asking?
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Heads up, all: garden birds like Chopin!
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Are you sure, Rhi? Redwings are extremely common in Scandinavian countries. The endangered list is also called the red list.(which now includes turtle doves and puffins, by the way) Could you be confusing the red list with redwings? Just asking?
Here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34664385
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Green woodpecker right outside my window feeding on the lawn. :)
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Here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34664385
No problem, Rhi. The redwing has been put on the 'Near Threatened at European level' because of its recent population decline in Europe. However this is very different to 'near endangered'. Also, of course, it has a huge range which covers not only Europe but much of Siberia. So, although, I agree it has been put on the 'near threatened' list for Europe, it is "currently listed as Least Concern, because when last assessed it was not thought to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under any of the IUCN Red List criteria." This may change, of course, in the light of subsequent data.
http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/2015/07/redwing-turdus-iliacus-uplist-from-least-concern-to-near-threatened/
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I guess redwings are fortunate to be coming from Scandanavia rather than flying across Malta.
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I couldn't agree more, Rhi.
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:(
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On my third walk of the day this morning, along the bridle path at the back of our house, a sparrow hawk flew in front of me picking a blackbird out of the air, which started to squawk loudly. The sparrow hawk landed on the grass a few yards in front of me, totally ignoring my yells to let the blackbird go. It only flew off when I got right up close to it, clutching the poor bird in its talons!
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Saw my first snowdrops today, I know you get them in December, but it's pretty early. But then it has been very mild in London, 16 degrees today, boiling hot in a winter coat.
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Apart from a raincoat for walking the dog I haven't put a coat on yet this winter.
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Fed up with rain >:(
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Noooo, I love the rain. Washing mud off stuff gets a bit wearing after a while though.
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Apart from snowdrops, a ton of flowers are out, I noticed some ceonothus are flowering a bit. If you have a sweet box near you, go and grab a nostril full, as they have the sweetest scent of almost any flower, and flower in winter, we call them the handcream bush. Also called Christmas box, or sarcococca.
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I have just seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker on our neighbour's birdfeeder. :)
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Snowy Owls in Manitoba, released back into wild.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/rehabilitated-snowy-owls-released-manitoba-1.3380384
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Well, I saw the 3 main spring flowers before Christmas - snowdrops, daffodils, and my next door neighbour's crocuses started coming out. I think they will go back, if it gets cold.
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Seems the bobcats decided to stay put. I can't blame them, Calgary is a great city to live in.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bobcat-britannia-calgary-caught-camera-1.3396091
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-tgY_DOQEI
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Apart from snowdrops, a ton of flowers are out, I noticed some ceonothus are flowering a bit. If you have a sweet box near you, go and grab a nostril full, as they have the sweetest scent of almost any flower, and flower in winter, we call them the handcream bush. Also called Christmas box, or sarcococca.
Mahonia japonica has one of the loveliest of winter scents, I think. They have been in flower for more than two months down here, which I think is unusual.
Rather more prosaically, I planted some broad beans on a friend's allotment on Nov 11th. Other gardeners looked as though they'd planted theirs a month before, and with the warm autumn and the poor light were growing lanky and spindly. However, with the constant deluges we've been having, a doubt that mine will be doing much better. Haven't checked yet.
I saw several beds of lily-of-the-valley in flower in Wells (I think they were l.o.t.v., certainly not snowdrops). Is this usual for them to be in flower at this time of the year? Mahonia's scent has been compared by one Alan Titchmarsh to l.o.t.v. Maybe - a cross between carnation and sweetpea, perhaps.
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They aren't massively dangerous, Floo, although they can give a painful bite.
A friend of mine received a bite from some kind of European spider which had crossed the channel, a few months back. I was amazed at the damage that it had done to his leg - the flesh became quite necrotic. I never knew there were any European spiders that could have this effect. Quite unnerving that they can get to this country relatively easily. I thought the worst threat of this kind was the occasional appearance of a Black Widow spider in a box of bananas.
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Heads up, all: garden birds like Chopin!
The Revolutionary Study included?
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The UK buys it's bananas from Mexico? Black Widows can be found here is southern Alberta. As a kid I saw one in the dog house at my uncle farm. An older cousin sounded the alarm before us younger ones tried to catch it. Black Widows are found in Mexico, the USA and southern Canada.
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The UK buys it's bananas from Mexico? Black Widows can be found here is southern Alberta. As a kid I saw one in the dog house at my uncle farm. An older cousin sounded the alarm before us younger ones tried to catch it. Black Widows are found in Mexico, the USA and southern Canada.
Maybe I got the wrong variety of poisonous spider. Certainly banana crates are notorious for harbouring venomous spiders of some kind on occasion.
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Amazing reports this week that botanists counted 600 flowering plants in the UK on New Year's Day, whereas the usual number is 20-30. I know that in London we have daffodils, snowdrops, and crocus well out now. But the botanists found species such as hawthorn in bloom, 5 months early!
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/more-than-600-species-of-british-flowers-in-bloom-on-new-years-day-a6833656.html
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Skylarks are singing on the wing above the fields opposite me already, and in greater number than usual.
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Today I saw some snowdrops for the first time this winter, which is rather late, especially as the winter has been so very mild so far. Normally one sees them about mid December in our area.
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Today I saw some snowdrops for the first time this winter, which is rather late, especially as the winter has been so very mild so far. Normally one sees them about mid December in our area.
That counts as unusually early - it's late January and into February when they appear in my garden, hence their folk name of February fairmaids.
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Yes, ours don't appear before February. In fact this year the first narcissi are earlier.
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There seems to be masses of frog spawn about. Hope it doesn't suffer from frost bite if the weather gets colder.
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That counts as unusually early - it's late January and into February when they appear in my garden, hence their folk name of February fairmaids.
The crocuses are out, and I have often seen daffodils out late December/beginning of January in our part of North Wales, but I haven't seen any yet this year.
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Blimey, another mild spring day, nice for a walk along the river, all the rowing crews going ballistic, just saw a black-headed gull with a black head, but this is not really early. Lack of cold may bugger up some plants, e.g. fruit trees.
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Beautiful day, yesterday. Blue skies, no wind and a crisp atmosphere which gave superb clarity. I decided to go to one of my favourite haunts, North Cave Wetlands. Plenty of snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils out in full bloom. Catkins everywhere and early blossoming trees looked magnificent. I managed to see two little owls, a barn owl, a green woodpecker, 3 redwings, 5 siskins and a variety of wildfowl, some of them displaying. I still managed to miss a kingfisher and a peregrine unfortunately. I love this time of year because it's a sort of interim time before the first real spring migrants arrive towards the end of February.
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I was fascinated by the antics of a male blackbird who was giving himself a thorough wash in our bird bath this morning. He put his head under the water then gave himself a shower by flapping his wings in it. A female blackbird was perched nearby, maybe he was sprucing himself up for her benefit? :D
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Over the past couple of weeks I've seen three dead badgers at the roadside. This week I've seen another two. Presumably they have all been killed by cars. Apart from being so very sad it's so unusual - one a year is more like it - and I wonder if it is something to do with the mild weather waking them too early and they are a bit dopey and disorientated and end up under cars. Either that or it's not traffic at all but an illness that's getting them. Really odd.
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I was told that there are some farmers who shoot badgers and throw them by the roadside to disguise them as road-kill.
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I was told that there are some farmers who shoot badgers and throw them by the roadside to disguise them as road-kill.
Of course. Obvious when you think about it. :(
Farmers - possible. But we're arable country. I know of only one cattle herd in the area.
Badger baiters? They were active here fifteen years or so ago. Or maybe someone has dug up a sett because they want to develop a piece of land and are getting rid of the evidence.
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One never used to see dead badgers in the road, but in the last few years I have seen one at least once or twice a week! I subscribe to Ekim's theory that farmers shoot them and put them on the road to pretend they are road kill.
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Try having a close look when you find another one. Is it flattened, is it's belly ripped apart, shot gun wound would be wide spread over the animal, check it's neck.
Could be a car, dogs(baiting), snare or shot gun. The last two you could probably go after the farmers, 2nd one would be baiters and the first is an accident, I would hope.
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I find the following short article extremely worrying:
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5519
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The state of my province's wolverines.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wolverine-research-jason-fisher-1.3454605
Amazing, I've always been told how vicious wolverines are but obviously they can be domesticated. They shouldn't be though!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNgv3opJqoQ
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There seems to be masses of frog spawn about. Hope it doesn't suffer from frost bite if the weather gets colder.
Some frog spawn had become frozen but there are now masses of tadpoles.
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Walking in Richmond Park, a hint of spring in the air. The jackdaws and parrots making a helluva racket. I guess the parrots are breeding already, and there will be lots of parrotlings soon.
Lots of dead wood lying around; I think they leave it now, instead of carting it away, for the insects and other inverts. London is a hot spot for stag beetles, and you get them in suburban gardens.
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Did the pirates bring home the parrots back in the days of yore and they got loose? lol
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/exotic-birds-living-wild-in-london-the-feral-london-parrots.html
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I think I saw a Merlin in the garden this morning!
I'm no bird expert but it's the only thing I can find to match. It was definitely a raptor of some kind, but none of the more common types fit the bill. It had a slate grey back and tail with a russet coloured breast and was about the size of a small pigeon, or maybe a big blackbird. The only thing was the beak, it didn't quite look right.
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I think I saw a Merlin in the garden this morning!
I'm no bird expert but it's the only thing I can find to match. It was definitely a raptor of some kind, but none of the more common types fit the bill. It had a slate grey back and tail with a russet coloured breast and was about the size of a small pigeon, or maybe a big blackbird. The only thing was the beak, it didn't quite look right.
That's possible, Sam, but it's unusual for a merlin to even fly over a garden, let alone be in a garden, unless, of course, your garden is very close to wide open areas. Your description, brief as it is, loosely fits a male sparrowhawk though which quite regularly flies through gardens and can often be seen perching there.
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Beautiful cats.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/leisurely-lynx-surprise-yukon-photographers-1.3481532
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"Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where dem birdies is?"
First day of spring today. :)
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Yes, some spring birds coming through now. At my local patch in London, sand martins, dunlin, little ringed plover, godwits, and the bitterns have left, I think. Off to Norfolk next week, to see all the gorgeous spoonbills etc.
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Just saw a blackcap in the front hedge.
And I forgot to say... last week I had my second sighting of a red kite around here. This time it took off from the field in front of me and flew not fifty feet above my head. Double checked on my phone as I couldn't quite believe it, even though I know they are more widespread now.
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Yeah, I see red kites in Norfolk and London now, and last week saw 5 on the M4.
Walking round the outskirts of Bath, saw a pair of ravens, guess they are breeding, shows how much they are infilling across England.
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That got me reading about ravens being able to count, and also recognize faces. I remember the story that researchers who trap crows, to ring them, are then often mobbed by other crows, as they recognize them, whereas other people are left alone. There are also stories that certain farmers are mobbed, as the crows recognize them as shooters. So when that little wren looks a bit twitchy at you, better beware, you're not being nice enough. Just smile more, or try to look like a wren.
You heard it here first: crows hold grudges!
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I read once about a wildlife documentary crew who couldn't understand why every songbird nest that they tried to film got predated, until they realised that crows were watching where they set up their hides and equipment.
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There's a funny story about a Starbucks in the US, where crows kept pooping on customers' cars. So they got an employee to fire an air-rifle in their general direction. So they flew off, but after that, every time someone went out with a Starbucks cap on, crows would come over and poop on their head. Revenge is best served poop-shaped.
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There's a funny story about a Starbucks in the US, where crows kept pooping on customers' cars. So they got an employee to fire an air-rifle in their general direction. So they flew off, but after that, every time someone went out with a Starbucks cap on, crows would come over and poop on their head. Revenge is best served poop-shaped.
I refuse to believe that anyone in America would ever use a weapon as benign as an air-rifle :)
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Big over there - they call them BB guns.
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Big over there - they call them BB guns.
Presumably issued at kindergarten.
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Saw my first swifts today, hunting over the bean fields.
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I was wiping a load of bird poo off the car, and wondering why it is mainly white?
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I was wiping a load of bird poo off the car, and wondering why it is mainly white?
http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/expert/previous/bird_poo.aspx
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http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/expert/previous/bird_poo.aspx
Thanks for that.
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Got up early the other day, and wandered around, and saw a short-eared owl on the saltmarsh, always nice to see one. And quite a few swallows zooming around. The local farmer has built an absolutely huge reservoir, and it's full of ducks and gulls, quite a bonus for them. Nearly every farm has one now, I wonder if they use underground sources of water.
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I've been watching the local tree of heaven, and finally, it has put leaves out. It is one of the latest trees to do this, so the second week of May is about right. A nice tree, but unfortunately, it has two bad habits - it secrets toxins from the roots, thus killing plants nearby. And it suckers, meaning that you not only get two for one, you get ten for one. And they are big.
Somebody just told me that they survived Hiroshima, not sure how true this is.
The last thing to emerge are Jerusalem artichokes, still not up yet.
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Saw two very large bronze beetles copulating today, on a blackcurrant bush. They look like scarab beetles or chafers, but anybody know better?
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Today my visiting Australian friend drove us to a spot in the Forest where, dave-at-the-gym told me, there are willow warblers. We heard two.
We visited exbury gardens and there heard a chiffchaff really clearly.
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Encouraging news from the Kielder Forest:
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5724
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I have seen some goldfinches in the last few days. I can't remember ever seeing them before.
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I have seen some goldfinches in the last few days. I can't remember ever seeing them before.
I was looking them up on the RSPB site just the other day. It seems that goldfinches and goldcrests are quite common, so I have been listening to their songs (on the pages for those particular birds and intend to listen out for them locally. I shall ask Dave-at -the-gym's advice on where they are likely to be.
I'd like to be able to identify redstarts too.
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Well, cuckoos are starting to go back to Africa, it's autumn!
At this time of the year, insect life is amazing. This morning, I was watching a skipper on a leaf, opening and closing its wings, which have diagonal black stripes on them. Perfect.
In Norfolk, we've had a goldcrest singing in the garden, hopefully breeding. It proves I'm not deaf, as they're high-pitched. Its song is like a tiny sewing machine.
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I get goldcrests too, apparently they like the conifer hedge at the side of the house.
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Purely subjectively, they seem to have increased, as I didn't use to see them much; now I see/hear them everywhere, including London gardens.
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Purely subjectively, they seem to have increased, as I didn't use to see them much; now I see/hear them everywhere, including London gardens.
As indeed are firecrests. I saw my first resident British(as distinct from migrant) firecrest in the 70s in the New Forest. It seems that there has been a large expansion of these beautiful little birds in recent years, primarily in the south of England. Of course they are regularly seen on migration in both Spring and Autumn, but, to my mind, they rival the Pallas's warbler(often called the jewel of the East) which is a scarce migrant in Autumn.
Hopefully I will see plenty of goldcrests(in fall conditions that might be several hundred), a few firecrests, and perhaps an odd Pallas's warbler this Autumn.
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This afternoon I saw four greater spotted woodpeckers sitting on a tree on the bridle path at the back of our house, normally you only see one woodpecker at a time.
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I have just seen a pied wagtail on the pavement by our home. I don't remember seeing one before.
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Plenty of comma butterflies around at the moment, seeing them in London. They are orange in colour, and have a raggedy edge to their wing, quite a stunning sight.
If you are in Norfolk, head to Narborough railway embankment; on a good day (sunny) there are lots of different species, including some rare ones. Near Kings Lynn.
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When was the last time anyone heard a cuckoo? I don't think I have heard one in the last five years or so. Apparently the birds are getting a lot less common than theretofore. Maybe other birds are now repelling borders as the cuckoo lays their eggs in other birds nests.
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I heard two last year but none this year.
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A new book recently out, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohllenben
The author gives an account of how trees communicate through their roots, and eg. will even warn other trees of an insect infestation.
This was an item on BBC Breakfast, this morning, and one of the presenters asked how a tree would respond to tree hugging. Apparently trees are very 'slow' (this is how the author described them) and it would probably take days before a tree recognised the action.
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Apparently 2 billion crane flies (Daddy long legs) have invaded the UK. I have seen many more than usual this year, fortunately they don't worry me.
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Well, the butterfly situation in Norfolk has been terrible, very few around in August, and I've seen more in London, which is crazy. Some people think it's to do with wet June and July, I hope so really, as I'm worried that it's because of farmers spraying in fine weather. You can smell the spray miles away, and they spray next to our fence.
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watched a little grebe on a pond at Spurn today. Suddenly a small head appeared near it, and the grebe seemed very interested in it. The small head belonged to a grass snake which was attempting to go by the little grebe. The grass snake then showed its full length(I estimate about 60-70 cm) on the water surface. There was then a bit of a stand off until the grebe circled around it, and the grass snake continued its journey into the reeds at the other side, followed by what looked like the rather bemused little grebe. I managed to video the whole incident. :)
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Looking out of my office window this morning I saw a bird that really has me puzzled.
My first impression was of a Jay or Waxwing, it had that kind pf colouring, but when it turned it's head, I saw it had the head of a raptor.
Although it must have been about the size of a sparrowhawk there was no sign of the distinctive bands. Unfortunately it flew away before I could get the camera.
Anyone got any ideas.
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Merlin?
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Merlin?
I just has a look at some images, and it's a possibility but the colouring over the breast seemed much smoother. I guess that there will be some variation?
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Think there should be enough variation that it might appear smoother. Especially given it's a bit smaller so any mottling might at a distance be less clear.
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Just saw an unusual and beautiful sight. I counted 25 Red Admiral butterflies all feeding on a flowering ivy patch of about 3 feet by 1 foot in size, along a coastal path.
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Just saw an unusual and beautiful sight. I counted 25 Red Admiral butterflies all feeding on a flowering ivy patch of about 3 feet by 1 foot in size, along a coastal path.
Brilliant, and all these are almost definitely migrants moving back to the continent. Clear and relatively mild weather with a lack of wind is perfect for them to migrate. Incidentally, there's a programme on the BBC next Monday on the migration of the painted lady butterfly, which has a most unusual migration,(involving several generations) extending from Africa to the Arctic. Some years in the UK they can number in their millions. :)
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Talking about wasp spiders on another thread, reminded me that I saw some beewolves for the first time, at Minsmere. They are wasps, which burrow into sand, then take bees, which they have paralyzed, and put them in the burrow, for their larvae. It was amazing watching them burrow furiously into the sand, at a rate of knots, and the burrows can be a foot long.
We looked up and saw a stone curlew also, a bonus.
Looking forward to the programme on painted ladies.
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The increase in the strength of the SE winds today meant a large fall of interesting migrants on the East Coast. I went to Bempton Cliffs and managed to see a mega rarity, an eastern crowned warbler, a beautiful bird from the far East, also a yellow browed warbler and plenty of chiffchaffs, goldcrests and robins. Unfortunately I dipped on another mega bird, a black browed albatross which was seen at Flamborough and Bempton a couple of times. These south easterlies are continuing, so who knows what interesting birds may result in the next few days.
Incidentally, on the butterfly front, I notice a camberwell beauty was seen at Landguard NR in Suffolk late this afternoon.
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Got back about 2 hours ago from Easington(near Spurn). I got a breathless message from a birder friend that a really mega bird had been seen there, so I grabbed my gear and went. It was a Siberian Accentor from the Russian Urals presumably, and a first for mainland Britain.(the only other one was seen two days ago in the Shetlands), a magic bird which performed beautifully next to a dunnock(to which it is related). It has to be, for me and countless others, the bird of the millenium so far. This week, with all the easterly winds and rain, has been fantastic for long distance migrants on the east coast, with rarities and sub rarities galore. If you're a birder, it's a truly wonderful time. Tomorrow is going to be crazy with probably up to 1000 birders descending on Easington village. :)
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For those interested, it looks as though it is going to be an excellent waxwing autumn/ winter. They are coming in across the North Sea in some numbers as I write. For those who don't know what a waxwing looks like, just google 'waxwing'. They're a pretty bird, about the size of a starling with a prominent crest, and they like berry bushes. They can be often seen in suburbia, and especially around supermarket car parks! At the moment many are on the East Coast, but they steadily filter across the country, so they can be seen almost anywhere eventually. Usually they are fairly scarce, but every so many years they tend to irrupt, and in those years they are regularly seen throughout the winter months. This looks like it's going to be an excellent waxwing year. :)
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Winter has come fairly early here in southern Finland. A couple of days ago we got our first snow and it's about minus five. A few days ago a couple of arctic foxes were spoted in Finland for the first time in about thirty years.
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That's one of the countries where the waxwings come from!!
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Can't say I've ever heard of a waxwing before reading your post but I like things like that. I'll have to keep sn eye out for one. In Finnish it's "tilhi".
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Watching the pink-footed geese every morning flying over the house, no doubt searching for fields with sugar beet and other crops. It's great to hear and see them fly over, a touch of wildness. On the coast, the Brent geese will be here now, and I saw some whooper swans fly over near the Ouse; if you go to Welney, you can watch them being fed by flood-light in a super-duper heated hide! Winter rocks.
As enki said, waxwings appearing - watch your local Tesco's as they like the ornamental berries that supermarkets often plant.
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At last! Just been viewing circa 45 waxwings at Sainsbury's car park in Hessle. Beautiful birds busily eating berries from the surrounding bushes. Plenty of birders present. What a pleasant way to finish what has been an outstanding year, birdingwise. Anyway, anybody reading this, a good new year to you all. :)
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At last! Just been viewing circa 45 waxwings at Sainsbury's car park in Hessle. Beautiful birds busily eating berries from the surrounding bushes. Plenty of birders present. What a pleasant way to finish what has been an outstanding year, birdingwise. Anyway, anybody reading this, a good new year to you all. :)
Lovely, - we had some here a few years ago, but none since. When out walking on Christmas Day, it was lovely to hear some quite Spring-sounding bird notes.
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Well done, enki. Envy, envy.
Anybody who likes nature films, should try to catch 'Wild Tales from the Village', still on i-Player. It's about small animals in a French village, but it's the photography that's mind-boggling. I still can't see how they got some of the shots, e.g. dormice landing on attics floors, and skidding!
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My current talking book is, 'While Flocks Last' by Charlie Elder. Very good so far. I've decided that the next bird I would like to be able to identify by its song is the Fieldfare. Do you think I could confuse its song with that of a Greenfinch? I have listened to the audio on the RSPB page so I will have to do this a lot until I know it! I'm not sure whether I'll be able to hear one in my local walks, but I'll ask Dave (at the gym) as I expect he'll know.
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Hi Susan,
Greenfinches make a fairly fast, fairly high nasal twittering sound. Fieldfares are much more harsh, lower, slower and not prolonged. You are much more likely to get their call mixed up with the call of a blackbird. Fieldfares usually only come to us in Autumn/Winter so you would hear their call rather than their song. One useful thing to know is that fieldfares are often in flocks, and call usually when flying. So you would be more likely to hear more than one calling, and the direction would be constantly changing.
Happy New Year.
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enki
Thank you. I'll make sure to keep the batteries up to date in my hearing aids when I'm out walking!
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Thank you. I'llpay attention whe I'm out.
Listening on in the book, I've just heard the part when he actually sees aWryneck. I looked it up on the RSPB page and played the audio of its repetitions of one note, seems to be about a dozen times.
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Just looking around for new buds, it's a nice thing to do in winter, anyway, the blackcurrant bushes are covered in them, ditto magnolias now (leaf buds, not flower buds), and some rose bushes, also of course, bulbs are coming up, and apparently there are snowdrops in some London parks. New life! Heard a woodpecker drumming last week.
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A few days ago I heard my first yaffle of the year, and today, on the television aerial on our roof was a mistle thrush, earning its old name of storm cock in a howling gale which is with us at the moment. Also I notice the hazel catkins are out, no doubt with the high winds being particularly useful for pollination. They always remind me of late Christmas tree green baubles.
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A few days ago I heard my first yaffle of the year, and today, on the television aerial on our roof was a mistle thrush, earning its old name of storm cock in a howling gale which is with us at the moment. Also I notice the hazel catkins are out, no doubt with the high winds being particularly useful for pollination. They always remind me of late Christmas tree green baubles.
I have never across 'yaffle' before!
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Another name for a green woodpecker, which is supposed to illustrate the sound it makes. :)
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Good stuff, enki. The dunnocks in London start singing in January, also great tits of course. Snow on the way though! That might shut them up.
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Has anyone hear heard a Marsh Warbler which, I understand from that book I read is extremely rare.
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Has anyone hear heard a Marsh Warbler which, I understand from that book I read is extremely rare.
They are quite scarce. Being a migrant, they usually occur in very small numbers in Spring and Autumn, generally on the East Coast. Occasionally they stay to breed. I have been lucky to see a breeding pair about ten years ago near Scarborough, and, also, before that, near Tewksbury, where there were a small number which regularly bred there many years ago. They are hard to distinguish from reed warblers but their song is quite different. It is a beautiful song, with many variations, because the marsh warbler is a superb mimic of other birds, from great tits to nightingales. I think, if you heard one, Susan, you would be transfixed by its song. I know of no other bird which can mimic such a variety of other birds so well, even including species which we rarely see in the UK.
Perhaps, Susan, this Spring you may come across one. You never know.
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The dunnocks in London start singing in January, also great tits of course.
Would that be an the Windmill Theatre?
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Would that be an the Windmill Theatre?
Wince! ::) (Wiggs will know why ;))
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Wince! ::) (Wiggs will know why ;))
No Moving!
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enki
Thank you for your reply. I went to the RSPB Marsh Warbler web site yesterday and listened to the audio. Amazing!
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If you think that human beings are highly sexed, then this is well worth a read:
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=6135
I now look at pec sands in a totally new light. ;D
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BBC Winterwatch 2017: images of winter at dawn: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04qr8nv/p04qr7rr
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Lots of lapwings around the village this year, and a flock of fieldfares.
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An interesting river walk yesterday yielded two kingfishers, two dippers, 4 egrets, a heron and a beaver. Oh, and some snowdrops in full bloom. It's quite surprising how many trees the beavers have munched their way through.
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I saw an egret at the wild pond at our nearby stately home back in the autumn. Never seen one before.
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Interesting pic of an albino otter on the Clyde. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/bothwell-couple-spot-rare-albino-9696422
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Looking back at the last two posts from Rhi and Anch, I think it is interesting that all types of animals(including humans, of course) can produce examples which are albinistic, leucistic(white morphs) and the opposite, melanistic, sometimes called dark morphs. The only example I've ever seen of a black little egret was many years ago, in Majorca, when, in our short lived excitement, we thought we were looking at a reef heron. It gets even more complicated and confusing because black reef herons can very occasionally produce white morphs!
The most unusual leucistic/albino bird I've seen was an almost pure white barn owl, working farm fields on a sunny morning. It really did give me the feeling that I was watching some sort of silent ghost, turning and cavorting in the sunlight. This picture might give you some idea:
http://weheartit.com/entry/group/20681808
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Masses of frog spawn about at the moment. I hope it contains its own antifreeze.
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Could someone here please answer the following bird song question: do the females of dunnocks, robins, song thrushes, blackbirds, green finches, chaffinches, blue tits, great tits, goldcrests, i.e. all the birds I'm hearing at the moment when I walk to town, sing the same song as the males?
Any information will be much appreciated
P.S. I think I have only heard one chaffinch so far this year.
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Hi Susan,
As far as I know it's almost always the male songbird which sings, although sometimes the female(e.g. blackbird) can produce a very muted subsong. The reason usually is that the male advertises its territory to females by singing. That is why, in Spring especially, it is the males which are most often seen. For instance, in Lesvos(where I often visit) the male black headed bunting sings incessantly. often in a prominent position. I have seen numerous black headed buntings and never seen a female singing. It is true however that with some species it is hard to tell males from females. Dunnocks, goldcrests, great tits for instance fall into that category. However chaffinches and blackbirds are easy to tell apart, and I have never noticed a female chaffinch or a female blackbird singing. Hope that helps. :)
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Heard some skylarks a couple of weeks ago, and the guy in the local nursery looked at me very suspiciously when I told him. 'Where do you live?' he scowled, and when I told him the very remote area, he scowled even more. Well, I did.
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enki
Thank you very much. I thought that was probably the case. I'm so glad I learnt to distinguish the songs quite a long time ago.
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Good collection there, Susan. Greenfinches have been devastated in London, I used to hear them all over the place, not now. Supposed to be a virus.
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Good collection there, Susan. Greenfinches have been devastated in London, I used to hear them all over the place, not now. Supposed to be a virus.
I think this area was fairly lucky as far as the greenfinches were concerned. I notice there are more song thrushes this year; there appear to be about six just on my short walk into town.
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What about wrens? Do both male and female birds sing similar songs? The RSPB's page on wrens doesn't say.
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I found a slow worm yesterday, on the edge of a bank next to a busy main road. Never seen one before. I moved him to safety. Absolutely beautiful creature. I'm now showing everyone I talk to the pic of him on my phone.
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What about wrens? Do both male and female birds sing similar songs? The RSPB's page on wrens doesn't say.
Male and female wrens are hard to tell apart. However at this time of year it is more than likely that any loud far carrying wren song is from a male advertising its territory and trying to attract a female. Again, I believe, females have been known to produce a rather more muted song at times though.
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Thank you, enki.
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We once had wrens nesting in the ivy on our bird cherry - it was only a few feet up and the perfect height for my kids to watch the chicks grow into scruffy teenagers.
Apparently the male wren makes several nests and the female chooses which she likes most which he then finishes off. However, he often has more than one partner on the go at a time. This is possibly why for a while both birds were there but in the end it was just one doing all the feeding.
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However, he often has more than one partner on the go at a time
Surely it can't be the little Wren behaving thus - more likely to be this bird:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/s/shag/index.aspx
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Sounds like a regular little nutcracker to me! :)
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I am of course paying attention to bird song whenever I'm out. to check which is which, I have just listened to Greenfinch (on the RSP B website) and it gives only the drawn-out wheeeeeze for that. On the same page a little further down was the Sisskind, and I think I might well have been thinking they were the Greenfinches, because the Sisskind sounds as if it is the one which chatters in between wheezes. Is this correct?
I have also listened again to the Goldfinnch. Its song has a similarity to the chaffinch, hasn't it? I'm hoping to be able to distinguish Goldfinches this year!
Very few Chaffinches around here so far.
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Here is a useful website for comparing the songs of the various finches. I don't know how easily you may be able to use it though.
http://www.british-birdsongs.uk/siskin/
To activate the song you simply click on the large red circle with the white triangle in the middle to hear the song of the siskin.
Lower down are the songs of the other finches you described.
Good luck!
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Thank you. I find I can put into google, e.g. 'RSPB Sisskind' and a link comes up, with an audio link.
I'll have a word with Dave-at-the-gym next week!
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Masses of tadpoles about at present and I nearly stepped upon an adder which was resting on a path today. March seems early for adders. I suppose I shall start picking up my usual quota of deer ticks soon.
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Re: Goldfinches and Goldcrests.
Can anyone tell me how far these birds are likely to venture from nests when feeding their chicks in order to find food? I ask because there are not many pine trees around here so I am not sure whether I'm hearing these birds or not. And I can't find the relevant information on the RSPB sites for them.
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Malta has a horrendous record of trapping and killing birds, especially migrant birds at this time of year. In direct contravention of EU directives, it carries on with this activity, and the EU seems powerless to stop it.
On 18th April Chris Packham and his film crew were involved in an incident, where, as he was filming evidence of suspected illegal bird trapping on Gozo, two men began to be aggressive towards his film crew. The police then intervened and immediately took the side of the aggressors and manhandled Chris and his crew off the site. He was later charged with using force with an intent to 'insult, annoy or hurt them'. He appeared in court on 20th April, and was quickly found not guilty.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=6322
It is a sad reminder that such illegal bird trapping and killing still goes on, sometimes with the full connivance of the local police.
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A fairly large bird flew over me this morning; I couldn't work out what it was, as I had never seen one like that before. It had a long thin beak and large almost oval shaped white wings. Has anyone any ideas what it might have been?
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A fairly large bird flew over me this morning; I couldn't work out what it was, as I had never seen one like that before. It had a long thin beak and large almost oval shaped white wings. Has anyone any ideas what it might have been?
An egret?
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/egret-play-waterland-44676355?src=yfhKjTuAoWrbKhRCptzjuQ-1-26
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That is a possibility, but I don't think its legs were that long.
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Maybe a little egret then or even a heron.
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Maybe a little egret then or even a heron.
Could be a heron, I suppose. I hope I see it again.
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A young robin was following us around on the allotment, I guess looking for food, and allowed us within several feet. I thought that this is evidence that this is innate, as I don't think the young ones would have time to learn it from adults. I suppose this is properly called 'commensalism'.
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Spoonbills have bred for the first time(at least,in the last hundred or so years) in Yorkshire, actually in South Yorkshire at Fairburn Ings.
Also 3 bee eaters are in a quarry in Nottinghamshire, and have been seen going to roost in sand martin holes. Possible potential for them breeding?
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Very good, enki. I am getting ready for our annual trip to Minsmere, purple heron reported at the moment, but even better, fabulous insects, such as beewolves, and other digger wasps. And you can see them in front of you, burrowing into sandy banks. Then onto Sizewell beach, for two-headed sheep, just joking.
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A good year for butterflies in London, so far at least. Our allotment is in the middle of London, but we have seen this year, gatekeeper, meadow brown, comma, red admiral, tortoiseshell, brimstone, ringlet, speckled wood, and skipper, the last one being of indeterminate species, as I can't get close enough to see the ends of the antennae!
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A good year for butterflies in London, so far at least. Our allotment is in the middle of London, but we have seen this year, gatekeeper, meadow brown, comma, red admiral, tortoiseshell, brimstone, ringlet, speckled wood, and skipper, the last one being of indeterminate species, as I can't get close enough to see the ends of the antennae!
Know what you mean, Wiggs. I remember quite a few years ago checking a skipper at Spurn with a magnifying glass to see if it had glossy black on the underneath of its antennae. It did, and was one of the first recorded Essex skippers for this location. I believe there is now a small colony of these here, as they have spread further north.
I agree about the butterflies in my area also. I'm seeing more small tortoiseshells than I have done for some years. Hopefully they're making a come back! Yesterday I found a butterfly trapped in my greenhouse. I managed to capture it, and it crawled onto my finger. It was a comma, and, although I've seen many of them before, I was yet again impressed by its beautiful coloration and delicate shape.
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Yes, commas are gorgeous. I've seen a lot this year, mostly in London. In reply to floo, I often see more in London than Norfolk, partly because we are in a totally arable area, where every field is sprayed within an inch of its life. There used to be some field borders which had wild flowers, but they seem to have gone, and maybe outside the EU, they will be even more gone.
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Just been watching a raven feeding on the bounty of grasshoppers in the field behind my house. Also a couple of hares boxing. They came within a few feet of me, seemingly too preoccupied to notice, and I could hear their panting and the slap slap of their blows. Magical creatures. Plenty of recently fledged redstarts about but sadly the tree pipits have stopped performing their wonderful song flights in the last week or so. However, had a nice surprise the other day when a male lesser spotted woodpecker visited my garden and I was able to watch it at close quarters as it fed on a dead tree for a full ten minutes before flying off. It even lined itself up on a branch with a family of GSWs, as if posing for an illustration in a bird guide.
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Superb, Bramble. :) You must live in a marvellous part of the country. LSWs are fairly uncommon where I live, and redstarts and tree pipits are only found in certain localised areas, apart from on migration, of course.
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I live on the Welsh border. LSWs aren't exactly common here either, more's the pity. I tend to hear their drumming more often than seeing them and views are usually fleeting and often high up in the canopy. I can never get used to how small they are. Seeing this one up against vastly bigger GSW 'baby' was almost comical.
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Just driving home up the lanes full of agrimony, scabious, meadowsweet, yarrow, even some bugloss I think. My eldest and I are going to take a walk tomorrow so we can really get a better idea of what else there is, partly for a project she's working on but also because we want to *know*.
Bramble, I love hares, we see them quite a lot here but only once have I ever seen them box. Magical, mystical creatures indeed.
Eta for hare lovers I can really recommend Karen Cater's book Spirit of the Hare.
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I came across a small group of four leaved clover about a week ago(from the same plant). I'm pressing them in between the pages of Tolkein's Unfinished Tales(which I have finished) :)
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I came across a small group of four leaved clover about a week ago(from the same plant). I'm pressing them in between the pages of Tolkein's Unfinished Tales(which I have finished) :)
Ooh, what a lovely thing to do. Many, many moons ago I used to make and sell pressed flower pictures. Not little delicate things, I guess they were more collages with moss and twigs and stuff. Now I think I might press some herbs and wild things and either make my own book of botanics or frame them as individual specimens, ideally with some mercury glass.
As an aside, if you have old books a pressed leaf of alecost/costmary will keep away mites. It's also called Bible leaf because the large, spear shaped leaves would help preserve the pages of old, big Bibles, while acting as a bookmark.
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Just driving home up the lanes full of agrimony, scabious, meadowsweet, yarrow, even some bugloss I think. My eldest and I are going to take a walk tomorrow so we can really get a better idea of what else there is, partly for a project she's working on but also because we want to *know*.
You are fortunate to have such rich verges where you live. Viper's bugloss is gorgeous. Is your eldest doing a school project or is she just interested? My daughter has instructed me to harvest a bundle of yarrow stalks for her this summer because she wants to make her own I Ching divination sticks, which are traditionally cut from yarrow - ideally from the grounds of a Confucian temple, although I think I might struggle to find one of those around here!
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You are fortunate to have such rich verges where you live. Viper's bugloss is gorgeous. Is your eldest doing a school project or is she just interested? My daughter has instructed me to harvest a bundle of yarrow stalks for her this summer because she wants to make her own I Ching divination sticks, which are traditionally cut from yarrow - ideally from the grounds of a Confucian temple, although I think I might struggle to find one of those around here!
She's just interested for herself. It's something I do too, make my own notes just because. I've never tried I Ching divination, but o have used the Celtic Tree Ogham - might be of interest to your daughter as you are on the Welsh borders. To make your own set of Ogham sticks you need to find a twig from each tree. :)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogham
When I was driving home I was thinking of the differences in the terms 'scenery' and 'landscape'. I'm going to write a piece on it I think and I might put it up here when it's done.
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She's just interested for herself. It's something I do too, make my own notes just because. I've never tried I Ching divination, but o have used the Celtic Tree Ogham - might be of interest to your daughter as you are on the Welsh borders. To make your own set of Ogham sticks you need to find a twig from each tree. :)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogham
When I was driving home I was thinking of the differences in the terms 'scenery' and 'landscape'. I'm going to write a piece on it I think and I might put it up here when it's done.
It's always heartening to hear that there are still young people interested in wild things. My daughter's a druid and has made her own Ogham sticks. She's currently doing the OBOD course. She'd be gathering her own yarrow stalks too if she wasn't in America with her boyfriend! I shall look forward to your scenery/landscape piece.
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It's always heartening to hear that there are still young people interested in wild things. My daughter's a druid and has made her own Ogham sticks. She's currently doing the OBOD course. She'd be gathering her own yarrow stalks too if she wasn't in America with her boyfriend! I shall look forward to your scenery/landscape piece.
Ahhh. :) I studied with OBOD and have friends that are still involved with them, although I don't class myself as a Druid.
I'll put my piece up when it's done. :)
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Just back from a week in Skye.
In one 24hr period we saw a 7 point Stag in our garden, a pair of white tailed eagles overhead and a dozen dolphins in Loch Pooltiel.
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A cousin of mine and her husband live on Skye.
Nive place to live.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-40628037/will-wildcat-lynx-be-reintroduced-to-the-uk
I am not sure that re-introducing the lynx to the UK after all these centuries is a good idea.
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Almost stepped on a large emerald moth just now. Such awesome camouflage that nearly got it killed! I'm sure there's a moral in there somewhere but I'm trying not to think about it!
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On my daily walk this morning I can across a strange looking bird, which was walking around the drive in a close. It is possible it is a ptarmigan or guinea fowl, but I am not sure. It is a pity I didn't have my camera with me.
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There is a house near us which has half a dozen Guineafowl roaming around the drive and three alpacas in the field nearby. There is a picture of a Guineafowl here ..... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guineafowl
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The bird had a tiny head, red and black, with a grey body and no tail. It isn't the sort of thing you expect to find in a village close.
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The bird had a tiny head, red and black, with a grey body and no tail. It isn't the sort of thing you expect to find in a village close.
Try this........
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-identifier/
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Try this........
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-identifier/
I still can't find the exact match.
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One of the problems at this time of year is that you get a lot of young birds wandering around, and they can look very different from pictures in bird guides. This is notorious with robins, for example, a fat speckly thing on your lawn might be a young robin, with no red breast.
If floo's bird is a game bird (pheasant etc.), they can also look peculiar when they are young. But some guides will have pictures of the young. Grey partridge is possible, but I don't know what the young look like.
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I was following a discussion elsewhere and even with a picture of the bird a couple of keen birders were struggling to identify between a juvenile robin and juvenile redstart. It's certainly sounds as if this was a game bird. How big was it, Floo?
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Yes, good point. 'Don't know' is often the endpoint in discussions about a difficult bird. Or a 'possible' or 'probable' X.
https://tinyurl.com/ycxe4bnv
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One of the problems at this time of year is that you get a lot of young birds wandering around, and they can look very different from pictures in bird guides. This is notorious with robins, for example, a fat speckly thing on your lawn might be a young robin, with no red breast.
If floo's bird is a game bird (pheasant etc.), they can also look peculiar when they are young. But some guides will have pictures of the young. Grey partridge is possible, but I don't know what the young look like.
The bird I saw definitely wasn't a pheasant with which I am very familiar having lived next to a meadow used as a pheasant shoot for 20 years. The bird I saw looked like an adult to me.
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The bird I saw definitely wasn't a pheasant with which I am very familiar having lived next to a meadow used as a pheasant shoot for 20 years. The bird I saw looked like an adult to me.
wigginhall didn't suggest it was a pheasant, he was using that as an example of a game bird. Rather he was suggesting grey partridge as a possibility, which he has kindly put up a link to in later post.
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On my daily walk this morning I can across a strange looking bird, which was walking around the drive in a close. It is possible it is a ptarmigan or guinea fowl, but I am not sure. It is a pity I didn't have my camera with me.
I don't think it was a ptarmigan, Floo, unless you live at the top of a Scottish mountain. A helmeted guinea fowl might fit, but have you thought about red legged partridge, which are now far more common than grey partridge. They have small heads with a lot of white, with black through the eye, and red bills. Just a thought.
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I don't think it was a ptarmigan, Floo, unless you live at the top of a Scottish mountain. A helmeted guinea fowl might fit, but have you thought about red legged partridge, which are now far more common than grey partridge. They have small heads with a lot of white, with black through the eye, and red bills. Just a thought.
That is a possibility, I suppose, but it doesn't quite fit what I saw. I am beginning to wonder if I dreamt it! I shall walk that way tomorrow and see if I can spot it again.
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Wow a few minutes ago there were some starlings on our bird table, one had what resembled a white skull cap on the top of its head. I had to pinch myself to ensure I wasn't seeing things.
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I managed to take a photo of that bird this morning, it is a pity I can't post it on here. I think it is a guinea fowl.
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Wow a few minutes ago there were some starlings on our bird table, one had what resembled a white skull cap on the top of its head. I had to pinch myself to ensure I wasn't seeing things.
You can sometimes get albino starlings, which really stand out in a flock. I have seen several, also seen an albino swallow, an albino dunlin and an albino black necked grebe. More commmon are leucistic birds, which have part of their feathers white. I suspect that your starling, Floo, was a leucistic one.
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You can sometimes get albino starlings, which really stand out in a flock. I have seen several, also seen an albino swallow, an albino dunlin and an albino black necked grebe. More commmon are leucistic birds, which have part of their feathers white. I suspect that your starling, Floo, was a leucistic one.
Possibly.
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I managed to take a photo of that bird this morning, it is a pity I can't post it on here. I think it is a guinea fowl.
You could try posting it on a public photo site then give the link here?
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You could try posting it on a public photo site then give the link here?
I don't put any of my photos or artwork on those public sites after some of it was stolen some years ago.
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I don't put any of my photos or artwork on those public sites after some of it was stolen some years ago.
I don't understand.
You were going to post it on here. Which is a public site!!!
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Actually even if I could post the photo, I wouldn't, seeing I took the photo of the bird on someone's property without their consent, so it would be wrong to make it public.
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Actually even if I could post the photo, I wouldn't, seeing I took the photo of the bird on someone's property without their consent, so it would be wrong to make it public.
If you can see the bird from a public area, then there is nothing wrong in publishing a photo taken from that viewpoint.
Otherwise you would hardly be able to post any photos!!
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I think it would be wrong to post a photo of someone's home and car, which are in the picture, without permission.
Tell that to Google Street!
And all the newspapers both local and national.
And TV stations.
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Tell that to Google Street!
And all the newspapers both local and national.
And TV stations.
Google Streetview blurs out car registration plates and house numbers, though.
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Google Streetview blurs out car registration plates and house numbers, though.
Number plates and people's faces, yes. House numbers, no.
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Number plates and people's faces, yes. House numbers, no.
I've seen house numbers obscured.
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Getting back to the topic of the thread, I didn't realise until fairly recently that birds relish apple peelings and the core. We always peel our eating apples and quarter them, it is good not to waste the rest.
That's strange. I've noticed birds eating old apples I put out and they usually peck the flesh out of the peel.
Just found nine oak seedlings growing at the bottom of my garden. No idea what to do with them.
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In Autumn, old orchards with fallen fruit are a veritable mecca for birds, especially thrushes.
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I've seen house numbers obscured.
I have yet to see that.
If they were all obscured it would remove one of the main benefits which is to put in an address and then let GS show you where it is!
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4 kestrels hovering on the common near us in London, I think they often catch crickets and moths. I am guessing that 3 of them are young ones. They often breed there, and it's great to see them in a fairly built-up part of London. I guess they will disperse in autumn, to take their chances, so hoping for a fair wind for them.
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Hots new from the botanical frontiers. I finally tracked down clumps of marsh mallow in Suffolk! Yay! Formerly used to make the pudding, of course, and I think used in the Middle East as food formerly, it is now marginal in the UK, ploughed out, I guess. Anyway, hotfoot it down to the Minsmere nature reserve, and there are great chunks of it growing. Then I went home and checked it on my botanical atlas - who says I don't have an exciting life?
Also saw antlion pits, so I can die happy now.
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There seems to be a large influx of red admiral butterflies at the moment. When cycling today, I must have seen at least 20 of them.
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I've seen several too, they're really beautiful. I love to paint them! Especially around the blackberry bushes.
Something I have noticed recently is squirrels that seem to be a mixture of grey and red. The red is quite vivid. We've always had grey squirrels running up and down the trees and along the top of the walls and shed in the garden, but these are different. I didn't know that greys and reds bred and haven't seen any red squirrels in my immediate vicinity but they may live in the woods and common.
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We went to a big orchard near Thornham last week, which grows different varieties of apples and pears. Anyway, we bought some different kinds, and they are delicious, but of course, forgot to write down the names of the rare ones. Ah well, we will have to go back now. By the way, the drive up there from Kings Lynn is lovely right now, as the holiday crowds have gone. Nice villages along the way, then you can park at Titchwell nature reserve, and walk along to the beach, not forgetting the brilliant bird hides. Or go to Holkham and see the massive beach.
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There is a heron sitting on a tree in a copse at the back of our home, I haven't seen one here before.
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For anyone who is interested, there is a very large influx of hawfinches from the continent going on at the moment. They are a rather secretive but very distictive species(think chaffinches on steroids!) but they could literally turn up anywhere. There is a particularly large flock at the arboretum at Castle Howard at the moment.
http://wildlifearticles.co.uk/hawfinch-irruption/
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There is a heron sitting on a tree in a copse at the back of our home, I haven't seen one here before.
Is it a super-quick growing copse?
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It's surprising how many birds you can see from a car. Last week, driving near Manea, we saw a big flock of fieldfares overhead, and we could hear the chak chak call; then we saw a flock of lapwings, and a decent murmuration of starlings. Then a little flock of whooper swans, probably heading to the roost at Welney. Apparently, the Bewick swans are declining, maybe global warming causing this.
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Just saw a buck with eight laydeez in his harem. The Barry White of roe deer.
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Just saw a buck with eight laydeez in his harem. The Barry White of roe deer.
I've now got this pucture of Bazza with antlers
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Just reading about sacred ibis in France. Not a native bird, but has escaped from zoos, and bred, so there were 5000 in the end, and they are damaging to other birds, eating the young, trampling the nests, and so on. Anyway, the whole lot have been shot. Humans are barking mad, really. There is an incredible photo of a flock of them rooting through dustbins at the back of a burger cafe.
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Yesterday afternoon, white sky, I happened to be looking out of the window facing east. Caught sight of a V formation of large birds, flying low in a south-westerly direction. I think there were about 8 of them. What does anyone think they would have been?
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A V-formation would almost certainly have been a skein of geese. Happens every day here around this time of year - exactly like this: https://youtu.be/aXQs6jXRLWA
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A V-formation would almost certainly have been a skein of geese. Happens every day here around this time of year - exactly like this: https://youtu.be/aXQs6jXRLWA
Thank you for your help. I must look out more often!
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A V-formation would almost certainly have been a skein of geese. Happens every day here around this time of year - exactly like this: https://youtu.be/aXQs6jXRLWA
It is quite something to see. :)
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Yes, we get the pink-footed geese flying over every day, looking for a field to feed in, sugar beet tops often. They have a great sound as well, sort of bugling. Now and again, the whole sky is full of them, I suppose 10, 000.
Enki will know, but there are lots of hawfinch around at the moment, an invasion or irruption. Normally, it's very difficult to see one or two, but people are seeing flocks of them, up to 50. I think local papers may have reports.
https://insideecology.com/2017/11/10/london-skies-irrupt-with-rare-hawfinches/
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We're seeing a lot of goldfinches this year. Can't remember the last time I saw a greenfinch though. Is the virus still going?
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Just thought I'd like to share this. I'm reading a book(just come out) at the moment called 'Birding Without Borders' by an American birder called Noah Strycker. It's all about his year(2015) travelling around the world, trying to break the world record of species seen in one year. His aim was to see 5000 species. In fact he managed to see 6042 species of the roughly 10 and a half thousand bird species in the entire world.
However I would just like to quote one particular part, where he is looking at a most beautiful and very hard to find hummingbird in Peru, called a 'marvelous spatuletail'. He says this of the moment when the bird came into view:
It is impossible to put into words what washed over me just then: euphoria, transcendence, a sense of things coming together. I was ecstatic and pensive, filled with adrenaline. The hummingbird was magnificent, but its allure owed as much to desire as beauty. Because I had spent so many years scrutinizing this bird in books and magazines, it almost didn't seem real in three dimensions.
There is something metaphysical about the human connection with nature, and we each find our own points of contact. For me, that afternoon, the Marvelous Spatuletail represented something far beyond a single bird. It distilled the whole experience of Peru, incarnated in avian form - all of the rough, raw material of an entire country, compressed into one bright and shining diamond.
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Super quote, enki.
Just to note that the dunnocks are singing now, in my bit of London. I thought they started at the end of January; also great tits and the green woodpeckers are laughing away now.
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Super quote, enki.
Just to note that the dunnocks are singing now, in my bit of London. I thought they started at the end of January; also great tits and the green woodpeckers are laughing away now.
Yes, I have heard quite a few dunnocks and great tits hereabouts during the past couple of weeks.
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Incredible item on Countryfile about flowering plants in winter. We often count about 25 during January, but botanists are saying that they have found 500-600. What?
I guess that a lot of it is down to climate change, so that some plants are flowering early, and summer plants are hanging on. The trouble is, that it can mess up pollinators if their timing is out.
We noticed yesterday in London that there are a ton of flowers out right now, of course, many of them not wild.
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Our flowering cherry tree is flowering already.
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Nothing in flower here. Still feel very wintery.
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Well, I think rural areas tend to be without flowering plants in winter, whereas in cities you get a ton of them in gardens. However, I must check this, as I don't think botanists are talking about garden plants. Just off to the supermarket, and to count the flowers. I know in my street we have cherry out, and plenty of roses, and also sweet box, but not wild plants.
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Around here we have hazel and willow catkins showing well. First noticed them about a week into January.
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Counted about 20 flowering plants in neighbouring streets, (London). But they are not wild plants. Snowdrops are out, by the way. I must look into this '500 flowering plants' business, as they are obviously wild ones.
Tracked it down, it's called the New Year Plant Hunt, and takes place every year. This January they recorded 532 flowering plants - anyway, there is a map and you can click on different pins, and see individual lists. I'm still gob-smacked. You expect things like daisies and thistles, but there must be some surprises in that lot.
https://nyph.bsbi.org/results.php
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There are masses of frog's spawn about. I've never seen so much. It must have been quite an orgy and they couldn't even wait for spring.
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We did the RSPB's birdwatch thing, and it always surprises me. Lo and behold, there were wrens, song thrushes, dunnocks, singing away, plus both large woodpeckers sounding off, tons of goldfinches, and the local teal were looking definitely amorous. I suppose this happens every year in late January. Snowdrops well out now, plus crocus, and lots of catkins. Winter, pah!
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Just been drinking my morning coffee and watching a kestrel hunting out of the window. Not a bad start to the day.
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Likewise, the buzzards sometimes land in the trees at the bottom of the garden. Red kites are around too.
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I can't say I have ever seen a red kite.
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I was staggered when I first saw them here. I was out walking not so long ago and one took off from the ground in front of me. They breed in local woods.
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Walking by the river today, you could feel the sun warm on your face. And our solar panel started twitching, and registered about a 1° rise. Is this nature, not really. OK, many birds singing, I thought I heard a goldcrest, and definitely a Cetti's warbler.
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Well, I am being optimistic, if our solar panel is twitching, then spring is on the way!
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There are masses of frog's spawn about. I've never seen so much. It must have been quite an orgy and they couldn't even wait for spring.
Frog spawn frozen solid now. Will they never learn?
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Yes, expecting mass deaths of frogs at bottom of ponds, and fish also. Some will survive if the pond is deep enough. The last big freeze, I fished out 20 dead frogs.
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Local lakes frozen solid, a few coot gingerly tiptoeing around, and a few little pools have opened up. This is a good time to see bitterns, who look for open water in odd areas, such as ditches.
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On a country walk today I spotted a reasonable number of tadpoles despite the previous frozen spawn, also two adders partially entwined and basking in the sun.
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It is now 2:45 p.m. and I have just returned from a stroll round the block, stopping to listen to all the bird song along the way. Hardly any traffic, sunny, quiet and still. I don't think I have ever heard so many at once. I think there was a Nut Hatch - it is in a spot where I have heard one before, but I'll listen to it on its RSPB page to check. Sparrows, Dunnocks, Wrens, Goldcrests, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Blackbirds and Robins of course, BlueTits.
No Great tits but I am not sure what other song they sing at this time of year. No Chaffinches either, but I know where there is one. Didn't actually hear a Song Thrush, but there are quite a few around.
What else would I have heard do you think?
By the way, last night on BBC Radio 3 around 01:00 a.m. or after there was a programme about how musicians go to a wood where Nightingales are known to sing and they play what was called a duet with them! I winced rather! Who needs a violin and cello when there's a Nightingale singing|?!! :)
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There is this famous duet between the cello and a nightingale recorded in 1927, I think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOUb48W1_90
Like you, I much prefer hearing a nightingale by itself, even though they are sadly becoming much scarcer in the UK.in recent years.
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There is this famous duet between the cello and a nightingale recorded in 1927, I think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOUb48W1_90
Like you, I much prefer hearing a nightingale by itself, even though they are sadly becoming much scarcer in the UK.in recent years.
Have you actually heard one live?
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Have you actually heard one live?
Yes, many times.
The first one I heard and saw was in Clumber Park(Nottinghamshire), many years ago.
My wife and I regularly go to Lesvos, and we ask for the same apartment at the hotel where we stay. Every morning without fail(for the last few years, at least) a nightingale was holding territory just outside our ground floor balcony, and every morning woke us up with its singing. It also often sang in full view about 4 metres away, and there was nothing more pleasant than having a morning cup of coffee watching this particular nightingale singing away. I have some beautiful video of it in full song. We won't hear it this year because we are going to Austria instead.
However, tomorrow, with a few friends we are going birding in Norfolk/Suffolk for 3 days and I hope to hear one somewhere near Cley Next the Sea, if we are lucky.
I hope that one day you might hear one, Susan, I think that you would find it a breathtaking experience.
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Yes, many times.
The first one I heard and saw was in Clumber Park(Nottinghamshire), many years ago.
My wife and I regularly go to Lesvos, and we ask for the same apartment at the hotel where we stay. Every morning without fail(for the last few years, at least) a nightingale was holding territory just outside our ground floor balcony, and every morning woke us up with its singing. It also often sang in full view about 4 metres away, and there was nothing more pleasant than having a morning cup of coffee watching this particular nightingale singing away. I have some beautiful video of it in full song. We won't hear it this year because we are going to Austria instead.
However, tomorrow, with a few friends we are going birding in Norfolk/Suffolk for 3 days and I hope to hear one somewhere near Cley Next the Sea, if we are lucky.
I hope that one day you might hear one, Susan, I think that you would find it a breathtaking experience.
To hear a nightingale in such circumstances sounds absolutely wonderful.
The chances of my being able to hear one live are just about nil! Fortunately, the internet can provide as near a live song as makes no difference.
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To hear a nightingale in such circumstances sounds absolutely wonderful.
The chances of my being able to hear one live are just about nil! Fortunately, the internet can provide as near a live song as makes no difference.
No problem, Susan. Many people think that a song thrush has a wonderful quality to its song. Also worth remembering that the American warblers are beautiful to look at, but none can sing as well as ours, and they haven't an equivalent singer to our blackbirds, song thrushes or nightingales. ;D
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I used to hear them near Bath, hope they are still there. We got excited as house martins are nesting under the eaves, as they've been missing for several years, and we thought they were gone for good. They zip around in the back garden chirping. We also have frogs again, they also disappeared. Butterflies so far looking good, orange tips numerous, also brimstones, and a few speckled woods, here's hoping the sun keeps shining.
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Am currently trying to keep a baby field vole alive. :'(
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Found a wildlife hospital half an hour away. Baby vole was conveyed safely via ice cream tub. If he makes it we will release him back in our garden. Such lovely wildlife people looking after him, it’s great that there are such people in the world. A tiny little life but he matters.
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Found a wildlife hospital half an hour away. Baby vole was conveyed safely via ice cream tub. If he makes it we will release him back in our garden. Such lovely wildlife people looking after him, it’s great that there are such people in the world. A tiny little life but he matters.
Great. I hope he/she makes it. :)
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Great. I hope he/she makes it. :)
He didn't. :(
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Sorry to hear that Rhi.
For some reason I was reminded of an occasion in the 70s when I went to Filey, only to find that there were lots of auks(mainly guillemots) in some difficulty because of a recent oil spill or oil from a tanker which had been cleaning out its bilges. Several of us started collecting some of these very distressed birds and a RSPB unit which was on hand took them to a central washing area. Many died because they had ingested too much oil through attempting to preen their oil covered feathers, but some were not too bad and every one that we managed to save gave us a just a little sense of achievement. Thankfully, the number of oil spills has shrunk enormously in recent years.
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At least you were able to help, Enki.
We are a stupid species.
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Just looked out of my window in North-West Essex and saw a large bird of prey circling quite low. It had a deep V-shaped tail, which when I googled it suggests that it was a red kite. Don't know how accurate that is, but if it's right there are apparently only 1,600 breeding pairs in the UK so it was quite a sight.
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Just looked out of my window in North-West Essex and saw a large bird of prey circling quite low. It had a deep V-shaped tail, which when I googled it suggests that it was a red kite. Don't know how accurate that is, but if it's right there are apparently only 1,600 breeding pairs in the UK so it was quite a sight.
They are becoming more widespread throughout East Anglia. I regularly see them here - several times a week, usually soaring over the fields. One took off from the ground in front of me the other day. They are stunning birds.
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It probably was a red kite - the tail is quite distinctive. I don't know about breeding pairs, but they are fairly common in my neck of the woods. It's also known as the shite-hawk, although that name originally referred to the black kite.
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I do hope someone can assist:
Chaffinches.
Their song is strong, clear and decisive, particularly the ending, and immediately recognisable. They sing it, pause, then sing it again.
Which bird:
sings a song which has a clear ending, somewhat resembling the chafinche's, but the song is softer and swweter - could be compared to a dunnock's at the beginning - and which is repeated quite quickly quite a few times. I think it might be a Goldfinch but would be grateful for any advice on this. There are quite a few of these in a certain area and this again is where they differ from the chaffinches which tend to be more on their own, don't they.
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Goldfinch sounds likely, they are certainly numerous in London. Can you find a link with their song, I think YouTube has some.
Butterflies not bad right now, presumably the weather is helping. Have seen painted lady, comma (looking very orange), gatekeeper, ringlet, skipper, meadow brown, holly blue, forget others.
Also saw today a nice fat hornet, who was enjoying the cat poo. Haven't seen one for ages, reminded me that when we were kids, we were terrified of them, I suppose their sting packs a punch. Apparently, they use attack pheromones to recruit defenders of the nest.
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Yes, I've noticed an increase in insects, good to see more butterflies.
Last week on the Norfolk coast, plenty of gulls, cormorants, seals and the odd oystercatcher. Last night back home, watching a tawny owl flying back and forth over the garden.
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Lovely. Looking forward to Titchwell, although it can be quiet in July and August. The stars are usually the spoonbills , breeding nearby, also great white egret, increasing.
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Saw a little egret standing in a muddy pond at my local stately home not so long ago.
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We have plenty of hornets where I live. They come in through the open windows many times a day but after a nosey round always make their own way out again quite peacefully. Often they find some part of the house to nest in. This year a roving queen tried to take up residence in a bedroom - in a cavity inside one of the interior beams, via on old dowel hole. I waited for her to go in for the night, then plugged the hole and caught her the next morning as she came out, and relocated her. Last year there was a nest under the eaves just outside another bedroom window. The amount of urine they produce is staggering! Even so, I'm rather fond of them. They never seem threatening and I'm told their sting is no worse than a wasp's anyway. Mind you, a few years ago I did accidentally disturb a wasps nest in my son's bedroom and was well stung. They use attack pheromones and made a coordinated assault down the back of my T shirt. I collapsed not long after due to anaphylaxis and was raced to hospital which was rather exciting. At least I wasn't made to wait in line at A & E! The worst of it was the antihistamine drug they gave me combined with the amount of IV fluids piped in to raise my blood pressure - the drug caused urinary retention and by the time this side effect wore off my bladder was about to rupture.
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Saw a little egret standing in a muddy pond at my local stately home not so long ago.
As Frank Sinatra would say 'Egrets, I've seen a few, but then again, too few to mention'.
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We have plenty of hornets where I live. They come in through the open windows many times a day but after a nosey round always make their own way out again quite peacefully. Often they find some part of the house to nest in. This year a roving queen tried to take up residence in a bedroom - in a cavity inside one of the interior beams, via on old dowel hole. I waited for her to go in for the night, then plugged the hole and caught her the next morning as she came out, and relocated her. Last year there was a nest under the eaves just outside another bedroom window. The amount of urine they produce is staggering! Even so, I'm rather fond of them. They never seem threatening and I'm told their sting is no worse than a wasp's anyway. Mind you, a few years ago I did accidentally disturb a wasps nest in my son's bedroom and was well stung. They use attack pheromones and made a coordinated assault down the back of my T shirt. I collapsed not long after due to anaphylaxis and was raced to hospital which was rather exciting. At least I wasn't made to wait in line at A & E! The worst of it was the antihistamine drug they gave me combined with the amount of IV fluids piped in to raise my blood pressure - the drug caused urinary retention and by the time this side effect wore off my bladder was about to rupture.
Terrific story. We get wasps nests in the ground, quite peaceful critters really. I was about to launch into a survey of different species, then I thought, relax, work is over now.
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Lovely. Looking forward to Titchwell, although it can be quiet in July and August. The stars are usually the spoonbills , breeding nearby, also great white egret, increasing.
I visited Norfolk mid May with 4 other birders for a few days. We stayed in two pods near Kings Lynn. interesting experience! We visited Titchwell where we had the usual marsh harriers, a couple of spoonbills, avocets and about 15 Mediterranean gulls. We also visited Dersinhgham Bog(nightjar), Kelling Heath(dartford warbler), Weeting Heath(stone curlew), Frampton Marsh(good range of waders) and best of all, Lakenheath Reserve, where we had circa 20 hobbies(15 in the air together), 2 bitterns and 2 cuckoos(first in Britain for me for 2 years). I love the area, although this was my first visit there for about 10 years. One thing we all noticed was the very apparent scarcity of hirundines everywhere. Were they late(because of the beast from the east), or has there been real difficulties on their migration path? Time will tell.
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Got back recently from a holiday in the Austrian Tyrol. Fantastically picturesque place with ridiculously postcard like views. Did manage to persuade my wife to go to the top of the mountain above Innsbruck however, by cable car (ostensibly because of the stunning views, but really because I needed alpine chough and alpine accentor). Successful trip, as I have photographs of an alpine chough taking a chip from my wife's hand. ;D Interesting area we stayed in, especially seeing a family group of breeding fieldfare and a male and female red breasted flycatcher holding territory. Black redstarts were everywhere as well as several black breasted dippers on the rivers. Although obviously not a bird except in name, we did manage to see Hitler's Eagle's Nest(Kehlsteinhaus), but only in passing.
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Great stuff, enki. I used to make the pilgrimage to Lakenheath, remember seeing the cranes, and my wife was gobsmacked. Well, I was. Apparently about 100 Med gulls today at Titchwell, hold on guys, I'm nearly there.
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I tried the RSPB Goldfinch audio but my 'browser does not support' this, so I'll have to wait until someone can show me how to get it on Google chrome. Using this with latest SuperNova is very difficult at the moment.
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I tried the RSPB Goldfinch audio but my 'browser does not support' this, so I'll have to wait until someone can show me how to get it on Google chrome. Using this with latest SuperNova is very difficult at the moment.
Susan, Can you get youtube videos?
If you can, try this for the golfinch's song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TypeBqNdpI
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Susan, Can you get youtube videos?
If you can, try this for the golfinch's song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TypeBqNdpI
Thank you for the link - I clicked on it straight away but was unable to play it. The Tech chap is coming week after next, so I'll get him to sort it out.
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Today I have been to Wisley Gardens (near Woking) to meet some friends. As we were walking along the herbaceous border, there was just one bird singing - a Song thrush. It was in full song and carried on for as long as we were walking to the end. Would it be rearing another brood? Isn''t it unusual to hear such a song at this time of year?
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So this morning prior to going out for a reunion lunch with old friends I looked out to the garden and immediately spotted something unusual. At least unusual for a suburban garden in Nottingham.
Nature red in tooth and claw.
A Sparrowhawk was dismembering and consuming a pigeon. I got the glasses out and watched fascinated by the process. The sparrowhawk constantly checking for danger whilst consuming its prey.
Gruesome, but as i said fascinating.
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So this morning prior to going out for a reunion lunch with old friends I looked out to the garden and immediately spotted something unusual. At least unusual for a suburban garden in Nottingham.
Nature red in tooth and claw.
A Sparrowhawk was dismembering and consuming a pigeon. I got the glasses out and watched fascinated by the process. The sparrowhawk constantly checking for danger whilst consuming its prey.
Gruesome, but as i said fascinating.
Had this right outside my back door once. It is gruesome, as you say, but stunning. My garden was left strewn with bloody woodpigeon feathers. According to farmer friends this should put the pigeons off visiting the garden, but instead they just waded through the remains of their colleague.
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I've seen this with a parrot (being dismembered by sparrowhawk). An amazing sight. Parakeet actually, of which there are 1000s in London.
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They cause problems don't they, because they take the nesting sites of native birds. Or so I've heard.
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Watching the wood pigeons sailing into the elder trees to take the fruit, purple by now. The amazing thing is that when you get a group of 3 or 4, they twist and turn, hang upside down, and resemble a Japanese print. Who would think that pigeons could be so aesthetic?
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Watching the wood pigeons sailing into the elder trees to take the fruit, purple by now. The amazing thing is that when you get a group of 3 or 4, they twist and turn, hang upside down, and resemble a Japanese print. Who would think that pigeons could be so aesthetic?
They do this with ivy berries too. They transform from unwieldy things into acrobats.
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We had a sparrow hawk sitting on our back fence this morning. It sat there for quite a while before plunging into the undergrowth the otherside of the fence. I guess it saw something tasty like a rat.
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Sitting in my room, I hear a strange thudding sound. Looking up, I see moss flying past. I look outside; a small flock of starlings is picking the moss off the roof and throwing it, presumably looking for insects.
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Yes, they pick it out of the guttering and throw it on our conservatory roof. For some time I have been watching a spider catching flies in its web and losing its fight with small wasps. It all ended with a sparrow coming down on to the window sill and eating the spider.
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Our house is awash with spiders. I allowed a harvestman nest to stay in the living room (spider babies!) and the youngsters, now no longer young, are all over the house. And as autumn is definitely sliding in the giant house spiders are putting in a nightly appearance. I like them; my kids don't so I am often called upon to catch them and put them outside, which I do with a heavy heart knowing that they don't really want to be out there.
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Our house is awash with spiders. I allowed a harvestman nest to stay in the living room (spider babies!) and the youngsters, now no longer young, are all over the house. And as autumn is definitely sliding in the giant house spiders are putting in a nightly appearance. I like them; my kids don't so I am often called upon to catch them and put them outside, which I do with a heavy heart knowing that they don't really want to be out there.
Lucky you - I like them too and love seeing them around. Putting them outside is pretty much a death sentence I'm afraid - they're called house spiders for a reason.
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Lucky you - I like them too and love seeing them around. Putting them outside is pretty much a death sentence I'm afraid - they're called house spiders for a reason.
I know, but my eldest has a meltdown just knowing one is around. Absolute hysterics. She can tolerate the harvestmen though. When I see a house spider I encourage it to hide in the hope that she won't come across it.
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Incidentally, just saw a sparrowhawk.
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I know, but my eldest has a meltdown just knowing one is around. Absolute hysterics. She can tolerate the harvestmen though. When I see a house spider I encourage it to hide in the hope that she won't come across it.
The fascinating order of Opiliones
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opiliones
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My eldest does a great crane fly impression.
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Found quite a big wasps' nest in the garden, in the middle of a bush. I was lucky not to get stung, as I was pulling weeds off the bush, then we settled down to watch them coming and going. Like a big paper dome. We have dozens of apples on the ground, so they are enjoying that. Last year, we had one underground, different species.
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Our friendly neighbourhood hornet is still visiting our allotment, a very handsome beast, quite large, I guess he will be disappearing soon, either hibernation, or the eternal sunshine of the spotless nest. Apparently, they are increasing, surprised me.
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My eldest does a great crane fly impression.
I'd be interested to see that. Last Thursday morning I was an Orang Utan.
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A mild autumn is playing havoc with my understanding of plants. We have kale, peas, lettuce, rocket, chard, booming away, they are winter crops, sort of, but this is weird.
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Yes, Wiggs, know what you mean. Some plants are getting their second and third wind on flowering. I also think that the falling leaves are late this year and We even have some daffodils starting to push through. Also interesting is that, after the very mild southerly winds of a week ago, we had a white rumped swift from Africa putting in an appearance at Hornsea Mere.
No more birding for me for the moment though, it's getting a bit too painful all that walking. I am booked in for two new hips. I have a pre-op appointment on Nov 2nd.
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I wandered out into the garden for a cuppa yesterday and watched a buzzard a few feet above my head. I hear their cry daily and feel like I could be on a remote hillside somewhere. I guess given the miles of farmland that surrounds me I am in a way, for all I can be in London in less than a couple of hours.
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Good luck with the hips, enki.
Yes, we hear buzzards all the time in Norfolk.
Off to Titchwell next week, lots of rarities around, but a cold snap on the way.
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Just seen this. :'(
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/21/killer-myxomatosis-britain-brown-hare-death
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Terrible, if it happens. We are surrounded by them.
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Same here. Such beautiful, evocative creatures.
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I think I heard a goldfinch yesterday' is that likely?
It wasn't a robin because the song was repeated (small pauses between) and it was quieter than robins are at this time of year.
Or could it have been a goldcrest?
enki - good luck with the hip replacements.
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I arranged a few fat balls on the top of our approx. 4ft high monkey puzzle tree. I thought this would discourage the rats from attempting to eat them, I have just seen a crow fly off with one in its mouth. I hope to goodness it doesn't drop it on someone's head or on a car. :o
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Just saw some cranes in the local nature reserve, in a small pen. I don't know if they are in quarantine or not, but quite a few WWT reserves have some, and at Welney and Slimbridge you can see wild ones, the latter has released ones. I first saw them at Lakenheath, which amazingly, is in Suffolk, quite a long drive. But the ones in a pen may be demoiselles.
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On our trip to the supermarket at 7.30am today, my daughter and I were fascinated to see a flock of birds flying in a large V formation. I can't remember witnessing that before.
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That is beautiful LR. Starlings fly in formation, a wonder to behold.
I think I heard a goldfinch yesterday' is that likely?
It wasn't a robin because the song was repeated (small pauses between) and it was quieter than robins are at this time of year.
Or could it have been a goldcrest?
I had a goldfinch in my house once, got in through window and was frantic. I managed to catch it and put it back out. Forget what it sounded like (except the squawk becos was frightened).
Rhi, I freak at spiders! Used to at crane flies too but that fear has left me. Big spiders though - no, no, no. Try to catch them and put them out or get husband to do. I spray stuff around which deters them but usually only remember after one has visited.
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I like spiders. I have had several tarantulas, the last one died a year or two ago, but I decided not to replace it.
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I like spiders. They have just been building their autumn webs, and I like to watch them. Don't get so many indoors now, partly the daddy long leg spiders kill them, (cellar spiders), they soon take over. But they are entertaining as they vibrate a lot.
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There appear to have been more house spiders around than ever this year, I seem to have spent time each day removing cobwebs, as have others of my acquaintance.
The Cobweb
The sunlight reveals the cobweb
High up in the corner of the room,
Neglected by the indolent homemaker.
The fine woven threads are colourful,
Luminescent and gossamer textured.
As the octoped lurks menacingly nearby,
The sticky surface traps the unwary fly.
The light fades, plunging the spider’s art
Once more into gloom and obscurity.
RJG
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Just had 9 waxwings in Aldi Car Park Hessle. True to form, they often turn up in supermarket car parks to visit the berry shrubs. They then went over the road to visit the nearby Sainsbury's Car Park. Looks like it might be a decent waxwing year. :)
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Brilliant, we had some in Putney High St several years ago.
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Heard a blackbird doing its subsong in a bush, very low volume, as if it's chuntering to itself. Supposed to be practising, or maybe a hangover!
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46720029
I have just seen this, WOW!
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Very tiny snowdrops lifting flowers up by about 0.1 mm, but it's good enough for me.
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Very tiny snowdrops lifting flowers up by about 0.1 mm, but it's good enough for me.
Not so pretty as snowdrops, but Field Blewit mushrooms appeared in a local park just before Christmas. Very tasty! Also keep a sharp lookout for Trooping Funnels....
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Not so pretty as snowdrops, but Field Blewit mushrooms appeared in a local park just before Christmas. Very tasty! Also keep a sharp lookout for Trooping Funnels....
Mid-January have spotted some common inkcaps (coprinus atramentarius) in the same park. Very unusual to see them so late into the winter. Edible, but not for those who like a pint or a tipple, since they will make you violently sick if eaten within two days of alcohol consumption (antabuse has a similar chemical composition to their active ingredient).
The shaggy inkcap (coprinus comatus) has no such side-effects, however. Very nice in soups, but there aren't likely to be any of those again till next autumn.
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On my forest walk today, I counted about 40 frogs croaking away in 3 small tyre track puddles and plenty of frog spawn around them, Last year's frog spawn was destroyed mostly by frost and later by the puddles drying up through lack of rain. I expect that the same will happen this year. It's a frog's life!
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Mid-January have spotted some common inkcaps (coprinus atramentarius) in the same park. Very unusual to see them so late into the winter. Edible, but not for those who like a pint or a tipple, since they will make you violently sick if eaten within two days of alcohol consumption (antabuse has a similar chemical composition to their active ingredient).
The shaggy inkcap (coprinus comatus) has no such side-effects, however. Very nice in soups, but there aren't likely to be any of those again till next autumn.
I've eaten shaggy ink-cap: edible, but hardly worth it. I found it tasteless, and it collapsed and lost its structure when cooked. Maybe I was cooking it wrongly: I fried it, like I do with ordinary mushrooms.
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I've eaten shaggy ink-cap: edible, but hardly worth it. I found it tasteless, and it collapsed and lost its structure when cooked. Maybe I was cooking it wrongly: I fried it, like I do with ordinary mushrooms.
I find that shaggy ink-caps only work well in a soup: fried gently in butter and garlic first. The last time I made that, it was delicious. Macho man Bear Grills speaks highly of shaggy ink-caps; however, since he's known for squeezing elephant poo to get a refreshing drink, this may not be a very high recommendation.
Avoid the common ink-caps, though - you old home-made wine-bibber.
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;D
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Since we moved to our semi-rural Welsh village in 2012, I have noticed that there are magpies in abundance. At our previous homes in different parts of the UK one would see usually one or two at a time, but here I have counted up to ten. The, 'One for sorrow, two for joy', poem only goes up to number seven.
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Since we moved to our semi-rural Welsh village in 2012, I have noticed that there are magpies in abundance. At our previous homes in different parts of the UK one would see usually one or two at a time, but here I have counted up to ten. The, 'One for sorrow, two for joy', poem only goes up to number seven.
There were extensions of it, see link and bit about theme tune https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magpie_(TV_series). Oddly I was noting the other day, that I hear them a lot more on my commute journey. It seems to be at a lot of the stations in the remote part of the journey I hear them.
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Along one of the roads I walk along daily, I have not heard chaffinches for a few years, but during the last week or so I have heard at least two. I do so like the decisive quality of their song!
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Frost on the lawn this morning, but then the sun comes on strong, no need for a coat. Birds and flowers responding, also saw a couple of brimstone butterflies. First migrants have arrived, e.g., sand martins, and tons of bird song. Snow in March?
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On my morning walk several flocks of seagulls flew overhead in V formations, WOW!
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I saw a pied wagtail this morning wandering around the trollies outside Tesco this morning. On the way home a lone sheep was walking down the pavement of the busy main road. :o I am glad it had the sense to walk on the pavement!
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On my morning walks(only one crutch now) I saw my first butterfly of the year, a peacock, and noticed the dunnocks are really active now, wing flicking and chasing each other. :)
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On my forest walk today, I counted about 40 frogs croaking away in 3 small tyre track puddles and plenty of frog spawn around them, Last year's frog spawn was destroyed mostly by frost and later by the puddles drying up through lack of rain. I expect that the same will happen this year. It's a frog's life!
Surprisingly the puddles are black with tadpoles but a substantial rainfall and zero frost is required.
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Bees everywhere today, because of the warm weather. On our allotment, a lot of people leave their broccoli plants and other brassicas to flower, very pretty, but the bees love them. Tidy gardens - bad for wildlife. At the moment, our rosemary is covered in flowers, and bees.
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Bees everywhere today, because of the warm weather. On our allotment, a lot of people leave their broccoli plants and other brassicas to flower, very pretty, but the bees love them. Tidy gardens - bad for wildlife. At the moment, our rosemary is covered in flowers, and bees.
Our rosemary bushes, of which we have quite a number, are blooming and attracting the bees.
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We are being visited by foxes; have seen two adult foxes twice in the back garden, quite casual walking around like they owned the place. We also have been finding dead rats in the veg patch. Not sure if there is a connection. If the foxes are killing rats, why leave them untouched ? I'm now waiting for the red kites to spot them and swoop down for an easy lunch.
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I think there is a (possibly two) Song Thrushes nearby. At this time of year, do they often sing a phrase, then instead of repeating it - which it seems to do occasionally, sing another? I'm pretty sure it is not a blackbird because what it is singing nevwer includes a trill and is not long or varied enough. It is a strong sound.
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Has anyone heard a cuckoo this year? I don't think I have heard one since we moved here in 2012.
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this is now available if you're interested
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiAkeD1xe3hAhUh8uAKHSkCCDMQFjADegQIARAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Farticle%2Frspb-charity-single-let-nature-sing-features-birdsong-j7hzt0zms&usg=AOvVaw33TdQXaYGT_cQVbd2eU3W4
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this is now available if you're interested
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiAkeD1xe3hAhUh8uAKHSkCCDMQFjADegQIARAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Farticle%2Frspb-charity-single-let-nature-sing-features-birdsong-j7hzt0zms&usg=AOvVaw33TdQXaYGT_cQVbd2eU3W4
Yes, I heard that talked about on Radio 4 either yesterday or Wednesday. Sounds good.
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Pigeons seem to be so overweight these days, compared to how they used to be, have others noticed that too?
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I have been doing some gardening this morning, and realised that I have got a very bee-friendly garden. It's quite unintentional, but I'm happy about it. I've got apple trees and raspberry canes for their fruit, and bees love their blossom, and I've also got germander speedwell, which is a wild plant that arrived uninvited, but which I am pleased to have, as it is very pretty, and the bees love that as well. In the front garden, I've got great willowherb, another gatecrasher that I let stay, being also very pretty, and that will be flowering in a few weeks. Also roses, and Russian comfrey, which will be flowering any day now, although mine is a sterile version called 'Bocking 14', so I don't know if it's any good for bees. I've also got cow parsley, another uninvited guest. I've just googled, and apparently bees like that as well, so I won't pull it up until it stops flowering. I may plant rosemary as a low hedge at the front of the front garden this year - a useful herb, and bees love that as well. The bees were happily getting high on pollen earlier.
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and Russian comfrey, which will be flowering any day now, although mine is a sterile version called 'Bocking 14', so I don't know if it's any good for bees.
Wasn't that the variety developed in the early days of the Soil Association? It apparently has a higher nutrient content than other varieties, and may be better at drawing back up nutrients which have leached down deep into the soil. As I understand it, organic growing in those days was rather fixated on this particular variety of comfrey above everything else.
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Very good, Steve. I was admiring the bees on th'lotment yesterday. We have a comfrey in flower, don't know which species, but it's a member of the borage family. We have borage as well invading, plus Californian poppy, plus rosemary, plus tayberry, all bee friendly.
Found a bunch of rose chafers also (beetle), shiny and bright green, very handsome, probably a pest, but we leave alone.
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Wasn't [Bocking 14 Russian Comfrey] the variety developed in the early days of the Soil Association? It apparently has a higher nutrient content than other varieties, and may be better at drawing back up nutrients which have leached down deep into the soil. As I understand it, organic growing in those days was rather fixated on this particular variety of comfrey above everything else.
Henry Doubleday Research Association, founded by Lawrence Hills, and now called 'Garden Organic'. Hills had a thing about Comfrey, and bred it at HDRA's headquarters at Bocking. B14's big advantage to gardeners is its sterility: it won't spread beyond its allotted bounds. You may be right about the nutrient content; all comfrey has deep roots which draw up a lot of nutrients; maybe B14 is better than most. It is a great compost heap activator, and can also be used to make a liquid fertiliser.
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Very good, Steve. I was admiring the bees on th'lotment yesterday. We have a comfrey in flower, don't know which species, but it's a member of the borage family. We have borage as well invading, plus Californian poppy, plus rosemary, plus tayberry, all bee friendly.
Found a bunch of rose chafers also (beetle), shiny and bright green, very handsome, probably a pest, but we leave alone.
According to this, (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/beetles/rose-chafer) the rose chafer is a garden pest, but important ecologically. Handsome devil, I agree.
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https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=519
We appear to have green shield bugs in our garden. This morning I found grey seeds stuck to the branches of one of our trees. I looked it up and apparently green shield bugs are responsible. I have never heard of them before or come across their seeds.
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We get a lot of shield bugs, I quite like them, and we leave them be. In autumn, they turn a nice bronze colour.
Allotment now covered in Californian poppies, quite a show, and the bees seem to like them. Everything dry as a bone.
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Do you know what happens when you stand on a green shield bug?
You have a green shield stamp.
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We get a lot of shield bugs, I quite like them, and we leave them be. In autumn, they turn a nice bronze colour.
Allotment now covered in Californian poppies, quite a show, and the bees seem to like them. Everything dry as a bone.
I was up in the Yorkshire Dales the other day and saw two reservoirs that were almost completely empty , grass and foliage where water should be .It actually looked quite nice! :o
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Hose pipe bans depend on winter rain, and I can't remember how much we had. But we are trying to water twice a week now, so as not to lose stuff. Some things survive drought OK, e.g., lettuce.
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Hose pipe bans depend on winter rain, and I can't remember how much we had. But we are trying to water twice a week now, so as not to lose stuff. Some things survive drought OK, e.g., lettuce.
good luck with that
btw , I'm quite partial to moist lettuce leaves :o
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When you cut the tops off fresh strawberries give them to the birds they seem to find them tasty.
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There are rumours of a Painted Lady invasion this year, (butterfly), as apparently millions are being seen in Europe. This is the butterfly that migrates a long way, e.g., from Morocco, and some go back, or their progeny, which seems incredible. About 10 years ago, millions did arrive, and you could see them in town gardens. I have seen 3 this year, but it's early days.
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I am sure I have seen a few painted lady butterflies in our garden.
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Have you entered 'The Big Butterfly Count' .....https://www.bigbutterflycount.org/
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Have you entered 'The Big Butterfly Count' .....https://www.bigbutterflycount.org/
I've just been listening to an item on Jeremy Vine show about a proliferation of butterflies this year.
But don't panic, I managed to swat hundreds of em over the summer 😎
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https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/large-red-damselfly/
I saw this damselfly this afternoon, I can't remember ever seeing one before, I had to look it up on the Net, they are quite spectacular.
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Well, there were a lot of painted ladies, I think they came top of the butterfly count, half a million seen. Also seen a lot of commas, speckled wood and the gatekeeper. But I didn't see a single tortoiseshell, and this used to be the commonest. Not a bad year, in those areas with plenty of sun.
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Over the last week or two we have had large flocks of starlings flying around the roof tops in our area.
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We heard a vibrating bird call on the allotment, and I thought of fieldfares, which start clacking overhead soon, but then I saw long tailed tits diving into a bush, one of the cutest birds that we have. I think they have increased, starlings unfortunately are going down, now being red listed, having lost half their population.
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One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret yet to be told.
Normally one only sees one or two magpies, but on a couple of occasions I have seen many more flying around together by our house. I counted twelve the other day, the poem only goes up to seven. ;D
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One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret yet to be told.
Normally one only sees one or two magpies, but on a couple of occasions I have seen many more flying around together by our house. I counted twelve the other day, the poem only goes up to seven. ;D
Though the theme tune for Magpie the TV series did extend it to 10, and there are many versions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_for_Sorrow_%28nursery_rhyme%29
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Though the theme tune for Magpie the TV series did extend it to 10, and there are many versions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_for_Sorrow_%28nursery_rhyme%29
Thanks for that I had no idea there were other versions of the poem.
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On opening my motorhome door this morning I found dozens of what appear to be house flies in the gap between the door and frame.
Made my skin crawl , they were unable to fly and fell to the floor still alive . Temp was minus 6c
I'm guessing they were trying to find a warm place for the overnight !
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I put our brown bread crusts out for the birds, which they usually eat within a very short space of time, no doubt with a bit of help from any passing rat. However, since Christmas they have spurned the crusts, I wonder if people have been putting out left over festive food for them and they have been overfed?
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First clump of frog's spawn seen yesterday and wild primroses and violets in flower. They will regret it.
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Saw my first snowdrops on Boxing Day, plus some cherry trees out. Very mild, not good for some plants, which need a freeze.
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I walked to town this morning and on the way heard two bird songs which I'm not sure about, so I have two bird song questions, for which answers will be appreciated.
1. Which bird gives five or six tweets, pause repeat several times. The tweets are strong and firm, same pitch, same volume. Dave-at-the-gym was telling me recently that chiffchaffs' calls can be heard more easily during the winter months in large gardens, of which there are quite a few near here, so I wondered if it could be a Chiffchaff. Can't ask Dave, he's on holiday, bird watching somewhere!
2. Which of the tits does a 1&a2&a3Aa pause repeat two or three times. Three notes, first one stronger than following two which are a third down the scale from first. Definitely not a Great Tit; apart from anything else the song was much lighter than a great Tit's.
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I don't know if you are able to click on the appropriate arrows on this Woodland Trust site where it has recordings of some more common bird songs..... https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/identify-bird-song/
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.... or play this recording..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8-dOm7-WEI
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I don't know if you are able to click on the appropriate arrows on this Woodland Trust site where it has recordings of some more common bird songs..... https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/identify-bird-song/
Thank you, yes, I could click on the site, but it said, 'your browser does not support the audio element' or something.
And the other link says I have to fill in a form!
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I walked to town this morning and on the way heard two bird songs which I'm not sure about, so I have two bird song questions, for which answers will be appreciated.
1. Which bird gives five or six tweets, pause repeat several times. The tweets are strong and firm, same pitch, same volume. Dave-at-the-gym was telling me recently that chiffchaffs' calls can be heard more easily during the winter months in large gardens, of which there are quite a few near here, so I wondered if it could be a Chiffchaff. Can't ask Dave, he's on holiday, bird watching somewhere!
2. Which of the tits does a 1&a2&a3Aa pause repeat two or three times. Three notes, first one stronger than following two which are a third down the scale from first. Definitely not a Great Tit; apart from anything else the song was much lighter than a great Tit's.
1) Nuthatch possibly? Chiffchaffs tend to go on a bit longer than 6 notes before pausing.
2) You'd be surprised how versatile great tits are.
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2) You'd be surprised how versatile great tits are.
Some can get to be PM
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1) Nuthatch possibly? Chiffchaffs tend to go on a bit longer than 6 notes before pausing.
2) You'd be surprised how versatile great tits are.
Thank you for reply. Yes, I did wonder about Nuthatch, but I thought they were more inclined to do single notes then pause.
I know that Great Tits have a wide range of songs, but I didn't know they varied much in volume.
I'll keep listening!
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Thank you for reply. Yes, I did wonder about Nuthatch, but I thought they were more inclined to do single notes then pause.
Male nuthatches sing runs of about 6 loud rising notes and get going early so you are quite likely to have heard them about.
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When I was coming back from the supermarket this morning there were at least a thousand or more seagulls circling around in the sky, yet we are a good distance from the coast. The fact they had come so far inland is usually an indication of stormy weather, OH JOY!
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In the last few days I've been going on daily bike rides checking on the birds in my local area, something that I've probably neglected to do over the past few years.
Anyway I thought I'd share some of my moments with you. One visit was to my local cemetery. I found a protected sunny corner from the cold wind. After a short time I saw a song thrush, two long tailed tits, a couple of dunnocks chasing each other, a very busy buff-tailed bumble bee and both a peacock and tortoiseshell butterfly which decided to settle on some of the flowers left on/by the headstones. Even though the wind kept the clouds pushing across, from time to time the sun transformed the whole cemetery in a blaze of colour, predominately yellow and white from the everpresent daffodils and narcissae.
Another day involved a long climb towards a nearby village with a stop on a bench halfway. Glad as I was of the rest, it gave me time to look at the trees in the very extensive garden opposite me. I heard a green woodpecker yaffling and it soon gave views on one of the still bare trees. My journey was accompanied by the wistful song of robins, and the constant cooing of wood pigeons interspersed with the odd collared dove giving it some wellie.
Yesterday I cycled along towards the local golf course, and then walked by the side of it.Nice dry grass! Quite a few people were walking too, especially with dogs. The dogs had never had it so good, I thought. Everyone was sensible avoiding others by at least 2/3 metres.
A female sparrowhawk was spiralling upwards, and a buzzard floated across. In the bushes near a nearby ditch, a bullfinch sat out prominently,and in a bare group of trees next to the fairway, a great spotted woodpecker could be seen sticking out like a sore thumb. Suddenly I heard the unmistakable, very welcome but monotonous song of a chiffchaff close by, almost certainly on migraton. Nature carries on regardless. Spring is out of the blocks!!
Just thought I'd try to lift people's spirits. :)
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There seem to be a lot less birds around than usual, mostly pigeons and magpies. I haven't seen any squirrels for a few months, which is strange, as they were always there the second one put out bread for the birds.
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Yes, Spring has certainly sprung. There is a small wooded area a couple of miles from my home which I walked to. It is carpeted with primroses, celandines and wood violets, which in the sunlight, makes the whole area glow. There are a few bluebells in bud. I spotted 5 Brimstone and 2 Peacock butterflies. The early purple orchids are appearing in leaf and there are many wild onions in blossom and bees were flying in and out of a wild hive in a hollow oak tree.
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Although we have had quite a mild winter, I have noticed that the plants like daffodils, and the leaves on trees have been much slower to appear this year.
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One of the side effects of the lockdown quarantine thing going on is that I spend much more time staring out of the window than I should.
Across the road is a silver car, been parked there for over a week now and a couple of seagulls spend a lot of their time strutting about on top of said car. Aside from being noisy I do find seagulls quite entertaining.
Anyway it prompted me to thinking that maybe they are a couple. Looked seagulls up on the internet and found this out:
Mating behaviour
Seagulls usually mate for life, although sadly if the pair cannot produce healthy chicks they may divorce. Divorcees can be seen as less attractive to first time daters, often being left single and alone for a few nesting seasons.
Seagull science
Seagulls are one of the few birds in the world that can drink fresh and salt water. They have a special gland near their eye that removes the salt from their system.
Communication
Gulls are strong communicators, signalling one another with specific calls and even body movements.
Food for thought
Gulls are omnivores and will eat fish, eggs, insects or molluscs. They will consume pretty much anything including human refuse, and even other birds like pigeons.
See what you learn when you have too much time on your hands.
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Glasgow seagulls are huge, and carry razors.
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Glasgow seagulls are huge, and carry razors.
sea- you- gulls?
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Although we have had quite a mild winter, I have noticed that the plants like daffodils, and the leaves on trees have been much slower to appear this year.
Lr
its all to do with 'frames of reference' , you see ,if you..........
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Update on my local bike rides which I do every day and which included a couple of new places(which are still very local). The daffodils are past their best now, but tulips are starting to open. Birdwise, I've now seen and heard several chiffchaffs and blackcaps. However, the best was walking past a bramble covered ditch when the unmistakable sound of a cetti's warbler suddenly erupted. I managed to get fleeting views of this very elusive bird. This was once a rare bird in the UK and mainly seen in the south of England in very small numbers. I saw my first at a place called Stodmarsh in Kent years ago. Heard my first skylark of the year,(now becoming a scarce species), saw two glorious bullfinches, a dapper little goldcrest and had 8 buzzards together soaring on a thermal. Butterflies are on the increase now, including sightings of green veined white, brimstone, peacock and a delightful comma. Still waiting to see my first swallow of the year however...
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On my walk, the Early Purple Orchids are now out in blossom as are King Cups. Some Orange Tip butterflies are now making an appearance.
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Update on my local bike rides which I do every day and which included a couple of new places(which are still very local). The daffodils are past their best now, but tulips are starting to open. Birdwise, I've now seen and heard several chiffchaffs and blackcaps. However, the best was walking past a bramble covered ditch when the unmistakable sound of a cetti's warbler suddenly erupted. I managed to get fleeting views of this very elusive bird. This was once a rare bird in the UK and mainly seen in the south of England in very small numbers. I saw my first at a place called Stodmarsh in Kent years ago. Heard my first skylark of the year,(now becoming a scarce species), saw two glorious bullfinches, a dapper little goldcrest and had 8 buzzards together soaring on a thermal. Butterflies are on the increase now, including sightings of green veined white, brimstone, peacock and a delightful comma. Still waiting to see my first swallow of the year however...
I'm no twitcher enki but I did look into what was this unusual bird song I heard in my garden, after listening to various bird song samples on my PC the bird seems to be an Eurasian Great Tit, Eurasian? Would that be correct? Here in north Essex, (the not London by sea part of Essex).
ippy.
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Update on my local bike rides which I do every day and which included a couple of new places(which are still very local). The daffodils are past their best now, but tulips are starting to open. Birdwise, I've now seen and heard several chiffchaffs and blackcaps. However, the best was walking past a bramble covered ditch when the unmistakable sound of a cetti's warbler suddenly erupted. I managed to get fleeting views of this very elusive bird. This was once a rare bird in the UK and mainly seen in the south of England in very small numbers. I saw my first at a place called Stodmarsh in Kent years ago. Heard my first skylark of the year,(now becoming a scarce species), saw two glorious bullfinches, a dapper little goldcrest and had 8 buzzards together soaring on a thermal. Butterflies are on the increase now, including sightings of green veined white, brimstone, peacock and a delightful comma. Still waiting to see my first swallow of the year however...
On my very short walk outside my house, I have heard a couple of SongThrushes, a Chaffinch plus Robins etc, but there is one that I haven't worked out yet. I think it is in a fir tree at the back of the long garden that backs onto mine.
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Great posts, enki. Our local cemetery has both woodpeckers, chiff-chaff, blackcap and goldcrest.
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I'm no twitcher enki but I did look into what was this unusual bird song I heard in my garden, after listening to various bird song samples on my PC the bird seems to be an Eurasian Great Tit, Eurasian? Would that be correct? Here in north Essex, (the not London by sea part of Essex).
ippy.
Hi Ippy,
Don't worry about the 'Eurasian' part, that's just how the Americans decided to rename all sorts of bird species, usually using 'European', Eurasian' or 'American' as the extra descriptive part. It's still our common or garden great tit. Great tits can give a variety of sounds but the most common is a quite loud two note song(often described as 'teacher, teacher, teacher') which is repeated several times, then a pause before it repeats it again. This often goes on for quite long periods, especially at this time of year.
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Hi Ippy,
Don't worry about the 'Eurasian' part, that's just how the Americans decided to rename all sorts of bird species, usually using 'European', Eurasian' or 'American' as the extra descriptive part. It's still our common or garden great tit. Great tits can give a variety of sounds but the most common is a quite loud two note song(often described as 'teacher, teacher, teacher') which is repeated several times, then a pause before it repeats it again. This often goes on for quite long periods, especially at this time of year.
I'm only too pleased to ignore the American attempts at the colonisation of our language I will do so again with pleasure, always good to see tits in the garden, now having got that one, or should be two out of the way, we have Cuckoos out the back haven't seen them, a Heron nesting, Dunnocks at the bird feeder the fat balls seem to be at the top of the list, the US squirrel keeps on rattling everything usually after my dog has settled for the night and oh yes Monk Jack Deer calling and Pheasants with that hollow clucking sort of sound.
The G Tit his call is just as you describe and lovely to hear, I was borne an brought up in North London, Wood Green, and we have a bush near the house end of our garden which enables us to hear that familiar from our London days growing up and hearing the sound of the Sparrows squabbling with each other at roosting time, I love it.
Regards, ippy.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52384853
Cranes are making a comeback in the UK. A huge bird, resembling a crane, flew over our garden a few days ago.
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Here where I live in Central Florida and where our homes border preserved wetlands. There's a retention pond (man made) just beyond our property I call the "bachelor pond." For years, a single great egret, a great blue heron, tri-colored heron, and an anhinga often frequent the pond with nary a mate. There are also Florida Sandhill Cranes who are having chicks now and are subject to many a pictures being taken. And ducks. Right now, there is only a pair of wood ducks, probably incubating ducklings, but there are sometimes hooded mergansers, my absolute favorite among the duck varieties. There is also a healthy flock of White Ibis. Last year, one in particular had a string tied too tightly just above the foot joint, but I could never help her. So, I would feed the flock but in a way where she would get the lion's share. Now, a year later, the foot has dropped off, and she limps around very well, but she and the flock come flying my way whenever they are around and I'm out back, so I always try to have something on hand to share with them when they visit. There is also a family of three crows who squawk so loudly when they come for a visit. One will actually try to talk when I ask him how he's doing. I so enjoy him. There is also one fish crow. I can tell the difference by their call, but they generally look the same. Squirrels are in abundance too, but that has to do mainly with me feeding birds for years. One has a nick out of one ear, so I've named him "Chip." He's a darling and is the only one who seems to say hello. There is one raccoon who visits my patio. Only one now. There used to be too many, but I suspect my gun-happy neighbor shot them all after he complained that they had eaten everything he grew in his garden. This one survivor comes around to see if there is any cat food left which I give to the one stray cat whose family left him behind. There are several of we neighbors who feed him, and he seems very happy to belong to such a large family. I'll post a picture soon of my backyard. It's particularly pretty right now as Spring has greened everything up so nicely now that we've had some rain.
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Hi flower girl,
What a lovely post which brought back a lot of happy memories of birding in Florida. I saw my first ever hummingbird(ruby throated) at the Fruit and Spice Park, near Homestead, in 1989. Unfortunately, when my wife and I returned in '94, Homestead was no more, it had been devastated by Hurricane Andrew in'92. I saw some wonderful birds in Florida, including all your marvelous herons and egrets and plenty of the snake birds you mentioned. We traveled all the way down the Keys, and managed to see all sorts of things from Key deer at No Name Key to glorious scissor tailed flycatchers near Key West. Some of my most treasured moments were at some of the Hammocks in the Everglades and also especially at a place called Corkscrew Swamp where amongst so many birds, a beautiful male prothonotary warbler was superb. Here we also saw a river otter on the boardwalk and watched an alligator vibrating the water with its deep mating call. One of my most enduring memories was of 15 roseate spoonbills gracefully and gently descending onto the water at Sanibel Island. What a truly lovely part of the world you live in. :)
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Update on my bike rides around my local area. In the last few days we have had glorious sunshine and the blossom on the trees is superb. Sometimes it's like cycling through a snowstorm. The May blossom is just starting to appear now. All sorts of warblers have arrived and started singing their heads off, including sedge warblers, lesser whitethroats, whitethroats and one that I was told where to find it and only heard it when I switch on my hearing aid, a grasshopper warbler, reeling as if there were no tomorrow. Two of the most delightful experiences were in my local cemetery, One was at a small puddle which had collected underneath a tap used by relatives bringing flowers for the graves of loved ones. Suddenly a goldcrest flew down and started to bathe in the puddle. Such a diminutive bird!! The other was when I watched a pair of tree sparrows(which are quite scarce in my area) collectng nesting material and I realised they were using a nest box on one of the trees. Weather's changing now though.
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There was a huge clatter on our sunroom roof this morning followed by two magpies chasing a rook. The rook flew to a tree the other side of the garden fence and one of the magpies started to peck at it. Eventually the rook flew away.
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This morning, I put my hearing aids in before doing my walk outside the house and it was almost completely quiet. There are two, maybe three, SongThrushes in trees of large gardens behind the row I live in, plus Dunnocks of course, and BlueTits. But I shall have to re-establish my bird song recognition later and, I hope, next year because I haven't heard enough this year.
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Today has been a really nice day. Winter here is long, even though is was very mild this year, but today I noticed the trees had leaves on them, the sun was shining and all in all pleasant.
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Today has been a really nice day. Winter here is long, even though is was very mild this year, but today I noticed the trees had leaves on them, the sun was shining and all in all pleasant.
The trees seemed slower to produce leaves this year even though we had a mild winter.
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The trees seemed slower to produce leaves this year even though we had a mild winter.
Maybe. The trees certainly didn't seem to bud any earlier than usual. Anyway, Friday I have work and rhen three weeks holiday. The weather seems to taking a turn for the better and with things slowly reopenning, I'm going to spend as much time outside as I can.
On my way to work the other day I saw a hawk catching it's breakfast. A goshawk I think it was. All I heard was seagulls and crow making a right racket and then noticed a hawknwith a pigeon in its claws. Took a picture but don't know how to post it on here.
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Maybe. The trees certainly didn't seem to bud any earlier than usual. Anyway, Friday I have work and rhen three weeks holiday. The weather seems to taking a turn for the better and with things slowly reopenning, I'm going to spend as much time outside as I can.
On my way to work the other day I saw a hawk catching it's breakfast. A goshawk I think it was. All I heard was seagulls and crow making a right racket and then noticed a hawknwith a pigeon in its claws. Took a picture but don't know how to post it on here.
YUM! YUM! It is a pity you can't post the picture.
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On my way to work the other day I saw a hawk catching it's breakfast. A goshawk I think it was.
We have goshawks nesting in the wood behind our house. Beautiful birds. I've just been watching the male soaring above the trees looking for dinner. In a few weeks there should be young sitting up in the nest and visible from the ground.
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We have goshawks nesting in the wood behind our house. Beautiful birds. I've just been watching the male soaring above the trees looking for dinner. In a few weeks there should be young sitting up in the nest and visible from the ground.
I've always loved birds of prey. They are beautiful birds. You're lucky to have them so close. :)
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I've always loved birds of prey. They are beautiful birds. You're lucky to have them so close. :)
We see quite a number of sparrow hawks and kestrels.
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We see quite a number of sparrow hawks and kestrels.
Nice! :)
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Can't post pictures here, but recently I took a picture of the storks who had made their yearly migratory visit again to the pond just beyond my backyard. We've lived her over thirty years, and this pond is popular with various water-bird species. For years, there's always a single great blue heron, one white great egret, a tri-colored heron, one anhinga, and years ago, one green heron. I call it the bachelor's pond. But, there are also plenty of ducks, Florida Sandhill Cranes (who always bring their chicks to my backyard on the best of days.) Wish I could post pics for you. (I live on the eastern, outer edges of Orlando, FL. Far away from the tourist attractions.)
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We see quite a number of sparrow hawks and kestrels.
Would love to see how different the sparrows and hawks are there than they are here. I wonder if there's a way we can all access the same reference that has pictures of birds all around the world.
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Would love to see how different the sparrows and hawks are there than they are here. I wonder if there's a way we can all access the same reference that has pictures of birds all around the world.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/sparrowhawk/
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Of the three SongThrushes, one has become the dominant singer - or maybe the other two have been busy the last couple of days when I'm walking! Yesterday, I was beginning to wonder if it was in fact a blackbird because it's songs are so varied , but this morning I'm back to being convinced it's a Songthrush because it sang more repeats or near repeats often. It is a joy to hear.
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Would love to see how different the sparrows and hawks are there than they are here. I wonder if there's a way we can all access the same reference that has pictures of birds all around the world.
Hi flower girl,
You can. try this:
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home
try putting in American Kestrel, then kestrel and you can see the pictures of the American and Eurasian kestrel, and compare them.
American sparrows are actually a different family to our sparrows in the UK. They are closer to our buntings.
Incidentally your storks would be the wood storks, wouldn't they? Our storks(black stork and white stork) are quite different.
Cheers.
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The (braille) book I am reading about Bird Senses is very interesting, although not exactly a page turner! However, I have just read a bit about the fact that it was only in the 1940s that it was discovered that lateralisation of the brain was not unique to humans, but that birds had it too. It does not say whether they realised that amimmals must have sided brains - I'd find that hard to believe - but it doesn't say.
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Hi flower girl,
You can. try this:
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home
try putting in American Kestrel, then kestrel and you can see the pictures of the American and Eurasian kestrel, and compare them.
American sparrows are actually a different family to our sparrows in the UK. They are closer to our buntings.
Incidentally your storks would be the wood storks, wouldn't they? Our storks(black stork and white stork) are quite different.
Cheers.
Thank you!
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Bike ride/birding update.
The tree sparrows nesting in the nestbox have now fledged. Managed to get some photos of the fledglings being fed by parents. Butterflies now in abundance including red admirals, which are a European migrant. Red admirals like to take over an area and defend it, basking in the sun on the ground or in a prominent position. Also went to another area where the tattiest comma butterfly you could find was also defending its area, This one harried any butterfly coming into its chosen area. Perhaps its tatty condition were war wounds!
Cycled across the river(Humber) to a nature reserve called Far Ings where a rare bird was holding territory and singing. It is called a blyth's reed warbler. We waited a short time and it started singing. It was a superb mimic, copying sounds/songs of starling, quail, bee eater to name but three. In between it sounded like a ponderous reed warbler on steroids. It showed well and I managed to get excellent pics of it. Sad to say, although it has come all the way from countries such as India/Nepal(no doubt due to the easterly winds) it will never find a mate here and eventually it will give up.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/country-and-farming/rare-blyths-reed-warbler-bird-spotted-far-ings-nature-reserve-humber-estuary-2879584
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enki
Very interesting. Yesterday, when being able (with the help of a member of the Sensory Support Team)to walk along my route into town, it was an opportunity to listen to a few birds that do not sing in the Close where I live, including a couple of chaffinches. I was too busy concentrating on re-establishing my walking to listen properly though. I've really missed that these last three months.
That book I'm reading, 'Bird Sense' by Prof Tim Birkhead, continues to explain facts about bird senses - so far I've read about sight and hearing and am now in the middle of the third section on touch. The amount of information about the concentration of nerves and touch receptors in birds' beaks (or bills - he uses that more often) is astonishing. Also he has been referring to 'contour feathers' and ` others as well as 'filoplumage'. Some of the other birds he refers to from around the world are fascinating,, an 'auklet' I think, and the oilbird! The book is not a page- turner, but very interesting to read a little at a time.
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Incidentally your storks would be the wood storks, wouldn't they? Our storks(black stork and white stork) are quite different.
Sorry, I overlooked your question, enki. Yes, they are wood storks and make their migratory way to here each year in late Spring early Summer. One of the more haunting photos I never took of one was upon their return after the three hurricanes in 2004. I took it as dusk after a single wood stork alit on one of the broken trees in the berm. In black and white, it depicted well the general sadness we all felt at having lost so many trees (and great nesting sites for our local pileated woodpeckers. We hardly ever see them anymore.)
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Just made the interesting discovery that, as well as Munros (Scottish peaks over 3,000'), Britain contains many Marilyns, which are peaks at least 150m above the surrounding land (not sea level). Many Munros are not Marilyns, because their summit has even higher summits nearby. On the other hand, some quite modest hills, such as Haddington hill near me, the highest point in the Chilterns (which isn't saying much), are. (Marilyn Munro - geddit?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marilyns_in_the_British_Isles
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enki
Very interesting. Yesterday, when being able (with the help of a member of the Sensory Support Team)to walk along my route into town, it was an opportunity to listen to a few birds that do not sing in the Close where I live, including a couple of chaffinches. I was too busy concentrating on re-establishing my walking to listen properly though. I've really missed that these last three months.
That book I'm reading, 'Bird Sense' by Prof Tim Birkhead, continues to explain facts about bird senses - so far I've read about sight and hearing and am now in the middle of the third section on touch. The amount of information about the concentration of nerves and touch receptors in birds' beaks (or bills - he uses that more often) is astonishing. Also he has been referring to 'contour feathers' and ` others as well as 'filoplumage'. Some of the other birds he refers to from around the world are fascinating,, an 'auklet' I think, and the oilbird! The book is not a page- turner, but very interesting to read a little at a time.
Interesting stuff, Susan. Most birds only sing occasionally now, except blackbirds and chaffinches in particular. Chaffinches will sing throughout the day.
Auklets are fascinating. They belong to the family known as the auks, which includes our guillemot , razorbill and puffin. Indeed we even see a small one which appears regularly in Autumn, especially during storms, called the little auk, about the size of a starling.
Oilbirds are even more fascinating. I had a friend(unfortunately he died last year) who actually went on a special trip to see them come out from their roosting cave in Trinidad. They are roughly the equivalent of our nightjars except they are the only nocturnal fruit eating bird in the world.
On the subject of bird senses and especially 'bird brains'(a term often used quite wrongly to show how stupid birds are) there is a huge amount of research and some of the facts about bird brains that they have uncovered is quite astonishing. If you can get hold of a copy of 'The genius of Birds' by Jennifer Ackerman, it is very readable and well worth it.
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Interesting stuff, Susan.
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On the subject of bird senses and especially 'bird brains'(a term often used quite wrongly to show how stupid birds are) there is a huge amount of research and some of the facts about bird brains that they have uncovered is quite astonishing. If you can get hold of a copy of 'The genius of Birds' by Jennifer Ackerman, it is very readable and well worth it.
Quick check with NLB - no luck - not available in audio or braille!
Prof Tim Birkhead seens to be a top expert in Guillemots.
I have reached the end of 'Touch' and the chapter on 'Taste' has just started. I could now regale you with a tale of the sexual habits of the Buffalo Weaver bird in Namibia but would prefer to refrain from so doing!! Have you read up on it?!
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Quick check with NLB - no luck - not available in audio or braille!
Prof Tim Birkhead seens to be a top expert in Guillemots.
I have reached the end of 'Touch' and the chapter on 'Taste' has just started. I could now regale you with a tale of the sexual habits of the Buffalo Weaver bird in Namibia but would prefer to refrain from so doing!! Have you read up on it?!
It is available as an Audible book on Kindle
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It is available as an Audible book on Kindle
Cheers NS. :)
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Quick check with NLB - no luck - not available in audio or braille!
Prof Tim Birkhead seens to be a top expert in Guillemots.
I have reached the end of 'Touch' and the chapter on 'Taste' has just started. I could now regale you with a tale of the sexual habits of the Buffalo Weaver bird in Namibia but would prefer to refrain from so doing!! Have you read up on it?!
See NS's helpful info.
I knew the buffalo weavers were polyandrous, and have seen both species often in Africa, almost always close to villages, where they build their communal nests. I suspect you are talking about their phalloid organs(in both male and female). No, I didn't know about them at all until I have just read about them. What a marvellous adaptation. ;)
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It is available as an Audible book on Kindle
Thank you- I have not attempted to get anything on kindle as I do not know how or have the equipment, but I will investigate and see if one of my sons can help on that.
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See NS's helpful info.
I knew the buffalo weavers were polyandrous, and have seen both species often in Africa, almost always close to villages, where they build their communal nests. I suspect you are talking about their phalloid organs(in both male and female). No, I didn't know about them at all until I have just read about them. What a marvellous adaptation. ;)
Yes, it is a bit eye-popping, isn't it?! :D It seems that in fact it was Tim Birkhead and his PhD student who discovered the details.
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When walking up and down the road outside here during the last couple of weeks, I have noticed a different bird song and was going to do something about finding out more. ;However, my next-door-neighbour and friend said yesterday that she had seen two 'goldfinches on a telegraph pole so I checked the song on a video (the link to which I should have added to favourites straight away, because I can't find it today!) and yes, they are GoldFinches. While looking, I read that apparently GoldFinches have increased dramatically - by 80%!! - particularly from 2002 - 2012. Scientistts are now trying to work out why.
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Hi Susan,
Yes, they have indeed increased. In winter we now have a local flock about 30 strong. I suspect it's because they have taken to birdfeeders, especially with sunflower hearts and niger seeds. Unfortunately another bird which has invaded suburbia is the wood pigeon, which can't use the bird feeders but wait below for the dropped leftovers.
Incidentally I spent six hours at Bempton Cliffs waiting for a black browed albatross to reappear on Saturday. Although it was claimed, and I also saw the same distant bird, I am not counting it on the views that I had. We did see plenty of auks(razorbills, puffins and guillemots), one great skua, and two different owls(barn owl and long eared owl). Met a few people I hadn't seen for years, and everyone was careful to social distance. The albatross will be back(it's probably gone to Germany), it's just a case of being in the right place at the right time. Mind you that's what birding is often about.
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When I put any bread on the bird table magpies like to dip a piece in the bird bath before eating it.
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Section 5 of 'Bird Sense' is about bird emotions. Amongst the rather dry and dusty information, interesting but a bit plodding to read though it is, there are some most interesting parts, such as: Australian Magpies have breeding groups, and every now and again the group gather, in a circle around a post, or a bush or something apparently, and sing together. One researcher likened it to a group of madrigal singers who join in and harmonise.
Another researcher observing for a PhD, saw a female gannet leave the nest. This female did not return for six weeks and,contrary to expectations, the male bird incubated and fed the chick successfully. When the female returned, and again the researcher was observing, the pair performed greeting behaviour and ceremonies for at least half-an-hour.
Anyway,. one question I'd like to ask: In a seabird colony like this, and similarly for Guillemots, where the birds return to the same site and nests every year, what happens to the chicks who when adult need to have nests of their own? Do such a group of youngsters gather together on a nearby ledge or something, or do they have to wait for the oldies to die?!
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Hi Susan,
Guillemots nest very close together, so close in fact that they can easily touch their neighbours. The juveniles glide down to the sea when they are about 20 days old and continue to be fed by their parents. It takes several years for them to actual breed though so I would hazard a guess that when they find a mate(usually for life), they then are gradually absorbed into the breeding population on the cliffs.
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Hi Susan,
Guillemots nest very close together, so close in fact that they can easily touch their neighbours. The juveniles glide down to the sea when they are about 20 days old and continue to be fed by their parents. It takes several years for them to actual breed though so I would hazard a guess that when they find a mate(usually for life), they then are gradually absorbed into the breeding population on the cliffs.
Thank you. I'm surprised that Prof Tim Birkhead did not mention this, as he seems to be a Guillemot expert. And the birds have quite long lives , don't they. By the sound of it, the colony he has watched most of his life is on a ledge with very little space for new nests!
Anyway, I find I have come to the end of the sections and am now on the 'Postscript'.
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I have just seen what looked like a black butterfly of the roof of the porch. It flew away before I could photograph it. Any suggestions as to what it might have been?
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I have just seen what looked like a black butterfly of the roof of the porch. It flew away before I could photograph it. Any suggestions as to what it might have been?
The ringlet is chocolate brown, but can look very dark in certain lights. Have a look at some photos of them. Very common in August.
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The ringlet is chocolate brown, but can look very dark in certain lights. Have a look at some photos of them. Very common in August.
No that definitely wasn't it.
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I have just seen what looked like a black butterfly of the roof of the porch. It flew away before I could photograph it. Any suggestions as to what it might have been?
Were its wings up? The peacock has black underwings. This year's young are emerging now.
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Were its wings up? The peacock has black underwings. This year's young are emerging now.
Yes its wings were up.
We have many more butterflies this year than in the previous few years. The cabbage white variety are especially dominant in our garden.
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Yesterday and today I spotted a cat in our neighbourhood, which resembled a leopard. I looked it up, it is a breed called a 'Bengal cat', have other posters come across one?
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Big movement of seabirds recently especially along the Uk's east coast and also in Cornwall, mainly due to the recent storms which have helped to displace quite a few seabirds. I have done a couple of sea watches in recent days and amongst the large numbers of gannets and terns I had a balearic shearwater, 2 long tailed skuas, 1 pomarine skua and a roseate tern. Further north, near Redcar, yesterday, the black browed albatross put in an appearance once again. It's just a case of being in the right place at the right time. Never mind, they live for many years, so there's a very slim chance I'll see this one, hopefully. Maybe if I prayed a little...... ;)
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The ringlet is chocolate brown, but can look very dark in certain lights. Have a look at some photos of them. Very common in August.
I can't say where now but I'm sure I read somewhere that butterfly wings are colourless and the light goes through very fine openings in their wings then these openings are at the relevant sizes of the wavelength of various colours, a bit like in the old colour film transparencies of the chemical film days where the transparencies worked by a subtractive method?
Something I don't know about but thought I would pose the question?
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This year I've heard one particular pigeon singing in 5/4 time. I love their variations (like this one) of the only song they know.
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It's been an interesting Autumn on the East Coast, especially at Spurn, where I've seen plenty of Autumn specialities, including scarce birds from Asia, America and Southern Europe. There's been a large influx of geese and swans recently. Where I live we often see lots of skeins of pink feet going over making their rather wistful far carrying calls. One day I decided to cycle in the general direction they often seemed to travel and came across a series of stubble fields with circa 2000 pinkfeet on them. So that's where they were headed. They return to the River Humber to roost. Later they will all travel to Western Britain to spend the winter. North Cave Wetlands has large numbers of whooper swans roosting at the moment, up to 80, which is a goodly number for these parts.
Watching woodmice at the moment eating some bread that we put out for them...
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New year birding update:
Managed to get to north Cave very early Jan(before lockdown) at dawn. Saw circa 20 whooper swans, 4 Bewick's swans(3 adults, 2 immatures) and a murmuration of circa 100,000 starlings.
In my local area, visited a Park close by last week. Managed to see a singing mistle thrush, a tree creeper, 19 goosander and one of the very few waxwings in the country at the moment. Also, a cycle ride across Humber Bridge to a nature area called Far Ings produced an excellent bittern, which obligingly walked out of the nearby reeds and a kingfisher. A few snowdrops are out at the moment, plus early catkins and the daffodils are really starting to push up now. Looking forward to Tuesday when My wife and I get our vaccination jabs, and it also happens to be my 80th birthday. What an excellent present! Stay safe, everyone.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56031151
This hedge trimmer fish is facing global extinction!
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-56139243
An unusual cactus which blooms once, but only for 12 hours.
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Masses of confused frogs all croaking away in a local pond and a lot of frog spawn. I hope it contains some antifreeze.
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Spotted a great spotted woodpecker this morning.
I have to ask myself how have I got to this age without ever having seen one before!
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Spotted a great spotted woodpecker this morning.
I have to ask myself how have I got to this age without ever having seen one before!
WOW! It must be strange to get to the age of 100 without seeing one before. :P ;D We see them periodically in our garden.
We used to see a lot of grey squirrels, usually on the bird table, I haven't see one for at least a couple of years.
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I've been trying to find out if female SongThrushes and female Blackbirds sing, and if not, what sort of calls they make. I have tried a variety of questions without success, and would be grateful if anyone can answer my queries.
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I've been trying to find out if female SongThrushes and female Blackbirds sing, and if not, what sort of calls they make. I have tried a variety of questions without success, and would be grateful if anyone can answer my queries.
Hi Susan,
There is some evidence that some female songbirds occasionally sing, especially in tropical areas. However there is little evidence of the full full throated singing of male song birds, especially in North America and Europe.
There is an interesting article which focuses on American eastern bluebirds which suggests that the females sing a subdued song to increase pair bonding and communication(they often remain together over several years).
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/animal-minds/201908/why-do-female-birds-sing
However I do remain rather wary about this article because the author seems to suggest that because ornithology was largely male orientated, the idea of females singing was likely to be dismissed, a rather odd and debatable point as far as I am concerned.
However back to your question. There is no real evidence that female song thrushes sing although one must remember that it is hard to tell the difference between the sexes. Blackbirds(a related species) are much easier as the male is very distinctive. And again, as a general rule, there is no evidence that females sing.
In southern Europe there is a migratory songbird called the black headed bunting and you might find it interesting that in Spring the males always appear first(I once saw 20 birds in one tree, all males). They quickly establish territories and start singing from prominent postions. A week or so later, the females arrive.
Your other question was about the calls they make. Song thrushes have a subdued, rather soft tacking call whereas the blackbird has a loud tacking call, which can be very insistent if a predator(such as a cat) is close by.
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enki
Many thanks for your most interesting and informative reply. There is at least one SongThrush out the back here, so I shall make a point of trying to distinguish its calls. He has not fully tuned up his song yet - he needs to get a bit more variety and flourish into it I think!
Blackbird warning calls are quite distinctive, aren't they.
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enki
Now that the birds in the Close are in full voice, I know the SongThrush's call quite well.
There is one bird that I was hearing this morning that I'm not sure of. It is a smaller bird- its song is quietish. It sings five similar notes quite quickly, then a slight pause, then another slightly upturning decisive sort of finishing one. Very much like a sort of mini-Chaffinch!
Any ideas what it might be?
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enki
Now that the birds in the Close are in full voice, I know the SongThrush's call quite well.
There is one bird that I was hearing this morning that I'm not sure of. It is a smaller bird- its song is quietish. It sings five similar notes quite quickly, then a slight pause, then another slightly upturning decisive sort of finishing one. Very much like a sort of mini-Chaffinch!
Any ideas what it might be?
Hi Susan,
Sorry about the delay in replying. I've been thinking about your question and I think I might have the answer. A male greenfinch at this time of year sings a variety of similar songs, often with several twittery notes followed by a pause, and then a longish teez sound. If you can possibly listen to this Youtube video(below), about 20 seconds in, you can hear a greenfinch singing like this. I hope this is some help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC1GldZaoUs
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Hi Susan,
Sorry about the delay in replying. I've been thinking about your question and I think I might have the answer. A male greenfinch at this time of year sings a variety of similar songs, often with several twittery notes followed by a pause, and then a longish teez sound. If you can possibly listen to this Youtube video(below), about 20 seconds in, you can hear a greenfinch singing like this. I hope this is some help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC1GldZaoUs
Many thanks - yes, that is definitely the right sound! This particular Greenfinch did not follow with a wheeze though! -
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Had a majestic bird today, a most stunning black-browed albatross, seen at Bempton in company of about 400 other birders. It seems to be commuting across the North Sea between Germany, Holland and the UK. Sad to say, it will probably never get back to the Southern Atlantic from whence it came. It was worth getting up at 3.15 AM and standing in Northerly winds and drizzle. It has to be the bird of this century for me.
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Had a majestic bird today, a most stunning black-browed albatross, seen at Bempton in company of about 400 other birders. It seems to be commuting across the North Sea between Germany, Holland and the UK. Sad to say, it will probably never get back to the Southern Atlantic from whence it came. It was worth getting up at 3.15 AM and standing in Northerly winds and drizzle. It has to be the bird of this century for me.
That must have been so exciting. Has it been ringed already, or will someone do that while it stays north?
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That must have been so exciting. Has it been ringed already, or will someone do that while it stays north?
I'm fairly certain it hasn't. There's no evidence from the photos.. It is very difficult to ring ocean going birds unless they're at their nests.
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This BBC Radio 3 link to "Listen and learn: a beginner’s guide to identifying birdsong." might be of interest to SusanDoris
https://tinyurl.com/26dwexwv
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This BBC Radio 3 link to "Listen and learn: a beginner’s guide to identifying birdsong." might be of interest to SusanDoris
https://tinyurl.com/26dwexwv
Thank you. I've clicked on it and listened to the blackbird. I'm slightly surprised that the presenter did not mention that the black bird almost always ends with a trill or chuckle, but no matter!
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If those d****d gulls and ravens, not to mention pigeons, don't put a sock in it at four' o'clock every morning, drowning out that melodious cockeral, there will be a few less species to worry about........
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If those d****d gulls and ravens, not to mention pigeons, don't put a sock in it at four' o'clock every morning, drowning out that melodious cockeral, there will be a few less species to worry about........
I feel your pain. After a relatively quite year (compared to last year) the seagulls have suddenly swung into full on annoying mode here.
I, too, was not best pleased at 4 am this morning.
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A baby beaver has been born for the first time in 400 years on Exmoor.
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Rosa gallica 'versicolor' ('Rosa Mundi') in my front garden.
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Dog rose and yellw iris.
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https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzQYGX
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As it was such a nice day yesterday we took ourselves off to Selsey Bill for a walk and sit on the beach. We got up to Pagham RSPB sanctuary and plonked ourselves down with sandwiches and coffee and listened to the birds and the gentle sea. It was a lovely day. It got even better as a skylark decided to do its ascending thing. Breathtakingly beautiful.
One of those rare, precious moments.
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As it was such a nice day yesterday we took ourselves off to Selsey Bill for a walk and sit on the beach. We got up to Pagham RSPB sanctuary and plonked ourselves down with sandwiches and coffee and listened to the birds and the gentle sea. It was a lovely day. It got even better as a skylark decided to do its ascending thing. Breathtakingly beautiful.
One of those rare, precious moments.
Sounds great, might give it a try given suitable weather next week :)
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As it was such a nice day yesterday we took ourselves off to Selsey Bill for a walk and sit on the beach. We got up to Pagham RSPB sanctuary and plonked ourselves down with sandwiches and coffee and listened to the birds and the gentle sea. It was a lovely day. It got even better as a skylark decided to do its ascending thing. Breathtakingly beautiful.
One of those rare, precious moments.
How is Bill these days? Is he keeping well?
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Two photos of the magnificent spear thistle, Cirsium vulgare, in my back garden, 2.08 metres tall and still growing: spear thistles re only supposed to grow to 1.5 metres maximum! It has just opened its first flower. I will save seeds and see if I can start a strain of giant thistles. I risked life and limb for the second photo - I had to stand on a wobbly chair.
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Sowbread, Cyclamen hederifolium, self-seeded in my herb bed. Non-native, but widely naturalised, Flowers in the autumn (or late summer, as now), before the leaves appear. I will transfer it to the base of one of my apple trees in the late autumn.
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They seem to spread quite well. There are many growing along road verges. Here is a photo I took today in a local woodland where they are growing through the ground ivy.
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Where are all the crocuses? There seems to be a slight rearrangement of the usual winter sequence Snowdrops - Crocuses - Daffodils here in Bristol. Plenty of snowdrops for two weeks now, and soon after the first daffodils. The only sign I see of the crocuses is a few leaves coming through.
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Apple buds finally starting to break on my 'Brownlees' Russet' tree, raised in Hemel Hempstead (where I live) by a Mr Brownlees, and introduced in 1848. Apple blossom is a bit late this year, because of the crap weather in early Spring, which is no bad thing, as it means that the blossom is less likely to be zapped by a late frost. I'm expecting a heavy harvest this year, as my biennial-bearing trees (all of them except 'Brownlees' Russet') have an "on" year this year. Loadsa luvverly cider!
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They seem to spread quite well. There are many growing along road verges. Here is a photo I took today in a local woodland where they are growing through the ground ivy.
Beautiful!
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Seems this is a good year for red admiral butterflies, despite the rain. They are here in numbers. They are regular at the moment in my garden when the sun shines in between rain showers. Some butterflies, often migrants like the painted lady or the red admiral, have years when they are especially abundant.
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Seems this is a good year for red admiral butterflies, despite the rain. They are here in numbers. They are regular at the moment in my garden when the sun shines in between rain showers. Some butterflies, often migrants like the painted lady or the red admiral, have years when they are especially abundant.
Yep
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66395590
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I've seen a few red admirals on my Buddleja davidii, alias "butterfly bush", because it attracts them.
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The changing weather of the late summer and autumn has brought out an eruption of nice edible fungi around Bristol. Plenty of horse mushrooms (Agaricus arvensis), a number of Parasols (possibly Macrolepiota gracilenta, rather than the bigger procera), and a line of early Trooping Funnels (Clitocybe geotropa - renamed by some as Infundibulicybe geotropa).
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Yesterday was a lovely early-Spring day which started dull but became hazily sunny by mid-morning, with no breeze and almost warm. I did some gardening - mulched my roses with garden compost, and did some remedial pruning of my apple trees. It may not be quite Spring yet, even on the agricultural and common-sense definition which gives each season three calendar months, so that Spring starts on the first of March but it feels early-Spring-like, with narcissi 'Tete-a-tete' up in the front garden, a few of them open, green shoots on my roses, and fruit-buds fattening on the apple trees.