nature notes II

[wigginhall]

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

[Gonnagle]

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.

Gonnagle.

[torridon]

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.

[wigginhall]

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.

[Keturah]

I've just been watching a magnificent male bullfinch, hovering under my rose bower, presumably picking off the greenfly. 

[I am simple]

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. 

[wigginhall]

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.

[wigginhall]

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

[Diarthrognathus Josteyn Ward]

I assume everyone knows that channel 301 is showing live webcams from Springwatch all day?

[wigginhall]

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.

[SweetPea]

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!

 

[wigginhall]

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.

[Rhiannon]

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.

[wigginhall]

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.

[torridon]

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.

[I am simple]

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.

[SweetPea]

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 ...

[Gonnagle]

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.

[SweetPea]

Gonns, I just meant the part when she came home and 'Jack' had gone ..... 

[Gonnagle]

Dear Sweetpea,

I know!, just pulling your leg.

Gonnagle.

[Rhiannon]

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.

[Keturah]

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.

[wigginhall]

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

[SweetPea]

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.  

[OH MY WORLD!]

I've counted three eggs in the osprey nest.

http://www.enmax.com/Energy/Res/Greenmax/Osprey+Camera/OspreyLiveCamera.htm