Author Topic: nature notes II (Read 159301 times)

Rhiannon · « **Reply #525 on:** January 21, 2015, 10:34:45 AM »

No snowdrops here yet. A white periwinkle is out though. The evenings are getting lighter.

Enki · « **Reply #526 on:** January 21, 2015, 08:17:14 PM »

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.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #527 on:** January 21, 2015, 10:25:03 PM »

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.

SusanDoris · « **Reply #528 on:** January 27, 2015, 11:50:58 AM »

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?

RobM · « **Reply #529 on:** January 27, 2015, 12:11:29 PM »

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.

SusanDoris · « **Reply #530 on:** January 27, 2015, 01:42:25 PM »

Thank you. I have just been talking to my neighbour and she has heard that they are becoming more common.

RobM · « **Reply #531 on:** January 27, 2015, 02:06:43 PM »

Quote from: SusanDoris on January 27, 2015, 01:42:25 PM

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.

OH MY WORLD! · « **Reply #532 on:** February 04, 2015, 03:52:30 PM »

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

wigginhall · « **Reply #533 on:** February 05, 2015, 12:09:25 PM »

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.

Enki · « **Reply #534 on:** February 05, 2015, 01:27:08 PM »

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.

floo · « **Reply #535 on:** February 13, 2015, 11:11:30 AM »

Sitting on our garden fence this morning were two very amorous pigeons snogging each other! Spring must be trying to sprung.

Enki · « **Reply #536 on:** February 13, 2015, 11:52:40 AM »

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

RobM · « **Reply #537 on:** February 13, 2015, 12:01:48 PM »

Quote from: enki on February 13, 2015, 11:52:40 AM

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.

floo · « **Reply #538 on:** February 13, 2015, 12:26:22 PM »

Quote from: enki on February 13, 2015, 11:52:40 AM

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!

SusanDoris · « **Reply #539 on:** February 13, 2015, 06:48:54 PM »

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.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #540 on:** February 13, 2015, 07:43:29 PM »

Quote from: enki on February 13, 2015, 11:52:40 AM

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.

wigginhall · « **Reply #541 on:** February 16, 2015, 02:56:25 PM »

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!

Walt Zingmatilder · « **Reply #542 on:** February 16, 2015, 04:03:25 PM »

Quote from: johnny canoe on February 04, 2015, 03:52:30 PM

The frozen bubbles of Lake Minnewanka and the lake on my last visit.

Minnewanka?

Aruntraveller · « **Reply #543 on:** February 19, 2015, 12:54:36 PM »

Quote from: Beau Know. on February 16, 2015, 04:03:25 PM

Quote from: johnny canoe on February 04, 2015, 03:52:30 PM
The frozen bubbles of Lake Minnewanka and the lake on my last visit.

Minnewanka?

Tis but a small pleasure.......

Enki · « **Reply #544 on:** February 25, 2015, 03:07:42 PM »

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

ekim · « **Reply #545 on:** February 25, 2015, 04:40:07 PM »

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.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #546 on:** February 26, 2015, 05:59:10 PM »

Skylarks singing on the wing opposite our house today.

wigginhall · « **Reply #547 on:** February 27, 2015, 12:14:15 PM »

Got the full set now in local gardens - snowdrops, crocuses, daffs. Sprungle is springling.

wigginhall · « **Reply #548 on:** March 02, 2015, 04:01:54 PM »

First bumble bee and butterfly today, and freezing cold it is, too. The magnolia buds are huge!

Enki · « **Reply #549 on:** March 03, 2015, 11:29:11 AM »

These rather fantastic photographs were taken yesterday. Well worth looking at.

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4886

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Author Topic: nature notes II (Read 159301 times)

Rhiannon

Rhiannon

floo

floo

Rhiannon

Rhiannon