Today's Wildlife Encounter

[luverlyjuberly]

St Bees, nice :-)

I wish i could afford to live there.

[Derby Tup]

Spotted flycatcher

[luverlyjuberly]

Spotted this caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-moth earlier today on a local footpath. Luckily it was moving swiftly and disappeared into the undergrowth before someone could accidentally squash it.

It measured 2.5 inches (just over 6cm) in length.IMG_3898a.jpgIMG_3901a.jpg

CLICK on the pics to enlarge

[William Clough]

I know they are 10 a penny but I never tire of seeing the elegant Wheatear.

[luverlyjuberly]

Yes they are a lovely little bird.

[Derby Tup]

I know they are 10 a penny but I never tire of seeing the elegant Wheatear.

Splendid blog WC. Albert Camus and John Cooper Clarke? Ace!

[GeoffB]

Splendid blog WC. Albert Camus and John Cooper Clarke? Ace!

Saw a pair of Wheatear on Back Tor (Mam Tor) yesterday - no doubt they'll be heading off south pretty soon.

Saw John Cooper Clarke back in about 1978/79 at Manchester Apollo, supporting Be-Bop Deluxe. Nobody had ever heard of him - he was amazing! He was pretty good a couple of weeks ago chatting to Craig Charles on the radio as well.

[Derby Tup]

I've seen JCC quite a few times in Derby and Nottingham plus recently (well a couple of years ago) at the Ilkley Literary Festival. I'm also a fan of Craig Charles. He's passionate about his music which is great. I'm way out of the loop but did I see him on TV flirting with a lass off Corrie last night?!

[Derby Tup]

Back on topic: I took our Tussock out for a tiddle this morning around 4am. It was a magical night with near full moon breaking through the clouds and a pair of tawny owl just up the road calling back and forth

[wheezing donkey]

Saturday afternoon in the Brennand Valley, about 1/4 mile upstream from the farm, a male hen harrier; unmistakeable - a long slim body with owl-like head and long, slender, swept-back wings plus a rather "wibbly-wobbly" flight pattern, not unlike a lap-wing's; at a range of only 100 yards or so.