Nuthatches now regulars at my seed feeder. They're fussy about their food too.
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Nuthatches now regulars at my seed feeder. They're fussy about their food too.
Red kite again on today's run. They had become so commonplace, it wasn't worth mentioning them. But then I haven't seen them for a few weeks. Welcome back.
That's nice. But do they read the Forum?Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
There are so many pseudonyms on here, I can't rule it out. It would explain why I haven't seen them out flying for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
What a lovely thought. That Always Injured is out there somewhere in the great blue sky, fluttering his little wings...and squawking, squawking, squawking. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by noel
Haha I’m really split over Mike (AI). On one hand he was just so annoying with his longwinded ramblings on here, answering any counter point with an even longer rambling post within seconds (and so on and so forth until 99.99% of all forum posts became Alwaysinjured ramblings). On the other hand he and another fine chap Bill came to my rescue for my BGR in horrific weather in September 2013, turning up as last minute volunteers for the 2:30 am shift at Dunmail Raise and enjoying an absolutely torrid time over night with me on leg 3. Like most of us I guess, incredibly annoying and incredibly helpful in equal doses 😊Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I must admit i'm a fan of his BG Leg 1 variation via Skiddaw House... what a legacy to leave!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fellbeast
Whilst out on my bike today I saw 2 Red Kites having fun on the updraft above the limestone escarpment at the bottom of Long Dale near Hartington. Not seen them in that area before.
Out later with the dogs disturbed a Heron fishing in a Dew Pond about six feet away over a drystone wall. Beautiful.
First Goosanders of the Autumn on the River Wharfe in Otley and loads of Kingfisher action.
Update.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Nuthatches are wankers and are costing me money in wasted seed. I'm now technically a barley grower because of them wazzing it out all over the place. Mind you it's not half as bad as trying to rake leaves with your shoes clogged with cat crap, the stench...ugh.
Try feeding the the nuthatches hempseed and the watch your lawn turn into a hemp plantation next spring. Shame to get the lawnmower out:cool:
Finally a day of sun and beautiful Autumn colours. My wife and I went for a walk round our local Nature Reserve on the bank of the Wharfe in Otley. Great bird life Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Bullfinches and Moorhens. Saw an Egret on the river - first time I've seen one locally. On Monday it was in full flood, but had gone down to more normal levels today.
Apart from the odd crust and fruit that has gone over I am not a year round feeder of birds. I think from May to October there is enough natural food around which is better for them.
As soon as it drops colder in November, which it just has, I clean and fill my feeders. Today, within 1 hour of hanging my feeders up there was a blue tit and great tit on them, both of which I have not seen around our garden since the summer.
Isn't nature great!
At the end of today's run from Bowderdale to The Calf and back, I was sitting on the rear ledge of the car, with the hatch up, sipping my post run flask of coffee and glorying in the autumnal colours, when a dainty red squirrel came bobbing along the fence top and halted no more that 2 feet away from me. It stopped for a good 2 minutes, observing me. One of those Wurzel lyric moments '...Now I sees he, and he sees I'.
Arriving back home later, my daily SpainishDict email had the word-of-the-day as 'la ardilla" = Squirrel!
Now I'm not one for omens, but out of curiosity and a bit of spookiness I googled asrtology-web to find that ...
A squirrel symbolizes energy, playfulness, balance, preparation, socializing, prudence, and resourcefulness. As a sun-loving animal, it also embodies passion, vitality, trust and an active, fun-filled life.
Well, that's me to a T :D But I'll also be mindful of my n*ts, just in case!
We got a young hedgehog yesterday, spotted out in the chicken field and day before came walking up the drive.
A bad sign as they are usually too small to hibernate (not enough fat) so hungry and hunting during the daytime. We weighed it and it is underweight but otherwise looks in good condition with no injuries or fleas.
Now in the old quail hutch and probably stay there now for the winter and release it nice and plump in the spring. We have another hog living under a sheet of corrugated for the winter, built itself a lovely cosy nest and looks settled.
A monkey, not sure what species, in my garden, stealing my papayas, aubergines and even hot peppers!Attachment 8850
Tropical problems. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Latege
Surrounded by a flurry of long-tailed tits on a lane off the Orton Fells. Close and very cute.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
Anyone seen Hawfinches yet. Never seen one and they featured on Autumn watch. Kingfisher this morning on the Wharfe and a report of people watching Salmon jumping the wier in Otley.
No. Never seen one either. Not many Scots Pine forests around here!
Is it a Barbary Macaque?Quote:
Originally Posted by Latege
A rabbit in the garden today. I can't compete with a barbary macaque!Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
No, looking at that online, it doesn't look the same and I don't think it gets this far south (I'm in eastern DRC). But you got me wondering so I've looked around a little on the Internet and I think it's probably a l'Hoest's monkey; http://www.planetscott.com/speciesde...thecus-lhoestiQuote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I live in a large town, not near the forest, so I assume someone captured it and brought it in as a pet and it escaped or was relesed. He's a frequent visitor to my garden and, at least once, to my porch. The day he steals my running shoes, there'll be trouble!
L'Hoest's monkey - pah. They're ten a penny round here. I had a rabbit in my garden. ;)
I can't compete. Not seen any of those around here.:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Birds going crackers in my garden this morning.
At one point I was watching blue, great and coal tits on one of the feeders when a volery of long tailed tits joined them.
Fantastic.
Looking for something else in my Bird Book I was surprised to find that Long Tailed Tits are not related to the others. Oh, and neither is the reed dwelling Bearded Tit.
Every day a school day!
Went for a walk after work yesterday afternoon - within 100m of my front door I stood for 5 minutes watching a barn owl quartering the field I was walking by. Even when I pointed my head-torch straight at it, it just carried on hunting, coming within 3 or 4m of me. Beautiful!
So, last week while running to the Nine Standards above Kirkby Stephen, I took the long route back via Nateby. Just after the Standards I spooked a bird of prey. Yesterday, on the fells above my house, a similar encounter. They both flew very fast, just over the fell surface. Definitely a raptor. Small and very dark grey plumage, but way too fast for me to get a clear look at. They both really shifting, with no gliding at all, flying literally inches above the fell, ducking and diving with the mounds and general contours of the fell.
Definitely not a kestrel nor a sparrowhawk.
I'm thinking these birds were both Merlins. Is that likely?
Sound likely to me. Merlins are wonderful.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mossdog
Not, unfortunately an encounter of mine, but a friend showed me a photograph he took yesterday of a flock, of at least 150, Lapwing over Holestone Moor near Ashover.
A wonderful sight he said. I've certainly not seen that many Lapwing inland before at this time of year.
Oh, and I still haven't!
Bugger, there goes the beetroot crop.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
:). If I'm not winning races next year, that's why.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I hope this won't jeopardise my plans to become the Simon Bailey of Cat B? I aim to become the biggest legend nobody will ever hear of.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
I had a good day for spotting birds today. Walking round the local Nature reserve saw Tree Creepers, nut hatches and Goosander as well as many more common birds. The real stars though were a flock of Greenfinches on a feeder I fill. Never seen them in the reserve and not seen one for a long time.
Then out running this afternoon saw a Barn owl and as I crossed the River Wharfe to get home a Kingfisher flew under the bridge.
A very good day's haul. You should buy a lottery ticket. :)
Not a fan of the lottery, but got a lot of Priemium Bonds.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Neither am I. Apparently the tickets are not £1 any more.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
For the first time in at least 3 yrs, last week I had 2 Premium Bond winners. Both only £25 unfortunately!
On my regular early morning walk round our local Nature Reserve I was very please to see a Goldcrest very close. Tiny little bird, hopping round a bush looking for food.
This morning whilst out on my bike I was approaching Top o'th'Edge near Longnor when I heard a bird squawking in some hawthorns to my left. I then saw a Sparrowhawk diving into the trees 3 times before a Buzzard flew across the road about 20 feet in front of me at head height, closely followed by the Sparrowhawk who by now was above the Buzzard and started dive bombing it, causing a small flurry of feathers on each of the four times it made contact.
The Buzzard, who was struggling to gain height, eventually found an updraft from the edge and started to wheel away leaving its attacker behind only for 4 jackdaws, who appeared from a large tree, to start mocking it.
Not a Happy New Year for the Buzzard but a wonderful wildlife encounter for me!
Doing my squirrel trap round this morning I had 2 unexpected firsts. A red squirrel in one trap and then a pine marten in the next one. Photo as proof and then released unharmed, I wouldn't stick my fingers anywhere near that marten, big gnashers.