Today's Wildlife Encounter

Out early this morning, Always good for the bird count, nothing too unusual but coming off Howden edge a pair of Curlews were going crazy, so much noise, lots of low level flapping when over the clough gliding effortlessly comes a short eared owl, 4ft off the floor and passes in front of me no more than 6ft away, he turned and looked at me nonchalantly, dipped his wings, and glided behind me for a second look before resuming his search for the Curlews nest. Fantastic! :) the owl has a nest nearby but it's not often you get to see him so it so close.

I saw a (presumably) young cuckoo flying around with a group of meadow pipits. I know cuckoos often use meadow pipits as 'foster' parents, but I didn't expect to see one included in the group. I thought maybe the parent pipits would feed it, and then it would bugger off when old enough...you live and learn, eh?

White-tailed Eagles and dolphins for me this week - in mountain heaven on the Lofoten Islands.:D:D:D

A fox (live one) this morning walking into work. (Me, not the fox).

Well as far as I know, I don't know where it was going.

Has anyone else noticed that there's lots of goldfinches about this year, or am I just noticing them more? Charming little beggars...

A brood of robins in my open-fronted nest box and have Swifts! at last in the swift box. Will try and get some pics but they are so damn fast. Nobody ever seems to mention Dunnocks, a nice little bird with a very happy song

Annd their Caramel Wafer Biscuits are yummy.

:w00t::w00t::w00t:

5 pairs of pheasants, a red kite, a hare, 3 squirrels, and around 4580 rabbits this morning. I only went for a 4 mile run round Eccup, it was like a bloody zoo :)

Oh and I also saw 2 pigeons, one that woke me up at 5am by flying into my bedroom window full tilt, and the other flew into my car on the way to Eccup. They must be after me or something, it's like "The Birds" all over again.....