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Saw an Otter in the Ribble just above Arncliffe today (filmed too). Also returning home on the A682 before Slaidburn an Oystercatcher roadside on the fence! Now that did surprise me and I didn't think it would be an Oystercatcher but alas I find that they do move inland.
......around about the same time (6.20) there was a very large low (very low) flying aircraft heading west A65 direction. Any ideas what that was?
no idea - flew over me whilst waiting at Cononley level crossing - thought it was a train at first.... but then looked up - it was low!
Deer at the top end of Ridings wood, Ramsden Clough at 7:15am. Owl Hunting at Wiggin Clough. Hobbys (I think) hunting on Sliddens Moss & plenty of Hare.
Baby Grouse near ruined wall on descent from James Thorn - so watch out if you are coming down there tomorrow!
Wandering around the lower slopes of Penn-y-Ghent this morning we came across a Palm Nut Vulture.
Obviously not out on his own but being exercised by his owner
I've seen the owner before, exercising various huge birds of prey. Most exotic!Quote:
Originally Posted by Trog
Ribble/Arncliffe? The Skirfare runs through Arncliffe in the Yorkshire Dales. Is there another Arncliffe in the Ribble Valley?Quote:
Originally Posted by pauljonesforengland
If it is Arncliffe up the Dales then I'd be very interested to see the film footage. Any chance of you uploading the film to Youtube?
Merlin hunting close to the summit of High Seat during the Yomp.
Low cloud meant that it appeared and disappeared several times fast and low.
Apologies Wharfee, was near Langcliffe, not Arncliffe.Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZX4XEnU6eg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atmdjzdfpt4
Two dead chaffinch chicks in pond, fallen from nest earlier in week. Will move box before next years nesting season.(not had the problem before though).
A small bird I am guessing is a sparrow landing on my shoulder 3 times on thursday in my garden and sitting quite happily whilst I ranted to work colleaugues on the phone, same bird has flown into the kitchen twice (last time yesterday) and sat and watched partner cook on inside windowsill, it has a plumper partner who is not quite as friendly but gets very close .
What I believe to be a woodpecker but not a 100% sure eating out of the bird feeder today.
Won't talk about the rat that was eating from the crisp store I had in the garage for daughters packed lunch earlier this year - it doesn't visit anymore - RIP.
By the way what is the perceived wisdom is providing bird food during the summer.
Sorry PJFE..I fear it is not an Otter but a Mink!Quote:
Originally Posted by pauljonesforengland
Huge bird of prey on way back from tonights race along the strines road, 4+ foot wing span easily. Difficult to make out any features in the half light but it was only 20 foot away, fingered wing tips and some banding Probably a Buzzard or even a Kite(very rare in these parts). I spotted it flying low along the road, as we approached it flew in to the woods at the side, we slowed down and it was sat on the nearest tree. Good to see these birds at a distance but so close Wow
We'd seen lots of small rabbits by the road side scurrying about, A nice morsal for big raptor
I am quite happy to be put right on that. You 100% sure? How similar are they to the untrained eye?Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
I see that mink are known as being on the Ribble and from looking at another forum are detested by fishermen.
Lots of swifts about in the sky above the village. Sad thing is they'll be going home in 3-4weeks :(
Highlights of this morning's Barden Bridge / Strid Wood walk: pied flycatcher, treecreeper, greater spotted woodpecker, kingfisher and common sandpiper :cool:
2 absolutely beautiful red squirrels, our 3 year old daughter also claimed to spot 1 blue and also a yellow squirrel as well?? Not sure about the last 2 though!
Debbie
www.pyrenees-haven.com
We now view these in a slightly different light after watching our local one in our garden. It takes blue tit chicks from the nest box, and hammers holes into the side of the house martin nests (under the eaves) to eat the chicks and eggs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Mrs Noel now chases it away when it comes into the garden.
Didn't look 'right' for an Otter. I will study the footage a bit more.Quote:
Originally Posted by pauljonesforengland
There's a lengthy discussion on here:Quote:
Originally Posted by pauljonesforengland
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bbcautu...7622740153572/
I can't really apply any of the logic to your clip. Perhaps you can. Great footage BTW, whatever it was.
Having had a chat recently with some twitchers it appears I probably did see a Kite, A kite has been spotted in the area a few times over the last week.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Distinctive V-shaped tail is what to look for if you see one again Ian. Loads around Harewood and over towards the A1. Magnificent birds! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Now that's an Otter in the flickr photos. PJFE's vid is definitely a Mink.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Whilst cutting back ivy up ladders on a gable-end,the mumified body of a blue tit sprang out at me......bit like the head rolling out the hole in the boat in "Jaws".
Not sure if our tortoise Queenie laying 6 eggs counts? Annual event, but I now have the job of 'disposing' of them :(.
Swifts are in our nest boxes at both front and back of the house.
Something has nearly cleaned out one tub of tadpoles, I suspect early dawn raids from either the magpies or crows :mad:.
Bit scary when a mummified tit springs out at you!Quote:
Originally Posted by john doe
Unbelievably I didn't realise that tortoises laid eggs? I always thought they originated from pet shops!Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
A stoat or weasel (too fast to identify) crossing the road near Winscar reservoir, it was carrying a rodent (too fast to identify) in its mouth. The usual peak mountain hare. Too much litter on the PW over Black Hill, might go up with the sprog & a bin bag and pick some up.
Yesterday evening on the top edge of Malham Cove - a pair of peregrin falcons standing and preening side by side. I must of been 20 yards away before one then the other sort of leant into the wind and glided off the edge.... and circled me for a while, eyeing me up (it felt) as if I was worth dive bombing and having a peck at
We have a demented crow with gaffer tape wrap around one leg, hoping and squawking around the neighbourhood. It tries to sit on your head and it begs for food. All the other crows hate it!
Bad news! The crows just had a head on with a car outside our frontdoor and is no more! I heard the last squawk, feel a bit bad now but it was mental!
Potential suicide?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tubber
Fate is everything, hiccup!
First family of choughs to appear on hill above my house, bit earlier than usual, though there has been an odd one around for most of the year. They usually appear in fair numbers end of October, biggest flock I saw,2009, was 45.
http://www.malhamdale.com/rspb.htmQuote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
Yeah they have the nest area roped off. I was further up (on the right cliff face as you look at the cove from below).
Oh and in seperate news, last week in a small industrial estate in Southam (between Coventry and Banbury) I saw a gorgeous fox cub wandering around in the car park just as I'd pulled in for a meeting. It seemed completely unaware of me and was moseying around for a good 5 minutes :)
I'm currently on wi' filming a set of fox cubs up Settle tops. They've grown quite big and will soon be less dependant on the vixen. Much harder to locate and film once they've left the cubbing den.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
A Tawny Owl sat on a branch calling to 2 others last night while watching me take the dogs on their last walk of the night in a small wood.
Lovely big eyes and bobbing head.
Took the little rifle out to shoot a bunny for dinner (next nights dinner), badger came out the woods and ran towards me, in broad daylight still, so I sat down in the grass. She passed me about 5 yards away, paused, looked at me and carried on. Sad as she was carrying front offside leg in the air - probably result of car collision? Not in best of condition and probably heading for water in the next field. Another badger rummaging in the wood further up. I missed the bunny, now hungry :o.
Bald eagle, black vulture, burrowing owl, Harris hawks, red & black kites, peregrine falcon, kestrel, barn owl, tawny owl, turkey vulture...
Been down to Gauntlet Bird of Prey Centre (Knutsford) on a full day handling thingy bought for my Xmas. Fed & flew the above, and went out 'hunting' with the Harris hawks. Amazing.
:cool: