Today's Wildlife Encounter

Sounds amazing southernsoftie :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by southernsoftie

Picture the scene: (surprisingly) empty white sands, crystal clear turquoise sea ahead, slurping a smoothie in the shade of a tree, when...

Humming bird hovers overhead, and makes repeated visits back to the same spot. Turns out there was a tiny nest with a couple of chicks just above our heads. At first there were juust a pair of tiny beaks visible above the rim, but towards the end of the holiday, you could see their heads, and eyes too big for the body. Got a cracking pic of the mum in full hover mode, and a not so great shot of the chicks in the nest (bit blurry). Will get them on here if I remember when I get back home.

Also saw: huge pelican, lots of large buzzard type birds circling everywhere (I saw one carrying somethin large off in its talons), another owl outside our room (another pic, but all you can see is the flash reflected in its big round eyes) - research needed on these latter 2 to identify. Owl was between 4-6 inches tall: any ideas?

Huge iguanas on the beach, raccoons, large tail-less rodent like creature, octopus, rays, various colourful tropical fish, fluouurescent sea slugs, moths with nearly 1ft wingspan, large hermit crabs...and a grey squirrel:rolleyes:

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Now what exactly was in that smoothie SS http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t.../rolleyes2.gifhttp://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...bit/laugh2.gif

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Originally Posted by southernsoftie

Picture the scene: (surprisingly) empty white sands, crystal clear turquoise sea ahead, slurping a smoothie in the shade of a tree, when...

Humming bird hovers overhead, and makes repeated visits back to the same spot. Turns out there was a tiny nest with a couple of chicks just above our heads. At first there were juust a pair of tiny beaks visible above the rim, but towards the end of the holiday, you could see their heads, and eyes too big for the body. Got a cracking pic of the mum in full hover mode, and a not so great shot of the chicks in the nest (bit blurry). Will get them on here if I remember when I get back home.

Also saw: huge pelican, lots of large buzzard type birds circling everywhere (I saw one carrying somethin large off in its talons), another owl outside our room (another pic, but all you can see is the flash reflected in its big round eyes) - research needed on these latter 2 to identify. Owl was between 4-6 inches tall: any ideas?

Huge iguanas on the beach, raccoons, large tail-less rodent like creature, octopus, rays, various colourful tropical fish, fluouurescent sea slugs, moths with nearly 1ft wingspan, large hermit crabs...and a grey squirrel:rolleyes:

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It's amazing what one can see in Morecomb bay ?

Yesterday we had more Tits,(blue,great) and Robins on our feeder that I can ever remember.

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Originally Posted by Alf

Now what exactly was in that smoothie SS http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t.../rolleyes2.gifhttp://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...bit/laugh2.gif

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Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

It's amazing what one can see in Morecomb bay ?

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:D Very good! ;)

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Originally Posted by wheezing donkey

Andy,
Wot U doin' on my coast? And where?
Ian.

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Hest Bank - Morecambe Bay, Pilling, Knott End, Conder Green Ian. Stunning day wandering around just birdwatching :cool:

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

Hest Bank - Morecambe Bay, Pilling, Knott End, Conder Green Ian. Stunning day wandering around just birdwatching :cool:

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You must have passed through or very close to Lancaster - should have arranged to pop in for a brew

Frigate birds over Rio.
Lots of other stuff too, but no time to look at it all.
Damn work gets in the way of everything!

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Originally Posted by wheezing donkey

You must have passed through or very close to Lancaster - should have arranged to pop in for a brew

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Passed through going out and back. I'll let you know next time I'm out that way :cool:

About 6 or 7 of these in a tree this morning; did a double take as i thought they were jackdaws, but they were light grey, with a definite crest, had a good look through my book and best I can do is waxwing, colouring put me in doubt but does say here they can appear grey in dull light, so pretty sure that's what they were.

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Originally Posted by Grouse

About 6 or 7 of these in a tree this morning; did a double take as i thought they were jackdaws, but they were light grey, with a definite crest, had a good look through my book and best I can do is waxwing, colouring put me in doubt but does say here they can appear grey in dull light, so pretty sure that's what they were.

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Every few winters waxwings visit Britain in increased numbers and this winter appears to be one of those times. There have been a lot spotted in the West Riding recently

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/263460-w...n-the-uk-skies

Thanks DT - chuffed at that now!

Saw a really big fox tonight. Badger chased it but gave up after 20yards.

Programme on BBC4 at the mo about Eagles and other tweety birds for those that are interested

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Originally Posted by Grouse

Thanks DT - chuffed at that now!

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http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MWtpkQUtoM...an+Waxwing.jpg

http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/

More waxwings. Fabulous photos!

Yesterday I ran with a kingfisher for over a mile along the Shropshire Union canal just north of Whitchurch. Is this a record?

Probably is for a kingfisher. I've only ever seen them fly.

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Originally Posted by Grouse

Probably is for a kingfisher. I've only ever seen them fly.

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:D very good

A number of Mountain hares today in full winter pelt. A raptor which was a bit far away to ID but bigger than a Kestrel, smaller than a buzzard? there are Peregrins around here so may be...

I'm sure I saw a white crow today - is there such a thing?

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Originally Posted by Stolly

I'm sure I saw a white crow today - is there such a thing?

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Put a finger in one ear and wiggle it about a bit, you've obviously got "negative" switched on :D

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Originally Posted by Stolly

I'm sure I saw a white crow today - is there such a thing?

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Stolly maybe it was a white dove from above.

I thought i saw a black mamba on the patio until I realized it was the discarded inner tube that I lobbed out yesterday

And I saw a crane in Hyde the other night.

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Originally Posted by Grouse

And I saw a crane in Hyde the other night.

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Was it
A, a luffer
B, a saddle jib,
Or c, a self erector
Eh

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Originally Posted by Grouse

And I saw a crane in Hyde the other night.

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Originally Posted by daz h

Was it
A, a luffer
B, a saddle jib,
Or c, a self erector
Eh

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Probably dropped by some school kids?

I used to love colouring....!:w00t::w00t:

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Originally Posted by daz h

Was it
A, a luffer
B, a saddle jib,
Or c, a self erector
Eh

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What about an iron fairy? :)

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Originally Posted by Yorkshire Rob

What about an iron fairy? :)

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Now that's taking me back
Coles cranes of Sunderland made them

I've driven both, the full skewing type and the more robust one that just had two hydraulic rams for tilting.
No power steering mind ya.
You still see odd ones about.
Tower cranes was more my thing

I trained as a mechanical engineer and we used to use them all the time in the factory to move machinery about (I say used them, the company used them not me personally).

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Originally Posted by Yorkshire Rob

I trained as a mechanical engineer and we used to use them all the time in the factory to move machinery about (I say used them, the company used them not me personally).

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Sadly that's all there used for now.
Brilliant for shifting machines around. Oh with a few skates of course

Two Roe deer at Cranberry Moss ,Darwen,lancs
seen on route
http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/cranbe...darwen-303478/

my sons blog -above route still to be published on his blog
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/

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Originally Posted by Stolly

I'm sure I saw a white crow today - is there such a thing?

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Yes - occasionally an albino can turn up in any bird species. They're uncommon, but they're around.

Yeah it absolutely looked like a crow and was roosting on a fence post beside several other (normal) crows too. I have since googled albino crows and yep they do exist. I'll look out for it again - I saw it on the wiggly bit of Black Gill Lane on the top road out of Settle thats goes to Airton.

I'm hoping its an omen of good things to come :)

Saw a pair of Jays (one of the prettiest birds you'll see imho) and also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker yesterday in Clayton Woods, Leeds.

Also saw a Kingfisher and a Grey Heron today on the River Aire

Bunch of wild students outside the office :thunbdown:

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Originally Posted by Yorkshire Rob

Saw a pair of Jays (one of the prettiest birds you'll see imho) and also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker yesterday in Clayton Woods, Leeds.

Also saw a Kingfisher and a Grey Heron today on the River Aire

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Wow, that was a good spot. The lesser spotted is rare in the UK, found mostly in the south. The RSPB states that in northern England, the lesser spotted is extremely local in Yorkshire. I would love to see one. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Stef F

Wow, that was a good spot. The lesser spotted is rare in the UK, found mostly in the south. The RSPB states that in northern England, the lesser spotted is extremely local in Yorkshire. I would love to see one. :cool:

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Not quite as rare as a red fell ponies vest. I saw one of those last Sunday. Cool

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Originally Posted by daz h

Not quite as rare as a red fell ponies vest. I saw one of those last Sunday. Cool

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Indeed that is a rare sight :D although it was moving quite slowly so should've been easy to spot!!

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Originally Posted by Yorkshire Rob

Saw a pair of Jays (one of the prettiest birds you'll see imho) and also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker yesterday in Clayton Woods, Leeds.

Also saw a Kingfisher and a Grey Heron today on the River Aire

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Have a pair of Jays that visit our garden, very nice looking birds.
And i have a rare Red Fell Ponies vets:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Stef F

Wow, that was a good spot. The lesser spotted is rare in the UK, found mostly in the south. The RSPB states that in northern England, the lesser spotted is extremely local in Yorkshire. I would love to see one. :cool:

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I had a very clear view of it as well, from about 10ft away. I heard a tapping whilst I was standing still watching the Jays, looked straight in front and there it was feeding on the little branches of the nearest tree. I was stood on higher ground so it was more or less on a level with me. 2nd time I've seen one but never this close. Made my day actually :)

A day late, yesterdays wildlife encounter...beautiful Roe and Seker deer in my local deer park, they've just finished rutting so they are a bit calmer but still supremely majestic.
However, a few of them went past me slumped on the back of the gamekeepers pick up on their way to the farm buildings..I've never known what these farm buildings were for up to now....it's the deer park slaughterhouse. They were shooting some of them yesterday and gutting and hanging them, I suppose in time for Christmas. That's the last time I pop my head round a farm door to see what's going on....Urgh! The blood gushing out of the door was the giveaway!