Today's Wildlife Encounter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by molehill

...They cull the excess when there are too many...

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Can you not see through the PR tosh they are spouting in the film?
Everything is about them, them, them.
They (keepers) never admit that what they do to wildlife is in any way wrong.
They (keepers) firmly believe that everything they do is conservation based.
They (keepers) cause the excess of Mountain Hares, and I'm sure they all enjoy a day or two out on the moor shooting the hell out of those animals.
It's a sad way of using the upland environments, messing about with nature like it's their right.

[QUOTE=molehill;629191]If you like mountain hares, and there's loads of them on grouse moors, can't see the problem. They cull the excess when there are too many, but there's no shortage is there.


Their numbers on Grouse moors may be due to the destruction of all the predators. I'm not totally against grouse shooting, it's to do with the continual shooting and nest destruction of protected raptors, and I recognise the moors are good for waders and runners.

By "one sided bollox" I take it you mean "the other side of the argument"?[/QUOTE

Yes, with obvious professional PR input - they have the resources to put up a well spun argument. If they just kept to shooting grouse I would be happy. You never hear them talk about the research on the diet of the raptors they have to keep under control - grouse are only a small part.

Andy, I'm quite tempted to have a trot over the hell that is Fleet Moss to see if I can spot a Hare. Had a good crossing in this years Fellsman - only went in waist deep and luckily was rescued by someone with walking poles, thought I was going to have to swim.
Other spots may be up around the top of Nidderdale - east side of Wernside?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MattPo

Andy, I'm quite tempted to have a trot over the hell that is Fleet Moss to see if I can spot a Hare. Had a good crossing in this years Fellsman - only went in waist deep and luckily was rescued by someone with walking poles, thought I was going to have to swim.
Other spots may be up around the top of Nidderdale - east side of Wernside?

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As far as I'm aware there are absolutely NO Mountain Hares outside of the Peak District and Scotland. You may see the odd Brown Hare (separate species) in those places you mention.

A pair of peregrines this morning, screeching around the top of the church steeple here in the centre of Delft, Holland.

I flushed a couple of Snipe on the moors above Crowden during Sunday's Peak Raid; in fact I very nearly trod on one of them. Oh, and a white hare of course.

Cyclamen Cranes

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/728/31...331e61d854.jpg
Cyclamen Cranes by Andy Holden, on Flickr

A small flock spotted in a plant pot on the kitchen windowsill

Thats a bit cormy; but the twirl in the as yet unfurled petals is lovely. Still quite a few in flower around in the local gardens.

Watched a buzzard fly right through the middle of a fog bow yesterday. That shit doesn't happen every day.

Three fantastic sighting of the kingfisher this morning as Sally and I walked around our local Nature Reserve on the banks of the Wharfe in Otley, perched and in flight. It went right under the footbridge when we were stood on it.Also Little Grebe on the river - hard to spot.