Thought I saw an otter on the way home tonight! :)
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Thought I saw an otter on the way home tonight! :)
Is this a Lady Amherst pheasant? RSPB says they are only found in Bedfordshire but this was in Green Clough Wood (Holme Chapel). If not what is it?
(Sorry about the poor quality of the photo, the batteries in my camera were dying so I didn't have time to wait for better focus.)
Thats a nice spot Latege!! I once thought I saw a Golden Pheasant just north of Carlisle but it was very brief! Great photo too btw!
Looks like one to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Latege
Rocky Robin
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8...edea9976_c.jpg
Spyin' my Lens by Andy Holden, on Flickr
Upside down Grey squirrel helping itself to my bird feeder this morning (my front window needs a clean :o ).
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...t/squirrel.jpg
A kingfisher on the Bury - Bolton canal. Beautiful. Grey heron too, but he's always around.
A Reminder of Our Summer Gone
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8...44d482dd_o.jpg
African Winter by Andy Holden, on Flickr
Or did our summer ever arrive? Hopefully this young Swallow will return next spring with, perhaps, some nice weather
Heard an owl last night, no sign of it as I peered out of the bedroom window.
Fairly sure I saw a snipe the other night coming through some farm fields - haven't seen one before but fairly sure it wasn't a curlew, I was nearly on top of it before it flew off because I think it was dazzled by me headtorch. Then again could have been (a) Grouse...
Bet it was a Woodcock; they feed in the fields at night. This is the time of the year when Woodcock migrate here for the winter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Margarine
Thanks Wharfee - could have been. I'll have another gander at me book.
Buzzard on Carrion
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8...316789e2_z.jpg
Buzzard on Carrion by Andy Holden, on Flickr
Seen at the David Staff Memorial Race, Darwen
Nice silhouette picture that Wharfee, did the Buzzard catch it ?Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
Hit a massive dog otter with the car a couple of days ago. Ran out right in front of me doing 60. Never stood a chance. Went back to check it but was stone dead. Shame, as it was a magnificent specimen.
Also saw a sea eagle on friday while out running near Portree.
Proper shame. I guess that now the otter's colder.Quote:
Originally Posted by neilly
No, I think they were just playing about on the breeze. Buzzards are often mobbed by crows and sometimes the buzzard manages to get the upper hand and put the frights up the crow. Never seen a buzzard kill a crow though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alf
I need to get this off my chest, a couple of weeks back I kicked a Wren, it flew out of the hedgerow and into my foot on the forward stroke, give it it's due it just carried on at my face height looking slightly dazed and embarrassed for 20 yards and then flew back into the hedge, it did ruin my run to be honest as I'm a bit of a Wren fan, although probably serves it right for masquerading as Britain's smallest bird when it patently isn't. :angry:Quote:
Originally Posted by neilly
A shrew! On Round Hill near Ilkley. Surprised the little critter was warm enough, was pretty chilly out there tonight!
I once saw Duty Druid kick a young rabbit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daletownrunner
He said it was an accident.
kingfisher and then 3 deer spotted at thackley woods
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fnstein
I once kicked a large stone out of the path of the runners behind me as it was pretty dark under the conifer trees and I thought someone might trip over it....turned out to be a rolled-up hedgehog!Quote:
Originally Posted by Daletownrunner
Fox in the garden last night, it amuses me the way his head pops out of the ivy on the end wall.
(attempting to steer thread away from 'todays violent wildlife encounter')
Woodcock (I think!?) and or Snipe/Jack Snipe? Tricky IDing in the half light. Pretty sure one was a Woodcock flying over. The others fairly small, greyish which I've seen scuttling about in the undergrowth at night (long sedge/grass in and around wet ares)
Ran into a field full of geese which was fantastic this morning
Whoa!! Sounds exciting! I take it they all took off and called out! How many were there? Were they close when you disturbed them?Quote:
Originally Posted by Markollyh
About 20-30 I was a few yards away when they took off. Had my headphones on so nearly shat myself but was great to see. Especially as I was running to where my dads ashes were scattered.
Saw that Snipe/Jack Snipe bird again tonight! Quite a slight long beaked bird, about Thrush size? Didn't mind car head-lights but didn't want to be seen.
Checked on RSPB and Googled for photo's. Pretty sure its Jack Snipe, shortish beak. :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
Roe deer in full on 'frozen whilst staring into the headlights mode' well, head torch
I got within about 2 meters before I looked away and it realized what I was. Quite interesting to actually get close up and have a really good look at the wee beastie
I do suspect this particular deer is going to have a bad incident with a car though
Sounds ace Shaun. Greater spotted woodpecker just seen in friends' garden
The Jack Snipe is much smaller the a Common Snipe. Where do you see it?Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
I've seen it/them a couple of times. I'd probably have said it was a Woodcock if I had'nt also already seen one of those up here too. I work on a site just near Dumfries. Its a closed site with damp, slightly boggy sedge / brush inside and out. The other day I saw a Woodcock fly over at about dusk, then I also saw this smaller, similar bird which gave a thin, reedy but short call. I'd also seem something at night, outside the fence which was slightly smaller than a Thrush I'd say...that was just 'loitering' in the short grass near the fence and I couldnt get a good look. Last night I saw one over the other side of the site, about a mile away. Again at night, it was smaller than a Thrush and was initially spooked by the vehicle lights. But it flew up then re-landed about 10 yards away by the fence. I got a reasonable look. It was nervous but hung about a bit and I noted the bill was quite short. Then it flew up over the fence and I lost it. I've not seen it bobbing mind!? What do you think Wharfego?
Jack snipe are very secretive and illusive winter visitors. They skulk about under heavy undergrowth, in ditches etc. It could have been oneQuote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
Some ace photos here
I disturbed a tawny owl this morning whilst collecting eggs. I heard a kerfuffle and something dropped down at my feet. I just had time to realise it was a beautiful owl before it shuffled behind an old tin bath. I hope it'll be ok;it would've been much warmer in the barn. It was a real treat to see such a fabulous bird so close up.
Attachment 6564
Stef's tawny owl obviously enjoys a bit of winter sun :w00t:
Difficult to say without seeing the bird myself. I've only ever knowingly seen a Jack Snipe twice; once at pre-dawn in the headtorch beam whilst walking through a marshy area, the bird flew up and dropped again a few yards later, and another time whilst walking through a reedy pasture one flushed up in front of me then dropped again a short distance away. I think the short flushes and lack of call are indicative of Jack Snipe whereas the larger Common Snipe tends to flush up high and fly a long way whilst calling its warning sound.Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
Nice view of a roe deer bounding through the grounds of Rydal Hall this afternoon on our return from a snowy Fairfield and Red Screes.
I've had a few roe deer sightings lately. Not sure if its the time of year or not. One in daylight stood in a field, one on my night run caught in my headtorch peering from the forest (the pair of glowing eyes made me jump) and a pair skittering about in the road near Laverton. That was brilliant, I stopped the car and watched them looking for a gap in the hedge to get in the field. They eventually leapt over a farm gate. Such beautiful creatures.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Navigator
Little Pied Wag...love 'em!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8...511d0ec1_c.jpg
Catching the Early Sun by Andy Holden, on Flickr
buzzard in thackley woods.
must be nearly 8 years since i last saw it.
thats if its the same one.
how long do they live for?