Descending from Wansfell Pike this afternoon I saw my first cuckoo - it flew in a curve in front of me, calling as it did so.
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Descending from Wansfell Pike this afternoon I saw my first cuckoo - it flew in a curve in front of me, calling as it did so.
Urban Fox cub wandering around the local gardens, very inquisitive!
Saw lots of hares as usual up around Bleaklow yesterday, and many young birds. I love this time of year :)
Early this week I was at Barry Budden, just near Dundee and there were dozens of Oyster Catchers nesting with eggs and then we saw a couple of the nests hatch, including one about 10 feet from my window, quite a nice alarm clock if it was not active from around 0500. Also saw a couple of Whimbrel, never seen them before but the RSPB bird identifier is great.
I woke up at about 6.15 this morning to the usual sound of birds in the garden, then realised I could hear a skylark as well. Which was nice. In New Mills!
Peregrine - attacking another bird mid air above Mosedale while I was ascending to Wind Gap on way up Pillar
also some GIANT dragonflies
Half a dozen or so golden plover on Cross Fell and the Dun Fells last night.
A few fighting cocks on 'The Rules' thread.
This evening I watched the 'Django Unchained', a modern Western film; reminded me so much of that thread :rolleyes:
A Cuckoo, trolling the nest of another bird. ;)
More like clucking chickens Wharfey :DQuote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
A toad on a footpath I was running on, nearly trod on it! I assume it was a common toad as Natterjacks live on the coast in the dunes but it had two dark yellowish stripes one either side of the backbone. Natterjacks have one down the middle of their backs and common toads don't have any as far as I know. Do Natterjacks interbreed with common toads or maybe it was just a pigmentation change?
This is a few weeks ago, but I forgot to post: a kingfisher on the canal bank behind the Hurdsfield industrial estate just North of Macclesfield.
Yesterday evening's dinner saw me finish off the cock pheasant that "rode its bike" straight under the front wheels of my van, when driving over Baines Crag last Saturday evening.
I did brake & attempt to take avoiding action in the very narrow lane but the pheasant appeared to have very strong suicidal tendencies.
The remnants of the carcass should boil down into a good broth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wheezing donkey
Good to see it wasn't wasted, you're a man after my own heart. Always think of your stomach first!
Are you really offering your heart to Wheezing Donkey to eat?Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
It's offally kind of you.
Lots of Stonechats in Bannerdale and a buzzard over Souther Fell today.
A Little Owl on the wall at Butterly Res in the Wessenden Valley. At 2pm in the afternoon!
Couple of hairs in the field at back of our 'ouse
Four Jays together in the wood this morning when I was out for a jog (can't really describe it as running at the moment :rolleyes: ) two of which were identifiable as young from this year's brood as the parents were still feeding them.
That reminds me. Four jays in a group yesterday in Delamere Forest. We were Going Ape for the company away day. I wonder if mine were a family group - I guess you wouldn't get them as a four otherwise.
Countryfile Calendar "Animal Magic" entries
(any animal as long as it's a fox)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/...27799ff360.jpg
Fox Gander
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/...dafa889bbb.jpg
Inquisitive
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/...abffde3349.jpg
Fox Down
Seen 2 dead badgers and a dead baby rat and a dead pigeon this week.
sounds like we did the same route. ditto.Quote:
Originally Posted by MickTor
camping up at kielder,
saw osprey fishing,buzzard flying through the forest mid height,3 adders,2 lizards,poorly hedgehog,loads of red squirrels,too many small birds to mention.brilliant.
Brilliant week in North Wales, so much seen including a sparrow hawk, lots of Buzzards, a pair of Jays, dippers and other small birds but the crowning glory was a huge adder at least 2ft long just sat on the path, It freaked the two girls out who I was leading as they stepped over it thinking it a twig. it went in to a hole in the wall before I could get my phone out. a real high light.
Screaming Swifts
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/...edd1c1fa_z.jpg
Screaming Swifts by Andy Holden, on Flickr
Lovely image Andy. Enjoy them while you can mind. They'll be off very soon for their winter holidays
http://instagram.com/p/qq5flTCaPI/?modal=true
Picture of a fox cub on my allotment other morning. I was watching it from the shed for a wee while. Luckily my dog didn't know it was around or there would have been trouble!
Gargrave's sky is full of Swifts every evening, they make good spectator sport.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I found a Wood pigeon in the middle of the lane this morning when I was out on my mtb.
It couldnt put one leg in front of the other without falling over (a bit like me last night :rolleyes:). I managed to get it home riding one handed and then drove over to Greenmount wild bird hospital in Bury. They had half a dozen Swifts in. They were also feeding a one legged Barn owl with some mouse bits while I was there.
There used to be a bird sanctuary less than half a mile away from where I live. I regularly took injured birds to it that I found when out running. Unfortunately it had to close down as the neighbours complained about the noise :mad: I was grateful there was still one reasonably close.
https://www.facebook.com/GreenmountW...spital?fref=ts
Good on yer Alf :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Alf
A raptor got blown into our garden this evening. It ended up perching on the Silver Birch. I thought it was a pigeon at first but through the binos I could see the hooked beak when it turned its head. Dark grey plumage at the back and a dark head with some light patches round the bottom of the head. About the size of a pigeon. The most exotic visitor to my house since those two Jehovah's witnesses a few weeks ago ;)
Sparrowhawk would be my bet Alf
Mine too
How to Catch a Worm - Badger Style
http://youtu.be/OJf-Vh4WYTw
Filmed this a few nights ago from my yard wall, with the help of a Hope headtorch
Another visit from my recently friendly neighbourhood Sparrowhawk today. It stayed a bit longer this time till it got jumped by the local Magpie Mafia. Can you spot it ?
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...pseddfe543.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5572/...dd13cb57_c.jpg
Baby Hedgehog! Almost got stood on.
Kingfisher, egret and oyster catchers, heron and a massive spider (the latter as I was picking a glut of sloes)
Bat
right near the handrail in a spiral staircase in Pembroke Castle
anyone know the species?
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/attac...9&d=1408928933
I think it's safe to say that's a long eared bat :)