We have a juveline greater spotter woodpecker visiting our garden daily, lovely to see
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We have a juveline greater spotter woodpecker visiting our garden daily, lovely to see
a couple of Curlew's flying around the top of Great Hill, they make a terrific noise!
Also some Oystercatchers(?), pretty sure they were anyway, around the moors near Belmont road and then finally a pair of red grouse with a young 'un on a quiet part of Darwen moors...
All quiet common but I don't normally see them all on one run and I've never seen Oystercatchers around here before
Snowbunting spotted dancing in the clag on the summit of Lochnagar & another further down at Loch Muick, plus a bird that looked from a far like an egret but more likely a heron peering into a burn in the same area. All on the first proper day of honeymoon after a fine walk up Lochnagar & down Glas-Allt in the equally fine company of my wife - cracking!
I've had flies in both my eyes today and in mi' throyt.
I was watching a weasel earlier today - this was near Penrith in a conifers wood. I was alerted to it's presence by a Hedge sparrow calling in alarm. The weasel tried to climb a tree to catch the Hedge Sparrow (which was following it). There were a few blackbirds also flying from branch to branch but making no sound of alarm. I assume they were following the weasel until it left their territory.
I've seen a few slow worms on my runs this last month or so and most of July about 100 yards of the cliff path i run along has been swarming with thousands of Cinnibar moths. I was pleased to see a fox asleep on a large flat rock - no sign of any cubs. This flat rock has been used by foxes for a few years now.
Congratulations Sam on your weddingQuote:
Originally Posted by Sam W
Thank you, DT.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Another treat this morning - red squirrel spotted over breakfast, uprooting bulbs in the garden of the b&b we're staying at. The first red squirrel I've ever seen, except those that have been subjected to taxidermy, so a real pleasure. Also spotted a young rabbit making its way into the garden too. Very fine indeed.
A Sparrow Hawk (I think) raced the car down a country lane over the weekend.
A baby dolphin washed up dead on the local beach.
A flock of Golden Plover flying around the summit of Ingleborough this afternoon.
The photo's not too great as I was using the compact camera whilst out running.
A good record though.
Click on the pic to view...
Attachment 8188
Nice pic wharfee
Still a few swift about but not for long sadly
Paid a visit to RSPB Osprey Centre at Loch Garten - saw a pair nesting nearby with a handful of chicks, a male warning off an intruding male from his nest; capercaillie feasting on grubs; a host of other wee birds (including coal tits & Scottish crossbills). Struck by the size of female ospreys, which are bigger than the male - apparently this is common in raptors but my knowledge of the subject is meagre.
Outrun by a red dear on my morning run through woodland near Nethy Bridge today - bonnie.
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Found this wee fella - a vole - during my cliff top run (Whitehaven to St Bees) earlier this week. It was just sat in the middle of the path. It just let me pick it up. I thought it was ill but once I put it down it scurried into the undergrowth.
ace! I wish they were that friendly around here, only cows & horses that approach me, ha!Quote:
Originally Posted by luverlyjuberly
Keep on looking Darwen! I found this frog in July. Quite a regular find on my route. Attachment 8196Attachment 8197Attachment 8198
Also added a pic of the cinnibar moth that I mention in an earlier post.
I'll never be a proper runner as I keep stopping to look at stuff.
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came across a newt up on burley moor (ls29)
suprised as i was quite high up and not near any water
I've just read this page about the common newt:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_newt
Apparently the newt leaves water and lives life on land. I'm surprised by this - when I was a kid we used to find newts under rocks in a old quarry - but the quarry did have a deep pool at it's centre and we never looked far from the pond.
I'm making some work for an exhibition based on collections and I've been collecting natural objects (have been for years). This weekend I found a pile of linnet feathers with a merlin's tail feather amongst them. Feathers from a buzzard, a nuthatch (in the woods by the Ribble) and lots of grouse feathers. I also recently found a kestrel feather. Its like a treasure hunt in the woods and on the fells :)
Talking of Linnets Hes, they were a common site years ago along with Yellow Hammers. I can't remember the last time I saw a Yellow Hammer and saw my first Linnet in ages about 4years ago.
There's plenty of Yellowhammers in Whitehaven. And I've seen a few Linnets this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by William Clough
Just got back from hols in France. Best spots were: Bearded Vulture (I think) - above Pralognan. definitely big and I don't think it was a golden eagle and it had a lighter-coloured neck area which was visible in silhouette.
Also, a scorpion - on the path in front of us near the Ardeche. I've never seen one before.
Last time I saw a yellowhammer was at Sutton Bank near Thirsk two years ago. It was so stunning that I made a print of it. I used to see them quite a bit as a child but I did live in a different area of the country so maybe that made a difference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by William Clough
A vole which crossed my path and stopped and then moved just as I got to it so I nearly trod on it !!! And clicking gorse bushes!! Somebody is sure to tell me why, is it the seed pods popping open in the sun or beetles???
It'll be the seeds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daletownrunner
Yeah vole seem awfully dim. Two vole this year have just sat there in my path and let me pick them up and then just sit there on my hand.
I got quite close to two goldfinch today and a yellowhammer - St Bees Cumbria.
hedge hog!!
yesterday; a female grouse with 3 baby ones, flew from the heather as I headed up towards them, seem to be quite common in the quiet corners of Darwen moors but not seen baby ones before
Was this in daylight? Or last night after dark?Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
last night on my way home after club runQuote:
Originally Posted by luverlyjuberly
Quote:
Originally Posted by luverlyjuberly
St Bees, nice :-)
I wish i could afford to live there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daletownrunner
Spotted flycatcher
Spotted this caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-moth earlier today on a local footpath. Luckily it was moving swiftly and disappeared into the undergrowth before someone could accidentally squash it.
It measured 2.5 inches (just over 6cm) in length.Attachment 8206Attachment 8207
CLICK on the pics to enlarge
http://www.hawar-islands.com/blog/me...-Wheatear7.jpg
I know they are 10 a penny but I never tire of seeing the elegant Wheatear.
Yes they are a lovely little bird.
Splendid blog WC. Albert Camus and John Cooper Clarke? Ace!Quote:
Originally Posted by William Clough
Saw a pair of Wheatear on Back Tor (Mam Tor) yesterday - no doubt they'll be heading off south pretty soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Saw John Cooper Clarke back in about 1978/79 at Manchester Apollo, supporting Be-Bop Deluxe. Nobody had ever heard of him - he was amazing! He was pretty good a couple of weeks ago chatting to Craig Charles on the radio as well.
I've seen JCC quite a few times in Derby and Nottingham plus recently (well a couple of years ago) at the Ilkley Literary Festival. I'm also a fan of Craig Charles. He's passionate about his music which is great. I'm way out of the loop but did I see him on TV flirting with a lass off Corrie last night?!
Back on topic: I took our Tussock out for a tiddle this morning around 4am. It was a magical night with near full moon breaking through the clouds and a pair of tawny owl just up the road calling back and forth
Saturday afternoon in the Brennand Valley, about 1/4 mile upstream from the farm, a male hen harrier; unmistakeable - a long slim body with owl-like head and long, slender, swept-back wings plus a rather "wibbly-wobbly" flight pattern, not unlike a lap-wing's; at a range of only 100 yards or so.