It amuses me that the debate on the comments below the article is mainly about Scottish nationalism. The vote has certainly left a big scar on the Scottish psyche.Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
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It amuses me that the debate on the comments below the article is mainly about Scottish nationalism. The vote has certainly left a big scar on the Scottish psyche.Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
A couple of Roe Deer and a Sika Deer whilst out running the mean streets of Sunningdale, Berkshire! Plus we've got Long-tailed Tits on the feeder at last. Finally, not sure I mentioned this...sure I saw a Mink in the back garden (Ingleton, NY)
Curlews back on Pendle yesterday,earliest I can remember
Lapwings over Wildboarclough this morning. I'm not sure how long they've been there, but I've not seen them until now this year.
Deer & red kite, just below Ellar Carr Pike, nr Round Hill.
Interestingly I saw a Red Squirrel in Ingleton this morning!? Didn't think they would be around our area! We get Greys on the bird feeder in warmer weather!
Maybe Curlews aren't particularly early this year? This was posted on the 15th of Feb 2013. They are certainly back in our area.Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
That's really good, you should report the sighting through here: http://www.northernredsquirrels.org.uk/Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
If you look on the links there is a map of all the group areas and yours could be a sign of the reds spreading - they would be keen to hear about it. I wish I could see one down here after all the work we are putting in, maybe one day soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
Cheers for that Molehill! I was wondering about mentioning it to someone. I'll contact them. :)
loads of Golden plover and quite few mountain hares. Most of them unhappy we had disturbed them is the strong winds
Better disturbed and able to live than be slaughtered by the moorland managers.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Skylark singing away near South Head, last Thursday.
Two oystercatchers getting jiggy near Embsay
Yep, they're returning to their inland territories. Was out in the hills above Settle last night and heard Oystercatchers, Curlews and Lapwings calling whilst passing overhead in the moonlight.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
You reminded me: I called in at Hellifield Flash on Sunday - teal, widgeon, pochard, mallard, shellduck, shoveler, tufty, goldeneye, lapwing and oystercatcher all seen. Loads of whistling widge!
Huge amounts of Curlew on the field opposite Denton hall - Back road to Ilkley on Saturday. Not seen lapwing yet - real signs of spring.
I was a bit put out I've not seen any yet...then on Bleaklow in the sunshine this morning, a couple of Lapwings, lots of Golden Plover, a number Mountain Hare and a distant but not seen Curlew callingQuote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
There is a decent flock over-winter every year in that area. If you drive through Ben Rydding around first light you can often see then by the main roadQuote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
A lone Heron spotted on the river Trent in Burton today, I don't recall ever seeing them previously.
Two pairs of skylarks braving the cold and wind on the mid slopes of the sugarloaf. The sound of summer returning!
Highlight on Sunday was a pair of Andean condors (sitting on their egg) and a stuffed grizzly bear in the living room. It is all here in the Cambrian mountains!
What's the story behind that, Matt; the Mrs been to the local saleroom and scratched her nose, out of place?Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
Ian.
Sunday we had a "get together" of our red squirrel conservation group, the girl who hosted it is married to a world renowned wildlife conservationist (we had never met him before). When we arrived the house was incredible, filled with animal skulls, skins, heads on walls, stuffed animals, fossil collections - all topped off with a large grizzly bear in the corner of the living room!
Missus was talking tortoises and he takes her upstairs to 2 stuffed giant tortoises (how do you stuff a tortoise??), I hasten to add that everything is legal.
He also has some birds - rescued or on loan from zoos - but said for his mid life crisis, instead of a motor bike or sports car he built an aviary and got 2 condors. A male (called Luther aged 35) and a female loaned from different zoos, he spent several years introducing them and eventually they accepted each other and have bred in captivity. Which is quite an achievement. They are big sods and look immensely strong, no way would I go in there with them, they have a riot shield for when they have to go in the pen as Luther can be a bit stroppy :cool:
A most fascinating few hours and can't wait to go back and meet him again one day for a proper chat.
It's posts like the one above that make me glad I come on here!
My weekend's encounter with a Royal Raven
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1453/...4d45b6a6_z.jpg
Izzie and Igraine by Andy Holden, on Flickr
if they're the ones at Knaresborough we've met them too! Nice pics as always! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
Third "local" barn owl since Christmas this afternoon, after never seeing one in 11 year
Loads of Skylarks around the Kinder area over the weekend, plus a few Lapwing and a couple of Curlew (Brown Knoll / Roych Clough)
Yes DT, saw a barn owl at about 5.00pm driving back from Grassington - just before Greenhow. (I'd been out recceing the finish of Fellsman, Deep wet snow on top certainly slowed me down.)Hunting in daylight along a wall. Also seen Tawny owl last week on the Chevin whilst out headtorching - sat in a fork of the tree and let us all have a good look before flying off.
Up at Upper Barden Reservoir yesterday looking at the Black Headed gull colony and a lot besides. Flock of Golden Plover, first white side then dark as they turn. All the other normal suspects present inc Grey wagtail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I saw one while headtorch ing in Cowling last week. Very cute.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
Two pairs of Bullfinch - male and female - one pair in Penrith today and the other in Whitehaven,Cumbria on Monday. Made my week (i'm easily pleased).
We get a pair who occasionally visit our garden, the male is magnificent.Quote:
Originally Posted by luverlyjuberly
Saw a pair of Weasels or stoats doing that mad eijit thing of going round and round in circles at high speed. Two Buzzards and loads of lambs, this morning.
I was at work in Penrith today and the Bullfinch pair were back eating seeds from a feeder. They were about for most of my day.
There was also a male chaffinch flying at and tapping on the window - presumably at it's reflection. It was fun at first but after two hours of almost continuous tapping it got annoying so i chased it away.
On my Monday run I got within 60 feet of a pair of deer. I was jogging along a country road and stopped for a drink, looked up and there they were in amongst some trees. We stared at each other for about 3 minutes and then a crow call startled them. They just wandered off. One had tall antlers about 10 inches in length.
Chiffchaff galore and around eight sand martin (in Pembrokeshire)
Bluebells flowering. A bit early?
Poor things in this weather, a few inches of snow last night. I'll look out for them, they breed along the river so we have a good population here and no distance from your sighting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
The earliest I have ever seen them is 23rd March (in 1998, when February was exceptionally warm).Quote:
Originally Posted by sbrt
I didn't notice any on my run yesterday, although maybe they are flowering in parts of the woods that I haven't visited.
None flowering on the coast of Cumbria i made a point of looking on thursday- but our season is often later due to the cold.
Any flowering down south? Anyone?
Bluebells are a long way off here in Wales, leaves showing above ground but no flowers for weeks yet.
First Chiffchaff this morning near the canal between New Mills and Marple. Same date as last year, but about 1km further north along the canal!
No sign of Bluebell flowers, but plenty of leaves.