First swallow sat on a wire, here in mid Wales - bet it came up through Pembs the other day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
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First swallow sat on a wire, here in mid Wales - bet it came up through Pembs the other day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Thought about you today Moley. We drove back from Milford Haven to Yorkshire through what I guess is your "backyard". Surprised to see so much snow on the Brecon Beacons! Also to hear a skylark singing not far fom the services on the M54
I was out teaching navigation today and we had a full house of local birds, a pair of Buzzards getting buzzed by crows, lap wings, Golden Plover, Curlews, another Bird of prey which seemed much bigger than the Buzzards, sun was behind it though so couldn't get any colours to help ID but not a Kite, Skylarks singing and swooping aplenty and to cap it off over 20 hares in various states of grey and white.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Chilly day. long run tomorrow so we'll see what pops up
While doing a recce yesterday came across 3fantastic looking birds I have never seen before I was a bit slow with the camera on the climb up to styhead tarn and missed the chance will be reccee n again today but not same route would be nice to get to catch the shot but doing Keswick to Penrith section and they may like the higher ground will also be on this same section as seen them in 2weeks hopefully I will get another chance then could kick myself hopefully get some results on friday/Saturday in York just got camera so still learning
Nearly stood on a peregrine today, Climbing up to woolpacks direct from the bottom of Jacobs ladder I could hear a bird in distress, lots of noise but nothing to see then straight out of the heather about 6 ft in front of me it bursts in to the air. the remains of a grouse kill was all that remains..
and to add Kinder was full of life and bird noise today except Grindsbrook which was silent except for lots of people..
Bluebells out today: just a few with flowers fully opened in the nameless wood on the path up to Buck Hill.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
And may I report Today's Tamelife Encounter on this thread? Longhorns and Highland cattle back out grazing on Beacon Hill (I think their grazing is supposed to be good for the heathland ecology). And they really are tame: I have run within two feet of a Longhorn when it has been grazing next to a path, and it hasn't batted an eyelid.
Saw a pair of Wheatear between Coledale Hause and Grasmoor whilst walking the TWA route on Sunday.
Also, New Mills friends reported a pair of Wheatear near Cracken Edge and a swallow near the Goyt just outside New Mills. Spring has sprung!
Lots of chiffchaff heard on this morning's short run from home
Saw the first Chiff-chaff/Willow Warbler of the summer, in the tree's across the river from our house. Too far to hear the song so, with my limited birding skills not sure which. Heard some possible Black Grouse up by Killin, Loch Tay last week. My attempted 'stalk' only managed to get them to go silent.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Heron week for me. A pair in Mid Wales, two going past my house in Otley and then one flew right over me as I walked into work this morning in sunny Guiseley, which cheered me up - not to hard on a Friday. Such amazing prehistoric birds.
I spotted an urban West Riding peregrine this morning. Great to see (and hear)
Five little swallows sitting on a wire, spotted this afternoon while cycling on the back road from BA to Ilkley.
Think they were on the way to see you, DT. 😀
Lovely
Just returned from a holiday in Southern Spain. Here are my best encounters:
Booted eagle, short-toed eagle, bee-eaters - I've never seen these before, but there were several on phone wires on the outskirts of town!
Lots of lizards of course. Snake - I think it was a smooth snake (about 40 cm long and staying very still)
Black-throated black-eared wheatear - very striking looking.
Lots of black red-starts and crag martins while we were climbing. They're not rare or striking but I still like them.
Back to the UK now. Spring is nearly here...
Four eggs laid. Derby Cathedral Peregrins http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/
Great news Steve
4 in the Sheffield nest tooQuote:
Originally Posted by sbrt
http://peregrine.group.shef.ac.uk/peregrines/
Fell Ponies on Loadpot Hill yesterday. Quite magical to see a large herd of them jumping around in the dawn, and to look across to the higher fells covered in snow. Absolutely beautiful day.
One Hare in the fields around Storiths.
Cool:D Anyone know if Peregrines are nesting at the Roaches, this year?Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Highland Cattle congregating around the summit of Beacon Hill today. Presumably looking for some high land. Sorry, this is Leicestershire.
Spent a few hours at Bempton Cliffs on Saturday. There were lots of Puffins, thousands of Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes. And a pair of Fulmar. Then, back at the visitor centre, watching the Tree Sparrows and a male Sparrowhawk flew in right past our noses! It didn't take anything though.
On the way home on Sunday there were House Martins and a Brimstone butterfly in Tadcaster.
We saw house martins at the farm next to the quarry as we went for a run up Moughton yesterday :) Looking forward to the swallows next.
Dales or Lakes the tortoise? Welcome to the forum
Hen harrier taking flight from the heathland near Shining Tor about 10 feet to my side. Made by day.
What I assumed was a Common (Green) Lizard on boggy area just off the Limestone Escarpement off Ingleborough, or more acuratelly Simon Fell end of ingleborough! Plus a nice wander around Waterfalls Walk to see Dippers, Nuthatch and a nice Kestrel hunting off the shrubs at the top end.
2 x Jay's and what looked like a green parrot !
Let's hope this Hen Harrier survives the hand of man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemmy
Was it a ringtail or a pale grey male?
Lots of frogs standing tall on the roads tonight. It's frog frisky season. I expect to see some kinky triple-decker action soon - the highlight of the frog mating season as far as my kids are concerned.
It looked like a pale grey male. I only caught its underbelly as it took flight, but it was a pale grey almost white undercarriage with striking black tips to the wings. Very distinct.Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
Three toads - alive - and four dead in a stream that empties into the sea. Also a little spawn was present. I'm not sure if the tadpoles will survive if theres a downpour that swells the stream so i might rescue the spawn on my next visit.
My first Swallow of the summer!! 08.00 this morning, flying in and out of the bike shed!!
over the last two days I've run two navigation courses, one for the staff of RSPB and the other for a real twitcher...
It's been an eye opener. I've found out lots of new stuff whilst teaching. today I can say I saw a willow warbler for the first time..
we also saw the usual lap wings. curlews, plovers, Mountain Hare(lots), meadow pipets and skylarks( do love skylarks), Buzzard and a peregrine.
I've also been told of a Black Grouse colony they are trying to start and other secret stuff...:D
Great news. I hope this goes ahead.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
On a very sad note I read today that it is suspected that the last golden eagle in the lakes has died. One of my first memories as a child being out on the fells was seeing a golden eagle high above haweswater. We fell runners often get to see parts of the mountains others do not visit. I am greatly saddened that I will not be able to take my kids into the lakeland fells to see one of these majestic birds. My next run out in the lakes I know I will spare a thought for the loss of the top predator which was so suited to the harsh environment of the high fells.
Our first swallows today too. On the down side the peregrine nest's been robbed again. The RSPB aren't exactly going out of their way to help unfortunately.
Sad news re the Riggindale eagle (sounds like the name of Breezie's first push bike). Local swallow and house martin today
You can blame ill'egal' persecution for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by davetrigga
I attended an RSPB talk a couple of evenings ago where the speaker, Howard Jones - https://twitter.com/thehowardjones - talked about the reasons why Golden Eagles aren't present in the UK outside of Scotland; simply because of persecution.
Given a chance Golden Eagles would spread into the uplands of Northern England and Wales but as they disperse from their Scottish breeding areas they come into conflict with gamekeepers.
It's quite simple really - if gamekeepers stop killing Golden Eagles we will see them in our English uplands within a year or two.
This site is worth looking at if you're interested in the subject - https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com
While I don't condone illegal persecution of birds, I can understand that a gamekeeper has a conflict of interests as his/her livelihood is directly related to keeping lots of birds alive and in one area.
What would a system look like that made it in gamekeepers' interests to allow eagles (and eg, hen harriers)? Maybe this should be a separate thread.