That's brilliant and has cheered me. He's a real custodian of the countryside :)Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
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That's brilliant and has cheered me. He's a real custodian of the countryside :)Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
My friend's father ( died 25 years ago) was a very gentle, caring old Quaker. He used to mark all the birds' nests in their meadows, with fencing posts; so that they were not destroyed at mowing time.
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Originally Posted by Mossdog
Chiffchaff by the Upper Peak Forest Canal this morning. Two weeks earlier than the past two years.
I'm pretty sure I've just seen a Spotted Fly Catcher at Heysham, close to Morecambe!! Seems extremely early. Anyone any thoughts? Is there a possible similar looking bird? There was no red etc on it to signify Linnet/Redpoll etc. Though the chest sides look very lightly 'blushed'?
Pair of Mandrin ducks on the Wharfe in Otley at the moment. Pretty little things. I agree about the birdlife on the moors. A symphony of curlew, lapwings and oystercatcher with top notes of skylarks.
Put up a hare last night torching up Beamsley Beacon, didn't have any lurchers luckily.
Geoff, we spotted a very showy and vocal chiffchaff near Barden Bridge on Sunday morning. Like yours around two weeks earlier than 'normal'
Heard my first chiffchaff today, mid Wales. Missus having some good spring moth catches and the new moth trap arrived today, a portable battery operated model so she will be off everywhere now.
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Originally Posted by GeoffB
And yesterday's wasn't just a one-off. There were at least 3 three more this morning in different locations, so they've clearly arrived en masse!Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Been trying to find more info on this. The only thing I've found is on potential SFC sighting nr Bristol (I think it was). People on RSPB suggesting possible Dunnock, Stonechat(female) or a juvenile. Not convinced by any of those possibilities having looked at photo's.Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
*edit* Just looked at Chiffchaffs. Do they get streaked on their chests? Having said 'streaked' makes me wonder about it being a 'Spotted' Fly Catcher!? Its a long time since I saw one in the flesh(feather0 so to speak!
over last two days seen in excess of 30 hares plus the usual lapwings, curlew, golden plovers, skylarks and I think a willow warbler, certainly sounded like one but was sheltering in a small tree against the wind. I've seen willow warblers here before so pretty confident..or am I too early?
Highly unlikely Ian, but the way things are changing it's a possibility. I've never heard/seen a Willow warbler before early April.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
No streaks on a Chiffchaff.Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
Have you thought of Twite? https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...ite/index.aspx
Or, more likely at Heysham, Rock pipit https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...z/r/rockpipit/
What sounds like a WW? It was id'd by some RSPB staff last time but that was late summer on a Hill skills course I was running for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
Wren sounds a lot like a willow warbler Ian
wtf? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by iandarkpeak
Cheers! Wharfeego! Rock Pipit seems to fit the bill!! One off the virtual tick list!! :D
Not been aware of, or could identify Chiffchaffs before talk on the forum. So I looked them up and listened to recordings of their song then hit the countryside. Heard and saw them locally round Otley - I know they are not rare, but a new bird for me. Slowly we learn to identify more. Thanks for setting me off folks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
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Originally Posted by Derby Tup
thanks both..I thinkQuote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
Ring Ouzel - the first I've ever seen. :)
Paused today's run for a few minutes by the lake at the bottom of Longcliffe Quarry. Lots of audible bird-life, but very little visible. Unfortunately I am completely clueless with regard to bird-song, so all I could identify were what I could see: mallard and coot on the lake.
This disused quarry, this big hole, is a scar on the landscape, yet it has a certain beauty, especially with the evening sunlight shining on the slopes above the east face of the quarry.
Back from a week in Andalusia, Spain and watched a Montague harrier hunting the olive groves. Standing by the pool with binoculars and the bird below, lovely sighting.
But have to say i found the Spanish agricultural practices (in our area) most depressing, people moan about the UK farming but i thought their landscape far less diverse and sympathetic to wildlife than ours.
On the lower slopes of Coniston Old Man on Saturday spotted Ring Ouzel, Wheatear and a flock of Fieldfare all within the space of about half an hour.
Another new one for me today - Blackcaps by the Wharfe in Otley. Lovely song. Anyone seen willow warblers yet, reports of them at Swinsty reservoir?
Black vulture plus Eleanor's falcon. Mallorca specialities. Also house sparrow and swift
A pair of Redpoll on the garden feeder. We were confused at first, assuming they were dowdy Goldfinches. Had a quick look on 'net and 'lo Redpoll! :)
I've been lucky with regular merlin sightings in the Bryn Alyn area recently.
A pair of Mandarins on the Goyt in the centre of New Mills.
More than one swallow in the Wharfe valley - does that make it summer.
Couple of days ago i watched an otter and her cub (kit or pup!) in the shallows about 20ft away, little one was very inquisitive of me but eventually mum took it off - only whilst mum dived under (river clear and only a few foot deep) the cub seemed too fat and bouyant to swim underwater - so followed at a doggy paddle on the surface. Pretty.
I didn't see Eleanora's falcon, but did see quite a few black vultures. Also little and cattle egret, night heron, purple heron, Cetti's warbler (I'm told), red-crested pochard, marsh harriers, booted eagle, and my favourite of the week - purple gallinule.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
And yeah, lots of swifts. I was telling my kids this is what Bingley used to be like when I was a kid - listening to about 15 swifts chase each other above the town. The numbers seem to have dropped in the UK these days.
Also, some writhing big fish in the marshes - mullet perhaps?? and a small swimming snake.
I'm just back today and doesn't 12 degrees feel cold after getting used to 25.
House martins here today. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
Noel, when we got back last Monday it was 9 degrees C. Majorca is ace for birds and the fish probably were mullet, real brackish water, harbour / estuary specialists. We had redstart, blackcap, crag martin, Mallorca warbler, common sandpiper too. Addingham is still "swifty", with loads around the Fleece in summer
OK, cool. I'll tick that then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
That's good to hear. Swifts are amazing birds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
First Cuckoo of the year last night - just coming down from Edale Cross towards Luv Shack's place. Two weeks earlier than last year.
Peregrine above the A54 near Wildboarclough. Doing all the things peregrines do: circling, stooping and eating on the wing - it was close so we could see the bits of prey it was discarding.
Also pied flycatcher nesting in a hole in a tree.
Wren. Not unusual. Except that this one had hollowed out decent-sized niche in the side of one of my hanging baskets to try to make a nest. Thankfully, it decided against it - currently the hanging baskets are in the porch with a slightly ajar door, but will be hung up outside soon. So they might not be in such a good spot for a wren's nest.
Heard my first of the year on Sat 6th up Wharfee's neck of the woods,just below Sharpe Haw at theQuote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Flasby end.
Dotterel on Moel Eilio last Saturday. It was just wandering around on the summit; wouldn't let me get too close for a photo, but didn't actually fly off. Presumably it was stopping off on its journey north.
During this morning's dawn (5.30am) pre-work 5 mile run. A couple of deer sightings at Hardcastle Crags. Firstly a single deer half way between the NT car park and Gibson Mill, and then another two on the other side of Hebden Water at Gibson Mill itself. I would be interested if any of you know what the deer population of the Hebden Water catchment is estimated to be. Have there been any studies / surveys?
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Originally Posted by OB1
I have seen Deer there twice. Two near Peckett Well and one crossing the track half a mile down from Gibson Mill. It is a bit surprising given the number of visitors.
A roe deer crossing an arable field about half a mile from the edge of Loughborough, seen during my run at lunchtime today. But why was it there instead of in the woods half a mile further out?