Today's Wildlife Encounter

[mr brightside]

A monkey, not sure what species, in my garden, stealing my papayas, aubergines and even hot peppers!Attachment 8850

Is it a Barbary Macaque?

[noel]

Is it a Barbary Macaque?

A rabbit in the garden today. I can't compete with a barbary macaque!

[Latege]

Is it a Barbary Macaque?

No, looking at that online, it doesn't look the same and I don't think it gets this far south (I'm in eastern DRC). But you got me wondering so I've looked around a little on the Internet and I think it's probably a l'Hoest's monkey; http://www.planetscott.com/speciesde...thecus-lhoesti
I live in a large town, not near the forest, so I assume someone captured it and brought it in as a pet and it escaped or was relesed. He's a frequent visitor to my garden and, at least once, to my porch. The day he steals my running shoes, there'll be trouble!

[noel]

L'Hoest's monkey - pah. They're ten a penny round here. I had a rabbit in my garden.

[Latege]

I had a rabbit in my garden.

I can't compete. Not seen any of those around here.

[Llani Boy]

Birds going crackers in my garden this morning.

At one point I was watching blue, great and coal tits on one of the feeders when a volery of long tailed tits joined them.

Fantastic.

Looking for something else in my Bird Book I was surprised to find that Long Tailed Tits are not related to the others. Oh, and neither is the reed dwelling Bearded Tit.

Every day a school day!

[GeoffB]

Went for a walk after work yesterday afternoon - within 100m of my front door I stood for 5 minutes watching a barn owl quartering the field I was walking by. Even when I pointed my head-torch straight at it, it just carried on hunting, coming within 3 or 4m of me. Beautiful!

[Mossdog]

So, last week while running to the Nine Standards above Kirkby Stephen, I took the long route back via Nateby. Just after the Standards I spooked a bird of prey. Yesterday, on the fells above my house, a similar encounter. They both flew very fast, just over the fell surface. Definitely a raptor. Small and very dark grey plumage, but way too fast for me to get a clear look at. They both really shifting, with no gliding at all, flying literally inches above the fell, ducking and diving with the mounds and general contours of the fell.

Definitely not a kestrel nor a sparrowhawk.

I'm thinking these birds were both Merlins. Is that likely?

[MattPo]

So, last week while running to the Nine Standards above Kirkby Stephen, I took the long route back via Nateby. Just after the Standards I spooked a bird of prey. Yesterday, on the fells above my house, a similar encounter. They both flew very fast, just over the fell surface. Definitely a raptor. Small and very dark grey plumage, but way too fast for me to get a clear look at. They both really shifting, with no gliding at all, flying literally inches above the fell, ducking and diving with the mounds and general contours of the fell.

Definitely not a kestrel nor a sparrowhawk.

I'm thinking these birds were both Merlins. Is that likely?

Sound likely to me. Merlins are wonderful.

[Llani Boy]

Not, unfortunately an encounter of mine, but a friend showed me a photograph he took yesterday of a flock, of at least 150, Lapwing over Holestone Moor near Ashover.

A wonderful sight he said. I've certainly not seen that many Lapwing inland before at this time of year.

Oh, and I still haven't!