Today's Wildlife Encounter

[plodding bear]

We've had cuckoos round the moor edge of Ilkley/silsden for a week or more now. Keeping my eyes open for a ring ouzel, which a birdwatching, spaniel walking guy who I see in passing fairly regularly has told me are due any time now, in the little plantation bit up on Nab End.

[wharfeego]

...Any cuckoos your way yet?

Never 'ad Cuckoos 'round 'ere DT. I'm always happy to hear a Cuckoo.

...Keeping my eyes open for a ring ouzel...

Magic bird. Usually heard before seen....as here... http://www.forestofbowland.com/wild_birds_ringouzel

[IanDarkpeak]

Keeping my eyes open for a ring ouzel, which a birdwatching, spaniel walking guy who I see in passing fairly regularly has told me are due any time now, in the little plantation bit up on Nab End.

Theres some on Stanage edge at the moment I'm told.

[Rob Furness]

Saw a Lapwing, a Curlew, several Rabbits, and a Roe Deer whilst on club run tonight in Harewood. Great night for it

[plodding bear]

Many thanx for the audio link, Wharfy, I'll keep my ears...er... peeled? Now I know what to listen out for!

[IanDarkpeak]

Wheatear, Lapwing, Curlew, saw quite a few chicks/young birds.
Took a slight diversion to check a known black spot for snares. Found 5 in 50m including a recently dead fox in a Stink pit.
Not alot you can do though as these are on private land but there has been a few incident recently of runners getting caught in them. Has this happened any where else??

[plodding bear]

Ha Haaa! Seen me first ring ouzel this morning whilst out with the dogs, right where spaniel guy said they usually show up. Heard a cuckoo in there, too.

[Masham Man]

My Swifts are due any day now - our favourite visitors. I cleared their nest boxes of the current unwanted inhabitants :angry: (no I'm not saying what, some would not approve) so they are alll ready for the swifts who have preferential treatment. They've nested on the house since we arrived in 1986 but numbers decrease every year, we are lucky to have 2 pairs now, where the valley used to be full of them.

Flycatchers due as well, always turn up and use one of the boxes in the apple trees.

Saw a swift on sunday. I have a swift box but can never keep the pesky starlings out of it, they even roost in it in winter.

[wharfeego]

...I have a swift box but can never keep the pesky starlings out of it, they even roost in it in winter.

Next winter try cleaning out any material from the box then block the hole. Re-open the hole at this time of the year just when the Swifts are returning...Starlings will have already started their nests by then...the Swifts might take up residence with a bit of luck.

[wharfeego]

MY LITTLE FRIEND...WOOD MOUSE