Today's Wildlife Encounter

[cyclops]

2 herons flew over (at the same time) our house yesterday afternoon. don't think I've ever seen 2 together before - anyone else? they were really low as well.

[Splatcher]

2 herons flew over (at the same time) our house yesterday afternoon. don't think I've ever seen 2 together before - anyone else? they were really low as well.

I think they pair up around this time of year - at least I've often seen 2 or 3 together in winter months round here. My record is 7 at once, all perched together.

[wharfeego]

This is a lovely story with a nice ending

The Best Day Of Fishing Ever!

I've heard of salmon jumping into boats, but never anything quite like this...Tom Satre told the Sitka Gazette that he was out with a charter group on his 62-foot fishing vessel when four juvenile Black-Tailed Deer swam directly toward his boat...




"Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the vessel, looking directly at us. We could tell right away that the young bucks were distressed. I opened up the boat's back gate and we helped the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals onto the boat. In all my years fishing, I've never seen anything quite like it! Once onboard, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering."

The rescued bucks on the back of the boat, the Alaska Quest...




"We headed for Taku Harbour. Once we reached the dock, the first buck that we had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back as if to say 'thank you' and disappeared into the forest. After a bit of prodding and assistance, two more followed, but the smallest deer needed a little more help."

This is Tom carrying the little guy...




"My daughter, Anna, and son, Tim, helped the last buck to its feet. We didn't know how long they had been in the icy waters or if there had been others who did not survive. My daughter later told me that the experience was something that she would never forget, and I suspect the deer felt the same way as well!"



All's Well That Ends Well

[Stagger]

Aye
A bit of kindness at any time of the year is all ways welcome.

[dylan]

brilliant

saw green woodpecker between low moor(alloid colloids) and wyke railway tunnel(bradford)in quite a built up industrial area.
when they fly its as though there half hearted,dropping,flapping,then dropping again.

[Hes]

That's a really lovely story Wharfee! It also makes me think that the story could be expanded to become an illustrated children's book.

[stevefoster]

What a lovely story, non-fiction as well, well done them fishermen.

[molehill]

First Daffodil (out in flower) - at my sisters place near Rhandirmwyn (Wales). What the hell is going on there then ???

[wharfeego]

First Daffodil (out in flower)...What the hell is going on there then ???

A Mistle Thrush was in full song this morning. It was a heart-warming sound. I haven't normally heard them until well into January. It's said that they are one of our earliest breeding birds, laying eggs as early as February.

[molehill]

A Mistle Thrush was in full song this morning. It was a heart-warming sound. I haven't normally heard them until well into January. It's said that they are one of our earliest breeding birds, laying eggs as early as February.

A few years back we had a nest in an apple tree in the garden, can't remember the date, but they had fledged long before any leaf on the tree - the nest was so exposed on the branch it was a wonder they survived, but they are pretty good and agressive parents to other birds (crows, maggies etc.). Will start listening for them, obviously a strange winter!