Today's Wildlife Encounter

[that_fjell_guy]

Out running today I saw three Crows. At first I thought it was two Crows, one of which was ill or stuck...flapping about on the same spot, the other just watching on. When I went to see if I could help it turned out to be, as I say, three. One watching on and one getted battered by the third which was basically holding it down and pecking it to death!! I chased the two offenders off and was left with a very sorry looking one flapping about unable to fly so I ushered it into the hedge out of the way. As I resumed my run the two 'offenders' just returned and resumed there gruesome task. Kind of weird, kind of unsettling!? I felt a little guilt at not rescuing the poor thing but I wasn't in a position to do an awful lot...and I guess its down to the survival of the fitest at the end of the day. I can only think they were going to kill and eat the victim, though it really did look like pure murder! They do call a group of Crows a 'murder' I think!!

[wharfeego]

...it really did look like pure murder!

That's the nature of the corvids

[Splatcher]

A barn owl flew close past me in the dusk yesterday evening - beautiful. Mind you I could have been hallucinating as it was 45 miles into the Hardmoors 55!

[Zaf]

From the car today a total of four magnificent Red Kites on the outskirts of Harrogate near Pannel Ash. One flew quite close to the lane I was on and it was impressive and quite big close up. I have often seen them when I travel south especially along the M40 but this is the first time I've seen them myself in the North.

[Latege]

Lapwings on Grain Pole Hill (Anglezarke). Heard them last week on Winter Hill but didn't see them.

[GeoffB]

Skylark singing in the White Peak (above Milldale) on Saturday.

[Derby Tup]

Skylark singing in the White Peak (above Milldale) on Saturday.

We saw and heard a couple over the weekend plus first mipits of 'spring' too

[cyclops]

wandering round a little known nature reserve near Glossop today...in the hopes of seeing a shy Woodcock. Was rewarded and saw one

[noel]

Three sightings of little owls today.

First one in the middle of the road. I had to stop right in front of it before it flew away.

The second on my lunchtime run, while I was heading out.

The third on my lunchtime run, while I was heading back. I assume it was the same one, as it was in the same tree as before.

Little owls are in many ways like buses...

[IanDarkpeak]

big flock of Lapwings, 40 at least. also seen curlew and a snipe recently.