What have you seen
Comments
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Always good to see something new Impy. They have really started to spread out in the UK now. We have them breeding at RSPB Burton on the Wirral. I guess that nature tells us what is changing as they wouldn't stay if they couldn't find their food or typical breeding environment.
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A most unusual experience, WN. Never had that happen with a wild animal, but feral cat wouldn't allow us, including the dog, up flight of steps above the harbour at New Quay, Ceredigion, earlier this year.
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No, he was at Tenby on the lifeboat slipway when we were there.
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Does anyone know what a weasel sounds like? a strange thing to ask I know but the other morning on site I was woken up at 4 am by this strange (to me) noise, going by the sound it seemed to be dashing up and down the hedgerow alongside the caravan, I looked out of the window but it was too dark to see anything plus if it was in the hedgerow it would have been hard to spot. The sound was like a single high pitched shrill which was repeated as it dashed two and fro.
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Squirrels can be noisy although usually when they're standing still, so can badgers, hedgehogs and foxes, might be one of these? Weasels are very tiny unlikely to be heard at any distance. Unless someone knows of something else? 🐿🦊
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It definitely wasn't a fox, squirrel, rabbit or hedgehog I know those sounds, badger maybe although as I have never heard a badger, although I thought the hedgerow was too thick for for the dashing up and down, the sound was close to the open caravan windows, about 3 foot away. I have searched weasel sounds and it did sound very much like that, I just wondered if anyone had heard a weasel and could either say yes or no.
As I typed this reply I had a sudden thought - mink? I have just searched mink sounds and it could be that. Oh well, I guess I will never know for sure - a phantom screecher in the night
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As I was editing my last post you replied Brue, thanks for the interest
I had looked and found the sound on you tube, as I just said as I was posting that post I thought mink and just checked a you tube mink sound, it could have been that.0 -
Impy if you see my post on the last page you will see we came across a Weasel and it did indeed emit a high pitch squeal or three at us, so it could very well have been one.
We were awoken at 3 this morning by an Owl landing on the roof of the caravan. He/She then repeated the trick half an hour later after we had gone back to sleep.
The farm site has a resident Ban Owl but we did here a Tawny last night as well so could have been either.0 -
Thanks for your reply Wherenext, it was reading your account of your encounter with that ferret that made me decide to make my post asking if anyone had any ideas, I thought that with everyone having a great interest in nature some one might have an idea
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Had a few hours at RSPB Radipole Lake near Weymouth today. A lot of maintenance work needs doing as the reeds are a bit out of control but as they rely on volunteers and with Covid I can understand why it hasn't been done.
Highlight of the day was 2 Cattle Egrets in prime condition.
The Swallows on the farm we are on were making a right racket about an hour ago so I looked up and they were harassing a Hobby that decided he didn't fancy Swallow for tea and flew off.
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Same here WN had a Hobby flying around and saw it had got a dragonfly and then a load of House martins decided lets have a go at the hobby about 20 of them flying around it the Hobby had enough and flew off and the House martins carried on flying south and more went over yesterday, had the local to us Pied Wagtails and family of 3 young ones around the field yesterday we usually have them all through the winter. As said before WN we see a lot of Cattle Egrets around here now so they are all moving north.
Hope to get around the Brenne beginning of next month as we are up there for a break will let folks know what we see (well me as OH just follows ha ha).
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We've got cattle egrets near us, they seem have taken up residence by an old mill stream on a local dairy farm, possibly no surprise on their choice of home!? Have been watching them for years as they stand out so clearly from the rest of the bird population.
Lots of swallows and housemartins heading home, we seem to be on a flight path to the south.
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There was about 20 Swallows on the farmlands since we arrived on Sunday and today we have only seen the 1. The owner said the roost is deserted and they left overnight so any we do see will be those flying south from elsewhere.
Sad to see them go. They do make me smile with their twittering and sitting on wires etc.1 -
We were found Chew Valley Reservoir today and saw both a Little and Great White Ergret, as well as Shoveller Ducks and both Red and Greenshanks. Still plenty of Martins about too.
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We walked up onto the ridge above Abbotsbury today and saw over 100 Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins feeding up before making the arduous journey over the Channel. Actually saw about 20 Swallows heading off out to sea.
On the way back off the ridge we came across 2 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Wheatears. There's a few House Martins left around the house and they were having a go at the Hobby that seems to be hanging around.
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Seen quite a bit of wildlife this three week tour. Deer at Moreton and on Salisbury Plain, Red Kites at a variety of locations, lots of buzzards. Loads of seals at the Lizard. A weasel out on a bike ride near Chard, a Mink ran across road on same bike ride. Loved all the domestic farm animals out in the fields as well, such variety. Plenty of fish in Kennet and Avon Canal!
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John. There was a short talk about Swallows on radio 4 recently and they mentioned some leave the far north of the UK as late as November. So maybe the Cotswolds ones will be OK?
Sad to hear about the sea bird deaths in the NE, an algal bloom at sea seems to be the source of the problem.
I was out on a walk today and found some Turkey Oak acorns, will plant a few later.
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Came across a home in the soil for Solitary Bees today. Plenty of activity going into the holes etc. Lovely to see them.
Edit - Forgot to mention the magnificent old Yew Tree we came across in a churchyard at Alton Priors. It has been dated to over 1,700 years old. Still in good condition as well.
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Whilst sorting breakfast I looked out of the kitchen window and on top of tree with full sun on it and getting my binos for a better look was a Black Shouldered Kite wow had to check books and internet to confirm a good start to Thursday, apparently they have been in France since the 1990's but have increased their range through south west France, I had seen a bird perched on wires on a road to our local town but in the car and could stop due to traffic so this mornings spot made my day and they will breed all year except for Dec/Jan period very interesting, the local Jays were flying around it very close.
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Great spot Red Kite. Only ever seen 1 of them and that one was in Spain. Just shows how species are moving northwards bit by bit.
Just been watching a Barn Owl in the field behind us in the crepuscular light, which was quite a beautiful sight. There are numerous Tawnies in the trees and bushes scattered around this field which contains usually 3 or 4 horses from the on site Livery Stables. To complete the set we heard a Little Owl at first light this morning on the other side of the CL.
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There are lots of Tawny Owls here at The Barton too, and the other night heard a Screech Owl as I took Flyte out around 10:00pm. Plenty of Buzzards in groups of 3 and 4 cruising about above the woods and both Green and G.S. Woodpeckers too.
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This is so, between the rain clouds.
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