What have you seen

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  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #2732

    Great photos from both BM and Greylag.

    We did see a couple of Red Kites today as well as a Kestral, and heard at least 2 GSW calling. But what we noticed most of all are the hedgerow flower in bloom, Primroses, including a few pink ones, both blue and white Violets, plenty of Daffodils, Snowdrops, Periwinkles, a Celendine and even a Red Current. There are a couple of Tawny Owls giving it Wigan at the moment as well as early this morning.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2733

    Had quite a surprise the other night, something I've not seen before but we spotted slugs climbing one of our apple trees. Didn't have anything to hand for a photo so found this LINK. Anyone else noticed them? 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2734

    We had pleasant day around Wicken Fen today, seeing Marsh Harriers, Kestral and Buzzards this morning, and then after lunch a couple of Munjack, lots of Shoveller Ducks, Widgeon, Little Grebe, Little Egret, and OH spotted a Kingfisher. We also heard both a Cetti's Warbler and Bearded Tit.

  • Unknown
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    edited March 2020 #2735
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  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited March 2020 #2736

    We’ve had them spawning as early as January on the East Coast due to mild times.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,064 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2737

    Very active aren’t they! We had our first frogspawn early February, which is a bit of a record. Thankfully no really hard frosts since, so it seems to be going ok. We have two largish ponds, which is where the frogs like to gather, but we put out some upside down old rubber dustbin lids, edged by rocks, and the frogs and birds love them, squirrels like them as well.

    Cant help thinking things are getting a tad biblical at the moment, locusts infesting some countries, floods, Coronavirus (plague), frogs, not looking forward to boils........😱

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,064 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2738

    Typical Dales here, mix of older lambs and tiny newborns, lots of daffodils, can hear curlews calling. Lovely. We drove from Skipton to Gargrave, and there is still a lot of water lying in the fields. Lots of ducks and swans enjoying themselves.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2739

    It has been exceptionally mild this winter in most places, even milder than usual in the SW and although we no longer have a pond, I heard frogs some weeks ago. 

    The daffodils in the verges are past their best now - some have been in bloom since just after Christmas - and the primroses are appearing thick and fast. 

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2020 #2740
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2020 #2741

    We have been hearing and seeing plenty of frogs in our pond since first week of Feb which is now a mass of sporn     ,the snowdrops that were out in Jan, have now gone over  ,, as have some of the crocus and daffs, the blubells in our woodland may well flower soon as they are very advanced,

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2742

    A pair of Bluetits are "tapping" one of our nest boxes, quite noisy and a problem now as it's on an apple tree due for pruning. Looks like it will have to grow even more this year.

    So much is out in the garden now, leaves emerging on hedging and trees. Just hope we don't get a cold snap.

    No frogspawn in our pond, we had to close net it due to new dog arriving. But we've got frogs and toads around so we're not without their company.  🐸

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2743

    Went for a walk with brother and SiL on the heath near their house. Saw a pair Dartford Warblers. They said there are 2 pairs in that area. We also heard and saw our first Chiffchaffs of the year. These were newly in as brother said they haven't had any overwintering this year.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2744

    Good spot, WN. Nothing as fine up here but plenty of Yellowhammers along the hedgerow when I'm out each morning. And pairs of Red Kites circling over the fields and site too.

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2745

    The chiffchaffs have arrived here and today we had a black redstart male and a common redstart male on the field  also some butterflies about as the sun came out this afternoon and much warmer up to 20C after two weeks of dull and wet weather.

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2746

    I've seen in the newspaper that a man who owns a fishery has been jailed for 2 months for killing an otter 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2747

    Was clearing out some debris from the pond with a net, emptied it and thought I'd got a water snail too, delighted to find it was a small newt. Couldn't 'rescue' it as it quickly buried itself 😂. Delighted to find it, we have crested newts so could be one of their offspring or a common one - far too fleeting a sighting to be sure. The water whilst very chilly is beautifully clear. Nice clump of frogs spawn arrived the day before yesterday, hope some survives.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2748

    We saw our first wild Cowslip of the year, as well as lots of Primroses the other day by Rutland Water. Today there were many Wigeon, Tufted Ducks, and some Gadwell on Fort Henry Lake when I passed, and from the bird hide saw Nuthatches, and numerous Tits including Long Tailed and Willow Tits.

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited March 2020 #2749

    Reed bunting and brambling in the garden this morning. It’s always late winter / early spring when brambling turn up here, and they sometimes hang about until April.

    As an “over 70”, if I’m under house arrest for the rumoured next 4 months, will have more time to see what’s about! 🙂

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2750

    Good day down by Rutland Water. Great Crested Grebe, Grey Herons, Great White Egret, Red Kite, Buzzards being seen off by a couple of Crows, and to cap it all a pair of Ospreys at their best, and a third on another tree along with a number of Cormorants.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2751

    Like other wild life associations our local Somerset Wildlife Trust are acting on gov. advice about meetings and visits etc. But they're setting up a page like this one, to let others hear and see what you've seen, but this will be from closer to home at the moment. Nice idea to keep everyone in touch. smile

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2752

    So keep posting even if it's in your garden or street. 🦋🐌🦊

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2753

    Had a stroll along Millers Dale in Peak District today. Nice and quiet so plenty of wildlife around.

    Dippers and Grey Wagtails and Mandarin Ducks on the river plus a lovely Water Vole on the bank who scuttled off when he saw us into the river and into a pile of twigs. Then 2 frogs who decided not to bother moving out of the way on the foothpath and finally 2 Sparrowhawks having a " mid-air cuddle" which a polite way of putting it.embarassed A lovely stroll.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2020 #2754

    Nature is truly red in tooth and claw surprised

    Coming back from Pharmacy this morning, I paused and refilled all the bird feeders, emptied the bird baths and put them to drain. Came indoors & washed my hands properly ( innocent )  Looked out of the window whilst drying them and BOOBOOM saw a sparrowhawk take down a male blackbird, glared at me then flew  away to its favoured local eating point.

    Could have waited until I was back in the old arm chair frown

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2755

    Our walk yesterday took us alongside the River Ure. There are still several large lakes left on the narrow floodplain, which can't drain back. These are proving a haven for waterfowl. Apart from the standard Mallards and Greylag and an odd Canada Goose there were 50 + Oystercatchers. Not seen these inland before, although my bird app informs me that they are increasingly found inland on marshland and wet grassland, as besides molluscs they are very partial to worms. They were certainly very vocal, as it also advises.😀 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2020 #2756

    While waiting outside the chemist yesterday , two of our local Kite population were circulating over the local primary school, , a woman asked what they were    , when she was told    , she was hoping that the school were aware , and if they had any way of keeping the little ones safesurprised

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2757

    Yesterday I saw in the garden a swallowtail and Common Blue butterflies a bit early even for down here but was very warm and today whilst putting the washing out a male Hen Harrier flew over not seen one around here before so possibly migrating north but a lovely sight.

    We do see Cormorants flying along the river Lot and sometimes the river Cele they seemed to have moved a lot more into country areas rather than coastal.

    Good spot with the Oystercatchers  SteveL.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited March 2020 #2758

    You sure you didn't say they were vultures looking for corona victims, JVB?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2759

    We do see Cormorants flying along the river Lot and sometimes the river Cele they seemed to have moved a lot more into country areas rather than coastal.

    Yes, there are often 4 in Clumber Park and we are miles from the sea. They sit at the top of a couple of dead trees, wings spread in the sun.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2760

    We've seen them quite a long way inland in mating season, particularly in Scotland. Quite surprised me the first time.

    It's a bit like coming across Curlews and Redshanks that breed inland.

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2761

    Had 6 Red Kites fly over then about 2 hours later 1 Black Kite so a good day for birds of prey even our local pair of Buzzards flying about.