What have you seen
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Just had lunch at putting dishes in the sink and looked out of the window and a Hare was sat on our wall we have seen it before as it likes to come in and chew on the wildflowers I have near the kitchen window so hopped off when I open the window and the other sighting was about 20 Little Egrets flying over low near our bedroom window had enough time to see the feet colouring so knew what they were an unusual sight here as no local marshes except a few local ponds about. Seems our local Redstarts have moved further south and the robins are about singing away they do not like the Redstarts about.
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Interesting day started with skeins of geese (Pink Footed?) heading NE over the site, the spotted huge "clouds" of Geese flying above the Solway which appeared to be at full tide. On the morning walk there was a dead sheep surrounded by crows, with a Buzzard and a Greater Black Backed Gull enjoying a feast. Fortunately the farmer retrieved the carcass son afterwards. Then during our walk saw 3 Bull Finches, a Dipper, and a couple of Grey Herons on Annan Water, and about 6 Nuthatches close together in a small group of trees by the river. This evening there was much bird activity and noise around the site, Tree and House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Starlings etc which suddenly ceased when a Raptor scattered them. It took quite a while before they returned.
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Nice day Nellie.
Obviously the birds found the recycling centre. In nature not much goes to waste.
The nearest we've come to unusual sightings today was when we were speaking to our near neighbour and their little 4 year old pointed at an overhead Buzzard and waved at it and said "Plane!"
Back to the blackboard I think.
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Just back from wild trout fishing in the remote uplands. Super day. Toped by a stag coming down to drink, not seeing me and upwind. Was oblivious for about 10 mins before ambling off. In full Antler mode. Unfortunately cant download picture
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The irony of my great experience is that these Deer were released illegally here in Mid wales. They are creating havoc amongst the recently planted trees - the very things the environmentalists want us to do. Just shows how short sighted people are.
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Decent day yesterday as saw a couple of Bullfinches, a Stoat and a Red Squirrel, as well as lots of Buzzards flying and hovering around Green Knowles Windfarm. Today, because of the low clouds, numerous large skiens of Geese passed low overhead, heading NE this morning and SW this evening.
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Arrived at Englethwaite Hall site yesterday and our bird feeder has attracted Blue Tits,Great Tits ,Long Tail tits,Chaffinch,Nuthatch,Robin and Wrens.lovely sight outside your Caravan 👍😊
Brian & Jo
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Although we are still holed up and longing for a return to normal, new sightings are presenting themselves in our garden.
Small birds have returned to the garden after weeks of being missing. The blackbird family that were raised from a nest two foot from our front door, didn't even know it was there until all young had fledged, have been predated by the returning Sparrowhawk, fortunately only seen the remaining feathers and missing birds but not the incidents.
Today offered a sight that at first seemed like two Magpies squaring up to each other by lurching towards each other. However on close watching, the birds were in fact bathing by launching into the broad leaved evergreen bushes to take on board the water on the leaves.
Never seen this before and surprising as all the other birds bath in the small waterfall into the Koi pond.
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We have had 7 Hawfinches on one of our oaktrees a couple days ago.
Saw 5 Swallows flying over today and they looked in good condition as our local paper here in the Lot have said a lot of Swallows migrating have suffered due to the cold weather and 20 found dead in one local village no injuries but were very thin due to the weather and not be able to feed on insects such a shame, a lot around here left quite early so hope they have made it.
Have had a red squirrel running along the top of a wall and going up the local walnut tree and not much left on it now and the leaves have already changed colour and starting to drop off.
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After setting up on our current site today I took Flyte for a walk and virtually across the road from the entrance were 2 Roe Deer grazing in a field. Beyond them on the stubble were hundreds of Geese. I went out later view them and there appeared to be about a couple of hundreds of Pink Footed Geese. Suddenly they all took flight, and joined up with others to form a huge stream of thousands heading away to the east.
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Another interesting day. The passage of skiens of Geese have continued this morning, with many thousand of geese heading south. They were followed by a flight of 5 Whooper Swans just as we were heading out in the car. Along the shore just north of Peterhead gills and Redshanks were having a feeding frenzy along the tide line at the turn of the tide, and a couple of female Red Breasted Merganzers were feeding in the river. Then at Boddam harbour Grey Seals were showing their heads and calling away, Cormorants were sunny themselves on the rocks, and there were flights of adult Gannets along with their young further out in the bay.
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Gosh Pliers that seems early for Fieldfares.
About an hour ago I was topping up the birdfeeder and the local Sparrowhawk had a surprise as he came over OH's shed and dropped down low in front of me about 2 feet away he soon flew off when I waved my arm at him and then he went into the field behind us only to be mobbed by the local crows not what he was expecting, a very close call.
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It’s been a super Autumn for skeins Nells👍🏻. Along this East coastal strip I’ve seen & heard around 20 skeins, the most this early I can ever remember. High skeins probably heading further South but very many slightly in land near & above me, stunning sights & sounds. I just can’t resist watching them from the initial sound to the last glimpse I find it goose(apt) bump inducing👏🏻👏🏻. The least amount was 40ish the most was well over 200, what a noise that was too. I do wonder what created this high level of migration?, cold snap in Scandinavia or just a successful breeding season. . .Whatever it was I’m grateful.
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They're quite magical Rocky.
There are 2 sounds that I listen out for. In Spring it's the sound of the first Chiffchaff, which heralds the start of the return of the songbirds and the second is the sound of returning Skeins of Geese, particularly if I happen to be able to watch flying in from the North Sea. I can understand your wonderment because I feel that thrill as well. It lifts my spirits to be welcoming old friends back again.
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Haven't seen owt but did read of an epic journey made by a Black Tailed Godwit that has a transponder on its back and identification tags on its legs.
It took off from Alaska and flew non stop to New Zealand, 12,200 kms away without landing and by the internal map as there are very little landmarks for guidance.
It had originally been tagged in N.Z. It took just 11 days (and nights obviously).
What an amazing feat.
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Even more Geese around today. There must have been 2000+ on the field of stubble when we came back to the van mid afternoon, but they'd all gone when I went up the road an hour or so later. They may well have scattered because of the 4 Buzzards that were circling close by.
During our walk on the beach at St Fergus we saw about 100 Shags on the offshore scar and many more in the water too, along with a number of Grey Seals, and again Gannets, both adult and juveniles plunging into the sea. Just by the dune edge and in among the washer up seaweed a couple of Snow Bunting were having a feast.
Then on the way to the Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve a Merlin flew across our path. The birds hides are closed at present but a viewing area had been set up by one of them and from there we could watch the Whooper Swans on the wetlands, as well as a Little Egret.
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Cheers, WN. I just wonder how many other species a proper bird watched would see. The records board in the visitor's centre had 124 different species seen on or about the reserve so far this year!!
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Fieldfare infestation! They are everywhere! Expect they will disperse, as usual. Not seen or heard any redwings yet, but there are many sightings recorded on our local ELOC website.
Bit grim to be placed in Tier 3 of the lockdown restrictions. Never mind, we can cope here our moorland edge village, but really feel for people who live in the nearby towns.
It’s the hope that kills you.....😱
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Feel much the same Pliers, even worse after todays news here in Wales. I feel that I've completely missed a whole year of nature watching or at least I've missed the variety. We've had bits and pieces here and there but I was looking forward to doing some wader watching on the Wirral when we got back at the end of September only to find us restricted to Flintshire. Did get some in down at Flint but it's better over on the west side of the Wirral.
May have to try and find a cottage in Norfolk in December for the geese and waders but as you said you build your hopes up only to have them dashed.
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Evening
So, we've been doing some work at our Grafham Water club site in Cambs and I thought I'd share the fantastic sight I've experienced the last few evenings. There's a resident great American horned owl here. Apparently an American airman serving at Alconbury had it in a cage back in 2005. It escaped to find refuge here. Talking to our neighbour, they've left out food for it for years and it has accustomed to getting it's dinner. So, moving on, we leave a chicken leg out on the bird table behind reception at seven pm every evening and lo and behold he comes to feed. Tonight I watched him for fifteen minutes taking his fill. Such a spectacle to see such a grand bird at close proximity (5 meters). A bit of respite in this changing world we're in.
JK
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Good to hear he's still going strong, JK. 👍🏻
I've heard him but not seen him.
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Last of the apples awaiting crushing today, cider smells in the air. Plenty of eaters and cookers too.
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