What have you seen
Comments
-
Strange times in birdwatching land.
I never thought I would write this but witnessed 17 Cranes flying over the Wetland reserve at Welney this morning before alighting in a field about a half mile away. This on a day when there were sightings of a Great White Egret and Cattle Egrets. These were birds that we were only able to see by travelling to Europe not so long ago.
Anyway we had a really enjoyable day. Almost all duck species that you could expect to see and quite a few waders, plus some Whooper Swans and a Bewick Swan.
The roads were just about accessible and the whole area has flooded fields for many a mile adjacent to the rivers.
3 -
Walking along beside Jed Water this afternoon and spotted 5 Goosanders, 2 males and 3 females, all altogether, and a little further upstream another pair of them, as well as a Dipper and a female Grey Wagtail.
2 -
Excellent days birdwatching, and walking, at Frampton Marshes.
Thousands of Golden Plovers being harassed by a pair of Merlins, Goldeneye, American Wigeon and oodles of ducks, geese and waders, especially the Avocets.
Plus a fantastic view of a singing Cetti's Warbler, a hard bird to get to see for any length of time.
3 -
Had a pleasant walk around the local reservoirs this morning and was delighted to see a treecreeper in the woods, plus a Goldeneye duck and a pair of Mandarin ducks on the water. Also heard a singing competition between a couple of Skylarks.
This afternoon on a moorland walk we heard Curlews and saw a Raven doing it's Red Arrow upside down flying trick. Fair brought a smile a to our faces.
We seem to have a Tawny Owl somewhere in the trees on the C.L. that hoots during the day but not at night. Yet to see him.
1 -
Saw my first of the season Holly Blue Butterfly about 3 weeks earlier than last year, quite a few of over wintering butterflies about.
Got the local Buzzards doing the mating display again and doing loop the loop never seen it before until a couple of weeks ago she just carries on flying whilst he does the loops and he also does a lot of diving down towards the ground, friends of ours had a dead baby bird in their garden not sure what it was as it did not have any feathers on it.
Good bird watching WN.
1 -
Haven't seen any butterflies yet RK. The Ravens do a similar thing to the Buzzards except turn over as they fly along.
We had quite a few daffodils out at the end of February before coming away but have noticed that they are a bit behind over on the east coast.
Anyway it's compulsory to have them out for the 1st.March in Wales.
0 -
Sounds like a good day, WN. The Tawny owls was there when we were, and I spotted one on the pines down the road a way towards the houses.
We saw a Treecreeper when we came down from the Waterloo Monument the other day as,well as hearing Skylarks. Eider ducks were our spot today, off the point at North Berwick.
1 -
A pair of Black Redstarts have arrived about 6pm this evening and flying about the front of OH's shed so reckon they are the pair we had last year as they did the same flying about, so they have made it before the rain and strong winds forecast for the weekend.
2 -
It was a flower day today, as we saw our first wild primroses, including the rarer ones with a red tinge (possibly a hybrid), celendines, spring squills, blackthorn blossom and violet ivy-leaved speedwells. Plenty of daffodils coming out now, and the snowdrops and winter scooters are dying down. Also spotted roe deer in the distance, and a hare on the field close to the van.
2 -
-
First frogs have arrived overnight in our garden pond and also first six lots of spawn. They soon got down to work. This is exactly the same date as last year. I'm getting that I can almost predict their arrival, mainly based on what the weather will be overnight. Last night was the first warm(ish) and damp night.
1 -
Not seen or heard any frogs here yet but did notice that the toad and frog crossing in the village and the track it is on as been closed off to usage only small not really big enough for cars there is a complete tunnel underneath the main road for them to use.
Had the male Brambling on the window feeder in full breeding mode but not seen any females yet and the Goldfinches get very aggressive with other birds but when the male Hawfinch is on the feeder the Goldfinches do not stand a chance he looks at them and if to say my beak is much bigger than yours, it is the only feeder at the moment as the male Sparrowhawk has taken a few birds from the other feeders.
2 -
We not seen any frogs yet on our travels either, but OH nearly stood on a Toad in the middle of the footpath as we were walking by Yellowcraig the other day.
Spotted these Spring Squills today.
2 -
We often see Red Kites as they have migrated up from the Chilterns, but just recently the sightings have become more frequent and we now often watch as they fly down over the gardens and street. I have wondered if someone has started feeding them. 🤔
0 -
Had a lovely day yesterday down at RSPB reserve at Burton and a walk alongside the Dee Marshes.
Managed to see a female Long Tailed Duck, Egyptian Goose,4 Barnacle Geese, Marsh Harriers, and a beautiful newly arrived summer visitor, a Wheatear. Loads of Chiffchaffs as well. All duck species that one would be expected to see plus Great White Egrets.
It was a good mixture of winter birds and some new arrivals.
I did post this yesterday but this website still acts weirdly and I have no idea where my post landed, or if it did.
1 -
Just heard and seen a Hoopoe in our field same time as last year, also had 3 female Black Redstarts in the field not sure if they are local or just passing through, got 4 buzzards flying around and all calling and male and female Woodlarks and Hawfinches so Spring has arrived.
1 -
I have a trail camera set up outside, next to my back door. Most nights I get to see one or two hedgehogs and on many days, a fox. Last night there was a hedgehog and a fox nose to nose, right outside my door at 1.30am. Neither seemed particularly bothered about the other. On one night last week I got photos and video of a fox, two hedgehogs together, a cat and a rat! I don't want the latter around, thank you very much.
If I knew how to, and I can't find any posts relating to it in 'search', I could have posted last night's encounter. Perhaps someone will kindly tell me how to post a photo. I'm sure it's not difficult but not easy to find instructions. Thanks
0 -
Kestrel or Sparrowhawk i say Kestrel , posing today in Seafield park
JohnM20, i simply save my photies in my download file, and then when you start your post click add photos and select your photes from your file, they cannot be larger in size than 500kb.
0 -
Quite a good few days bird wise. GSW hammering away every morning on site and transported spotted it flying from tree to tree. Skylarks, Stonechats and a female Hen Harrier on the moors by East Lomond hill, Eider Ducks and Mersangers on the water by West Wemyes, and then today a couple of male Goosanders and a flight of (Pink Footed?) Geese.
2 -
During our walk yesterday up in Lennoxtown Forest we saw the most frogs and frogspawn that we have ever seen, in the small ditch pools along by the fire road. It was the loud croaking of the frogs that first brought them to our attention.
2 -
The Blackcaps have arrived and singing away lovely to hear and the Tree Frog has been calling all this week hope he finds a mate soon a very strange noise he makes, the local frogs have arrived in the next field so a lot of croaking going on it is very overgrown small plot and we thinks there must be a well or water area as he frogs come every year.
1 -
We hope to get to Angelsey next month Pliers.😀
2 weeks ago we were woken up whilst staying on Wirral C.P site by the calls of Curlew on the Dee Marshes. This morning up at Settle we were woken by that same warbling sound of the Curlew. In fact one has just flown by the window, calling away. Fantastic. Also seen a Swallow.
1
