What have you seen
Comments
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I know foxes can be a nuisance and i certainly would not encourage feeding them, but since we lost Rufs this beautiful fox has sort of taken up residence in our wild patch, seems to spend most of the day sleeping then vanishes in the evening, my guess is that he is quite young and has no real cause to be afraid of humans, blackbirds do not like him and we must have had a second hatch as i have seen a couple of very young ones on the ground.
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Yes, Rufs, they are fabulous animals and play an important part in the natural environment, trouble is we mess with the balance and they suffer. Unfortunately they are given a bad press and name by those with an agenda of their own. I recall the days when some Hunts would actively encourage them to breed purely so their abhorrent ritualised hunting could take place, thankfully that has no stopped.
But yes, due to our actions, they do need some control but only in humane ways and never to eradication and certainly not with the hatred some irrationally show..0 -
Been at home a lot recently but nature never stops.
Sitting in our front lounge early last night watched as a Sparrowhawk came into view flying a bit awkwardly. Then I noticed it was carrying a heavy load but couldn't quite see what it was, thankfully.
Having breakfast this morning watched a Treecreeper climbing one of the Silver Birches at the end of the garden.
Birdsong has been muted of late but they must be due second broods as I was awoken with a sort of mini dawn chorus at 4 this morning. Lovely to hear and start the day with.
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We seem to have a lot of blackbirds this year and a couple of them sing all day. A popular spot is on the top of a thirty foot conifer not far from our bedroom window . Singing starts about 4am and will end at dusk...I presume they get a few hours rest?!
A word of warning, the conifer was planted as a dwarf slow grower!
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I have notice this year just how many Blackbirds have been about. Everywhere we have walked they are the predominant songsters, along with Wrens and Robins, as you say, from very early morning until it starts to go dark.
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Back in his favourite position in the sunshine, just a bit concerned he may come indoors when the patio doors are open, but Spanish daughter arrives on Sunday with 2 dogs, so I dont expect he will stay around much longer. Blackbirds have been very quiet all day, yesterday they were darting around and screeching all day, hope next doors cat did not get any of their young which i suspect were on the ground.
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Along same lines R-I’ve been watching a mother Goldfinch feeding 2 chicks on the garden under one of the sunflower heart feeders. She grinds them up then chooses a chick & feeds it followed by hunting for more hearts, what she don’t see is the chick then feeds itself from the ground🤣🤣. Young uns of all species have mum scooting about. Great fun.
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We had a pair of Stock Doves who were busy every evening on a branch in the tree next to our pitch gosh not keen on their bird call though.
Whilst having a meal in Rocamadour with all windows open in the restaurant we had Crag Martins and Alpine Swifts flying around also saw some Yellow Wagtails by a small river but no dippers about.
Plenty of Tree Sparrows on the site and plenty of butterflies and at home yesterday I watched about 20 Great Banded Graylings on flowers in the garden a great site to see.
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Returned to Trimmingham today and the bad news is that the wardens think that a stoat has raided the nest, the good news is that the Bee Eaters are still showing well. Whilst there I spotted a fox stalking a magpie. I will post a photo when I return home
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Had a sight of a Beautiful Damaselle on a river today and a Spotted Flycatcher on the edge of a woodland.
Lots and Lots of birdsong, butterflies and bees seen today at a water garden in rural Herefordshire.
Had a close encounter with a young Robin fledgling when opening the window blind this morning. He decide I might be a good source of food and kept pecking on the window whilst sitting on the sill for me to feed him. Felt awful being unable to comply as he would have flown if I attempted to open the window.
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We've been pleased to see more fledgling gs woodpeckers on our nut feeders. Seems like they have done well this year also the humble sparrow. Yesterday I sat on a bench in our front garden and a young sparrowhawk sat on a tree branch nearby then glided off silently into our yew hedge. They are brilliant hunters but I hope the youngsters keep a good look out. 👀
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A good day all round today. We went to Threads Castle nature reserve again this morning and walking to the Osprey viewing point heard Serge and Willow Warblers, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits en route, and a Little Egret on the flashes. At the viewing point we could see the four young Ospreys on their nest platform, one of them helicoptering, obviously just about ready for her first flight. No sign of the parents unfortunately. There were also 3 Peregrines feeding on the top of walks of the castle, and one flying around too.Then we had a walk around the Threaves Garden woodland and from the hide saw a Red Squirrel and numerous Nuthatches at the feeder along with the usual selection of Tits and Chaffinches. There was also a Red Kite on one of the telegraph poles near the site when we were out for our post-dinner walk.
It is great to see that the Ospreys here have managed to rear 4 young again this year as other nests have lost at least one of their chicks from a brood of 3.
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Resident Barn Owl around here on CL, and Red Kites overhead. We saw a beautiful pair of Mute Swans and their family of quite young Cygnets on canal as we cycled past, plus Dragonflies (not the bright green/blue ones but chunkier brown, Broad Bodied Chasers?) Have heard a woodpecker, possibly a Green one, and passing Belvior Castle a gorgeous Silver Pheasant, might be an escapee as not your usual kind.
Plus Spitfire and Hurricane flew over yesterday morning🙄
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Whilst outside gardening this morning heard a couple of Golden Orioles calling so I whistled back and ended up with parents and young flying about so 6 altogether before they flew in to different trees a lovely sight made my day. The Cuckoos have left and not sure whether the Nightingales have gone yet as not singing anymore.
Plenty of butterflies about Dark Green and Queen of Spain Fritillaries, Great Banded Graylings, Wall Browns, Common and Scarce Swallowtails and still a few Marbled Whites about.
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Just been watching a buzzard being harassed simultaneously by a crow and a sparrow-hawk. It could have been a juvenile but whatever age, it didn't seem particularly bothered about the other birds. There have been quite a few buzzards overhead today and not very high up.
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Watched a proper aerial “dog fight” a couple of days ago, two red kites v two buzzards. Incredible aerobatics. Day later, Red Arrows flew across as I was coming up A1.
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Must do better with my macro photography but can anyone identify this visitor to the awning? Think it’s a kind of mimic fly.
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Having one through my insect book it looks like a large Hover Fly or a Horse Fly by looking at the wing patterns, yes you must try harder with your macro photography Miickysf ha ha.
The Golden Orioles were about again this morning quite a few young ones all calling and again managed to see a few flying about great colours.
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We had a nice carpet off flowers during our walks today up on the Limestone of Cunswick Fell and Scout Scar.....Harebells, Field Scabious, Lady's Bedstraw, Common Hedgenettle (Betony), Yellow Rock Roses and Wild Thyme.
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No photos yet mickysf they just move to quick.
Also got the Turtle Doves cooing and that takes me back to my childhood in Shropshire when we had them cooing around the fields and Nightingales in one corner of the field.
This year has be good for wildflowers NH but now a lot are going over due to the heat.
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Damp hard path walk this morning. Ground is grateful for the moisture, decent rain yesterday afternoon too.
Was concerned again today, first concerned on Wednesday on the same walk, deviated to fields and woods soon after the start then, to see swallows gathering on the telephone wires. Several on at least 3 different wires. Summer hasn't been much but didn't like this signal! Again this morning there were a few gathering on the wires. I don't recall them doing this before getting ready for migrating.
Wednesday was a grey warm day so not weather related?
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Have witnessed such gatherings of swallows in previous years. They may well be recently fledged and will hang around. They will often help parent birds with raising a second or subsequent brood. Nothing to be concerned about I hope.
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