What have you seen
Comments
-
A few years ago we noticed the fledglings in our lean to garage hung around for sometime even whilst the parents raised a second brood. I can’t swear to it but watching them it seem more than two birds were feeding the new youngsters. When it came to leaving for warmer climes the telegraph wires outside had ten or more on them. Then they were gone. I’d like to think that the proud parents migrated together with their ‘babies’.
0 -
The CL we're on has a field in front of us with sheep in. The breed is a new one to me - Border Leicester, sheep with big ears and quite long legs.
Lots of Swallows quartering the field, always late afternoon/early evening. There's a Hobby knocking about so they will have to take care.
1 -
Watching the "humble bumble" enjoying late alliums in our garden.
2 -
Managed to get a photo, not great, of the sheep when they visited this part of the field 15 minutes ago. They're off as soon as they see you.
1 -
Just got back home after a few days away and found this trying to get in or out of our pond. Think it is a grass snake about 2ft long which had just eaten (hopefully not one of our fish) and so its stomach got stuck in the pond netting. it did eventually wriggle free when I produced some scissors to cut the netting. It is now in the pond somewhere.
peedee
3 -
I have seen snakes before but even out in the countryside it is rare to spot them. I am rather shocked to think I have at least one in my garden which is in an urban environment. Over the years I have lived here, as more and more land has been developed and with it the increase in traffic, the birds have declined and I cannot remember when we last had a hedgehog in the garden. There are foxes and the occasional badger but I find it very surprising that snakes are living locally in urban gardens.
peedee
0 -
We found a Grass Snake slough in the garden a few years back and I know they are living in the wood behind the house.
One of the villagers saw one whilst walking his dog in the wood and promptly informed the local primary school that it was an Adder so the school stopped taking the children in there for nature lessons. We were away at the time but after looking at his photo we corrected him and the school informed it was a harmless Grass Snake.
1 -
On the way back from Villefranche after shopping I briefly saw two birds of prey so a quick check and they were Honey Buzzards flying around near a large wood good to see and then back home looked down the field and in our large Hawthorn bush was a Melodious Warbler and great to see once I checked my bird book no singing though possibly it is on the way south but not seen one before.
2 -
Just seen by our pool on some wood a large Radiated Wolf Spider did take a photo but will put on here later as we have friends soon to arrive glad I did not get to close as not keen on large brown spiders.
Have got more Swallows landing on the wires and a lot of young ones seems to early for them to go south.
0 -
From my observations it seems like a good season for swallows with several broods so far in our nests. Those ones on the wires may be recent fledglings who will stick around, some may also assist the feeding of subsequent broods I’m told. Also told they are likely to eventually migrate together as a whole family.
0 -
Had a Lesser Purple Emperor Butterfly on the blue bubble wrap on top of our little pool so had to stay still as I was in the pool to watch it drinking the water from the bubble wrap made my day and the other day whilst in the pool had a female tree frog on the liner of the pool so had to get it in a container as it did not like the treated water in the pool but it has now been moved to behind our fencing, amazing what you can see from having a dip in a small pool.
A lot of swallows are on the move seen more this week than I have seen in the last few years and some flying around and landing in a small oak tree possible insects flying around them.
2 -
We were in Mallorca one autumn and found ourselves watching Eleanor's Falcons feasting on migrating Hirundines.
They're a bit like a Hobby but strangely, and sensibly, don't breed until autumn to take advantage of those migrating birds. Nothing quite as violent as nature.
Lovely looking birds though.
2 -
We've still got Swallows nesting with large flying groups around when there's an insect hatch. Had a Jersey Tiger Moth on our kitchen window today, have seen several around so that's good to see. Buzzards overhead due to the wheat being cut, out to catch what emerges!
1 -
There are still Swallows and House Martins flying around in S Cumbria too.
0 -
Had a few Jays on the plot today looking for food then 1 flew after a young Golden Oriole and its parents joined in so had 4 Golden Orioles flying around and then the Jays gave up when they realised the parents were about lovely to see the Golden Orioles with their young.
Also got 1 Jay that has found the bird bath so comes for a drink most days now.
More Swallows flying over us even had one fly close over me whilst in the little pool perhaps it was thinking of taking on water.
Also got 2 very young Black Redstarts flying about here today so a very late brood unusual to see in August.
3 -
What a treat in Norfolk.....Turtle Dove. First one I've seen in 40 years.
4 -
Fantastic, not seen or heard one since I was a youth. They were quite plentiful in my childhood but changing farming practices have not been beneficial. Conversely, it’s cousin, the collared dove, wasn’t even to be seen anywhere on our shores back then but today they are everywhere. Just goes to show how sensitive habitats and species can be and how our actions help or hinder. One loser, one gainer!
0 -
So human action once again is to blame! On an aside these collared doves ‘arrived’ in the UK at the same time as those Ringneck Parakeets. Today there are significantly more of RNPs here than our native Kingfishers. Interesting to note how these avians and others have spread across Europe and into northern territories. Similar patterns of expansions are seen with other species of flora and fauna. Sometimes this is to the detriment of what some would call ‘native’ species. I guess nature has no political boundaries and we humans can mess things up!
But yes, the guns of Malta and others have much to answer for. I know that Chris Packham has attempted to rectify their ways and many European birders and environmentalists are on his side supporting his actions. It is the hunting/shooting fraternity that are to blame. We have a similar issue here with some species targeted by the same ilk. Golden Plover, snipe, woodcock and others being shot in the name of sport. Then of course we have the few who target our raptors. Dreadful wherever it happens.1 -
Fields End Water AS site near March in Cambridgeshire was originally just fishing lakes and a CL.
We stayed there on several occasions and one year woke up to a singing Turtle Dove sitting in a tree next to our caravan. Absolute magic. Last one we've seen in UK but have seen them abroad. Lovely photo Greylag.
1 -
Had a few hours wandering around some old gravel pits on the outskirts of St.Neots yesterday, Paxton Pits.
Not much going on birdwise but dragon and damselflies kept us amused and interested.
A couple of Emperors, Common Blue Damselflies, Ruddy Darters amongst plenty of others. Surprised there wasn't a sight of any Hobbies.
1
