Wildlife

2010-06-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

This bird was singing its head off in the middle of a golf coarse at Dornoch Easter Ross Scotland

Eagle Owl photographed in Inverness. It was to be flying just after I photographed it but no time to spare.

2010-03-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

This past week we have had visits from 2 female Chaffinches. They do not go on the feeders, but stay on the ground under them. Also we have had Long Tail Tits 2/3 days, 1 solitary Starling, Blackbirds lots of Great Tits few Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Robin, pair Doves, Woodpigeons, and the House Sparrows and a pair of Greenfinches have returned.

Yesterday Tuesday saw 5 Buzzards circling above, this morning one was out early just after 9.00am, I think he may have been disturbed from where he was roosting because they are usually later or during the afternoon when they appear.

2010-03-11T11:20:00.000-08:00

First the Sparrowhawk catches a pigeon and they both land in the pond, so the hawk holds the pigeon under the water and drownds it.

It tries very hard to get the pigeon out of the pond, but fails. He manages to get the pigeon resting on the pipes to the waterfall / filter. He does manage to get some meat off it by starting at the head and slowly moving down the neck. It then decides that enough is enough and flies off.

After lunch I go and remove the pigeon from the pond, not a lot of meat left on its neck. I decide to leave the Pigeon on the grass by the pond thinking he may come back for some more. A short while later we get a visit from a pair of Buzzards. They seem nervious at first, but one takes the plunge and moves the pigeon closer to the shrubs. They seem to take it in turns to come down and feed it takes them about 3 hours to finish off the Pigeon.

The smaller birds kept away while the Sparrowhawk was about, but not the Magpies one was about 2 feet away at one point with others looking on from the Silver Birch tree. When the Buzzards where about they did venture back into the garden for food.

Hope you like the photographs these are straight out of the camera shots out of about 150 photo's taken.

2010-03-07T14:34:00.000-08:00

Only seen a few birds this week we have had workmen in and being in and out of the back door all week.

This morning while it was quiet our visitors where Long Tail Tit, but only one. Pair Chaffinches, Blackbird, Pair of Dunnocks, Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Pair of Collard Doves and a Woodpigeon, House Sparrows. Magpies have not been about so much today.

Not seen the Buzzards for a couple of days either, they have been regulars all week sometimes flying low just above the roof tops.

2010-02-27T14:03:00.000-08:00

A report for this week.

Lots of Great Tits few Blue Tits Coal Tit pair Robins male Blackbird and a young one, Woodpigeons, Magpies that are trying to build a nest in the top of our Silver Birch, up to 4 Dunnocks the Wren, twice a pair of Long Tail Tits male and female Chaffinches and a special this week a Goldfinch. Today we have had a pair of Buzzards flying around, pity my camera was indoors, because one was very low and right over head. I have not seen many birds about at all today while I have been in the garden.

2010-02-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

Just after lunch we had birds everywhere, Great Tits, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robins, Dunnocks, Magpies, and a load of Chaffinches, usualy only one or two at most. It was like Piccadilly Circus from the feeders to the trees only a few feet away. Chaffinches though only feed on the ground at the moment and they are very nervous, hope that they will take to the feeders like the Tits.

2010-01-31T14:03:00.001-08:00

Garden bird count compiled on Saturday 30th.

Chaffinch 2, Blackbird 3, Dunnock 4, Magpie 5, Great Tit 5, Blue Tit 2, Woodpigeon 2, House Sparrow 1, Robin 2.

Today Sunday not seen as many birds but, a pair of Collard Doves gave us a visit. During last week for 2 days we had a Coal Tit feeding with the Great Tits here. Used to have more Blue Tits than we are having now, also Greenfinches that looked like book ends on the feeders not seen any of these for months. I see a lot of LBJ's flying over from time to time, not knowing what they are or why they don't pay us a visit is frustrating.

2009-12-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

Still 5 Blackbirds around, but yesterday they where waiting inturn for oneanother to have a bath in the wterfall to my pool (yes still have the pump running, also helps to keep an ice free space in the pool). Had a quick visit from a Starling first one for months also a couple of female Chaffinches, plus the usual Blue Tits, Great Tits, Dunnocks, Magpies, Woodpigeons and now more House Sparrows.

Used to have Coal Tits and Greenfinches regular, but not seen any for 2/3 months now.

2009-12-18T11:41:00.001-08:00

Well a turn up for the book today 5 Blackbirds in the garden, but one was a youngster still chasing dad for food though he was also finding his own. Saw him find a tasty bite and promptly wipe it on the grass 2/3 times before eating it, not sure what it was he found it under some leaves at the side of the lawn.

Had the usual visitors today. Great Tits, Blue Tits. Robin, Dunnocks, Magpies and for a change a couple of House Sparrows, not been many of these about lately we used to get about 10/12 at a time in the past.

2009-12-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

Fighting today, that is the Robin wouldn't let the Great Tit onto the bird table. The Great Tits are here often during the day either at the seed feeder or the bird table. Also have had a pair of Collard Doves, Woodpigeons, Magpies, Blackbird, Dunnocks and Blue Tits. Had a visit from the Heron again didn't land in the garden, but tried to land on a fir tree next door. In the last few months only had 1 Starling usualy get 2/3 at a time. Earlier this year they nested a couple of door down the street and was regular visitor to the bird table.

2009-12-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

Another day, we have had a Robin, Dunnocks, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Black Bird, 1 solitory Starling, Magpies and a Heron flying over.

We have not seen Chaffinch, Coal Tit or Long Tail Tits for some time now. We used to get a couple of Coal Tits regular, must be finding food in the Dingle.

2009-12-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

Well another day with 12 Magpies going a game, not sure at what, I tried to have a look but saw nothing.

Usual gang of Great Tits odd Dunnock Black Bird and Wood Pigeon. This afternoon been cleaning out my fish pond the best I could, it's a bit cloudy now but will settle down. Saw a pair of Herons flying about, then one of them landed on the top of a tree next door and was there for a while. He did eventually fly off, mind the fish I have would have been a bit too big for him.

2009-11-27T11:12:00.000-08:00

A mixture this morning, Robin return of a male Chaffinch, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Dunnock, Magpie and Wood Pigeon.

Not seen a Greenfinch for quiet some time Black Birds usualy down the garden but not today.

Been out the rest of the day so don't know if anything different paid us a visit.

2009-11-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

Working outside today and then a doz Magpies and a couple of Crows all going a game. Next door there was a cat walking up the garden, so thought right thats disturbed them. The cat climbed on the shed and then onto the garage it had a Magpie in its mouth that what all the commotion was about.

A short while after it was back to normal Great Tits 6 at a time odd Blue Tit pair Collard Doves, Woodpigeons and a pair of Dunnocks. Black Birds are staying farther down the garden going in and out of the shrubery.

2009-11-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

I would like to know where all the birds have dissapered to. Even the Magpies have gone down in numbers in our garden, and only odd Blue nad Great Tits.

Over the weekend I did see the Woodpecker in next doors garden.

2009-11-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

These 2 photo's where taken wilst on a car park at the Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire the last week in October.

Apart from a visit to Carsington Water and Tittesworth not a lot of birds about. At Tittesworth saw a lot of Goldfinch and Long Tail Tits, also a Kingfisher, quiet a few Herons and the usual water fowl.

2009-11-08T14:52:00.000-08:00

Been on holiday, filled all the feeders before I went. One completly empty not a lot in another, these have been raided by the magpies they are hanging on and getting their heads through the outer cage, throwing a lot out and others are picking the bits up from the ground. Another feeder with seed in it was still half full. I have seen a few Great Tits and blue Tits, Dunnock, Robin and Black Bird but not a lot else apart from Magpies by the dozen yes dozen. Late this morning a group of Long Tail Tits gave the Silver Birch tree a good picking over, great to see them again after a long while.

2009-10-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

After a week the feeders are still half full, only odd birds about apart from Magpies.

A pile of feathers down the garden, could be we have had a visit from the Sparrow Hawk again, they look like from a Pigeon

2009-10-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

All the usual birds are now returning to the feeders. Yesterday Great Tits, House Sparrows emptying the feeders fast. Greenfinches are now paying us a visit with a few Blue Tits odd Coal Tit, Black Birds are staying down the garden Dunnocks and Robin picking up the seed thrown out the feeders by the Sparrows. Also starting to return are the Wood Pigeons still get lots of Magpies can't get at the food in the feeders or the table I have put a cage around it. The Magpies are very persistant all have their thinking caps on trying to find a way of emptying the feeders.

2009-10-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

All our usual birds are back Great Tits in large quantities, Green Finches, Blue Tits, Robin, Dunnocks, House Sparrows also large quantities, odd Wood Pigeon, Collard Doves, Coal Tit, Black Birds and today 14 plus Magpies all at the same time trying to get at the feed that I put out late last night.

2009-09-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

All the usual birds have started to return to the feeders. Great Tits, Blue Tits, Greenfinch, Coal Tit. Ground feeding birds Black Bird, Robin, Dunnock, Magpie, Collard Dove, Wood Pigeon and what I think was a Chiff Chaff in the Silver Birch tree.

2009-09-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

On a walk around Kielder Water came across a number of these Dragon Flies and this one stopped to rest a while. Could not move a lot being on a wooden walkway and to remove the grass stalks s/he would have flown away.

A walk along the River Tweed in Peebles and this heron decided he was staying put.

A mornings walk around the farm we where on I came across a flock of Lapwings. They decided they would move over to the other end of the field, at this point a Sparrow Hawk came charging through them and splitting them into two groups. Also in the field was a small flock of Starlings they also flew up with the Lapwings. To escape the sparrow Hawk, both groups of Lapwings and the Starlings joined together and started to gain height to be above the Sparrow Hawk. This would be so that the Hawk would not be able to dive at them from above and they would be safer. At this the Hawk flew away and the Lapwings and Starlings decided a new field would be better.

Returning along the farm track I came across a pair of Gold Finches feeding in Thistles, and a large flock of Chaffinches in a corn field that had not yet been harvested. Lots of late brood Swallows about the farm buildings and adjoining fields.

Apart from the above only a few other birds where spotted.

2009-08-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

Getting a lot more birds now. Great Tits quiet a few at a time, Blue Tits, Dunnocks counted 4 all at the same time this morning, Blackbirds including young ones, the berries wont last much longer on the Mountain Ash, Collard Doves 4 today, Usual Magpies, Woodpigeons, Greenfinches a lot more visiting odd ones on the feeders others in the Silver Birch Tree. Saw 2 other birds this morning no bins to see properly could have been Chiff Chaff ( pale undersides ) in the Birch Tree flitting about, we have had these in the garden before a few years ago.

Disturbed a young Fox this morning lying in my veg patch, not the first time he/she has been about for a while. He/she is not looking as good as he/she should, tail thin not bushy coat a bit drab not shining, could have mange.

Wont be posting for 2½ weeks, going on Holiday to the Scottish Borders and then to Lancashire for a few days. Will try to keep a record of my sitings while away, camera and scope going with us.

2009-08-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

Went on a trip to York yesterday not a lot of wildlife anywhere only a load of Woodpigeons anywhere to be seen.

Today first Greenfinch for quiet some time gave us a visit along with Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnocks, Robin, Collard Dove, Woodpigeon and Blackbird, the Blackbirds are eating the berries of the Mountain Ash I have in the garden. Every year they are all gone by the Autumn none left for the Winter. This morning opened the back door and looking at we from down the garden was a young Fox. We have seen one about from time to time during the early part of the day up to mid morning.

My walk around midday took in variety of places canal, wood and reservoir. The usual water birds Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and Heron. Also over the reservoir a Buzzard and in the surrounding wood Jay, Woodpigeons seem to be everywhere. Large White, Small White, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood Butterflies. Towards the end of our walk I came across a Elephant Hawk-moth Caterpillar walking across a footpath. Not carrying my camera I missed out on a photograph, I moved him to a safer place. I have not seen one of these for years the last one was in my own garden feeding on Fuchsias, would love to see the adult moth of this caterpillar, photographs of them look great.

2009-08-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

This Rabbit didn't seen to be frightened of people at all.

2 moths the one above is a Large Emerald both where in a hide on the far end of Lake Vyrnwy

These where taken from the hide at lake Vyrnwy the feeders are always atracting a range of birds here, being right on the edge of the wood. below on the ground where Pheasant, Robin and loads of Chaffinches plus a couple of Squirrels.