Wildlife

[Moulin Yarns]

I'll definitely have a go at this over the weekend.

On another note, sad to see Winterwatch end its run last night. It's felt like a lovely calm oasis in a sea of madness to switch off, tune in and see the animals each evening. Especially love seeing the foxes, such beautiful animals. Beaver's lodges are amazing too, been lucky enough to see one of those .

Do you mind saying where the beaver Lodge is that you saw.

[stu in nottingham]

Do you mind saying where the beaver Lodge is that you saw.

Not within these shores I'm afraid. It was in British Columbia, Canada. An amazing structure.

[hibsbollah]

Not within these shores I'm afraid. It was in British Columbia, Canada. An amazing structure.

The introduced beavers are in knapdale forest, top of the kintyre peninsula. They aren’t easy to spot, very nervous creatures apparently. I was looking into taking a trip out there with the family for a bit of walking but then lockdown happened.

I did the birdwatch. Absolutely baltic sitting still for an hour. One blackbird, one magpie, 3 blue tits and one great tit. I’ve seen more interesting things in my garden before but maybe they were all indoors listening to the second half :hibees

[Billy Whizz]

I'll definitely have a go at this over the weekend.

On another note, sad to see Winterwatch end its run last night. It's felt like a lovely calm oasis in a sea of madness to switch off, tune in and see the animals each evening. Especially love seeing the foxes, such beautiful animals. Beaver's lodges are amazing too, been lucky enough to see one of those .

Probably my favourite programmes, Winter and Autumn watch

[stu in nottingham]

The introduced beavers are in knapdale forest, top of the kintyre peninsula. They aren’t easy to spot, very nervous creatures apparently. I was looking into taking a trip out there with the family for a bit of walking but then lockdown happened.

I did the birdwatch. Absolutely baltic sitting still for an hour. One blackbird, one magpie, 3 blue tits and one great tit. I’ve seen more interesting things in my garden before but maybe they were all indoors listening to the second half :hibees

They haven't counted the beaver population in British Columbia for several decades, about forty years or something. The last time they did it was estimated that there were up to around 600,000 of them just in that Province alone.

Although generally shy and retiring they can be very aggressive, particularly with dogs getting anywhere near their lodge or youngsters, swimming in the water which they have no tolerance for, whether on a leash or not. They are prey to quite a few species such as wolves, cougars, larger hawks and river otters and have learned to look after themselves with their sharp teeth and jaws. The same ones that they use to fell trees with!

[Moulin Yarns]

Not within these shores I'm afraid. It was in British Columbia, Canada. An amazing structure.

Different species, but good to see. I have seen a beaver in pitlochry, just sat in a pond, besides its dam. A lot of the Tayside beavers dig their lodge into the river bank so are difficult to spot.

[stu in nottingham]

Different species, but good to see. I have seen a beaver in pitlochry, just sat in a pond, besides its dam. A lot of the Tayside beavers dig their lodge into the river bank so are difficult to spot.

The dams are just fantastic aren't they, such a great feat of workmanship. Would indigenous one here be a smaller construction? The first thing that took me about the Canadian dam I saw was the sheer size of it.

it's really pleasing to hear they are being supported here, I love these success stories.

Just as an aside, here's a little picture I took at random there around that time. Got talking to a relative about the subject of Ospreys.Asking me if I'd like to see some? I quickly accepted the opportunity. We actually just drove two miles downtown and these two were near another pair nesting on the top of a lamppost in the busy city!

https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/38744597_10160926382910045_8205608523078303744_n.j pg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=hFUIKQW9QBEAX-9mC4F&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-1.xx&oh=d1b572be67bebe9876744800e6e24ad7&oe=6039C1B1

[Hibrandenburg]

I was out walking the dog last night on the edge of a local forest, there was about 2 inches of crisp new snow and no human footprints, instead there were hundreds of animal footprints contradicting the deceptive perception of inactivity.

[Jim44]

I didn’t realise this thread was still on the go. Last Sunday I was surprised and thrilled to see a golden eagle 🦅 over Routenburn Golf Course above Largs.

[Moulin Yarns]

The dams are just fantastic aren't they, such a great feat of workmanship. Would indigenous one here be a smaller construction? The first thing that took me about the Canadian dam I saw was the sheer size of it.

it's really pleasing to hear they are being supported here, I love these success stories.

Just as an aside, here's a little picture I took at random there around that time. Got talking to a relative about the subject of Ospreys.Asking me if I'd like to see some? I quickly accepted the opportunity. We actually just drove two miles downtown and these two were near another pair nesting on the top of a lamppost in the busy city!

https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/38744597_10160926382910045_8205608523078303744_n.j pg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=hFUIKQW9QBEAX-9mC4F&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-1.xx&oh=d1b572be67bebe9876744800e6e24ad7&oe=6039C1B1

Generally I believe North American beaver dams are bigger, but I know of some in Perthshire that are pretty old and grow every year.

On ospreys, I'm not sure of any close to Nottingham, but there are a couple of pairs nesting at Rutland Water. There is a pair in Perthshire that nest on an electricity pylon in the middle of a field.

[DaveF]

I saw a hare yesterday belting across a field. Only issue was my dog doing his best in a fruitless chase 😁

[Billy Whizz]

I didn’t realise this thread was still on the go. Last Sunday I was surprised and thrilled to see a golden eagle 🦅 over Routenburn Golf Course above Largs.

A blast from the past for me. Used to get the train down to Largs, say mid 70’s
Bob Torrance was the professional and Sam was learning his trade
Not surprised Jim you saw a Golden Eagle. Some of the views from Routenburn are quite fantastic

[Jim44]

A blast from the past for me. Used to get the train down to Largs, say mid 70’s
Bob Torrance was the professional and Sam was learning his trade
Not surprised Jim you saw a Golden Eagle. Some of the views from Routenburn are quite fantastic

I’m in a bubble at my daughter’s near Seamill and got the chance of a game on Routenburn. It was a beautiful day and the views were stunning......... the golf didn’t match the surroundings. :greengrin

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[stu in nottingham]

There used to be a place up in the north-west where you could almost guarantee a Golden Eagle sighting. The Elphin Tearooms is a few miles north of Ulllapool on the main A835.

I've been that way quite a few times in the past and have never failed to have multiple sightings of them. Incredible really.

https://www.elphintearooms.co.uk/

[Billy Whizz]

I’m in a bubble at my daughter’s near Seamill and got the chance of a game on Routenburn. It was a beautiful day and the views were stunning......... the golf didn’t match the surroundings. :greengrin

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What a view Jim, any other wildlife on the course

[Billy Whizz]

What a view Jim, any other wildlife on the course

This wee bird comes over to see me everyday. I just whistle and it comes over to the back door. Usually place a few nuts out for it
Got into my living room a few weeks ago, after my wife left the back door open

[Jim44]

What a view Jim, any other wildlife on the course

Saw a few rabbits and hawks ... that was about it. Hoping to play there again soon.

[Jim44]

This wee bird comes over to see me everyday. I just whistle and it comes over to the back door. Usually place a few nuts out for it
Got into my living room a few weeks ago, after my wife left the back door open

We had a walk along the forrest path above the Kilburn estate. We stopped to look at a really brave wee robin which followed us for a few hundred yards.

[hibsbollah]

Three buzzards swooping about above Princes Street Gardens yesterday. I used to work right in the centre of town and that’s the first time I’ve seen them there.

[stu in nottingham]

A beautiful and sleek, reddish-orange fox sauntered through the garden earlier, had a peek through the patio door and went on it's way in the direction of the nearby woodland.

'Cat software operating in dog hardware'.

Prior to that a garden frenzy of five (count 'em) squirrels running around chasing each other,

[Billy Whizz]

A beautiful and sleek, reddish-orange fox sauntered through the garden earlier, had a peek through the patio door and went on it's way in the direction of the nearby woodland.

'Cat software operating in dog hardware'.

Prior to that a garden frenzy of five (count 'em) squirrels running around chasing each other,

Did you see the fox running around Easter Rd, prematch yesterday

[stu in nottingham]

Did you see the fox running around Easter Rd, prematch yesterday

No but there have been really clear and close-up pictures before of it haven't there. I think that's brilliant, wonder where it's den is?

[One Day Soon]

Three buzzards swooping about above Princes Street Gardens yesterday. I used to work right in the centre of town and that’s the first time I’ve seen them there.

I was taken aback when I saw them above the golf course on the Braids during the summer and autumn. They're pretty regular now. Ten deer in Blackford Glen yesterday morning in the fields quite close to the road and we've a pair of foxes that roam around together pretty unfazed most days now.

[stu in nottingham]

Wonder if anyone has had a good sighting of a Little Owl? Only once have I chanced upon one which was near home, on the cusp of cultivated farmland and around 700 acres of forestry in the local country park.

It was standing on a sandy woodland path next to some stables (the soil is very sandy here i.e. 'Redhill') and out for an evening run, I was staggered to see it standing watching me from around six feet away, fairly unfazed. Amazing little birds.

In those woodlands, Barn Owls can be heard regularly, particularly at dusk when departing to head home. Similarly in the nearby residential area where I live with it's many huge mature trees which offer them a Welcoming habitat, I imagine nesting in holes and nooks in these old oaks and the like.

In a mad old world it's lovely to hear these creatures when walking later in the evening, somehow very reassuring and a great accompaniment to a walk home.

[Smartie]

Are foxes not generally nocturnal? Previously I only ever saw them at night, but tbh I've always been a bit taken aback by how often you see them in Edinburgh. There's still something quite thrilling about seeing a fox, I like them.

The main reason I ask is that obviously I saw the photo of one at Easter Road on Saturday and that was a cracker. A few of my work colleagues also saw one during the day close to work (the West End) and it was in a pretty dishevelled and distressed state apparently. I didn't know if it was common or uncommon for them to venture out during the day and if they did, whether it was due to some sort of distress?

Or whether they are just taking an opportunity to alter their behaviour with less people and vehicles around?

[Mon Dieu4]

Are foxes not generally nocturnal? Previously I only ever saw them at night, but tbh I've always been a bit taken aback by how often you see them in Edinburgh. There's still something quite thrilling about seeing a fox, I like them.

The main reason I ask is that obviously I saw the photo of one at Easter Road on Saturday and that was a cracker. A few of my work colleagues also saw one during the day close to work (the West End) and it was in a pretty dishevelled and distressed state apparently. I didn't know if it was common or uncommon for them to venture out during the day and if they did, whether it was due to some sort of distress?

Or whether they are just taking an opportunity to alter their behaviour with less people and vehicles around?

Foxes generally are nocturnal and are usually most active at dawn and dusk, depending on the environment then they do come out during the day

I learnt the hard way, as a kid I saw a ginger tail poking out one of my neighbours fences, I thought it was a cat as I could only see the tail, I clapped it to be confronted by an annoyed fox, I climbed up a six foot wall to get away from it only for my mum to see me climbing about on the neighbours wall and went nuts at me

To this day she still doesn't believe why I did it as "Foxes only come out at night"

[stu in nottingham]

Foxes generally are nocturnal and are usually most active at dawn and dusk, depending on the environment then they do come out during the day

I learnt the hard way, as a kid I saw a ginger tail poking out one of my neighbours fences, I thought it was a cat as I could only see the tail, I clapped it to be confronted by an annoyed fox, I climbed up a six foot wall to get away from it only for my mum to see me climbing about on the neighbours wall and went nuts at me

To this day she still doesn't believe why I did it as "Foxes only come out at night"

:greengrin

Foxes often like a bit of a kip in the day and normally do that under cover somewhere safe. During the summer months I've sometimes had them nodding off on the back lawn though. The garden is a bit secluded though so they must be okay with it. I think that dawn and dusk thing is something they have in common with cats. My lad usually gets revved up for action around these times.

Funnily enough the place where I've seen the most urban foxes is in Edinburgh. Spending time staying with friends in Northfield, I'd see them just about every night in the streets when walking home late on.

[patch1875]

Walk along the water of leith yesterday 2 otters and a kingfisher on the branch above amazing.

[hibsbollah]

Walk along the water of leith yesterday 2 otters and a kingfisher on the branch above amazing.

Otters spotted in Inch park too. One of my favourite animals and not far from extinction in Scotland not so long ago...

[Andy Bee]

I frequently see otters when fishing The Clyde, although they're comical to watch sometimes you're as well packing up the fishing gear when they appear.

[Billy Whizz]

Had a Fox in the garden late afternoon today, presuming it’s the one we last saw 2/3 weeks ago
There was snow in the ground the last I saw it too, so do they struggle for food when it’s snowy?

[Moulin Yarns]

More than three quarters of Scots support #rewilding in Scotland, research from @ScotRewilding reveals. Tonight, we're calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation.

https://t.co/3UZfvZuets https://t.co/4HhIpIFGnQ


If the experience of the reintroduction of beavers is anything to go by the current Scottish government won't be interested in anything like this. The wild beavers in Tayside are being persecuted with the help of government agencies.

[Pagan Hibernia]

More than three quarters of Scots support #rewilding in Scotland, research from @ScotRewilding reveals. Tonight, we're calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation.

https://t.co/3UZfvZuets https://t.co/4HhIpIFGnQ


If the experience of the reintroduction of beavers is anything to go by the current Scottish government won't be interested in anything like this. The wild beavers in Tayside are being persecuted with the help of government agencies.

was going to start a separate thread on rewilding but then spotted your post mate.

its a very exciting concept that I’ve been reading about for several years, and could provide solutions to numerous problems. I watched the debate last week from the Scottish rewilding alliance and there are so many possibilities to return the country to a more natural state and bring endangered species back from the brink.

knepp estate down in south east England is another inspiration. Loads of information about that on the net too.

[stu in nottingham]

Pleasing report here of beavers being reintroduced into Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/beavers-reintroduced-nottinghamshire-after-being-4998619

[Moulin Yarns]

Pleasing report here of beavers being reintroduced into Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/beavers-reintroduced-nottinghamshire-after-being-4998619

:not worth

[stu in nottingham]

I've had the great pleasure of walking the beautiful peaks, moors and fields of the Peak District hundreds of times but never been fortunate enough to have a sighting of a wallaby. There are enduring tales of a colony of them in The Roaches area in Staffordshire and a few photographs of sightings.

The colony was said to have begun with five escaped wallabies from a private zoo in the area during WW II.

I'd love to bump into one of them during a walk!

http://www.roaches.org.uk/wallabies.html


http://www.roaches.org.uk/assets/Wallaby_aug_2nd_09_1.mp4

[Smartie]

I have quite a few friends and relatives who are either fans of Dunfermline or employed in various positions at the club. As a result, Dunfermline away is always quite a big fixture for me and when we play them a few of us will go over and make a big day of it.

It's a few years since we last went over on league duty, iirc we gave them a bit of a thumping at EEP not long after Fenlon arrived. We were out in Dunfermline after, and a Dunfermline-based Jambo came back after having been at the Hearts game that day and met us in the pub. It was the first time I'd ever met him but he was good mates with a few of the lads I was with. When we were in the pub, he was swearing blind that he'd seen a kangaroo in a garden in North Queensferry on his way back from the Hearts game.

Now this isn't the strangest conversation I've ever had with a Jambo but it was up there, and he got ripped every bit as much as you'd expect a Jambo to, given he was in the company of mainly Hibs fans and was claiming to have spotted a kangaroo in North Queensferry.

The post above has, for the first time ever, had me questioning whether it might in fact have actually been me and not him.

[stu in nottingham]

I have quite a few friends and relatives who are either fans of Dunfermline or employed in various positions at the club. As a result, Dunfermline away is always quite a big fixture for me and when we play them a few of us will go over and make a big day of it.

It's a few years since we last went over on league duty, iirc we gave them a bit of a thumping at EEP not long after Fenlon arrived. We were out in Dunfermline after, and a Dunfermline-based Jambo came back after having been at the Hearts game that day and met us in the pub. It was the first time I'd ever met him but he was good mates with a few of the lads I was with. When we were in the pub, he was swearing blind that he'd seen a kangaroo in a garden in North Queensferry on his way back from the Hearts game.

Now this isn't the strangest conversation I've ever had with a Jambo but it was up there, and he got ripped every bit as much as you'd expect a Jambo to, given he was in the company of mainly Hibs fans and was claiming to have spotted a kangaroo in North Queensferry.

The post above has, for the first time ever, had me questioning whether it might in fact have actually been me and not him.

He could have been jumping to conclusions.

Seriously, there are all kinds of folk out there with exotic pets. There's a guy in a Nottingham suburb who has an enclosure in his back garden with two African Lions and a Canadian Puma.

Mind you, he probably needs putting in a cage himself.

[Moulin Yarns]

He could have been jumping to conclusions.

Seriously, there are all kinds of folk out there with exotic pets. There's a guy in a Nottingham suburb who has an enclosure in his back garden with two African Lions and a Canadian Puma.

Mind you, he probably needs putting in a cage himself.

Funnily enough I was chatting to a neighbour at the weekend, and he told me about seeing a lion cub for sale in a pet shop in Tollcross about 50 years ago.

[stu in nottingham]

Funnily enough I was chatting to a neighbour at the weekend, and he told me about seeing a lion cub for sale in a pet shop in Tollcross about 50 years ago.

Not surprising really, there have been sightings of a lynx in Leith. :agree:

There used to be a pub in Carlton, Nottingham called the Earl of Chesterfield. Never known as that it was always known 'The Bruno' by locals. Before my time, there was a showman who used to take his 'dancing' bear (yes I know, a horrible activity) to the annual Goose Fair and would tether it up in the pub's back yard overnight on the way there and back.

[wookie70]

I've had the great pleasure of walking the beautiful peaks, moors and fields of the Peak District hundreds of times but never been fortunate enough to have a sighting of a wallaby. There are enduring tales of a colony of them in The Roaches area in Staffordshire and a few photographs of sightings.

The colony was said to have begun with five escaped wallabies from a private zoo in the area during WW II.

I'd love to bump into one of them during a walk!

http://www.roaches.org.uk/wallabies.html


http://www.roaches.org.uk/assets/Wallaby_aug_2nd_09_1.mp4

There were Wallabies on an island in Loch Lomond. I have kayaked over a few times but not seen them and not sure if they are still there now

[Jim44]

I have quite a few friends and relatives who are either fans of Dunfermline or employed in various positions at the club. As a result, Dunfermline away is always quite a big fixture for me and when we play them a few of us will go over and make a big day of it.

It's a few years since we last went over on league duty, iirc we gave them a bit of a thumping at EEP not long after Fenlon arrived. We were out in Dunfermline after, and a Dunfermline-based Jambo came back after having been at the Hearts game that day and met us in the pub. It was the first time I'd ever met him but he was good mates with a few of the lads I was with. When we were in the pub, he was swearing blind that he'd seen a kangaroo in a garden in North Queensferry on his way back from the Hearts game.

Now this isn't the strangest conversation I've ever had with a Jambo but it was up there, and he got ripped every bit as much as you'd expect a Jambo to, given he was in the company of mainly Hibs fans and was claiming to have spotted a kangaroo in North Queensferry.


The post above has, for the first time ever, had me questioning whether it might in fact have actually been me and not him.


There were Wallabies on an island in Loch Lomond. I have kayaked over a few times but not seen them and not sure if they are still there now

Makes sense to me .......... a wee swim over to Kinross and a few hops down the M90 and, bingo, it’s in Dunfermline. Mind you, Jambos are given to exaggeration and suddenly, a wee wallaby morphs into a huge kangaroo. :greengrin

[Moulin Yarns]

Not surprising really, there have been sightings of a lynx in Leith. :agree:

There used to be a pub in Carlton, Nottingham called the Earl of Chesterfield. Never known as that it was always known 'The Bruno' by locals. Before my time, there was a showman who used to take his 'dancing' bear (yes I know, a horrible activity) to the annual Goose Fair and would tether it up in the pub's back yard overnight on the way there and back.

On the subject of lynx, I have been informed of a pair roaming wild, North of Perth and South of Braemar by a reliable source.

[bawheid]

On the subject of lynx, I have been informed of a pair roaming wild, North of Perth and South of Braemar by a reliable source.

The Cat?

[stu in nottingham]

On the subject of lynx, I have been informed of a pair roaming wild, North of Perth and South of Braemar by a reliable source.

Wow, that is quite amazing. Such beautiful creatures, they really are. Love those big paws (!) and the magnificent athleticism they have.

Friends who I used to visit who had a working orchard high up in the hills in British Columbia, Canada would have regular sightings of them. Sadly, one day one came along and took their pet dog. Nature I guess.

[stu in nottingham]

The Jeremy Vine Show on Radio Two 12.00-14.00 has a conversation today about rewilding, for those interested. One area featured will be the plan for redevelopment of the currently part-demolished Broadmarsh Shopping Mall into naturalised parkland in the city centre with the introduction of various wildlife.

Edit:

The chat was an interesting and imaginative one, albeit with the usual stupidity of Jeremy Vine, talking about wolves in Scotland and lions in Wales. This is a city centre environment in question! He was also rambling on about 'connecting Nottingham back with Sherwood Forest'. Sherwood Forest is approximately 20 miles and a 45-minute drive north of Nottingham so a ridiculous point really.

The chat though was projecting forward as to how in future, cities can be rewilded
as a norm. With Nottingham as something of a pilot, having a large tract of city centre land available for redevelopment.

There was some talk of 'ghost malls' and claims that they're somewhat becoming a thing of the past in North America etc. in terms of new developments and old ones being left to rot or redeveloped. It's a very interesting subject I think.

[beensaidbefore]

There were Wallabies on an island in Loch Lomond. I have kayaked over a few times but not seen them and not sure if they are still there now

By the sounds of things they have made it off the island!

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/fabulous/reallife/5760793/escaped-wallaby-stirling-road/

[Moulin Yarns]

Amorous amphibians in my pond and I was within 5ft of a sparrowhawk when it flew away.

[Hibrandenburg]

Sat reading my book listening to the dog chewing the huge bone we gave him today outside on the terrace. Then I hear him snoring to my left on his bed, wtf? Then what's chewing the bone on the terrace? Had a look outside and it was a rather well fed looking fox, unfortunately I scared him away.

[Moulin Yarns]

https://news.stv.tv/east-central/open-spaces-and-grasslands-in-fife-maintained-just-once-a-year


Well done Fife Council. I battled to do the same in Perth and Kinross, but the brick wall was too well built.

[Billy Whizz]

Just realised Springwatch 2021 starts tonight
BBC 2 8pm, no idea where they are though

[hibsbollah]

I took the day off and did the drive and walk around knapdale forest discussed on here a while back. Spectacular peaceful location in the ancient forest, There were plenty of signs of the reintroduced beavers, gnawed tree stumps, footprints etc (although some of the forestry workers there clearly make some of the ‘clues’ there themselves!) If you get the weather in that part of the world in May or October when the midgies are still dormant, there’s no place like it

[stu in nottingham]

Does anybody like Peregrine Falcons? They're some of my favourite creatures, just amazing birds.

For the past twenty years or so, Peregrines have been nesting in the city centre in a nesting box on a high ledge of Nottingham Trent University. Webcams are situated by the nesting box and each year birds arrive to nest and the progress of their young san be followed.

The breeding couple's first chick is in the nest right now.

https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/peregrine-cam

[Moulin Yarns]

Does anybody like Peregrine Falcons? They're some of my favourite creatures, just amazing birds.

For the past twenty years or so, Peregrines have been nesting in the city centre in a nesting box on a high ledge of Nottingham Trent University. Webcams are situated by the nesting box and each year birds arrive to nest and the progress of their young san be followed.

The breeding couple's first chick is in the nest right now.

https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/peregrine-cam

When I was biodiversity officer in Perth I had to deal with complaints about the peregrines killing and eating pigeons in front of the public. 😁 My response was, would you rather have pigeon **** all over the pavement?

[Hibrandenburg]

Does anybody like Peregrine Falcons? They're some of my favourite creatures, just amazing birds.

For the past twenty years or so, Peregrines have been nesting in the city centre in a nesting box on a high ledge of Nottingham Trent University. Webcams are situated by the nesting box and each year birds arrive to nest and the progress of their young san be followed.

The breeding couple's first chick is in the nest right now.

https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/peregrine-cam

Do they eat nightingales?

[stu in nottingham]

When I was biodiversity officer in Perth I had to deal with complaints about the peregrines killing and eating pigeons in front of the public. 😁 My response was, would you rather have pigeon **** all over the pavement?

:greengrin

These Peregrines are nested pretty close to the city's Old Market Square, infamous for being overrun with pigeons. When one of the Peregrines are in the air it's pretty noticeable how quiet the skies go!


Do they eat nightingales?

Not sure? I know they'll eat a lot of different things, including some pretty big stuff that they manage to bully such as Buzzards and Crows.

[AltheHibby]

Satan has been reintroduced to mainland Australia.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-57249491?fbclid=IwAR3bDPP3O42rJjsZA4twxVu3AWEQ0KhI ou58T6Pun-I5_bRo6RQs3nfKgyI

[heretoday]

Just realised Springwatch 2021 starts tonight
BBC 2 8pm, no idea where they are though

I'm watching it right now but it seems to be about people rather than nature. Nice ambient music.
I used to like when they had a camera in a nest for hours watching birds but I suppose that was too boring.

[hibsbollah]

I'm watching it right now but it seems to be about people rather than nature. Nice ambient music.
I used to like when they had a camera in a nest for hours watching birds but I suppose that was too boring.

:agree: it has become very presenter driven, like they’re trying to make them all celebs. Just show us the nature.

[Jim44]

Just found this bad boy under a pile of wet leaves in the garden. Toad or frog?

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[Moulin Yarns]

Just found this bad boy under a pile of wet leaves in the garden. Toad or frog?

24770

Did it move? Frogs jump, toads walk. Looks like a frog.

[Jim44]

Did it move? Frogs jump, toads walk. Looks like a frog.

It was lucky, I lifted the leaves with a shovel fortunately but never hurt it. Can’t remember if it jumped but I put it into a bucket with enough water to let it stick it’s head out. With legs outstretched it’s about 9 inches. I’m going to take it to a nearby pond to release it.

[Moulin Yarns]

It was lucky, I lifted the leaves with a shovel fortunately but never hurt it. Can’t remember if it jumped but I put it into a bucket with enough water to let it stick it’s head out. With legs outstretched it’s about 9 inches. I’m going to take it to a nearby pond to release it.

👍

[Crunchie]

There's a piece on BBC about house flies, I mentioned it the other day in a conversation about sparrows, I've not seen a house fly for years, and I'm not exaggerating. Who remembers putting the sticky tape out in the summer months?

[JeMeSouviens]

Just found this bad boy under a pile of wet leaves in the garden. Toad or frog?

24770

Frog. Toads have prominent little lumps all over their backs.

[Killiehibbie]

Satan has been reintroduced to mainland Australia.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-57249491?fbclid=IwAR3bDPP3O42rJjsZA4twxVu3AWEQ0KhI ou58T6Pun-I5_bRo6RQs3nfKgyI

Extinct on the mainland for a few hundred years. How come they reckon none have been born in the wild for 3000 years?

[Jim44]

Frog. Toads have prominent little lumps all over their backs.

:agree: I took to the pond and it jumped it’s way towards the water.

[hibsbollah]

There's a piece on BBC about house flies, I mentioned it the other day in a conversation about sparrows, I've not seen a house fly for years, and I'm not exaggerating. Who remembers putting the sticky tape out in the summer months?

They seem to have gone the way of the weekend paper round :agree:

[JeMeSouviens]

They seem to have gone the way of the weekend paper round :agree:

Workshy-fly. Probably can't read either. Bloody Sturgeon :grr:

[Hibrandenburg]

They seem to have gone the way of the weekend paper round :agree:

I've not seen any flies eating **** for a while, does this mean that billions of flies were wrong after all?

[Jim44]

They seem to have gone the way of the weekend paper round :agree:

I’ve been putting up the classic sticky fly paper for the past few summers and always get quite a few.

[Caversham Green]

I regularly get a group of four unusual pigeons at my feeder now. The most striking one is an albino - pure white with pink tones around its eyes and beak*. There's one with normal pigeon coloured head and tail, but white body and wings, another with a white tail and darker than usual other bits and the fourth is almost black with white flecks. They're a similar size to wood pigeons - i.e. slightly bigger than your basic one and always appear as a group. I've tried to get a photo but can't get close enough to get a good one - I only got a good look at the albino through binoculars.

*Fair doos? (Sorry, it had to be said.)

24818
You'll have to expand the pic, but this is the Fancy Doo Gang (the Beaky Blinders?) waiting for me to fill the feeder a couple of days ago - they remind me of Apaches stalking the wagon train in an old western.

Sadly, apart from the fairly regular one on the extreme left, you can't see their unusual markings but you can see two pure white ones. The second one is a fairly recent addition to the gang.

[Hibrandenburg]

My neighbour across the other side of the farmyard is a bit of a messy and has a derelict swimming pool in their garden. When we moved in about six years ago it was a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This year has been really hot already and I was surprised at the lack of mosquitoes until a few weeks ago. Turns out the pool is now a frog sanctuary and I love sitting on my terrace listening to them croaking their little hearts out, it's somehow very soothing.

[stu in nottingham]

My neighbour across the other side of the farmyard is a bit of a messy and has a derelict swimming pool in their garden. When we moved in about six years ago it was a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This year has been really hot already and I was surprised at the lack of mosquitoes until a few weeks ago. Turns out the pool is now a frog sanctuary and I love sitting on my terrace listening to them croaking their little hearts out, it's somehow very soothing.

Frogs are brilliant little things I think. My garden has always been full of them due to also having a pond. This time of year there's always a need to be careful when mowing the lawn as a collection of thumbnail-sized Kermits beat a hasty retreat back to the sanctuary of their pond when they hear the mower blades whirring from a distance.

I used to have a little tomato house and they absolutely loved it in there, doused with lashings of water every evening as it was. They still have the element of surprise, especially when down on your hands and knees weeding and one leaps over your shoulder from the undergrowth oy yah!

[Crunchie]

They seem to have gone the way of the weekend paper round :agree:
You're about as funny as your username :agree:

[Pretty Boy]

I was running last night about half 9 along the Brunstane Burn Path just at the back of Newhailes House. No more than a minute from the main road into Musselburgh.

It's not uncommon to hear rustling in the bushes and trees then spot a fox or a cat. Last night I heard the usual rustling sound, didn't think anything off it then a few seconds later 2 deer ran right across my path. One was a female but the other looked like a young male as he had the start of a pair of antlers growing.

We have obviously all seen deer in Scotland and I've spotted a few in Holyrood Park over the years but that is definitely the most urban location I have ever seen them. We are talking about a minute away from Booker cash and carry and walking right past people back gardens in a big housing development.

[Hibrandenburg]

Frogs are brilliant little things I think. My garden has always been full of them due to also having a pond. This time of year there's always a need to be careful when mowing the lawn as a collection of thumbnail-sized Kermits beat a hasty retreat back to the sanctuary of their pond when they hear the mower blades whirring from a distance.

I used to have a little tomato house and they absolutely loved it in there, doused with lashings of water every evening as it was. They still have the element of surprise, especially when down on your hands and knees weeding and one leaps over your shoulder from the undergrowth oy yah!

I could grow fond of the little blighters, their sound is soothing, unlike the nightingales that are driving me nuts at the moment.

[stu in nottingham]

I could grow fond of the little blighters, their sound is soothing, unlike the nightingales that are driving me nuts at the moment.

Beware, you'll soon find yourself sitting there imitating their mating call. It will open up a whole new world to you.

(It sounds a bit like heavy breathing)

Interesting in the chat about deer in urban spaces. Haven't spotted one yet but there have been lots of sightings in gardens and the like since a new road has been built through some fields here, obviously disturbing them, sadly.

Also a curiosity is that the nearby woodland (not near the above) which was part of Sherwood Forest was once a royal hunting lodge, a deer park. This goes right back to Norman times. People are beginning to see deer in the area there. A neighbour lives in a cottage built in around 1740 as an estate worker's cottage. He has the original plans which show a 'deer leap' along the rear of the row of his and neighbouring cottages. The deer leap was a deep ditch excavated to deter deer from going off the estate and into gardens and plantations.

[stu in nottingham]

A birdsong I've always liked to hear is that of the Yellowhammer. Beautiful little birds too. Supposed to sound like 'A little bit of bread and no cheese'.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxywg43eWBY

[speedy_gonzales]

Does anyone know much about bird ringing?
I have a large gull, possible a Herring Gull, that has taken to coming to my small garden. It is very tame compared to other gulls in the area.
Whenever I step outside, it's there looking for food, and if I have any scraps, it'll take them from my hand without being twitchy (excuse the deliberate pun).
The bird in particular is ringed and I haven't noticed that with your run of the mill Edinburgh gulls before. I've tried identifying the ring on a few websites, but struggling.
It's made of 4 rings on the left leg bright silver in colour, with red lettering, "24BC".
Any ideas the best site to report this to for tracking purposes?

[Moulin Yarns]

Does anyone know much about bird ringing?
I have a large gull, possible a Herring Gull, that has taken to coming to my small garden. It is very tame compared to other gulls in the area.
Whenever I step outside, it's there looking for food, and if I have any scraps, it'll take them from my hand without being twitchy (excuse the deliberate pun).
The bird in particular is ringed and I haven't noticed that with your run of the mill Edinburgh gulls before. I've tried identifying the ring on a few websites, but struggling.
It's made of 4 rings on the left leg bright silver in colour, with red lettering, "24BC".
Any ideas the best site to report this to for tracking purposes?

BTO

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/ringing/about-ringing/why-report-ringed-bird

https://ringbase.org/fieldwork/observations/create/


Herring gulls are on the UK red list.

Not 100% sure, but I think the BC could refer to British Columbia where it was ringed as a chick.

Another site.

http://www.cr-birding.org/

I think what I said about British Columbia might be rubbish. Bc could be Bird Council.

[speedy_gonzales]

BTO

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/ringing/about-ringing/why-report-ringed-bird

https://ringbase.org/fieldwork/observations/create/


Herring gulls are on the UK red list.

Not 100% sure, but I think the BC could refer to British Columbia where it was ringed as a chick.

Another site.

http://www.cr-birding.org/

I think what I said about British Columbia might be rubbish. Bc could be Bird Council.

Thanks, I checked the sites but I cant identify this particular ring(silver with red lettering).
The gull stands out as it flies on its own and is very comfortable around people.
Thought it would be nice to report back to whoever ringed it that the bird is doing well.

[Moulin Yarns]

Thanks, I checked the sites but I cant identify this particular ring(silver with red lettering).
The gull stands out as it flies on its own and is very comfortable around people.
Thought it would be nice to report back to whoever ringed it that the bird is doing well.

Report it on the bto site and the ringer will be able to see it.

[wookie70]

I was running last night about half 9 along the Brunstane Burn Path just at the back of Newhailes House. No more than a minute from the main road into Musselburgh.

It's not uncommon to hear rustling in the bushes and trees then spot a fox or a cat. Last night I heard the usual rustling sound, didn't think anything off it then a few seconds later 2 deer ran right across my path. One was a female but the other looked like a young male as he had the start of a pair of antlers growing.

We have obviously all seen deer in Scotland and I've spotted a few in Holyrood Park over the years but that is definitely the most urban location I have ever seen them. We are talking about a minute away from Booker cash and carry and walking right past people back gardens in a big housing development.

I have seen them quite regularly in the housing estates at the top of Easthouses and I also saw one when I was photographing Carlingnose Point. I parked in the housing estate and one was chewing away at the lovely display of flowers in someone's garden. I parked about 20 yards from it and it continued on eating. They are way too common now and a real pest up north where they cause quite a lot of road accidents. I vote we bring back Wolves to keep numbers down and heavily forest as much of Scotland as we can to give them more habitat and keep the away from humans

[Moulin Yarns]

I have seen them quite regularly in the housing estates at the top of Easthouses and I also saw one when I was photographing Carlingnose Point. I parked in the housing estate and one was chewing away at the lovely display of flowers in someone's garden. I parked about 20 yards from it and it continued on eating. They are way too common now and a real pest up north where they cause quite a lot of road accidents. I vote we bring back Wolves to keep numbers down and heavily forest as much of Scotland as we can to give them more habitat and keep the away from humans

We need lynx first 😉

[wookie70]

We need lynx first 😉 More a Brut man lol

[wookie70]

I dug a pond last year and we are now beginning to see a good range on wildlife in the water. Frogs, beetles, daphnia, boatmen and lots of other things. With the warm calm weather today we had 3 species of dragonflies visiting including a very prehistoric looking Four Spotted Chaser. yesterday the Woodpecker also came for a feed and lots of blue and great Tits have been using the feeder since they fledged and a few are resident in the garden.

[patch1875]

Robins seem pretty vocal just now 😃

[Hibrandenburg]

Went for a walk in the forest with my dog yesterday afternoon. At one point he sat down and refused to go down the small path I wanted to take. I turned right down another path and he followed me. I've now just read that a pack of wolves with about 4 pups are moving through the area. They're on the protected species list over here but there's a lot of pressure from farmers to start culling them after having some of their sheep ripped.

[nairn hibee]

Our bird feeder which is a cage on the ground has been upsides down every morning for the last 2 weeks ,I thought it must be a cat as occasionally see a mouse at it ,but turns out it’s a badger ,I’d only ever seen a dead one before ,put out peanuts every night now and it loves them,usually arrive after 11 but it’s here early tonight ,it’s either unaware we are outside watching it or it doesn’t care

[Moulin Yarns]

Our bird feeder which is a cage on the ground has been upsides down every morning for the last 2 weeks ,I thought it must be a cat as occasionally see a mouse at it ,but turns out it’s a badger ,I’d only ever seen a dead one before ,put out peanuts every night now and it loves them,usually arrive after 11 but it’s here early tonight ,it’s either unaware we are outside watching it or it doesn’t care

Badgers are inquisitive creatures, you could make it a bit of a test by putting peanuts on a tray balanced on a post so they have to work to get them, under buckets. Be ingenious 😉

[stu in nottingham]

Badgers are inquisitive creatures, you could make it a bit of a test by putting peanuts on a tray balanced on a post so they have to work to get them, under buckets. Be ingenious 😉

Forget the badgers. I know a few human beings that couldn't do that!

[Jim44]

Just saw this on my shed roof ..... harrier, kestrel?

24976

[speedy_gonzales]

Just saw this on my shed roof ..... harrier, kestrel?

24976

Possibly a juvenile or female sparrowhawk?

[stu in nottingham]

Interesting article about the potential rewilding of Lynx back in the UK. The article suggest that with a territory of around 100km and Lynx of the same sex not being happy to share their territory, southern Scotland and the Kielder Forest could support around 50 and the Highlands around 400.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/16/rewilding-should-we-bring-the-lynx-back-to-britain-aoe

[Moulin Yarns]

Interesting article about the potential rewilding of Lynx back in the UK. The article suggest that with a territory of around 100km and Lynx of the same sex not being happy to share their territory, southern Scotland and the Kielder Forest could support around 50 and the Highlands around 400.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/16/rewilding-should-we-bring-the-lynx-back-to-britain-aoe

The first sentence is all you need to know.

The keilder project will never get the go ahead.

Better options in the cairngorms. (although I have it on good authority that there are already a few in the southern cairngorms 😉)

[Moulin Yarns]

Interesting article about the potential rewilding of Lynx back in the UK. The article suggest that with a territory of around 100km and Lynx of the same sex not being happy to share their territory, southern Scotland and the Kielder Forest could support around 50 and the Highlands around 400.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/16/rewilding-should-we-bring-the-lynx-back-to-britain-aoe

https://news.stv.tv/scotland/deer-to-be-culled-as-numbers-double-to-around-one-million?top

If only there was a natural predator? 🐆

[Billy Whizz]

Autumn watch starting tonight on bbc2, 8pm

[stu in nottingham]

Autumn watch starting tonight on bbc2, 8pm

Great, I'll be giving that a watch. I know it's a bit more personality-led these days which I'm not so much into but the animals are the stars. Lovely to connect with nature awhile on the darker evenings.

[hibsbollah]

I’m on the train just now going through lots of farmland, and it just hit me how you never see many rabbits anymore. Even ten years ago you would see hundreds of them on a trip like this, ‘breeding like rabbits’ was a phrase you’d hear regularly. I believe some disease has hit them hard, but it’s funny what you miss. Kestrels too.

[Jones28]

I’m on the train just now going through lots of farmland, and it just hit me how you never see many rabbits anymore. Even ten years ago you would see hundreds of them on a trip like this, ‘breeding like rabbits’ was a phrase you’d hear regularly. I believe some disease has hit them hard, but it’s funny what you miss. Kestrels too.

I see rabbits everywhere. Brucefield industrial estate in Livingston has a lot of green space with rabbits, as does East Mains in Broxburn where I work.

Lots of myxomatosis around, horrible disease. I’ve shot a few rabbits at my mum and dads that have had it.

[tamig]

I see rabbits everywhere. Brucefield industrial estate in Livingston has a lot of green space with rabbits, as does East Mains in Broxburn where I work.

Lots of myxomatosis around, horrible disease. I’ve shot a few rabbits at my mum and dads that have had it.

Edinburgh Park and the various roundabouts around the Gyle are full of them too.

[LunasBoots]

I’m on the train just now going through lots of farmland, and it just hit me how you never see many rabbits anymore. Even ten years ago you would see hundreds of them on a trip like this, ‘breeding like rabbits’ was a phrase you’d hear regularly. I believe some disease has hit them hard, but it’s funny what you miss. Kestrels too.

Disease hit them really hard, still see a few diseased ones around but numbers are definitely down, seen a hare a few months back in fields on the outskirts of Dunfermline, surprised at how big it was.

[Lendo]

Was up on the Cairngorms photographing wild mountain hares a few weeks ago. Never had any interest in wildlife photography but after stalking these massive rabbits for hours I can definitely see the appeal.
25378

[Lendo]

I’m on the train just now going through lots of farmland, and it just hit me how you never see many rabbits anymore. Even ten years ago you would see hundreds of them on a trip like this, ‘breeding like rabbits’ was a phrase you’d hear regularly. I believe some disease has hit them hard, but it’s funny what you miss. Kestrels too.

See dozens of them in Regent Road Park on my morning walk to work. Absolutely everywhere there. Sadly also seeing a lot more rats recently.

[Billy Whizz]

Was up on the Cairngorms photographing wild mountain hares a few weeks ago. Never had any interest in wildlife photography but after stalking these massive rabbits for hours I can definitely see the appeal.
25378

Beautiful

[grunt]

See dozens of them in Regent Road Park on my morning walk to work. Absolutely everywhere there. Sadly also seeing a lot more rats recently.Sitting at the lights in the Cowgate at St Mary's Street the other evening, glanced into the car park of the Travelodge to see a number of rats running about.

[nairn hibee]

We had a pine Martin tonight ,I had no idea they were about in our area ,it was eating the nuts left out for the badger ,the badger seems to be coming less and less now and although the nuts have been eaten they are never all finished,couldn’t believe what I was seeing so got the torch and sure enough it was brown with a white chest .and a bit smaller than a cat .moved into the hedge after a while but could still see its eyes lit up .I hope it keeps coming so I can get a picture of it

[hibsbollah]

https://www.rspb.org.uk/

Great Garden Birdwatch. Nice weekend activity if you’ve got a garden and you can happily stay away from screens for a whole hour :greengrin

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.rspb.org.uk/

Great Garden Birdwatch. Nice weekend activity if you’ve got a garden and you can happily stay away from screens for a whole hour :greengrin

I have just put up a new nest box with a Wi-Fi camera, hopefully the blue tits are impressed enough to move in.

[hibsbollah]

I have just put up a new nest box with a Wi-Fi camera, hopefully the blue tits are impressed enough to move in.

It’s amazing how difficult it is to just sit and look without doing anything. Good for the soul in the age of the internet and 5 second attention span.

[Crunchie]

See dozens of them in Regent Road Park on my morning walk to work. Absolutely everywhere there. Sadly also seeing a lot more rats recently.
They've destroyed the bowling green there :agree:

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Having a nice, chilled out time sitting at the weir down from St Mark's Park with a few cans, listening to the birds and watching the world go by. Why can selfish canutes not take their rubbish away with them though? 😬

[Moulin Yarns]

Just back from a week in Durham. From the house we stayed in we saw roe deer, no more than 30m away, bats, a hobby perched on an electricity pole about 50m away and a barn owl hunting at about 5:30 in the evening 30m away. Brilliant holiday for wildlife!!

[Antifa Hibs]

Any keen gardeners recommend any native pollinators for a small section of my back garden? Something low maintenance? Lived in apartments most of my life and want to make the most of the little bit of green space I have for wildlife. :aok:

[Moulin Yarns]

Any keen gardeners recommend any native pollinators for a small section of my back garden? Something low maintenance? Lived in apartments most of my life and want to make the most of the little bit of green space I have for wildlife. :aok:

If you don't want it to look wild then go for things like lavender and thyme.

[Hibrandenburg]

If you don't want it to look wild then go for things like lavender and thyme.:agree: Bees love lavender. My Mrs uses the lavender to stuff little fragrance sacks with the flower that are then distributed about the house on top of wardrobes and cupboards. Whilst lavender smells good to us and bees, it acts as a repellent against other insects, especially moths.

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk

[Moulin Yarns]

Any keen gardeners recommend any native pollinators for a small section of my back garden? Something low maintenance? Lived in apartments most of my life and want to make the most of the little bit of green space I have for wildlife. :aok:

If you want something bigger, shrubs to get are flowering currant (Ribes sanguinium) and Skimmia japonica. Ribes is flowering now so great food source early and Skimmia is evergreen and flowers June and July. I have both and you can hear the bees.

[hibsbollah]

Any keen gardeners recommend any native pollinators for a small section of my back garden? Something low maintenance? Lived in apartments most of my life and want to make the most of the little bit of green space I have for wildlife. :aok:

The plant that bees love more than any other is chives. Absolutely simple to grow, whenever they get about shin high, chop them to go the ground with a pair of scissors, use them in your cooking and they’ll grow back super fast so you have a new purple flower head in 3 weeks or something:aok:

In general don’t get too influenced by a bee icon on the plant label; all flowering plants will provide nectar for them. If you have space provide different flower heights, shapes and arrangements that they can buzz around to. But chives can’t be beat. Lavender as mentioned above is good too but it’s not generally great in Scottish winters, it can flower poorly and get woody in shady areas, grow in well drained soil in full Sun against a wall ideally.

[stu in nottingham]

How about Buddleia the 'butterfly bush. A magnet for bees and butterflies, usually crawling with them.

Easy to grow, cheap to buy and a few different colours. . Can be a little invasive though so prune them back hard at the end of the growing season to stop them getting woody or overlarge.

[hibsbollah]

How about Buddleia the 'butterfly bush. A magnet for bees and butterflies, usually crawling with them.

Easy to grow, cheap to buy and a few different colours. . Can be a little invasive though so prune them back hard at the end of the growing season to stop them getting woody or overlarge.

…and keep them well away from the mortar in your walls :rolleyes:

[stu in nottingham]

Anyone had any dealings in protecting mature trees?

In my locality we have a handful of huge very mature trees alongside a main highway. The county council has decided it wants to destroy these trees in order to add a completely unneeded and unecessary bus lane. They were awarded almost £5m to construct a park and ride a mile away but now realise they don't have enough money to do it and so as to retain the money have decided on this plan.

The tree line the carriageway so will be the property of the Highways Agency I think. I'm not clear if a tree protection criteria is met.

Interested to hear of lawful and otherwise, suggestions to stop this!

[Moulin Yarns]

Anyone had any dealings in protecting mature trees?

In my locality we have a handful of huge very mature trees alongside a main highway. The county council has decided it wants to destroy these trees in order to add a completely unneeded and unecessary bus lane. They were awarded almost £5m to construct a park and ride a mile away but now realise they don't have enough money to do it and so as to retain the money have decided on this plan.

The tree line the carriageway so will be the property of the Highways Agency I think. I'm not clear if a tree protection criteria is met.

Interested to hear of lawful and otherwise, suggestions to stop this!


Apply to the council, planning department, for a tree preservation order. Quicker the better. Get the councillors on board. Amenity, landscape and wildlife benefits.


Good luck.

[stu in nottingham]

Apply to the council, planning department, for a tree preservation order. Quicker the better. Get the councillors on board. Amenity, landscape and wildlife benefits.


Good luck.

Thanks very much MY.

[Moulin Yarns]

Thanks very much MY.

If you can get the residents of the street on board, so much the better.

[stu in nottingham]

If you can get the residents of the street on board, so much the better.

Yes, we've got quite a group already. The primary objection is to the unwarranted bus lane and narrowing of pavements but there's a real strength of feeling towards these trees which are in jeopardy. They have been around for a very long time and people appreciate them and the wildlife they attract.

[grunt]

Yes, we've got quite a group already. The primary objection is to the unwarranted bus lane and narrowing of pavements but there's a real strength of feeling towards these trees which are in jeopardy. They have been around for a very long time and people appreciate them and the wildlife they attract.
Maybe get your group to speak to these people in Sheffield? They've been working for years to save trees in the city and have had some success. They might help you out, point you in right direction ...

https://savesheffieldtrees.org.uk

[stu in nottingham]

Maybe get your group to speak to these people in Sheffield? They've been working for years to save trees in the city and have had some success. They might help you out, point you in right direction ...

https://savesheffieldtrees.org.uk

Thanks for this mate. I will share this. Appalling figures for lost trees in that area which I'd read of. It's easy to se why local authorities don't care about tree preservation, they don't want to pay for the upkeep of them.

[Ollie Reed]

Thanks for this mate. I will share this. Appalling figures for lost trees in that area which I'd read of. It's easy to se why local authorities don't care about tree preservation, they don't want to pay for the upkeep of them.

Is that you causing bother again down Nottingham way, ole Lacey Pants? ;)

[stu in nottingham]

Is that you causing bother again down Nottingham way, ole Lacey Pants? ;)

Hello young stick, this is a pleasant surprise. Any thoughts on urban sabotage on a group of men with chainsaws?

[Ollie Reed]

Hello young stick, this is a pleasant surprise. Any thoughts on urban sabotage on a group of men with chainsaws?

Another 5 years hiatus is good for the soul, can recommend it :)

Hmmm, I'd say a word with the Bellshill mob would have them running for cover. Ay thang yaw!

[stu in nottingham]

Another 5 years hiatus is good for the soul, can recommend it :)

Hmmm, I'd say a word with the Bellshill mob would have them running for cover. Ay thang yaw!

That’s what you call a strong response! And to be fir this is a thread bout wildlife.

[Jim44]

I looked out the window the other morning to see a big ginger cat sniffing around. On closer inspection realised it was a fox …….. first time I’ve seen one here in 40 years.

[Moulin Yarns]

https://news.stv.tv/east-central/dog-has-leg-amputated-after-getting-bit-by-snake-during-walk-near-the-river-tummel-pitlochry

Unfortunately not all wildlife is friendly. This seems to have happened on a very popular walking route. I know of adders quite a bit higher up on craigower but this was around the river or Loch.

[stu in nottingham]

Encouraging rewilding plans for London.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/13/birds-beavers-and-microparks-experts-plan-to-rewild-london

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Just arrived at St Bernards Well with a few of the lads for some al fresco cans before the FA Cup Final. Lovely tranquil spot (currently)! 🍺🏞🍺

[Moulin Yarns]

Just arrived at St Bernards Well with a few of the lads for some al fresco cans before the FA Cup Final. Lovely tranquil spot (currently)! 🍺🏞🍺

Wildlife is supposed to be natural, I would call that INNS 😉

[Lendo]

I’m off to the Isle of May on Wednesday to do a bit of puffin photography. Anyone been before?

[ballengeich]

I’m off to the Isle of May on Wednesday to do a bit of puffin photography. Anyone been before?
I've been several times and it's a wonderful day out provided it's reasonably dry. There's a variety of different birds around, varying a bit from month to month. I went a bit later than this last year when most of the puffins had left. Terns, various gulls, guillemots, razorbills, ****s were all observable in significant numbers. Look out for the eider nests right beside the paths - it's easy to stand on them.

[Moulin Yarns]

I've been several times and it's a wonderful day out provided it's reasonably dry. There's a variety of different birds around, varying a bit from month to month. I went a bit later than this last year when most of the puffins had left. Terns, various gulls, guillemots, razorbills, ****s were all observable in significant numbers. Look out for the eider nests right beside the paths - it's easy to stand on them.

Are you sure they weren't cormorants 😉

[Pretty Boy]

I was walking to work on Thursday and spotted at lest half a dozen deer on Duddingston golf course, just where it backs on to Milton Road West before the junction with Willowbrae Road and Duddingston Road

There's an established population of deer in Holyrood Park that you can see relatively frequently if you are in before the crowds appear but it's the 1st time I've seen them so urban. Not sure if they have wandered across the road or have got onto the course through the woods via the Innocent Railway

Was funny seeing them standing minding their own business on the edge of the woods with a few wandering onto the fairway itself.

[Lendo]

I was walking to work on Thursday and spotted at lest half a dozen deer on Duddingston golf course, just where it backs on to Milton Road West before the junction with Willowbrae Road and Duddingston Road

There's an established population of deer in Holyrood Park that you can see relatively frequently if you are in before the crowds appear but it's the 1st time I've seen them so urban. Not sure if they have wandered across the road or have got onto the course through the woods via the Innocent Railway

Was funny seeing them standing minding their own business on the edge of the woods with a few wandering onto the fairway itself.

I live right next to the park on Milton Street. Never seen a dear in the park once. Guess I need to get up and out for 5am maybe. Where about are they normally seen? Would love to get some photos.

Not seen the otter in Dunsapie Loch in a while now which is a shame.

[stu in nottingham]

We are quite fortunate in these parts as Wollaton Hall within the city boundary has a long established herd of deer in the park and we can see them anytime. Unfortunately, some people don't treat them with enough respect and go way too close to them which is ridiculous.

However, the suburb I live in adjoins a 700 acre country park, once part of Sherwood Forest and a bit of patience sees sightings of many kinds of wildlife there. Just recently, some of the deer have ventured into the nearby town and been seen on main streets. The country park was once a royal hunting lodge and so it is good to see these magnificent return to an environment which they enjoy.

(C. Wollaton Park)

25855

[grunt]

Not seen the otter in Dunsapie Loch in a while now which is a shame.
I miss seeing the Dunsapie Otter as well, he was a real highlight of the first big lockdown.

This is a nice film of him, in case you haven't seen it.


https://youtu.be/-_PHKC1lJ1I

[Lendo]

I miss seeing the Dunsapie Otter as well, he was a real highlight of the first big lockdown.

This is a nice film of him, in case you haven't seen it.


https://youtu.be/-_PHKC1lJ1I

Yeah great wee video!

[superfurryhibby]

I was walking to work on Thursday and spotted at lest half a dozen deer on Duddingston golf course, just where it backs on to Milton Road West before the junction with Willowbrae Road and Duddingston Road

There's an established population of deer in Holyrood Park that you can see relatively frequently if you are in before the crowds appear but it's the 1st time I've seen them so urban. Not sure if they have wandered across the road or have got onto the course through the woods via the Innocent Railway

Was funny seeing them standing minding their own business on the edge of the woods with a few wandering onto the fairway itself.

They are so prolific. I take a regular stroll along Liberton Dams towards the Hermitage. On the fields up on the left, I think I counted a dozen of them. Farmer won't be loving it that much, they're always in the crops, lol. I've seen them up Craiglockhart Hill West too.

[Moulin Yarns]

Kind of wildlife related, after a poor year for apples last year due to late and prolonged frosts this year is going to be cider central. My 4 apple trees are covered in blossom and the mild weather has brought lots of pollenators out.

[stu in nottingham]

Spotted yesterday, a roe deer popping out of the park nearby for a bit of an urban stroll. These types of sightings are becoming quite commonplace

25889

[greenlex]

I’ve a woodpecker regularly feeding in my garden just now.. never seen one in the flesh before. 😎

[Jim44]

I’ve a woodpecker regularly feeding in my garden just now.. never seen one in the flesh before. 😎

There was a nice wee section on woodpeckers on Springwatch, earlier this evening. You’ll catch it on Iplayer.

[davy67 +]

I had a woodpecker use the nut feeder I have on my window a few times a wee while back, I actually did a bit of a double take as I wasn’t actually sure what I had seen . I haven’t seen it for a wee while so I’m guessing it’s found an alternative source for feeding, also I’ve a few other birds and squirrels that use my feeders so they might have scared it away

[Bridge hibs]

There used to be deer around the Edmonstone estate around Danderhall/Wisp down to Pinkie woods area, most recently when driving past Asda Jewel Ive seen the odd deer standing on the grass verge, last week very early in the morning a deer trotted over the roundabout and headed towards Costa coffee. I would assume these deer are now being squeezed out of their natural habitat due to all the house building going on in those areas

[Hibernian Verse]

Totally forgot to post this in here, but I was recently in Madeira. We'd already done 2 whale & dolphin watching Rib boat trips but we were bored on the last day before our flight so thought we would kill some time and maybe see something new. Turned out to be one of the best decisions I'd ever made!

Orcas are not resident to Madeira and hadn't been seen since 2020...incredible...one of the many videos we took below.

Pod of around 15 with a huge male (not in video) and a calf (in video!).


https://vimeo.com/715892132

[stokesmessiah]

Totally forgot to post this in here, but I was recently in Madeira. We'd already done 2 whale & dolphin watching Rib boat trips but we were bored on the last day before our flight so thought we would kill some time and maybe see something new. Turned out to be one of the best decisions I'd ever made!

Orcas are not resident to Madeira and hadn't been seen since 2020...incredible...one of the many videos we took below.

Pod of around 15 with a huge male (not in video) and a calf (in video!).


https://vimeo.com/715892132

That url doesn’t work…

[speedy_gonzales]

Re deer, just passed (0200hrs) an accident scene on the city bypass where it looks like a small car hit a decent sized roe deer under the Lothianburn fly over. Dead deer on the hard shoulder and car looked like it hit the concrete central reservation.
Police and recovery vehicle in attendance, hopefully everyone OK.

[Hibernian Verse]

That url doesn’t work…

Should be working now


https://vimeo.com/715892132

[WeAreHibs]

Should be working now


https://vimeo.com/715892132

Nah! Stop teasing us!

[Hibernian Verse]

Uploaded on Youtube...only a 9 second video as well! Got many longer ones if anyone wants to see them.


https://youtu.be/uEE_NzzcOgE


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pOVeq8EyZnw

[stu in nottingham]

Uploaded on Youtube...only a 9 second video as well! Got many longer ones if anyone wants to see them.


Please put them up. I for one enjoy seing them. :aok:

[Hibrandenburg]

Whilst out walking the dog yesterday I came across a sounder of wild boar. I'd seen them in the city frequently but not since I moved out of Berlin 7 years ago. My dog nearly shat himself when they crossed over a path in front of us. African swine fever is rampant amongst their population here in the east and hunters have been given the green light to kill as many as possible to try and stem the spread.

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk

[One Day Soon]

Whilst out walking the dog yesterday I came across a sounder of wild boar. I'd seen them in the city frequently but not since I moved out of Berlin 7 years ago. My dog nearly shat himself when they crossed over a path in front of us. African swine fever is rampant amongst their population here in the east and hunters have been given the green light to kill as many as possible to try and stem the spread.

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk

Tasty mofos.

[Jim44]

I met this brave character on the Cuddy in Peebles yesterday. I got within a few yards and he/she just looked at me with disdain and kept on fishing. I’ve never got so close to a heron before.


25924

[grunt]

Nice photo! There's a heron who is usually up at Dunsapie every morning who will tolerate people up to a distance of about six feet.

[CropleyWasGod]

A gardener with a social conscience and a sense of humour :greengrin

25995

[Moulin Yarns]

A gardener with a social conscience and a sense of humour :greengrin

25995

👍

[Moulin Yarns]

Yesterday a red kite flew right over the garden and today a dragonfly was laying eggs in my modest pond.

Wildlife, ye cannae whack it.

[speedy_gonzales]

Over the last couple of months, I've been feeding scraps regularly to a vixen who comes in the back garden regularly.
She comes around 10:30pm, like clockwork. I lay a wee bit food out and she'll watch us through the patio doors as she picks up the scraps, leaves to her earth, then returns.
Around 4am the dog (male fox) will turn up and finish whatever is left.
Last night we had 3 Foxes in the garden, mum turned up with her two cubs. I'm fairly sure it's the first time they've ventured out their earth. The vixen was busy sourcing food whilst the two cubs were messing about, running around our garden furniture and behind the hut.
I know there's folk out there that don't like foxes but not only are they an important predator in the food chain (they'll scavenge for rats/mice), they're amazingly social creatures.
Hopefully I'll get to either leave the door open or even step outside whilst the cubs frolic about.

[Jim44]

After living in my house for 40 years, I’ve seen a squirrel in the garden for the first time. I can’t believe it, although it’s surrounded by big trees. I’ve always wondered why I’ve never seen any over the years and I’ve always kept an eye out for them. No big deal but, my sister in law has problems with a family of squirrels in her loft and I could do without that. Any idea why this should appear all of a sudden?

[Moulin Yarns]

After living in my house for 40 years, I’ve seen a squirrel in the garden for the first time. I can’t believe it, although it’s surrounded by big trees. I’ve always wondered why I’ve never seen any over the years and I’ve always kept an eye out for them. No big deal but, my sister in law has problems with a family of squirrels in her loft and I could do without that. Any idea why this should appear all of a sudden?

Grey or red? And whereabouts?

[Jim44]

Grey or red? And whereabouts?

Grey. Centre of Peebles.

[Moulin Yarns]

Grey. Centre of Peebles.

Shoot the bugger!!

In all seriousness they are possibly finding food harder to find and are venturing further. Bloody American invaders!!

[LewysGot2]

Grey. Centre of Peebles.

Interloper. Bushy tailed rat.

Now if it were a beautiful wee Red one...

[greenlex]

Played golf at Mortonhall on Saturday. A young badger was wandering around not giving a **** as we played the 16th. It’s was completely non plussed by our presence on the green. Got a video of it if anyone is remotely interested.

[Hibby70]

I assume migrating geese follow a quite specific flight path. Over the last few weeks we've had dozens of v shaped formations come directly over our house.

Or are there just so many of them that everyone experiences it.

I've counted 5 groups in the last 45 minutes.

[hibsbollah]

There’s a pair of osprey up at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentlands, it’s amazingly beautiful to watch, very distinctive and different from buzzard or kestrel. I watched it dive into the water like a gannet and emerge with a fish in its talons. When I was young they only bred up in Perthshire.

[Moulin Yarns]

There’s a pair of osprey up at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentlands, it’s amazingly beautiful to watch, very distinctive and different from buzzard or kestrel. I watched it dive into the water like a gannet and emerge with a fish in its talons. When I was young they only bred up in Perthshire.

Enjoy them now because they will be away to West Africa very soon. I suspect they are this years young as the adults should have left by now.

I wouldn't compare them to gannets when it comes to fishing though, gannets are quite elegant as they dive while ospreys struggling to get out of the water cannot be described as elegant 😂

[Moulin Yarns]

The effects on wildlife by climate change!! My wife photographed a Magpie not 100m from our garden, first time they have been spotted this far north in pitlochry.

[hibsbollah]

Enjoy them now because they will be away to West Africa very soon. I suspect they are this years young as the adults should have left by now.

I wouldn't compare them to gannets when it comes to fishing though, gannets are quite elegant as they dive while ospreys struggling to get out of the water cannot be described as elegant 😂

The dive itself was very elegant.

One of those Attenborough moments. Absolutely spectacular.

[Moulin Yarns]

The dive itself was very elegant.

One of those Attenborough moments. Absolutely spectacular.

Look up Val Gall on Facebook and possibly Instagram. She has her own pond that she stocks every year with fish and has ospreys nesting close by. Some of her photos and videos are well worth looking at. I think she has won awards for them.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ_82uPr-_B/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=




https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid035GvJwZa9FPDAbn1EmU7hJp NRdP2DBVMMroQjUAPo34vijeWXDUUG3oJC9rLc9mpal&id=100011084431472



https://www.instagram.com/p/CTzYnXlquPX/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-63061492

The talk of the town. 😁🐿️

[Jim44]

Playing golf at Kilspindie, Aberlady this morning ( yes, blown all over the place and soaked to the skin) but was surprised to see 5 or 6 of these wee guys flitting around on the fringe of one of the greens. I wouldn’t say they were tame but they weren’t timid in any way. I assume they were small field mice.
26218

[stu in nottingham]

Playing golf at Kilspindie, Aberlady this morning ( yes, blown all over the place and soaked to the skin) but was surprised to see 5 or 6 of these wee guys flitting around on the fringe of one of the greens. I wouldn’t say they were tame but they weren’t timid in any way. I assume they were small field mice.
26218

Or a shrew maybe?

[Jim44]

Or a shrew maybe?

I think shrews have longer and more pointed noses.:dunno:

[Moulin Yarns]

I think shrews have longer and more pointed noses.:dunno:

Field or harvest mouse I think.

[stu in nottingham]

Loved this idea of a 'hedgehog highway' and didn't realise such a thing existed. It made me consider how difficult it must be for these beautiful creatures to enter my garden, though I do get a few.

https://westbridgfordwire.com/rushcliffe-street-named-britains-biggest-hedgehog-street/

[Stairway 2 7]

https://mobile.twitter.com/fasc1nate/status/1579691497644883969


Fascinating
@fasc1nate
6 years, 4,200 hours, and 720,000 photos later, Alan McFayden got the perfect shot. A Kingfisher diving into the water

[grunt]

https://mobile.twitter.com/fasc1nate/status/1579691497644883969


Fascinating
@fasc1nate
6 years, 4,200 hours, and 720,000 photos later, Alan McFayden got the perfect shot. A Kingfisher diving into the water
Amazing shot.

[superfurryhibby]

Noticing a big increase in the local fox population here in the Inch. On the rampage every night, mob handed. Lock up yer cats, these boys mean business.

A cat will stand its ground v one fox. Against three, not so easy

[patch1875]

Noticing a big increase in the local fox population here in the Inch. On the rampage every night, mob handed. Lock up yer cats, these boys mean business.

A cat will stand its ground v one fox. Against three, not so easy

We have a fox that cuts through our garden. Our cats just sit and watch it if it stays on the wall if it enters the garden they chase it off.


Never seen them in a pack.

[speedy_gonzales]

Years ago I came across 3 foxes, circle around a solitary cat in the middle of Traquair Park West.
It was early evening, but winter, so it was dark. Even so, the cat was completely non-plussed.
I actually stopped the motor and knocked on a door, concerned in case it was someone's pet and in trouble. The first door I knocked said it was so & so's and apparently they were all used to the cat going out to play with the foxes, who apparently all siblings from that years brood.

[Ryan91]

Noticing a big increase in the local fox population here in the Inch. On the rampage every night, mob handed. Lock up yer cats, these boys mean business.

A cat will stand its ground v one fox. Against three, not so easy

I've noticed a decent uptick in the Urban Fox population in the past few years, kinda wonder if they maybe got a bit more adventurous when things were quieter during lockdown

[stu in nottingham]

We have a fox that cuts through our garden. Our cats just sit and watch it if it stays on the wall if it enters the garden they chase it off.


Never seen them in a pack.

Ditto. My cat is soft and affectionate with people but absolutely fierce with any animal that encroaches on his territory. I've seen him attack foxes, a dog twice his size and so on. He's a Bengal and I guess different breeds have different temperaments but he certainly doesn't take any nonsense. Cats can be very formidable and they can do a lot of damage to a lot larger animals with the speed and ferocity they strike with.

[Jim44]

A first this morning. There was a hen pheasant a few yards from my back door.( Peebles) It took fright, ran up the path and flew up into a tree. I’ve seen birds of prey but never pheasants in the garden before.26245

Ps. She’s still there after two hours.

[superfurryhibby]

I've noticed a decent uptick in the Urban Fox population in the past few years, kinda wonder if they maybe got a bit more adventurous when things were quieter during lockdown

There's a lot of Fox action round my way, usually on their tod, so seeing them mob handed was unusual.

A few times I've seen a bit of a Fox v Cat stand-off. Usually with the cat being the protagonist. Never seen it coming to blows, but Cat defo not giving the Fox peace.

The Inch buzzards have also been very visible. They live over in the woods off Dalkeith Road, usually gliding around at altitude and making that Buzzard mewling call. They must be a breeding pair because I've seen them as a trio, so assume that was with their offspring. If they fly low, the Crows show a lot of interest and harass them.

[speedy_gonzales]

There's a lot of Fox action round my way, usually on their tod, so seeing them mob handed was unusual.


Was that a deliberate or accidental use of the name/word Tod?

I only ask as it was only about 15 years ago I found out that Tod is Scots for Fox!

[superfurryhibby]

Was that a deliberate or accidental use of the name/word Tod?

I only ask as it was only about 15 years ago I found out that Tod is Scots for Fox!

Well spotted, it's a great auld Scots word, like Brock for badger, Howlet for Owl, Spug or Spuggie for Sparrow.

[patch1875]

NW Skye just now 2 white tailed eagles circling overhead earlier today.

Amazing

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/scotland-could-become-first-rewilded-nation-what-does-that-mean

Interesting article about rewilding in Scotland.

[Jim44]

Any lepidopterists here? I found this flying around the house last night.

26306

I can’t identify it.

[goosano]

Any lepidopterists here? I found this flying around the house last night.

26306

I can’t identify it.

Small tortoiseshell

[Jim44]

Small tortoiseshell

Thanks. I released it, then thought I might have done it more harm than good at this time of the year.

[Moulin Yarns]

Thanks. I released it, then thought I might have done it more harm than good at this time of the year.

It's been mild but they will go into a form of hibernation. I was moving logs from where I season them to where I store for use and there was a peacock butterfly in a state of torpor on a log. It started to wake and flex its wings when it was in the sun but I put it back in a shady spot and it went back to sleep.

If they survive the winter they will be the first to breed.

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63983941

Could also be on the good news stories thread. 👍

[Mibbes Aye]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63983941

Could also be on the good news stories thread. 👍

Nice beaver :agree:

[patch1875]

Got a great show from the otters on the Water of Leith earlier.

[Santa Cruz]

Got a great show from the otters on the Water of Leith earlier.

Which area was that?

[goosano]

Great picture from Duddingston loch

https://twitter.com/LaineyBradley/status/1602327855467483136?t=zYtdxPLLZ9gXiUV71247Pw&s=19

[goosano]

Quite a few waxwings about Edinburgh, worth checking any rowans that have berries

https://twitter.com/CarolineLawrie4/status/1603170460551766016?t=Oc-dkEKk0vhrE7WtWHH-9g&s=19

[grunt]

Great picture from Duddingston loch

https://twitter.com/LaineyBradley/status/1602327855467483136?t=zYtdxPLLZ9gXiUV71247Pw&s=19

I think mine was better (Dunsapie Loch, January 2021)

https://twitter.com/blue24yes/status/1354891436953653251/photo/1
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es2KQq7W4AAkMP9?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
https://twitter.com/blue24yes/status/1354891436953653251/photo/1

[Lendo]

My new 200-600mm lens arrived today so I’ll be heading out on the Kingfisher hunt down the Water of Leith tomorrow

[patch1875]

Which area was that?

On the walkway between roseburn and the Dean village there’s a bridge that takes you up to the back of the modern gallery they are about 10-20 metres from it.

[Santa Cruz]

On the walkway between roseburn and the Dean village there’s a bridge that takes you up to the back of the modern gallery they are about 10-20 metres from it.

:aok:

[hibsbollah]

My new 200-600mm lens arrived today so I’ll be heading out on the Kingfisher hunt down the Water of Leith tomorrow

Also at the botanics pond near the east gate.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

The weir just down from St Mark's Park seems to be a good gathering spot for various wildlife, should be worth a visit.

[goosano]

I think mine was better (Dunsapie Loch, January 2021)

https://twitter.com/blue24yes/status/1354891436953653251/photo/1
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es2KQq7W4AAkMP9?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
https://twitter.com/blue24yes/status/1354891436953653251/photo/1

Impressive!

[Lendo]

My new 200-600mm lens arrived today so I’ll be heading out on the Kingfisher hunt down the Water of Leith tomorrow

Set out with a goal this morning and I think I achieved it.

26342

Better version on my Twitter

https://twitter.com/StevenLennie4/status/1603843773536010240?s=20&t=XEAcixAvC6-nD_tFq_Yc5w

[Moulin Yarns]

Set out with a goal this morning and I think I achieved it.

26342

Better version on my Twitter

https://twitter.com/StevenLennie4/status/1603843773536010240?s=20&t=XEAcixAvC6-nD_tFq_Yc5w

👏👏👏

[hibsbollah]

Set out with a goal this morning and I think I achieved it.

26342

Better version on my Twitter

https://twitter.com/StevenLennie4/status/1603843773536010240?s=20&t=XEAcixAvC6-nD_tFq_Yc5w

Beautiful:aok:

[grunt]

Set out with a goal this morning and I think I achieved it.

26342

Better version on my Twitter

https://twitter.com/StevenLennie4/status/1603843773536010240?s=20&t=XEAcixAvC6-nD_tFq_Yc5wExcellent!

[Moulin Yarns]

Set up WiFi wildlife cameras and getting some decent images of the local badgers. A cup of peanuts scattered helps to keep them in shot.

[Donegal Hibby]

Merry Christmas everyone .
https://www.donegaldaily.com/2022/12/24/watch-reindeer-caught-acting-strange-at-wild-ireland/

[wookie70]

My new 200-600mm lens arrived today so I’ll be heading out on the Kingfisher hunt down the Water of Leith tomorrow Another Sony user. It is a really good bit of kit. Any clues on where you got the Kingfisher shot would be appreciated

[Lendo]

Another Sony user. It is a really good bit of kit. Any clues on where you got the Kingfisher shot would be appreciated

It was on the stretch of the Water of Leith between Roseburn and the steps that lead back up to Haymarket. This is the location from WhatThreeWords: ///tides.shine.darker

I believe it can be found anywhere on the stretch from Stockbridge right up to Murrayfield though. I think I got really lucky.

What Sony have you got? I bought the A7 iv at the start of the year.

[hibsbollah]

It was on the stretch of the Water of Leith between Roseburn and the steps that lead back up to Haymarket. This is the location from WhatThreeWords: ///tides.shine.darker

I believe it can be found anywhere on the stretch from Stockbridge right up to Murrayfield though. I think I got really lucky.

What Sony have you got? I bought the A7 iv at the start of the year.

Also fairly frequent on the canal anywhere on the stretch out past meggetland all the way towards Falkirk. I’ve twice seen them at the canal path at Ratho on the steep drop underneath the climbing centre. Usually a flash of blue and they’re gone but sometimes you can get them perched as well.

[Lendo]

Also fairly frequent on the canal anywhere on the stretch out past meggetland all the way towards Falkirk. I’ve twice seen them at the canal path at Ratho on the steep drop underneath the climbing centre. Usually a flash of blue and they’re gone but sometimes you can get them perched as well.

Good to know, I’m usually running along there and breathing out my arse so not paying attention.

[wookie70]

It was on the stretch of the Water of Leith between Roseburn and the steps that lead back up to Haymarket. This is the location from WhatThreeWords: ///tides.shine.darker

I believe it can be found anywhere on the stretch from Stockbridge right up to Murrayfield though. I think I got really lucky.

What Sony have you got? I bought the A7 iv at the start of the year.

I have a collection. A1, A9ii and A9. I do mostly sports so need two cameras on me and then will occasionally also have one in a goal mouth remotely. I've got the 200-600 and it compares really well to the big 400mm F2.8 in sharpness, albeit a few stops darker. I think it is a tad sharper than my 100-400 too. For the money it must be one of the best lenses out there

[Lendo]

I have a collection. A1, A9ii and A9. I do mostly sports so need two cameras on me and then will occasionally also have one in a goal mouth remotely. I've got the 200-600 and it compares really well to the big 400mm F2.8 in sharpness, albeit a few stops darker. I think it is a tad sharper than my 100-400 too. For the money it must be one of the best lenses out there

Hired an A1 a year or so ago to photograph the mountain hares up in Tomatin. It’s such an unbelievable camera but I just couldn’t justify the price being a hobbyist. I might bite the bullet one day if I ever decide to up my game.

[wookie70]

Hired an A1 a year or so ago to photograph the mountain hares up in Tomatin. It’s such an unbelievable camera but I just couldn’t justify the price being a hobbyist. I might bite the bullet one day if I ever decide to up my game. It is an exceptional bit of kit and has the perfect combination of resolution and AF for wildlife. Works great for sport but the files can be a bit of a pain when you are relying on 4g to send them pitch side.

[Hibrandenburg]

Set up WiFi wildlife cameras and getting some decent images of the local badgers. A cup of peanuts scattered helps to keep them in shot.A nocturnal visitor on my back patio last night.http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/63b50edc3fdf9/_T8160P2122420C36_2023_01_04_01_00_29.mp4

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk

[Moulin Yarns]

A nocturnal visitor on my back patio last night.http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/63b50edc3fdf9/_T8160P2122420C36_2023_01_04_01_00_29.mp4

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk

Walking round the walls of York on new years day there were 2 urban foxes happily wandering through long grass with dozens of people 20m away. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm307FTIXXY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Hibrandenburg]

Walking round the walls of York on new years day there were 2 urban foxes happily wandering through long grass with dozens of people 20m away. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm307FTIXXY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I'm hoping it's going get a bit quieter around here at sunrise now that Mr Fox has moved into the neighbourhood.

[Jim44]

Any twitchers recognise this? Hovering for ages. About the size of a crow.26378

[speedy_gonzales]

Any twitchers recognise this? Hovering for ages. About the size of a crow.26378

Could easily be a Common Kestrel or Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Difficult to tell with the resolution of the photo, my money would be on the Sparrowhawk due to the darker colouring and straighter/longer tail.

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

Could easily be a Common Kestrel or Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Difficult to tell with the resolution of the photo, my money would be on the Sparrowhawk due to the darker colouring and straighter/longer tail.

Definitely a kestrel. Sparrowhawks don’t hover.

[Moulin Yarns]

I caught a new visitor to the garden this morning, 06:15 on one of my wildlife cameras a pine marten popped it's head into shot. 👍😍

[silverhibee]

How do I deter foxes or even a badger coming in to my garden.?

[Billy Whizz]

How do I deter foxes or even a badger coming in to my garden.?

Chillies and Garlic Silver, but also Male pee😂

[Mibbes Aye]

How do I deter foxes or even a badger coming in to my garden.?

We learnt to live with our badger(s), they don't lack in determination, they're well-protected in law and they contribute in their own way to the ecosystem of the garden. But they are clumsy and destructive at times and buggered up manys an attempt at growing veg in our garden.

If it is about deterring them full stop, then fencing is probably the most reliable method, but if you have a large or irregular garden then that can be tricky. If it's a smaller garden and your neighbours aren't going to protest, then motion-activated lights can help - we have them as a home security measure but it seems to deter them from coming too close to the house at least. Finally, if you have the gumption, then urine is meant to be effective - basically what you would think, it signals a bigger beast in the garden.

If it's about diverting them then there are are other options, mainly about managing their food source, which is why they are in the garden. If you have room for a section that's a bit more unkempt or wilder then they may gravitate to there, especially if you cast some grass clippings there, basically anything to make it more likely to let grubs flourish which is what they are after. If you have bird feeders, think about where they are positioned as the badger will head straight for the discarded seed, And seasonal nematodes will keep the grubs at bay too. If you really dislike your neighbour, chuck some birdseed over the fence on a regular basis, that'll shift your badgers :greengrin

As for foxes, similar approaches really. Make the garden as entryproof as possible, secure your bins, position your bird feeders sensibly. Male urine again. We don't get them often enough to be a problem but I believe used teabags steeped with peppermint, eucalyptus or Deep Heat scattered about the place can help. Planting wild garlic around the access point would be my first stab at it (bonus for cooking).

[Moulin Yarns]

How do I deter foxes or even a badger coming in to my garden.?

Lion dung 🦁😂

I'd like to contradict Maybe on the motion sensor lights, doesn't bother our local badgers but it does make it easier to watch them outside the window.

[Pretty Boy]

I've mentioned before about the herd(s) of deer that live on Duddingston GC and round about the Innocent Railway path.

This morning I was walking to work and there were 2 deer just casually strolling along Bingham Avenue then into Bingham Park. This was about 6.30am. They walked along the street, up the path into the park calm as you like then ran off into the wooded are area at the far end of the park. It was quite a surreal experience as we all just looked at each other with a 'what are you doing here' look.

[silverhibee]

We learnt to live with our badger(s), they don't lack in determination, they're well-protected in law and they contribute in their own way to the ecosystem of the garden. But they are clumsy and destructive at times and buggered up manys an attempt at growing veg in our garden.

If it is about deterring them full stop, then fencing is probably the most reliable method, but if you have a large or irregular garden then that can be tricky. If it's a smaller garden and your neighbours aren't going to protest, then motion-activated lights can help - we have them as a home security measure but it seems to deter them from coming too close to the house at least. Finally, if you have the gumption, then urine is meant to be effective - basically what you would think, it signals a bigger beast in the garden.

If it's about diverting them then there are are other options, mainly about managing their food source, which is why they are in the garden. If you have room for a section that's a bit more unkempt or wilder then they may gravitate to there, especially if you cast some grass clippings there, basically anything to make it more likely to let grubs flourish which is what they are after. If you have bird feeders, think about where they are positioned as the badger will head straight for the discarded seed, And seasonal nematodes will keep the grubs at bay too. If you really dislike your neighbour, chuck some birdseed over the fence on a regular basis, that'll shift your badgers :greengrin

As for foxes, similar approaches really. Make the garden as entryproof as possible, secure your bins, position your bird feeders sensibly. Male urine again. We don't get them often enough to be a problem but I believe used teabags steeped with peppermint, eucalyptus or Deep Heat scattered about the place can help. Planting wild garlic around the access point would be my first stab at it (bonus for cooking).

Will be filling up a big bottle of male pea today and pouring it on to my garden tonight, it’s just my front garden and not able to block it of, even though they can come in through the pathway it looks like they are coming in through gaps in the hedge, foxes are doing there business and the badger is digging up the grass, no food or anything like that is left in the front garden, I have moved my bins round the back to try and deter things but nothing seems to work, hopefully the urine does the job. Ta.

Thanks also to Billy and Moulin for advice as well.

[Jim44]

I found this bird skeleton at the foot of the garden. The head is about 4 cm. from point of beak to base of skull. Any suggestions as to species?

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[Moulin Yarns]

Will be filling up a big bottle of male pea today and pouring it on to my garden tonight, it’s just my front garden and not able to block it of, even though they can come in through the pathway it looks like they are coming in through gaps in the hedge, foxes are doing there business and the badger is digging up the grass, no food or anything like that is left in the front garden, I have moved my bins round the back to try and deter things but nothing seems to work, hopefully the urine does the job. Ta.

Thanks also to Billy and Moulin for advice as well.

Another tip for keeping badgers out is tempt them to go elsewhere, maybe a neighbour you don't get on with 😉

After dark throw a couple of cups of peanuts away from your garden, do that for a week or two and they will look for easy food. That's how I tempt them to stay in front of the window and wildlife cameras.

[Moulin Yarns]

I found this bird skeleton at the foot of the garden. The head is about 4 cm. from point of beak to base of skull. Any suggestions as to species?

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26671

Yellow pointed beak suggests blackbird.

[Billy Whizz]

Is this some sort of cricket, saw it in my mums hedge today?

[speedy_gonzales]

Is this some sort of cricket, saw it in my mums hedge today?

A type of shield beetle?!?

[Moulin Yarns]

A type of shield beetle?!?

That's what I see as well.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2021/05/shieldbug-identification/

[grunt]

Deer in Holyrood Park this morning.

[Lendo]

Deer in Holyrood Park this morning.

Aww amazing, where about?

I took these at the weekend in Holyrood Park. Didn’t have much luck with anything more exciting.

[s.a.m]

Deer in Holyrood Park this morning.

Wow. I've never seen a deer in Holyrood Park, and I spend a lot of time walking there. Always thought it was strange, because all the other bits of wild parkland in Edinburgh seem to have them