Wildlife

[Peanut Shaz]

Went for a walk up Easter and Wester Craiglockhart Hill tonight. Stopped off at the end of the walk at Craiglockhart Pond. Swans, ducks and ducklings in the reeds, and plenty birds. A little bit of nature minutes away from a busy main road. A very pleasant few minutes.

[grunt]

Aww amazing, where about?


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
Whinny Hill, just up from Ulster Gate. About 9:30am.

[grunt]

I took these at the weekend in Holyrood Park. Didn’t have much luck with anything more exciting.
Fab photos. I've started walking with a camera in my pocket, I find it makes me look around more keenly, pay more attention to what's around me.

[Lendo]

Fab photos. I've started walking with a camera in my pocket, I find it makes me look around more keenly, pay more attention to what's around me.

Thank you!

[silverhibee]

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.

The urine pouring seems to be working in the garden, hasn’t be dug up since I poured pea over it.

[silverhibee]

Fab photos. I've started walking with a camera in my pocket, I find it makes me look around more keenly, pay more attention to what's around me.

Just remember PINAC. :thumbsup:

[Mibbes Aye]

The urine pouring seems to be working in the garden, hasn’t be dug up since I poured pea over it.

:aok:

[s.a.m]

Whinny Hill, just up from Ulster Gate. About 9:30am.

:aok:

[greenlex]

267797 blue tit chicks flew the nesting box in the garden this afternoon. Look a bit early to be honest. One already awol. Hopefully to hot for the local felines. Sadly I don’t think they will last the night.

[wookie70]

Saw the hedgehog a few nights last week in the garden. I've not worked out where it is staying or if it is in the garden. Lots of places to hide in my garden and must put the trail cam out to see if I can work out where it is

[Moulin Yarns]

Seen loads of starlings today. Been a while since they have been around here.

[Jim44]

Spot the wasps nest! :greengrin

26929

[Hibrandenburg]

Just got an alarm on my catastrophe app warning local residents not to leave the house and keep pets in doors because there's a lioness wandering around. Might put my trainers on instead of my brogues for the journey to work this morning.

[Moulin Yarns]

Just got an alarm on my catastrophe app warning local residents not to leave the house and keep pets in doors because there's a lioness wandering around. Might put my trainers on instead of my brogues for the journey to work this morning.

Are they not in Australia just now. 😉

[Hibrandenburg]

Are they not in Australia just now. 😉

Not this one.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/lion-berlin-kleinmachnow-teltow-stahnsdorf-b2378675.html?fbclid=IwAR2aMYxHxHX9tMe5dQryJY6ZSKB Q85G9blGgcp4rp0k6F9HASTEHGdobBJU

[wookie70]

Not local but I was down at Bempton Cliffs a few weeks back. What a fantastic place to watch Gannets in particular but also lots of other sea birds and also Barn Owls if you are lucky. For anyone that likes photography it is an absolute feast of opportunities. Pity the Haar and cloud killed any sunrise but I had a great day nonetheless
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52989223737_a9e21b11c1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oJtC6P)SA108768 (https://flic.kr/p/2oJtC6P) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52990186420_9a9249ae05_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oJyygN)SA100698 (https://flic.kr/p/2oJyygN) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52989959689_aab79f7b5f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oJxoSD)SA101327 (https://flic.kr/p/2oJxoSD) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52989223477_e75c56b6b7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oJtC2k)SA100505 (https://flic.kr/p/2oJtC2k) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52990281818_505ce305d0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oJz3CA)SA108089 (https://flic.kr/p/2oJz3CA) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

[stu in nottingham]

Bempton Cliffs is an amazing place. I read that there were around 250,000 birds there at any given time. The first thing you notice is the smell of the guano from all those thousands of birds - quite overpowering!

Some place though.

[Hibernian Verse]

Not local but I was down at Bempton Cliffs a few weeks back. What a fantastic place to watch Gannets in particular but also lots of other sea birds and also Barn Owls if you are lucky. For anyone that likes photography it is an absolute feast of opportunities. Pity the Haar and cloud killed any sunrise but I had a great day nonetheless


Brilliant photos mate :aok:

[grunt]

Not local but I was down at Bempton Cliffs a few weeks back. What a fantastic place to watch Gannets in particular but also lots of other sea birds and also Barn Owls if you are lucky. For anyone that likes photography it is an absolute feast of opportunities. Pity the Haar and cloud killed any sunrise but I had a great day nonetheless
Fantastic photos! Thanks for posting.

[Jim44]

From the window in Orlando -

27034

Cardinal.

[HibbyDave]

Insect in garden recently. A giant horn tail ( google it) as I have no idea how to add a picture😂

They are harmless but a wee bit scary.

[wookie70]

I don't really do resolutions but I have said to myself I have to do more photography for myself this year. So to that end I have combined it with a love of nature and have started trying to get out and about and get some images of wildlife.

Not often you can watch a Kingfisher for an hour diving every 5 minutes or so. Second time I have had the pleasure and amazing how many people walk past oblivious.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53459714424_68f59c5eb1_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ps41Ad)Kingfisher (https://flic.kr/p/2ps41Ad) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53458482607_9647d11f3a_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2prWGpZ)Kingfisher (https://flic.kr/p/2prWGpZ) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429176045_9e1aaaf61c_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ppmuAr)Midlothian Kingfisher (https://flic.kr/p/2ppmuAr) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53459535758_47050bc9aa_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ps36tL)Kingfisher (https://flic.kr/p/2ps36tL) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

Musselburgh is great for watching wildlife

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53422783808_1720dd60e4_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2poMJps)Widgeon (https://flic.kr/p/2poMJps) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53421705682_c5dd02a8e6_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2poGcV5)Redshank (https://flic.kr/p/2poGcV5) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53422783878_c8fbaebc9f_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2poMJqE)Redshank (https://flic.kr/p/2poMJqE) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53422942519_2a40931fe5_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2poNxzR)Mistle Thrush (https://flic.kr/p/2poNxzR) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

[DaveF]

Those pics are stunning. The kingfisher diving is an outstanding catch. Thanks for posting.

[wookie70]

Cheers, A good deal harder that Rugby and Football players. They are like wee bullets.

[Stairway 2 7]

Absolutely loved looking at them thanks, more the merrier in future ta

[Moulin Yarns]

Stunning photos, you must have the patience of a saint.

[wookie70]

Stunning photos, you must have the patience of a saint.I think the two sessions combined were about 3 hours. I tend to react to information because I don't have the time or patience to scope sites out

[Lendo]

I think the two sessions combined were about 3 hours. I tend to react to information because I don't have the time or patience to scope sites out

This is helped motivate me to get back out with the long lens and do some shooting. Sadly no kingfishers for me on the water of leith this weekend.

[wookie70]

It is such a difficult genre of photography. When I shoot sports I know there will be action but with wildlife you can put effort in and get nothing back. I have been exceptionally lucky this year so far so I am hoping that will continue. I will build something in the garden as we have a large number of visitors and good varieties of species. I sometimes pay to sit in a hide to make sure I get some good shots. I may go up to this one, Penny Hedges, if it is available on Saturday as it isn't too far from Forfar. Action all day and some lovely colourful birds and animals albeit not rarities.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436581643_4297a1d613_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2a)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2a) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435518617_2c0706c865_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV128)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV128) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436581648_9ed91ac39a_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2f)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2f) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435518612_42142e7f0a_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV123)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV123) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435518642_6a66d7c7db_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV12y)Robin (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV12y) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436778314_27b976660a_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2su3)S1B04061_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2su3) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436581713_ba11447a71_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s3n)Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s3n) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436864710_049e3e5244_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2UaC)Greater Spotted Woodpecker (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2UaC) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

[Hibby70]

Those photos are amazing Si.

[Moulin Yarns]

Another set of great pictures.


I'm lazy and set up trail cameras in the garden, through some peanuts in front and generally get our local badgers at night but also had hedgehog and most recently a fox has been coming regularly.

[wookie70]

Another set of great pictures.


I'm lazy and set up trail cameras in the garden, through some peanuts in front and generally get our local badgers at night but also had hedgehog and most recently a fox has been coming regularly.

We get the occasional Fox and Hedgehog in the garden. I'd love to get a house where we got a Badger. Money to be made setting up a photo hide for people to use.

[Moulin Yarns]

We get the occasional Fox and Hedgehog in the garden. I'd love to get a house where we got a Badger. Money to be made setting up a photo hide for people to use.

This morning I saw a rat!! Might have to rethink where I scatter peanuts in future. Definitely not showing my wife that video.

[MKHIBEE]

This morning I saw a rat!! Might have to rethink where I scatter peanuts in future. Definitely not showing my wife that video.


I looked out my window to see a rat sitting on the bird table a few months ago. Gone by the time I got my camera.

[superfurryhibby]

Must be Fox mating season just now? They are very active around the Inch just now, what a racket.

[McD]

It is such a difficult genre of photography. When I shoot sports I know there will be action but with wildlife you can put effort in and get nothing back. I have been exceptionally lucky this year so far so I am hoping that will continue. I will build something in the garden as we have a large number of visitors and good varieties of species. I sometimes pay to sit in a hide to make sure I get some good shots. I may go up to this one, Penny Hedges, if it is available on Saturday as it isn't too far from Forfar. Action all day and some lovely colourful birds and animals albeit not rarities.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436581643_4297a1d613_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2a)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2a) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435518617_2c0706c865_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV128)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV128) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436581648_9ed91ac39a_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2f)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s2f) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435518612_42142e7f0a_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV123)Red Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV123) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435518642_6a66d7c7db_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV12y)Robin (https://flic.kr/p/2ppV12y) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436778314_27b976660a_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2su3)S1B04061_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2su3) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436581713_ba11447a71_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s3n)Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit (https://flic.kr/p/2pq1s3n) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436864710_049e3e5244_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2UaC)Greater Spotted Woodpecker (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2UaC) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr


You really are talented mate, these are incredible pictures


Do you feel like you get more satisfaction from the wildlife to sports shots, or just different?

[wookie70]

You really are talented mate, these are incredible pictures


Do you feel like you get more satisfaction from the wildlife to sports shots, or just different? Probably wildlife as it is nearly always interesting. Sports photography can be even worse than supporting a team as you get a very narrow view so can't get as good a feel for the game. With wildlife it is nearly always interesting and as I am pretty new shooting this subject I am constantly learning so that always makes it more satisfying. Here are a few from today down the coast. Another few firsts today, spotting a Red-Breasted Merangser and a Gadwall. Those of us close to Easter Road are very lucky with how much accessible wildlife there is within an hour or so

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53466032923_a67d026f0e_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psBoRR)Red-Breasted Merganser (https://flic.kr/p/2psBoRR) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53466318825_ca55a5c8e4_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psCRRc)Widgeon (https://flic.kr/p/2psCRRc) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53464983767_be45aa8373_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1YX)Moorhen (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1YX) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53466038513_66e1062d54_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psBqwe)Bar-Tailed Godwit (https://flic.kr/p/2psBqwe) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr|
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53464983777_cd12c91f5d_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1Z8)Turnstone (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1Z8) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

[Hibrandenburg]

Probably wildlife as it is nearly always interesting. Sports photography can be even worse than supporting a team as you get a very narrow view so can't get as good a feel for the game. With wildlife it is nearly always interesting and as I am pretty new shooting this subject I am constantly learning so that always makes it more satisfying. Here are a few from today down the coast. Another few firsts today, spotting a Red-Breasted Merangser and a Gadwall. Those of us close to Easter Road are very lucky with how much accessible wildlife there is within an hour or so

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53466032923_a67d026f0e_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psBoRR)Red-Breasted Merganser (https://flic.kr/p/2psBoRR) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53466318825_ca55a5c8e4_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psCRRc)Widgeon (https://flic.kr/p/2psCRRc) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53464983767_be45aa8373_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1YX)Moorhen (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1YX) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53466038513_66e1062d54_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psBqwe)Bar-Tailed Godwit (https://flic.kr/p/2psBqwe) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr|
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53464983777_cd12c91f5d_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1Z8)Turnstone (https://flic.kr/p/2psw1Z8) by Simon Wootton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/192612307@N07/), on Flickr

Fantastic, worthy of a poster most of those Wookie.

[speedy_gonzales]

I looked out my window to see a rat sitting on the bird table a few months ago. Gone by the time I got my camera.

Yeah, plenty bird food and rats will eventually move in.
I've got quite an active garden due to my feeders. The songbirds, corvids and tits seem to feed in shifts from dawn until dusk, but there's a period in the mid-afternoon where rats come out and feed on the scraps left on the deck. I've placed my feeders on poles in large planting pots to try and stop the overspill but inevitably something gets on the ground.
I'm not overly concerned, but the other half hates it. The rats themselves are quite small, dark brown in colour, not like the city rats you see around the bins in town.
I have a healthy fox population that visit so I don't think the rats will get out of hand.

[Billy Whizz]

1st Ladybird of the year spotted today

[Moulin Yarns]

1st Ladybird of the year spotted today

Bumblebees are also out and the orgy of frogs in the pond is in full swing.

[silverhibee]

Bumblebees are also out and the orgy of frogs in the pond is in full swing.

Spotted my first bee yesterday, what a noise it was making at the window, wasn’t so tough when I whacked it with a paper, :greengrin only joking, have a fear of them or maybe the buzzing noise, was stung over 30 times when I was young, still have nightmares about it, was wasps that stung me not bees.

[Billy Whizz]

Bumblebees are also out and the orgy of frogs in the pond is in full swing.

I don’t know the last time I saw frogs/tadpoles
Growing up they were everywhere

[grunt]

I don’t know the last time I saw frogs/tadpoles
Growing up they were everywhere
Go up to Dunsapie in the mornings. They're everywhere just now. Toads, that is.

[Moulin Yarns]

I don’t know the last time I saw frogs/tadpoles
Growing up they were everywhere

Working in the garden this afternoon and the croaking was really loud from under some shrubs.

[wookie70]

Bumblebees are also out and the orgy of frogs in the pond is in full swing. Loads of spawn in our pond and around 20 frogs spotted the other night. Saw my first butterfly, Painted Lady, on 20 Feb but that was an anomaly as it was in the house.

[JimBHibees]

Yeah, plenty bird food and rats will eventually move in.
I've got quite an active garden due to my feeders. The songbirds, corvids and tits seem to feed in shifts from dawn until dusk, but there's a period in the mid-afternoon where rats come out and feed on the scraps left on the deck. I've placed my feeders on poles in large planting pots to try and stop the overspill but inevitably something gets on the ground.
I'm not overly concerned, but the other half hates it. The rats themselves are quite small, dark brown in colour, not like the city rats you see around the bins in town.
I have a healthy fox population that visit so I don't think the rats will get out of hand.

Do foxes kill rats?

[Billy Whizz]

Do foxes kill rats?

Absolutely

[JimBHibees]

Absolutely

Cheers

[Moulin Yarns]

Absolute mayhem in the garden, birds calling and lots of flapping about. Turn round to see a sparrowhawk on the ground with a small bird in its talons.

[stu in nottingham]

My neighbours found a deceased fox cub in their garden this morning. No real signs of it being attacked. Wondered what the likely cause of it's death might have been. Suburban area, next to countryside.

[Peanut Shaz]

We’ve had foxes in our garden for years. Lately 2 badgers have started to come in as well. Got quite a surprise when we first saw them, but lovely to watch.

[Moulin Yarns]

We’ve had foxes in our garden for years. Lately 2 badgers have started to come in as well. Got quite a surprise when we first saw them, but lovely to watch.

We are getting a family of 4 badgers just now.

[Hibby70]

We are getting a family of 4 badgers just now.

Well you should have voted Tory. Don't say they didn't warn you.

[Billy Whizz]

Winter watch starts tonight on BBC 2, always enjoy this programme

[Moulin Yarns]

I was looking for the good news thread but it fits this as well.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c2k5e14vwx4o


Lucky man.

[Jim44]

28682

Huge clumps of thick twigs lying below the gable end eaves of my house. I’ve seen small birds nesting up there but these twigs are really long and quite thick. Any ideas?

Ps. …… I don’t think the sunglasses belong to the bird. :greengrin

[greenlex]

28682

Huge clumps of thick twigs lying below the gable end eaves of my house. I’ve seen small birds nesting up there but these twigs are really long and quite thick. Any ideas?

Ps. …… I don’t think the sunglasses belong to the bird. :greengrin
Almost certainly Crows but the sunglasses might point to Magpies although to be honest I’ve no idea where Magpies nest.

[Jim44]

Almost certainly Crows but the sunglasses might point to Magpies although to be honest I’ve no idea where Magpies nest.

Sorry, I should have said that I added the sunglasses to give a sense of scale. :greengrin In any case, I think you might be right with crows. I live in Peebles and it’s a common belief ( correct I think) that magpies are unheard of in these parts. I’ve lived here for 40 years and have never seen one.

[greenlex]

Sorry, I should have said that I added the sunglasses to give a sense of scale. :greengrin In any case, I think you might be right with crows. I live in Peebles and it’s a common belief ( correct I think) that magpies are unheard of in these parts. I’ve lived here for 40 years and have never seen one.

😂😂Thinking about it I’ve never seen a magpie with shades on.
I was a Gorebridge lad growing up back in the day and rarely if ever saw a magpie. Fast forward 50/60 years and I’m in West Lothian and there’s literally dozens of them. Noisy buggers.
I’ve seen crows in flight with”twigs” twice their body weight in their beaks.
Got a wood burner fitted a few years back in an old house and used an old chimney for the flue. Git it swept before the lining etc and you wouldn’t believe the size of the twig that came down. (No shades right enough)

[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.


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Two years later, same stretch of the Cuddy, earlier this evening.

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[wookie70]

We are getting a family of 4 badgers just now. So lucky I would love to photograph that

[Jim44]

A pair of great tits ( not a great pair of tits :greengrin )look like they’re going to nest in an old ceramic pot next to the shed. I don’t know how safe they’ll be, 2ft from the ground and easy prey for visiting cats.

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[grunt]

Many on here will already know of this, but in case you haven't, can I recommend the Merlin Bird ID (https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org) phone app.

It recognises bird song and when you're out it is a very pleasant way to spend 5 or 10 minutes sitting quietly allowing your phone to identify the different birds singing nearby. Heard 17 different species of bird last week in Duddingston, including 2 which were noted as being rare. Great fun, free app.

[wookie70]

Many on here will already know of this, but in case you haven't, can I recommend the Merlin Bird ID (https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org) phone app.

It recognises bird song and when you're out it is a very pleasant way to spend 5 or 10 minutes sitting quietly allowing your phone to identify the different birds singing nearby. Heard 17 different species of bird last week in Duddingston, including 2 which were noted as being rare. Great fun, free app.

It is a brilliant app. I love when it identifies something and then you see the bird to confirm the ID

[Jim44]

A pair of great tits ( not a great pair of tits :greengrin )look like they’re going to nest in an old ceramic pot next to the shed. I don’t know how safe they’ll be, 2ft from the ground and easy prey for visiting cats.

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I was concerned about the exposed site the birds were proposing to nest in and assumed they would possibly abandon it. I had a quick Look into the pot and was surprised to see about six or seven live ‘blobs’. I suppose Mother Nature will decide their fate.

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[Jim44]

I was concerned about the exposed site the birds were proposing to nest in and assumed they would possibly abandon it. I had a quick Look into the pot and was surprised to see about six or seven live ‘blobs’. I suppose Mother Nature will decide their fate.

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The parents birds are avidly feeding the young from daybreak till dusk.

[greenlex]

I’ve two bird boxes in the garden. This is my fifth year in the house. The box closest to the house has always been used and the other not. It’s the opposite this year fur some strange reason. I now know they won’t ever both be used at the same time as blue tits and great tits are territorial. They’re too close together.
Mum and dad in and out from dawn to dusk.
Year before last there was six chicks.

[Jim44]

I’ve two bird boxes in the garden. This is my fifth year in the house. The box closest to the house has always been used and the other not. It’s the opposite this year fur some strange reason. I now know they won’t ever both be used at the same time as blue tits and great tits are territorial. They’re too close together.
Mum and dad in and out from dawn to dusk.
Year before last there was six chicks.

Sat watching the busy parents today and was taken aback by one of them being attacked and bullied by a couple of sparrows. Had to hold myself back from intervening :greengrin and had to let nature take its course. I assume the sparrows won’t try to enter the pot/nest which has an entrance a fair bit wider than a great tit hole size.

[greenlex]

Sat watching the busy parents today and was taken aback by one of them being attacked and bullied by a couple of sparrows. Had to hold myself back from intervening :greengrin and had to let nature take its course. I assume the sparrows won’t try to enter the pot/nest which has an entrance a fair bit wider than a great tit hole size.

One of the parents is a bit feart and stops at a few strategic places in the garden nervously looking around before eventually stopping at the entrance fur one last look. The other is straight in on the wing no messing. I imagine the latter is the female and gives the male a hard time for his carry on. In my head anyway.

[Moulin Yarns]

I was concerned about the exposed site the birds were proposing to nest in and assumed they would possibly abandon it. I had a quick Look into the pot and was surprised to see about six or seven live ‘blobs’. I suppose Mother Nature will decide their fate.

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The nest box opposite my kitchen window has blue tits every year, this morning I saw the lid was missing. Checking it i found the lid and nest on the ground. Took a photo and there's 2 tiny eggs in the box but no nest. I think one of the local cats has managed to knock the lid off and hooked the nest.

I repaired the lid and the pair are back. Fingers crossed they can raise a pair of chick's but not convinced.

[Jim44]

The nest box opposite my kitchen window has blue tits every year, this morning I saw the lid was missing. Checking it i found the lid and nest on the ground. Took a photo and there's 2 tiny eggs in the box but no nest. I think one of the local cats has managed to knock the lid off and hooked the nest.

I repaired the lid and the pair are back. Fingers crossed they can raise a pair of chick's but not convinced.

I’ve put as much protection around the low nest as possible to keep cats away. Also, because the pot entrance to the nest is so open to the elements and probable wet weather to come, I’ve built a canopy above to keep out as much rain as possible. Fortunately, all my activity around the nest doesn’t seen to have worried the parent birds and they’re still back and forward, feeding from dawn to dusk. I’ve got to say that having had two or three ‘unsuccessful’ boxes over the years, this unexpected diversion is really consuming and interesting.

[Jim44]

A wee update on the GT family. Parents were still actively feeding the young on Saturday evening during and after heavy rain. By lunchtime Sunday, the nest was empty and no sign of life since. Hopefully the exit from the nest was trouble free and they have survived.