Wildlife

[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]

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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]

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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]

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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.

[greenlex]

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IMG_0026.jpg

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.

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

[Jim44]

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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. 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]

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Sorry, I should have said that I added the sunglasses to give a sense of scale. 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]

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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.


Attachment 25924

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

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[wookie70]

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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 )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 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]

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Many on here will already know of this, but in case you haven't, can I recommend the Merlin Bird ID 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]

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A pair of great tits ( not a great pair of tits )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]

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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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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]

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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 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]

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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 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]

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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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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]

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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.

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.

[Caversham Green]

After a gap of a few years I've had more visits from Muntjacs. I've got a couple of friends whose properties back on to open fields and they say the muntjacs are a pain in the arse but as far as I'm concerned they're welcome in my garden any time even if they do nibble my strawberries.

I got this pic through two panes of glass hence the poor quality. https://www.hibs.net/images/attach/jpg.gif