Wildlife

Forum post: Re: Back from France and some more pictures of the Birthday Owl(-:).

Gardenbirder — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:48:00 GMT

Thanks for the wonderful photos, Bob, and so glad you had a good holiday. Your birthday owl is gorgeous! The owl would be the high point for me, too! Owls are very special and I would love to see an LEO in the wild--they have evaded me so far, although most of my birding is done in our small back garden, so I would be surprised to see one there-LOL!

Forum post: Re: RSPB Minsmere Yesterday

Gardenbirder — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:26:00 GMT

John, Re: removal of bird feeders at Tree Canopy Hide, a few speculations: perhaps it was a problem of attracting rats? Perhaps retaining the feeders at the Visitor Centre carried on since the restaurant would attract rats anyway so maybe the RSPB thought 'nevermind--carry on'? Where were the feeders at the Tree Canopy? Perhaps it was a staffing shortage? Takes time to haul feed and refill them, or maybe it was a health and safety issue--looks bad if staff are breaking arms or legs when slipping on icy steps, etc.!

Clare, Oh, those potholes must be really bad! An embarrassing pothole photo might produce some action, perhaps? Is it a council, not an RSPB responsibility?

Forum post: Re: RSPB Dungeness-Pied Flycatcher

Veggie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:49:00 GMT

Hi Aiki, thanks for the reply, I have to say it was two very brief glimpses, the second being a bit better as I thought there was something there, but none the less was still quite fleeting. The initial part that stayed in my head was the striking black and white, really clearly defined. However, it was also so fleeting that even though my initial thought was of the PF I really couldn't be sure. Having done a little research I could see that it was out of area for this time of year. I have been in touch with the folks at the reserve and no one else has reported one, and so I will have to concede that this is one that has got away. There is certainly more doubt in my mind now, and so I shall not be claiming the tick in my Bird Journal. Maybe next time.

Forum post: Re: Welcome to the Greenfingers forum 2013! Share your garden snaps and stories!

northdevonfocus — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:35:00 GMT

That's a great mix, I have seen wrens in my Blackthorne it is the first to flower and is full of big berries in the Autumn and Dormice love Hazel. You might consider Snowberry that's a really compact bush with good pruning. Speckled Wood Butterfly love the Vibernum and all Butterflies love Hydrangea. Buddelia for Bees and Butterflies

Forum post: Re: ID help please - are these Black Storks

bob's_retired_now — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:26:00 GMT

Nice one Bob. Will have to put Spain on the holiday list, a non birding holiday of course(-:).

Forum post: Re: Pass!

northdevonfocus — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:24:00 GMT

One of the first signs of spring I believe. Male Orange tipped bumble bee - Bombus pratorum

Forum post: Re: Baby Things ..... :)

bob's_retired_now — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:30:00 GMT

Cute or what, super shots.

Forum post: Re: Light & Colour with feathers

bob's_retired_now — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:29:00 GMT

Excellent pictures David. I particularly like the Hoope., Ive never seen one.

Forum post: Re: Norfolk Holiday 2,Grebe,Swallow,L.T.T.et al

KatyBirdy — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:28:00 GMT

Great pics Terry. You made a good job of the swallows. I've given up with them, they're too difficult for me! :)

Forum post: Re: Pictures from "La Petite Camargue Alsacienne".

KatyBirdy — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:24:00 GMT

Beautiful pics Bob! and what a fantastic variety!

Photo: Honey bee on Angelica flower

Claire Moore — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:45:00 GMT

Many of the Angelica plants where I work are now flowering and are frequently covered with bees. This one stayed still long enough for me to take a photo.

Forum post: Re: Tweety's growing up!

HAZY — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:58:00 GMT

Smashing update Jenni, what a sweetie :)

Forum post: Re: Gotcha!

HAZY — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:57:00 GMT

well spotted Jenni, lovely birds and great photos

Forum post: Re: Goosander or Merganser

GillP — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:30:00 GMT

I think they're both goosander - the head colour is the same on both birds and a merganser has a lighter head.

No guarantee that I'm right!

Gill

Forum post: Re: Birdsong

marjo — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:25:00 GMT

thank you Alan, I always hear it but cannot see it

Forum post: Re: trouble with my Robin

sunshine — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:53:00 GMT

no it was not a tick i know what they look like ,,, this was black and went into his beak, just wish i could have found his little body and set my mind at ease, He was so tame he would follow me around the playing field flying from fence to fence when i took my dog out then come and sit in the garden on the chair not scared of the cat or dog

Forum post: Re: HouseMartins

sunshine — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:35:00 GMT

when i first moved to Langney 40+ year ago the House Martins would always build there nests under the eves of the blocks of flats , but the council in there wisdom decided to clear them away and from that time onwards they did not nest there again

Forum post: Re: Which diver?

aiki — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:22:00 GMT

Going by the little, upturned-looking bill , very droopy head, narrow dark line on flanks and how far up the white of the belly comes towards the throat, I'd go with Red-throated :)

Blog post: The results are in for the New Forest goshawk chicks

Laura Stevens — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:56:00 GMT

The New Forest goshawk chicks have been ringed and weighed, and the results are in...There's two girls and a boy! The team have worked this out using the chicks' weight, wing and leg measurements because at their age, the females are much heftier and leggier than the males.

Jeremy Peters, our man on the ground, updates us on the chicks process:

"All three chicks have been getting good amounts of food, provided by the parents. The excitement will increase over the next two to three weeks as the chicks develop into juvenile birds. It's always a special moment watching them take their first flights, which should be around the first week of July."

Don't forget, if you can't make it down to the New Forest in person to see the chicks, then you can watch them live on the webcam.

Forum post: Re: Banded Demoiselle's and a day flying moth hopefully cerrectly ID'd.

aiki — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:48:00 GMT

Nice pics, Shane, the demoiselles are looking great. I'd agree with the moth ID.