Author Topic: Seen today (Read 1025428 times)

clarion · « **Reply #425 on:** 02 March, 2009, 04:47:54 pm »

No, it was Watlington. We thought maybe someone was planning a barbecue

Wowbagger · « **Reply #426 on:** 02 March, 2009, 11:21:48 pm »

Mrs.Wow and I counted more than 20 red kites wheeling like a load of vultures above Watlington when we were there a few years ago.

Had a brief walk on Two Tree Island this morning, and the path had been partially blocked by a recently dug badger sett. We looked around and there were loads of holes. I've never noticed them there before, but there seemed to be lots of activity, and holes on the other side of a fence I had never previously bothered to cross. I might just have to disappear down there just before dusk next month and see if I can get any photos.

Snakehips · « **Reply #427 on:** 03 March, 2009, 02:40:16 pm »

Quote from: Snakehips on 24 February, 2009, 05:28:36 pm

Lots of Pochards in Bushy Park. Again a seriously unfavourable balance from the male perspective !

..... and here is a picture of one of the little beauties

Tourist Tony · « **Reply #428 on:** 03 March, 2009, 02:46:33 pm »

That's a red-crested pochard, different again from a pochard. Much less common, and usually either an escapee or in a collection.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #429 on:** 03 March, 2009, 05:32:28 pm »

It is indeed.

That's the female.

I took those photos about 4 years ago at Hanningfield Reservoir. This pair had a load of ducklings and when I went back a week later, another male had joined them and all three adults seemed to be operating a happy ménage à trois as they looked after the babies.

RJ · « **Reply #430 on:** 03 March, 2009, 05:34:21 pm »

I didn't think they bred (as "properly" wild birds) closer than Germany. One lives, one learns ...

Wowbagger · « **Reply #431 on:** 03 March, 2009, 05:35:13 pm »

They probably didn't read the book which told you that...

These are the ducklings with mum in the foreground.

ludwig · « **Reply #432 on:** 03 March, 2009, 05:57:21 pm »

Red kites. Lots of em. One soared just above me while i cycled along

Bledlow · « **Reply #433 on:** 04 March, 2009, 05:17:53 pm »

4 roe deer in a field south of the railway between Reading & Theale.

matthew · « **Reply #434 on:** 04 March, 2009, 05:59:44 pm »

A small bird of prey (kestral?) making an attempt to catch a pigeon on the wing in the office car park this lunchtime and a larger BoP circling over Wokingham station (didn't appeat to have the forked tail of a kite) half an hour later.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #435 on:** 04 March, 2009, 10:28:56 pm »

More likely to be a sparrow hawk after a pigeon, I'd have thought.

A sign of spring in Priory Park today: frogspawn!

Bledlow · « **Reply #436 on:** 06 March, 2009, 10:38:35 pm »

A seething mass of worms, when I moved my compost bin. Winter and a lack of fresh vegetation have turned it from hot to cold, ideal for worms.

The well-rotted stuff at the bottom was turned out onto the garden, complete with worms, much to the delight of a blackbird.

Adrian · « **Reply #437 on:** 07 March, 2009, 12:52:58 am »

A duck with five ducklings paddling away behind her on the river near Southwark Bridge. The tide must be a bit of a puzzle to them

Wowbagger · « **Reply #438 on:** 10 March, 2009, 06:55:52 pm »

In Priory Park this morning:-

a sparrow hawk terrorising pigeons
an angler catching a large leather carp (about 15lb I'd say)
two little egrets
and two ladies dressed in latex and rubber, wallowing in the mud

(click to show/hide)

clarion · « **Reply #439 on:** 11 March, 2009, 10:26:46 am »

Dirty filth!

Regulator · « **Reply #440 on:** 11 March, 2009, 10:43:26 am »

Quote from: wowbagger on 10 March, 2009, 06:55:52 pm

In Priory Park this morning:-

a sparrow hawk terrorising pigeons
an angler catching a large leather carp (about 15lb I'd say)
two little egrets
and two ladies dressed in latex and rubber, wallowing in the mud

I thought Charlotte and Liz had gone home?

clarion · « **Reply #441 on:** 11 March, 2009, 10:51:12 am »

At the weekend, Butterfly & I lay in our tent listening to some absolutely enchanting birdsong, though I have to confess neither of us knows enough about birdsong to identify what it was

TheLurker · « **Reply #442 on:** 11 March, 2009, 12:01:49 pm »

A buzzard and two magpies by the side of the road, disputing the ownership of a rabbit. The buzzard seemed to be winning as I rode by.

Snakehips · « **Reply #443 on:** 11 March, 2009, 04:05:59 pm »

I had a pair of Egyptian Geese do what pedestrians often do , see me then saunter majestically across the road in front of me anyway.

Snakehips Bikes

clarion · « **Reply #444 on:** 11 March, 2009, 04:48:48 pm »

There is a heron at Carshalton Ponds. Often, he's stood on a rock. Today, he was stood still, up to his arse in the water, looking like a sawn-off heron.

toekneep · « **Reply #445 on:** 16 March, 2009, 01:23:17 pm »

The world seemed to be alive with birdlife early this morning. I counted at least fifteen species seen or heard during my short ride and at one point there were four or five rooks flying above me all with twigs in their beaks. Busy time for bids I guess.

Jaded · « **Reply #446 on:** 16 March, 2009, 01:28:36 pm »

I heard birds on my way to the start of the Wiltshire White Horses.

A couple of woodpeckers, an owl and some crows. Also lots of those tweety ones.

On the home run back to the finish I saw a large deer, standing motionless by the roadside, looking at me as intently as I was looking at it.

clarion · « **Reply #447 on:** 16 March, 2009, 03:24:25 pm »

Last night, we (Butterfly, Superstoker & myself) stood in Battersea Park, just inside the Rosary Gate, about thirty metres from the Chelsea Bridge traffic, and close to several groups of people making their own racket.

Yet, as the light dimmed towards dusk, we heard a sweet combination of birdsong. I couldn't identify any of it, but it was a lovely moment.

onb · « **Reply #448 on:** 16 March, 2009, 04:51:05 pm »

The curlews are back which is great a real sign of better weather and their call is just wonderful ,sends shivers down my spine.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #449 on:** 16 March, 2009, 04:52:59 pm »

At 4.25 p.m. last Friday Mrs. Wow and I watched a barn owl from quite close quarters as we pootled through Barling.

Yesterday afternoon I heard a chiff-chaff, the first summer visitor of the summer.