Author Topic: Seen today  (Read 999701 times)

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5950 on: 11 October, 2021, 04:49:47 pm »
A Grey Wagtail.

I'm pretty sure I've never seen one before.
Near fast flowing water?
I saw one on the stream that runs through Lyme Regis about 20 years ago and a couple in S. Staffs just before Covid.

We saw one on a house roof yesterday, not very close to fast flowing water.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5951 on: 11 October, 2021, 04:51:37 pm »
Yes running water, by a mill wheel. I'm minded to go back with a bigger lens in the next few days (although I don't know if they hang around)
It is simpler than it looks.

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5952 on: 11 October, 2021, 04:59:26 pm »
On Saturday while we were in the garden, a ring necked parakeet and later, a buzzard.

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5953 on: 11 October, 2021, 05:35:15 pm »
On Saturday while we were in the garden, a ring necked parakeet and later, a buzzard.
The parakeets have got that far north!
"No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everybody on the couch."

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5954 on: 11 October, 2021, 05:35:43 pm »
A fox ran across the road while I was out for my run this morning.
"No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everybody on the couch."

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5955 on: 11 October, 2021, 06:06:05 pm »
On Saturday while we were in the garden, a ring necked parakeet and later, a buzzard.
The parakeets have got that far north!

Possibly an escaped pet rather than a roaming feral sassenach?

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5956 on: 11 October, 2021, 07:10:06 pm »
A Grey Wagtail.

I'm pretty sure I've never seen one before.
Near fast flowing water?
I saw one on the stream that runs through Lyme Regis about 20 years ago and a couple in S. Staffs just before Covid.

We saw one on a house roof yesterday, not very close to fast flowing water.

I occasionally see grey wagtails in Southend. I think the last one was last week. I don't think the water has to be fast-flowing, but they do seem to like to be near water. I guess that they are insectivorous.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5957 on: 13 October, 2021, 08:48:19 am »
Yes running water, by a mill wheel. I'm minded to go back with a bigger lens in the next few days (although I don't know if they hang around)

They are resident breeders according to Collins BTO guide to British Birds. A useful home reference book and often seen on charity shop shelves  :)
Never knowingly under caffeinated

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5958 on: 14 October, 2021, 07:07:21 am »
Local buzzard decided to perch on my kids swing set yesterday, of course I was on the phone at the time and nowhere near my camera. Bloody good view though.

Saw him later as well being mobbed by a crow.
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Basil

  • Um....err......oh bugger!
  • Help me!
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5959 on: 14 October, 2021, 11:32:30 am »
IRTA 'being mobbed by a cow'.
Admission.  I'm actually not that fussed about cake.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5960 on: 14 October, 2021, 01:14:25 pm »
A kingfisher for a second or two yesterday, flitting up the River Chew.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5961 on: 14 October, 2021, 01:23:37 pm »
First ink caps this autumn in the garden.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5962 on: 14 October, 2021, 01:44:45 pm »
A long eared bat, but not as you would normally expect...  (it is dead, in case you wondered).  Promo for our company Halloween post on Linkedin.

Bat by Richard Fletcher, on Flickr
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Snakehips

  • Twixt London and leafy Surrey
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5963 on: 16 October, 2021, 05:47:48 pm »
A Black Swan in Bushy Park
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5964 on: 17 October, 2021, 11:06:50 am »
I'm glad you've finally seen one, Jaded.  They're a little confusing: the grey wagtail is mostly yellow (underneath) - whereas the yellow wagtail is mostly green!  Not to be confused with the female pied wagtail which is mostly....... grey!

Nobby, yes, hill-country streams are a good bet.

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5965 on: 19 October, 2021, 07:22:44 pm »
What I think is a common newt, outside our back door some 30m from the nearest pond.

Newt by Richard Fletcher, on Flickr

We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5966 on: 19 October, 2021, 11:35:27 pm »
I think it's known as the eft stage from an old English word for newt.  We had one ON our back door a few years ago and we don't live near a pond (there is a river across a busy road about thirty metres away).  At this stage, newts live on land and only return to water to breed.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5967 on: 20 October, 2021, 08:58:02 am »
I'm glad you've finally seen one, Jaded.  They're a little confusing: the grey wagtail is mostly yellow (underneath) - whereas the yellow wagtail is mostly green!  Not to be confused with the female pied wagtail which is mostly....... grey!

Nobby, yes, hill-country streams are a good bet.

Yes, I did think the naming committee had an off day!
It is simpler than it looks.

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5968 on: 20 October, 2021, 12:10:59 pm »
Bird-watching is a serious business!  I suspect you are like me, pleasantly surprised at seeing something, rather than going looking for it.  But I always get a thrill out of seeing something if I'm out on my bike, or walking.  I think it's great that you are such a good photographer (unlike me) but birds know what they are doing and won't keep still - either that or they have exclusive contracts with "Hello"!

Re: Seen today
« Reply #5969 on: 20 October, 2021, 02:57:55 pm »
I'm glad you've finally seen one, Jaded.  They're a little confusing: the grey wagtail is mostly yellow (underneath) - whereas the yellow wagtail is mostly green!  Not to be confused with the female pied wagtail which is mostly....... grey!

Nobby, yes, hill-country streams are a good bet.

Yes, I did think the naming committee had an off day!

I've seen them (grey wagtails) on the banks of the Wharfe in upper Wharfedale before. South of Grassington if memory serves.
I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5970 on: 20 October, 2021, 05:41:19 pm »
buzzard was back, this time it was diving in my garden to catch meeces.  I managed to get a couple of good shots of him dat on a perch eating it.
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5971 on: 20 October, 2021, 08:34:24 pm »
Saw a grey wagtail too, on Monday, in the same spot as I'd previously seen a kingfisher. Also think it really should be called yellow wagtail. Except there also is a yellow wagtail apparently (don't think I've ever seen one) and that really is yellow.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5972 on: 20 October, 2021, 08:54:12 pm »
I've seen a yellow wagtail in my garden, though it could have been a grey wagtail of course
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5973 on: 23 October, 2021, 12:48:24 am »
First redwing of the season.

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: Seen today
« Reply #5974 on: 23 October, 2021, 08:32:43 am »
Yesterday there was a insect of the general grasshopper persuasion hanging on our front gate.



Yes, I know, I need to paint the gate. Next time we have a week's dry weather with >20°C.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight