Author Topic: Seen today (Read 1018412 times)

Pingu · « **Reply #2275 on:** 30 December, 2011, 01:40:14 pm »

Kestrel, ubiquitous, buzzards, alpacas, ostriches.

David Martin · « **Reply #2276 on:** 30 December, 2011, 06:51:30 pm »

Some red deer on a hillside far away (briefly).
A large bird of prey - either a red kite or a juvenile eagle - having a good go at flushing out grouse from the frosty heather.
Lots of grouse.
And loads of snow hares (mountain hares), some white, one huge one white apart from the tips of it's ears, one greyish turning white.

On the Red Kite/Eagle thing, we were in Glen Mark, at the top end of Loch Lee which is a pretty remote bit of the Cairngorm National Park. I was looking for a wedge shaped tail (which it didn't appear to have) so my thoughts are the juvenile eagle.

PaulR · « **Reply #2277 on:** 30 December, 2011, 06:57:07 pm »

A bold treecreeper, creeping up a tree outside my parents' house at lunchtime today - the first one I have ever seen.

While I'm here, am I allowed to mention yesterday's sightings? Peregrine, sparrowhawk, teal, pintail, gadwall, mallard, mute swans, cormorants, g.c.grebe, peewits galore (hurrah!), shelduck, shoveller, pochard, tufted duck, coot, moorhen, men in camouflage with telephoto lenses longer than my arm, busts of Sir Peter Scott etc etc. But alas no bitterns.

SandyV · « **Reply #2278 on:** 31 December, 2011, 12:14:49 am »

Hundreds of ducks resting by a dam. Obviously camera-shy - they took flight when I came near enough to snap them.

Pingu · « **Reply #2279 on:** 01 January, 2012, 02:39:39 pm »

Long tailed tits

And buzzard, kestel, gsw.

Butterfly · « **Reply #2280 on:** 01 January, 2012, 11:11:17 pm »

We saw some shelducks and lots of cool waders in the estuary mud on today's ride to Erith along the Thames path.

Rig of Jarkness · « **Reply #2281 on:** 02 January, 2012, 04:46:28 pm »

The day started off with a male sparrowhawk perched on one of the poplars at the end of the garden.

Then we drove down to Musselburgh - nice views of amongst others teal, wigeon, bar tailed godwit, goldeneye, a whooper swan on the pond, a long tailed duck at sea, and a solitary bean goose amongst the greylags near the 'no cycling' bridge.

BrianI · « **Reply #2282 on:** 02 January, 2012, 06:09:31 pm »

A wee mouse while out photographing a local church:

Very tame, and I could get really close with my 18-55mm lens.

Peter · « **Reply #2283 on:** 02 January, 2012, 09:22:58 pm »

Brian, I think that mouse is a vole! But it's a great shot!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #2284 on:** 03 January, 2012, 11:38:13 am »

During the past week or so I have heard three song thrushes singing either at dawn or sunset, and yesterday afternoon there was a blackbird following suit. Spring's coming!

Pingu · « **Reply #2285 on:** 03 January, 2012, 12:02:07 pm »

A lone fieldfare being buffeted by bride of bawbag in a neighbour's tree.

why1040 · « **Reply #2286 on:** 03 January, 2012, 03:21:37 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 03 January, 2012, 11:38:13 am

During the past week or so I have heard three song thrushes singing either at dawn or sunset, and yesterday afternoon there was a blackbird following suit. Spring's coming!

The cherry tree on a neighbour's lawn has been flowering for a few weeks...

Though I suspect it might regret that today!

Rig of Jarkness · « **Reply #2287 on:** 03 January, 2012, 05:27:08 pm »

A very local walk today along the Water of Leith through Juniper Green up to Currie, saw 3 roe deer, 2 dippers and a grey wagtail.

marcusjb · « **Reply #2288 on:** 03 January, 2012, 06:12:27 pm »

Not quite today - but the past two and a half weeks have been a bit of a nature fest over in Sumatra:

Macaque and baby by marcus_jb1973, on Flickr

Elephant enjoying the scrub by marcus_jb1973, on Flickr

Thomas Leaf monkey and baby by marcus_jb1973, on Flickr

Orangutan hanging around by marcus_jb1973, on Flickr

We also saw gibbons, huge monitor lizards, butterflies, hornbills, peacocks, bats, cats, leeches and a million and one other animals - truly amazing experiences, especially being able to watch orangutan in the rain forest.

SandyV · « **Reply #2289 on:** 06 January, 2012, 02:09:51 am »

Extraordinary marcusjb!

A little more prosaic here. I'll have to get him out of the pool filter box before I add more chlorine!

Pingu · « **Reply #2290 on:** 07 January, 2012, 04:21:49 pm »

Quote from: Pingu on 03 January, 2012, 12:02:07 pm

A lone fieldfare being buffeted by bride of bawbag in a neighbour's tree.

It must've been a scout. There were loads today decimating the berries on a neighbour's tree.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #2291 on:** 07 January, 2012, 10:51:41 pm »

Several dozen swans in some waterlogged fields. I've never seen so many together in one place before.

Also a man wearing plus fours, but he wasn't in the waterlogged field.

TimO · « **Reply #2292 on:** 07 January, 2012, 10:55:41 pm »

A huge fox who I surprised in the shrubbery around Sainsburys when I walked there earlier. He wasn't particularly worried about me, even though he was less than six foot away.

chris · « **Reply #2293 on:** 07 January, 2012, 11:26:22 pm »

A female Kestrel in the distance

nothing special about that, but

(click to show/hide)

Butterfly · « **Reply #2294 on:** 07 January, 2012, 11:28:30 pm »

Wow! Fantastic photos Chris!

clarion · « **Reply #2295 on:** 07 January, 2012, 11:46:48 pm »

Astonishing. Well done.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #2296 on:** 07 January, 2012, 11:55:59 pm »

That's quite amazing.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #2297 on:** 08 January, 2012, 12:02:49 am »

That's amazing stuff - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Rig of Jarkness · « **Reply #2298 on:** 08 January, 2012, 09:27:56 am »

Incredible

Should I feel more sorry for the owl or the small rodent ? $:-\$

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #2299 on:** 08 January, 2012, 08:12:39 pm »

A buzzard over Wick Rocks quarry while three ducks (possibly moorhens but I couldn't tell at that distance) swam in the water below. Then a kestrel flew off from a telephone line near West Littleton and did its wind-jamming for a short time before diving into the field.

What's happened to kestrels? There used to be lots of them round Bristol and Bath area, now they seem quite rare. OTOH buzzards used to be exotic and now are a fairly common sight. Perhaps the buzzards are out-competing the kestrels - except I thought buzzards were more carrion eaters and kestrels catchers of small mice, voles etc?