Author Topic: Seen today (Read 1018220 times)

orienteer · « **Reply #4725 on:** 10 December, 2016, 03:51:55 pm »

A red kite over St Pancras Station today. I was part of private tour of the hidden places under Kings Cross underground station, and we went on top of one of the ventilator shafts on Kings Cross Square.

SteveC · « **Reply #4726 on:** 10 December, 2016, 04:35:24 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 09 December, 2016, 10:39:01 pm

There were reports that there were some gadwall about, but my duck-fu isn't that great and the level of teh water was so low that nothing was within 100 yards of us in any case.

MrsC always describes Gadwall as being very 'business suit' sort of ducks. Smart, but grey and understated.
Which makes them tricky to see at a distance.

Pingu · « **Reply #4727 on:** 10 December, 2016, 07:35:11 pm »

FurryBootToonish otters!

Steph · « **Reply #4728 on:** 11 December, 2016, 06:39:54 pm »

Quote from: SteveC on 10 December, 2016, 04:35:24 pm

Quote from: Wowbagger on 09 December, 2016, 10:39:01 pm
There were reports that there were some gadwall about, but my duck-fu isn't that great and the level of teh water was so low that nothing was within 100 yards of us in any case.
MrsC always describes Gadwall as being very 'business suit' sort of ducks. Smart, but grey and understated.
Which makes them tricky to see at a distance.

Black bums, white speculum are the two bits that show at a distance, but the rest of the look is purest beige.

Pingu · « **Reply #4729 on:** 16 December, 2016, 06:26:57 pm »

Waxwings

Chris S · « **Reply #4730 on:** 16 December, 2016, 11:00:27 pm »

Grouse. The sounds they make are totally fucking creepy - and on a moor-top, in the fog, doubly so.

Kim · « **Reply #4731 on:** 17 December, 2016, 12:08:06 am »

Quote from: Chris S on 16 December, 2016, 11:00:27 pm

Grouse. The sounds they make are totally fucking creepy - and on a moor-top, in the fog, doubly so.

It's the sort of sound that has you reaching for the crowbar in case it turns out to be headcrabs...

Pingu · « **Reply #4732 on:** 17 December, 2016, 03:26:06 pm »

More waxwings today. Didn't get quite as close as yesterday, though.

IMG_7914_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

Steph · « **Reply #4733 on:** 17 December, 2016, 04:45:19 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 17 December, 2016, 12:08:06 am

Quote from: Chris S on 16 December, 2016, 11:00:27 pm
Grouse. The sounds they make are totally fucking creepy - and on a moor-top, in the fog, doubly so.

It's the sort of sound that has you reaching for the crowbar in case it turns out to be headcrabs...

You know what to do: go back, go back, go back, go back!

Pingu · « **Reply #4734 on:** 17 December, 2016, 10:23:07 pm »

Black grouse or willow ptarmigan?

Steph · « **Reply #4735 on:** 19 December, 2016, 12:05:58 am »

Quote from: Pingu on 17 December, 2016, 10:23:07 pm

Black grouse or willow ptarmigan?

As Chris gives his location as Norfolk, and Kim is Brum, Lagopus lagopus was the best guess.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #4736 on:** 19 December, 2016, 05:15:47 pm »

Quote from: Steph on 19 December, 2016, 12:05:58 am

Quote from: Pingu on 17 December, 2016, 10:23:07 pm
Black grouse or willow ptarmigan?
As Chris gives his location as Norfolk, and Kim is Brum, Lagopus lagopus was the best guess.

IRTA "Bagpuss bagpuss"...

Steph · « **Reply #4737 on:** 20 December, 2016, 01:38:04 am »

rafletcher · « **Reply #4738 on:** 20 December, 2016, 08:16:56 pm »

A squirrel in the greenhouse looking for bulbs, and a group of fieldfares on the windfall apples in the field behind the house.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #4739 on:** 20 December, 2016, 11:03:01 pm »

Whilst driving from New Galloway to Castle Douglas the other gloaming, a fallow deer crossed the road in front of me. It had no lights but I slowed down as soon as I was alerted to its presence by its hi-viz white arse, the shape of which indicated that that particular fallow deer had been manufactured by Ortlieb.

Pingu · « **Reply #4740 on:** 23 December, 2016, 11:06:58 am »

Dolphins in the harbour right now.

Nethypete · « **Reply #4741 on:** 24 December, 2016, 09:07:01 pm »

Waxwings being seen off by a territorial Mistle thrush

Nethypete · « **Reply #4742 on:** 26 December, 2016, 12:37:38 pm »

Quote from: Nethypete on 24 December, 2016, 09:07:01 pm

Waxwings being seen off by a territorial Mistle thrush

Waxwings have now mustered a fleet of 50 or so, have seen of the thrush and are dismantling the rowan berries.

rafletcher · « **Reply #4743 on:** 28 December, 2016, 10:33:33 am »

A mistletoe thrushn the garden and two hares in the back field.

jamesld8 · « **Reply #4744 on:** 28 December, 2016, 03:34:42 pm »

Quote from: Pingu on 17 December, 2016, 03:26:06 pm

More waxwings today. Didn't get quite as close as yesterday, though.

IMG_7914_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

brilliant --send some down south last ones here in numbers several years ago!!

Not seen today but two weeks ago on Afon Banwy, near Llanfair Caerenion, 1x dead salmon (about 30" length) on rock with chest bitten out by what most certainly would be an otter, also dippers singing on nearby small stream

Jurek · « **Reply #4745 on:** 28 December, 2016, 05:37:35 pm »

More heard, less seen. A woodpecker whilst dog walking in Sydenham Hill Wood.

Pingu · « **Reply #4746 on:** 28 December, 2016, 08:13:33 pm »

Quote from: jamesld8 on 28 December, 2016, 03:34:42 pm

Quote from: Pingu on 17 December, 2016, 03:26:06 pm
More waxwings today. Didn't get quite as close as yesterday, though.

IMG_7914_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

brilliant --send some down south last ones here in numbers several years ago!!

More today in Banchory.

IMG_8018_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

Wowbagger · « **Reply #4747 on:** 28 December, 2016, 10:58:34 pm »

Jurek has reminded me: on Christmas morning I heard a greater spotted woodpecker drumming as though it was spring.

Pingu · « **Reply #4748 on:** 31 December, 2016, 02:16:36 pm »

Quote from: jamesld8 on 28 December, 2016, 03:34:42 pm

Quote from: Pingu on 17 December, 2016, 03:26:06 pm
More waxwings today. Didn't get quite as close as yesterday, though.

IMG_7914_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

brilliant --send some down south last ones here in numbers several years ago!!

If you're on Twitter check out https://twitter.com/WaxwingsUK

jamesld8 · « **Reply #4749 on:** 31 December, 2016, 04:43:37 pm »

Thanks link, don`t have twitter a/c but can see their progress; and Radnor Birdblog reports them today in llandrindod Wells