Author Topic: Seen today (Read 1019025 times)

Wowbagger · « **Reply #4925 on:** 08 May, 2017, 11:46:41 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 29 April, 2017, 08:51:12 pm

Quote from: citoyen on 28 April, 2017, 03:50:04 pm
A ruddy great grey heron, viewed from my office, flying over the trees across the road.

A heron has put in an appearance lately in our local park, and I have seen him a few times, including today. This morning, I happened to natter to an occasional acquaintance, a lady of an uncertain age, but considerably older than I am. She asked me if I had seen the pelican that had taken up residence by the lake. I had to confess that I hadn't and was quite surprised to hear of its existence, given that the park was not heaving with specimens of the species twitcherus lensimaximus. We were strolling towards the lake and there indeed was the heron. I assured her that it was not a pelican but I am not certain that she believed me.

The heron is still there, and has mastered a skill that impressed me.

He has taken to fishing from floating planks of wood. He stands on the plank and dives into the water when he sees a tasty-looking fish. I have seen him catch two this way. He also drifts about in the wind so he has a greater area of water at his disposal. He has demonstrated that he is perfectly capable of getting out of water that is too deep for him to stand up in once he has caught his fish.

TheLurker · « **Reply #4926 on:** 13 May, 2017, 10:10:56 am »

A small bag of sightings in Cornwall whilst on holiday.

The expected Cormorants (or Shags* - too far away to distinguish), but also a Heron and an Egret between St. Mawes and St. Just in Roseland.

A couple of goldfinches bathing in a stream by the path down to Kynance Cove and, the first sighting ever for MrsLurker and myself, a Linnet sharing the bath with them.

Half a dozen Ringed Plovers at Pendower beach.

And this morning 4 (4!) robin fledglings with two parents on feeding duties in the back garden.

ETA
And a wren sitting on an aerial giving it laldy, my but they're _loud_ little birds, on the path down to Hemmick beach. They're fairly common visitors to the back garden, but don't often get to see and hear them at the same time.

*NSFW is _that_ way -->

cycleman · « **Reply #4927 on:** 13 May, 2017, 09:27:49 pm »

loads of mayflies along the thames today

Wowbagger · « **Reply #4928 on:** 18 May, 2017, 02:33:54 pm »

Yesterday - I spend about 10 minutes watching a water vole in Priory Park. We used to see them there regularly, but I haven't seen one I could positively identify for about 10 years.

Pingu · « **Reply #4929 on:** 18 May, 2017, 02:48:49 pm »

Starling nest at work.

Pingu · « **Reply #4930 on:** 21 May, 2017, 09:50:42 pm »

Yellow sheep.

IMG_8602_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

Jaded · « **Reply #4931 on:** 23 May, 2017, 06:35:47 pm »

Tiny rescue lamb.

SteveC · « **Reply #4932 on:** 23 May, 2017, 07:07:11 pm »

MrsC and I arrived home around eleven last night. Just as we we'd opened the front door we heard the most almighty row. Our first thought was 'cats' but realised it was a bit loud for that. Maybe a fox has got a cat? Then MrsC saw the two badgers at the top of our drive. We assume they were two of last year's youngsters trying to sort out territories for themselves. Never heard anything quite like it.

Ham · « **Reply #4933 on:** 24 May, 2017, 05:10:00 pm »

Sounds like a "wow!, badgers" moment.

Pingu · « **Reply #4934 on:** 24 May, 2017, 06:28:49 pm »

Sand martins near work.

Jaded · « **Reply #4935 on:** 28 May, 2017, 01:51:49 pm »

Some cetaceans. A mile or so away.

Pingu · « **Reply #4936 on:** 28 May, 2017, 04:36:55 pm »

Common dolphins?

Jaded · « **Reply #4937 on:** 28 May, 2017, 05:25:41 pm »

I think so, I may send details of the sighting off and ask an expert!

Pingu · « **Reply #4938 on:** 30 May, 2017, 09:04:45 am »

Starling fledglings hanging around at home.

IMG_6127_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

andyoxon · « **Reply #4939 on:** 30 May, 2017, 11:24:57 pm »

Female great spotted woodpecker in the environs of aoxon towers earlier. Not seen one around here before. It was working it's way around the tree trunk pecking in between the ridges of bark, probably looking for insects...

JonBuoy · « **Reply #4940 on:** 03 June, 2017, 06:16:33 pm »

Watched a heron pluck two fish from a weir in Watermead Park, Leicester. I was standing on a footbridge over the weir and was surprised at how close it came to me..until I tried to get a photo!

ElyDave · « **Reply #4941 on:** 04 June, 2017, 03:05:09 pm »

Plenty swallows in Baku last week, plus the local crows, no pics but black wings and head, grey body.

Today out on the 'bent, a good few swallows and swifts, something that could have been either a cuckoo or not, must look at the wing shape in a book of mine. A kite and a crow took off maybe a hundred yards ahead of me, crow chasing kite. Seems they were scrapping over something dead and feathery on the verge

Pingu · « **Reply #4942 on:** 04 June, 2017, 03:13:00 pm »

Quote from: ElyDave on 04 June, 2017, 03:05:09 pm

...the local crows, no pics but black wings and head, grey body...

Hooded crows? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_crow#Genetic_difference_from_carrion_crows

Steph · « **Reply #4943 on:** 04 June, 2017, 07:40:50 pm »

It was always stressed, as an anglocentric thing, that carrion crows were the nominate subspecies and hoodies the odd ones. Now they have been split into two species, it is clear that the bulk of the territory they occupy is hoody rather than corbie.

Basil · « **Reply #4944 on:** 05 June, 2017, 08:07:54 am »

A very young and confused jackdaw crashing around the bedroom at 5 o'clock this morning.

Bloody kids.

David Martin · « **Reply #4945 on:** 05 June, 2017, 09:36:53 am »

Swifts are back in the house. I'd seen them around the Law but finally saw them heading in to roost.

ElyDave · « **Reply #4946 on:** 05 June, 2017, 11:07:39 am »

Quote from: Pingu on 04 June, 2017, 03:13:00 pm

Quote from: ElyDave on 04 June, 2017, 03:05:09 pm
...the local crows, no pics but black wings and head, grey body...

Hooded crows? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_crow#Genetic_difference_from_carrion_crows

Yes, but oddly the "berlin" type rather than the "Egyptian" type considering I was in central asia

runsoncake · « **Reply #4947 on:** 05 June, 2017, 05:45:11 pm »

Dog Otter in the Lugg on the Hampton court (Herefordshire) estate this pm. First ever sighting in the wild for me. Really surprised at how BIG he was. Wonderful!!!

Asterix, the former Gaul. · « **Reply #4948 on:** 06 June, 2017, 08:05:04 am »

A pair of green woodpeckers.

The thing is that this year woodpeckers are everywhere and not just the green type also the great spotted (I think). Although they've alway been around here, they have been timid and hard to spot in previous years. Why the change?

ElyDave · « **Reply #4949 on:** 07 June, 2017, 08:24:00 am »

currently sat on a piece of paper on my desk, a common swift moth.

Must have come in last night, possibly attracted by the desk lamp I left on.