Author Topic: Seen today (Read 1019302 times)

TimO · « **Reply #1200 on:** 23 April, 2010, 09:23:10 am »

A grey squirrel perched on top of one of my neighbours fence posts making a hell of a racket, I think against an example of Felis Catus who was unconcernedly wandering off in the other direction. I can't say I've ever heard a squirrel making quite such an odd sound. Initially I wondered it if it was a large bird. A very strange sound.

Riggers · « **Reply #1201 on:** 23 April, 2010, 09:34:52 am »

Right now (9.35am). Blackbird on top of an Elm tree singing his heart out trying to attract a mate or declare his territory. Beautiful sound.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1202 on:** 23 April, 2010, 11:37:57 am »

A couple of deer wandering unconcernedly around the motorcycle training area next door to the office. Though I bet as soon as there's any motorbike activity they'll be off like a shot and probably end up under a lorry on the A414

I've seen muntjac around these parts but these were full size proper bambis.

Pingu · « **Reply #1203 on:** 24 April, 2010, 10:11:07 pm »

Living: first swallows of the year, bullfinch, siskin, jays, buzzards, yellowhammers, deer gracefully jumping over a fence, (not so) wild boar, zillions of lambs.

Dead: badger, 3 deer (2 on railway track).

kevinp · « **Reply #1204 on:** 25 April, 2010, 09:12:49 am »

Stripy cows mmmmmmmmmm

Salvatore · « **Reply #1205 on:** 25 April, 2010, 09:26:24 am »

Belted Galloways, or 'Belties'. Not seen that much in Galloway, except at the Wigtown Show.

Quote

In the US these cows are often informally known as "police car cows,""panda cows" or "Oreo cows" after the Oreo cookie.

TimO · « **Reply #1206 on:** 25 April, 2010, 12:25:14 pm »

On my ride to Blackheath at around 5-30am, I passed an amazingly cheeky fox. I was just coming to the top of a bit of hill, around Sydenham iirc, so slowing slightly, and the fox who had been slowly wandering across the pavement, towards some houses, actually turned around and started to come towards me.

I'm guessing that it was reasonably used to humans, and maybe gets fed by someone, so when it saw me slowing, it thought that food was a possibility! I quite often see foxes on my commute, but most of them are quite wary of people, and tend to run away. The most "friendly" may stop and watch me pass, but normally fairly warily. This is the first time I've seen one actually appear to decide to try and approach me.

jogler · « **Reply #1207 on:** 25 April, 2010, 02:04:23 pm »

A (very nearly) kamikaze squirrel.His brakes were sharper than mine & he had a very impressively small turning circle

andym · « **Reply #1208 on:** 25 April, 2010, 07:49:20 pm »

2 Black Woodpeckers.

Thought they were crows or something when flying but were clearly woodpeckers when they landed on a tree. Hadn't realised they were so big! Usually tend to see Great Spotted Woodpeckers around the local forest.

L CC · « **Reply #1209 on:** 25 April, 2010, 10:22:46 pm »

A not-barn owl between Bourne End and the next village at about 5 am on the last stretch of the Severn Across. It was sitting on the kerb, looked at me, realised I was quite close and flew off.

(Amazing wldlife identification, I know, but it was dark and I was tired)

fuzzy · « **Reply #1210 on:** 25 April, 2010, 10:38:50 pm »

Quote from: boab on 25 April, 2010, 10:22:46 pm

A not-barn owl between Bourne End and the next village at about 5 am on the last stretch of the Severn Across. It was sitting on the kerb, looked at me, realised I was quite close and flew off.

(Amazing wldlife identification, I know, but it was dark and I was tired)

Bourne End in Bucks? If so, were you heading West, towards Marlow?

fuzzy · « **Reply #1211 on:** 25 April, 2010, 10:39:26 pm »

The first bat of the year doing batobatics around the garden

L CC · « **Reply #1212 on:** 25 April, 2010, 10:48:10 pm »

Quote from: fuzzy on 25 April, 2010, 10:38:50 pm

Quote from: boab on 25 April, 2010, 10:22:46 pm
A not-barn owl between Bourne End and the next village at about 5 am on the last stretch of the Severn Across. It was sitting on the kerb, looked at me, realised I was quite close and flew off.

(Amazing wldlife identification, I know, but it was dark and I was tired)

Bourne End in Bucks? If so, were you heading West, towards Marlow?

East, from Marlow, through Bourne End to, erm, erm... Broadthingy? (It's been a long sleepless weekend...)

Tourist Tony · « **Reply #1213 on:** 25 April, 2010, 11:04:39 pm »

Quote from: andym on 25 April, 2010, 07:49:20 pm

2 Black Woodpeckers.

Thought they were crows or something when flying but were clearly woodpeckers when they landed on a tree. Hadn't realised they were so big! Usually tend to see Great Spotted Woodpeckers around the local forest.

They are BIG, aren't they?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #1214 on:** 26 April, 2010, 12:42:10 am »

A very good view of a buzzard soaring over Stambridge Mills, less than 3 miles from Southend Town Centre.

delthebike · « **Reply #1215 on:** 27 April, 2010, 02:22:32 pm »

A rust coloured stoat or weasel, whichever is the larger.

This snake, which I think is an adder rather than a grass snake. It had been run over, which I didn't realise until I'd taken the picture, and was still alive so I dispatched it with a blow from lock.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #1216 on:** 27 April, 2010, 02:28:54 pm »

With that pale patch on it's neck it looks more like a grass snake.

delthebike · « **Reply #1217 on:** 27 April, 2010, 02:37:28 pm »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 27 April, 2010, 02:28:54 pm

With that pale patch on it's neck it looks more like a grass snake.

I've never seen either in the flesh and I thought the bright flash was a warning so my first thought was adder as I know they bite. That's why I didn't pick it up until I had killed it.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #1218 on:** 27 April, 2010, 02:40:12 pm »

Yes, a grass snake.

I haven't seen one for a few years. Last year my brother came across one his his garden. It was almost certainly newly-hatched and he took some video of it which resides on his mobile phone. I'll see if Dez can put it on general release when we are next adjacent.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #1219 on:** 27 April, 2010, 02:41:54 pm »

I once saw a bird of prey take a grass snake from the verge on the side of a road. It flew off with the snake wriggling in its talons.

David Martin · « **Reply #1220 on:** 29 April, 2010, 09:39:03 pm »

These are remarkably difficult to get pictures of. Their speed reflects their name.. The two pictures are taken at about 0.3 sec apart. Cropped so you see pretty much the full resolution shot on a 135/2.8 manual lens at f5.6 with a flash. I'll try and do better at the weekend.

RJ · « **Reply #1221 on:** 29 April, 2010, 09:53:07 pm »

That's early for Dundee ...

David Martin · « **Reply #1222 on:** 29 April, 2010, 09:59:24 pm »

I'm presuming there are no young yet as they weren't in and out the wholetime. Will try again at the weekend if the weather is good to get some better photos.

..d

Mrs Pingu · « **Reply #1223 on:** 29 April, 2010, 10:06:26 pm »

What is it David?
edit: [oh sorry, I just got it]

David Martin · « **Reply #1224 on:** 29 April, 2010, 11:07:02 pm »

Swifts. Fantastic birds and very hard to capture.

..d

Author Topic: Seen today (Read 1019302 times)

kevinp

fuzzy

fuzzy