Author Topic: A random thread for the wildlife stuff - you know the drill (Read 138215 times)

JonBuoy · « **Reply #700 on:** 06 December, 2022, 08:40:43 pm »

I never knew that earwigs have wings: https://twitter.com/DrAdrianSmith/status/1598862569531658242

Explains a lot!

Basil · « **Reply #701 on:** 06 December, 2022, 09:57:23 pm »

Quote from: JonBuoy on 06 December, 2022, 08:40:43 pm

I never knew that earwigs have wings: https://twitter.com/DrAdrianSmith/status/1598862569531658242

Explains a lot!

Wow! I never knew that.

Pingu · « **Reply #702 on:** 06 December, 2022, 10:54:41 pm »

Found this on the bird table, but I didn't see the event itself:

IMG_0824_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

MikeFromLFE · « **Reply #703 on:** 11 December, 2022, 08:53:26 am »

Only a mouse in the bird feeder.
I can't see how it got in, but I think it'd been in there a while.

Mrs Pingu · « **Reply #704 on:** 15 December, 2022, 06:49:23 pm »

After not a lot of action for the last couple of month, this week the snow has brought all the birds to the yard.
We've been putting multiple heaps of mealworms out for the last couple of days and the starlings have appeared and been demolishing them in about 15 mins.
At one point today we had over 22 starlings, a blackbird, a robin, a chaffinch, couple of sparrows (unusual) a blue tit, a dunnock and Ms Blackcap.

rafletcher · « **Reply #705 on:** 16 December, 2022, 08:17:06 am »

Our feeders have been out for around a month. We don't put any ground feeding stuff out as the squirrels demolish it (literally) in short order. Yesteday we got some long tailed tits and a blackcap, as sure sign it's properly cold.

Pingu · « **Reply #706 on:** 16 December, 2022, 09:31:35 am »

Today, a fieldfare and a female blackcap nomming on a napple on the ground.

IMG_3017_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

MikeFromLFE · « **Reply #707 on:** 21 December, 2022, 02:09:29 pm »

Really mundane in the grand scheme of things - but I was cycling along the towpath at the side of the River Soar near the canal lock where I volunteer in the summer - and I saw a Kingfisher
It's the first kingfisher I've ever seen in the UK
Normally when I'm walking the towpath as a volunteer I'm looking for litter, not at the wildlife.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #708 on:** 21 December, 2022, 07:01:00 pm »

There is nothing mundane about a kingfisher. Beautiful birds and not that easy to spot.

JonBuoy · « **Reply #709 on:** 21 December, 2022, 07:24:04 pm »

I was cycling along the River Soar just north of Leicester a couple of months ago with a friend when she spotted a kingfisher. I was gutted that I missed it.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #710 on:** 21 December, 2022, 09:41:26 pm »

https://twitter.com/DrAdrianSmith/status/1598862569531658242

Just for Kim: a rather beautiful video of an earwig taking flight.

Peter · « **Reply #711 on:** 21 December, 2022, 10:04:49 pm »

Quote from: JonBuoy on 21 December, 2022, 07:24:04 pm

I was cycling along the River Soar just north of Leicester a couple of months ago with a friend when she spotted a kingfisher. I was gutted that I missed it.

Relax, she was just winding you up. Nobody has ever seen a kingfisher.

Wow, be glad that you have never knowingly seen one: their call goes, "Last Christmas, I....". This is followed by the Wham! that makes them so rare. (Other readers may need to refer to Whamageddon, elsewhere on the forum.)

Pingu · « **Reply #712 on:** 21 December, 2022, 10:32:27 pm »

Walking along the Water of Leith in Embra one day, Mrs Pingu saw a several of kingfishers in quick succession and I missed all of them

Wowbagger · « **Reply #713 on:** 22 December, 2022, 11:24:47 am »

Quote from: Peter on 21 December, 2022, 10:04:49 pm

Quote from: JonBuoy on 21 December, 2022, 07:24:04 pm
I was cycling along the River Soar just north of Leicester a couple of months ago with a friend when she spotted a kingfisher. I was gutted that I missed it.

Relax, she was just winding you up. Nobody has ever seen a kingfisher.

Wow, be glad that you have never knowingly seen one: their call goes, "Last Christmas, I....". This is followed by the Wham! that makes them so rare. (Other readers may need to refer to Whamageddon, elsewhere on the forum.)

I think it was the autumn of 2019 I was navigating the Shropshire Union Canal on a 15 tonne narrowboat. One afternoon, for about half an hour, a kingfisher persistently flitted ahead of us, perching on a post every so often. I tried to photograph it whilst steering the boat, and only occasionally crashed it into the bank.

There's one of the not-up-to-much photos.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #714 on:** 22 December, 2022, 11:40:21 am »

It's a much better photo of a kingfisher than I've ever taken, that's for sure.

Pingu · « **Reply #715 on:** 24 December, 2022, 07:25:50 pm »

We heard some waxwings flying overhead this afternoon, but we didn't find them.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #716 on:** 31 December, 2022, 05:50:27 pm »

Æxcellent starling action over the M40 near Otmoor the afternoon.

Jurek · « **Reply #717 on:** 31 December, 2022, 06:08:17 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 31 December, 2022, 05:50:27 pm

Æxcellent starling action over the M40 near Otmoor the afternoon.

They're pretty impressive in the car park of my Sainos when the rear rim of my Pompino decides to explode as the braking surface has worn so thin.
Added bonus is that all of the kids in the car park start crying.

Flite · « **Reply #718 on:** 31 December, 2022, 08:21:36 pm »

A friend sent me a Xmas card produced by the Woodland Trust.
The picture is titled "Bullfinches and Berries"
But they are not Bullfinches, they are Redwings.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #719 on:** 31 December, 2022, 08:32:04 pm »

I just checked their website. It seems that they are aware of their mistake.

Flite · « **Reply #720 on:** 31 December, 2022, 10:36:39 pm »

Only just found that on their website - I wonder how many folks noticed?
Or was it all over facebook a month ago...

Wowbagger · « **Reply #721 on:** 01 January, 2023, 12:01:16 pm »

Apparently Scarborough Council cancelled last night's planned fireworks display because there was a walrus having a kip on the beach. That, I think, is demonstrating civic duty.

https://www.thisisthecoast.co.uk/news/local-news/scarborough-new-year-fireworks-cancelled/

hellymedic · « **Reply #722 on:** 05 January, 2023, 02:43:16 pm »

The two-legged fox that's made the news looks healthy to me.
Seems well-grown, well-nourished, clean & undistressed.
I wonder if it would have survived in the wild, without a diet of fast food...

Steph · « **Reply #723 on:** 12 January, 2023, 11:47:37 am »

WTAFF?
https://www.ferberpainting.co.uk/products/hedgehog-killer-500-baits

Company says their website has been hacked.

NOT funny.

Pingu · « **Reply #724 on:** 12 January, 2023, 11:55:34 am »

Quote from: Steph on 12 January, 2023, 11:47:37 am

WTAFF?
https://www.ferberpainting.co.uk/products/hedgehog-killer-500-baits

Company says their website has been hacked.

NOT funny.

It seems that hedgehogs are (supposed to be) protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 6