Your day's wildlife

[potsy]

The Great Tit not happy about having to share his feeder...

And waiting in the wings for their turn..

 

[newts]

We are hearing (& seeing briefly) a greater spotted woodpecker in the trees at the back of our garden for the first time in 15 years, a wonderful sound.

 

[Dave 123]

The Great Tit not happy about having to share his feeder...

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And waiting in the wings for their turn..

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I used to live in a cottage surrounded by woodland. The bird feeder hierarchy was interesting. Marsh/willow tits would be scared off by blue tits, who in turn would be chased away by great tits, they were chased off by nuthatches (angry buggers) and the would be ousted by great spotted woodpecker.

starling or rooks would come in mob handed and clear the lot.

Collared dove were very polite and timid.

 

[BoldonLad]

They probably refer to themselves as "Expats" and sit around in Senegal with the other cuckoos complaining loudly about the flamingos.

Yes, but... do they pay their taxes?

 

[Poacher]

Although I miss the sound of them I don't like what they do .

You might prefer another member of the Cuckoo family, the Smooth-billed Ani, whose nesting habits are in total contrast.
This ridiculous creature breeds communally, with each female laying a clutch of eggs in turn, usually covering the previous clutch with a layer of vegetation, with the result that usually only the latest clutch actually hatches.
It's a wonder that they survive at all, let alone thrive. One of my abiding memories is of a group of 7 or 8 of them in Dominica, each flying up to try and catch a single butterfly, totally ineffectually. Presumably they're more successful in finding food on the ground.
Known locally as "Black Parrots" due to their oversized beak.

 

[biggs682]

Had a few exciting spots yesterday but no pictures.
First up were a pr of Jays almost flying alongside me as I rode along the road that goes through a wood near East Carlton.

Next were a flock of yellow hammers who were flying between the hedges on the road to Orton from Rothwell .

And then finally late yesterday afternoon as we were driving around Northampton by sixfields we saw another Jay on top of a traffic light post

 

[steveindenmark]

Not very clear. But I had to stop the car until this fox decided to stop sitting in the centre of the road. It was a very leggy gox.

 

[biggs682]

First visitors

 

[Rezillo]

It took over a week but I finally managed to snap the turtle dove this evening through a fairly clean window. It's a different one to last year's - the colour is lighter and the neck markings are different. Hopefully explained by being one of a pair - I'm keeping my eyes out.

 

[Shack]

Friend helping in the garden today

 

[biggs682]

Patio visitor

 

[biggs682]

Looks like these juvenile Canadian geese have had a busy morning.

 

[Alex H]

3 Herons, a Spoonbill and various other birds VERY far away at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre

 

[biggs682]

Well we popped into a bird hide on our afternoon walk and within minutes these Siskins appeared.

Later on we had a nuthatch make a fleeting appearance as well.
Going back tomorrow with my work phone which has a better camera .

 

[potsy]

Seen today whilst having a walk down the canal..