Your day's wildlife

[Richard A Thackeray]

(I heard yesterday that kites are now actually pushing down the kestrel numbers round these parts, they've been so successful. It's dog-eat-dog out there ... )

Curiously enough, when l saw them (this time), the occupants of the caravan at the top of the row, had a Chihauha, & they took it in, when they were swooping down!!!

 

[Proto]

Here in Oxon, you can see more kites than rabbits on some rides, so I often take them for granted - but they are actually reeeally cool!

(I heard yesterday that kites are now actually pushing down the kestrel numbers round these parts, they've been so successful. It's dog-eat-dog out there ... )

Love kites, my favourite bird.

I used to live in Thame, Oxon, just off the Chilterns and we had dozens of kites around, even had them in the garden. Recently we had some old neighbours down here (near Lyme Regis) and I was telling them of the problem folk have on the seafront with gulls swooping down and stealing fish, chips, ice creams, anything edible. Apparently in Thame it's the schoolchildren walking around at break time with their sandwiches and kites are swooping down and snatching them out of their hands, which must be pretty scary! Eeeek! They are a big birds.

I was on the Ridgeway near Marlborough/Wantage recently and saw loads of kites. Not seen any here on the Dorset/Devon border but I have seen one just north of Crewkerne, 20 miles away, and I 'think' I saw one neat Ottery St Mary, 25 odd miles west of here.

Only big birds we get around are buzzards, lots of them, and amongst them, I'm told Honey Buzzards, but I'm not able to tell them apart from 'standard’.

A neighbour in our valley says he's seen a white tailed eagle wafting above the trees, described as 'massive'. It's quite possible, they float over from the Isle of Wight and cover huge distances. Would love to see one.

 

[Poacher]

Although I said still pics of the fox cubs wouldn't convey much, here's an attempt from a video last night where one cub, innocently minding its own business, was pounced on by a sibling. Quite an impressive pounce, actually, even though the victim sensed impending danger and took evasive action.

 

[rockyroller]

Although I said still pics of the fox cubs wouldn't convey much, here's an attempt from a video last night where one cub, innocently minding its own business, was pounced on by a sibling. Quite an impressive pounce, actually, even though the victim sensed impending danger and took evasive action.

oh that is fun!

 

[rockyroller]

this bird came to visit yesterday. I think maybe it was after an insect, near the window, where the security camera is. poor quality cuz they are cropped video frames. but maybe still cute

I like how they approach, feet first

& appear to float

but of course they have wings

 

[rockyroller]

Some new cygnets on my afternoon walk. I didn’t go any closer as the parents were starting to hiss at me.

oh is that what they are called? a cpl years ago I saw one riding the back of one of the parents. I was amazed but didn't have a camera w a long lens at the time

 

[rockyroller]

Had to dodge a young skunk on the way to work the other day...

good thing you have cat-like reflexes

 

[slowmotion]

Had to dodge a young skunk on the way to work the other day...

Our friends in Vancouver swear by washing themselves in tomato ketchup if they have the misfortune to be sprayed.

 

[KnittyNorah]

There's a new heron appeared on quite a heavily-walked stretch of the canal - and s/he stalks along the towpath side, and doesn't move until you are very close. On my bike, I was within a couple of feet of him before he took off, and a family with a dog and two very excitable children said they'd got within 6 ft of him before he took off.
Also the swans on the 'town' end of the canal have NINE cygnets, but the ones at the Millennium link only have three.
There is a rather sad, lone, Canada goose - who I think has problems flying; at least one of its wing feathers seems to be growing a bit 'wrong' - who has been around since last year; s/he seems to be trying to attach him/herself to a swan family, with little success of course - always on the outside, looking in ...

 

[Poacher]

this bird came to visit yesterday. I think maybe it was after an insect, near the window, where the security camera is. poor quality cuz they are cropped video frames. but maybe still cute

I like how they approach, feet first
View attachment 692499
& appear to float
View attachment 692500
but of course they have wings
View attachment 692501

House Finch? Well named if it is one, trying to get in the house!

 

[Poacher]

Grooming has a bad name, especially right now, but it's a crucial part of parent fox's relationship with his unruly cubs, as they submit instantly and lie quietly. As soon as he returns from foraging they greet him with wagging tails and lick his mouth, expecting food.
Of course, it's simpler if there's only one cub to be pacified; here's a sequence from last night. Just one vid from well over a hundred!
He had to do a hell of a lot of grooming over the course of three or four hours.

 

[FrankCrank]

Morning walk along the Kennet, heard a cuckoo, not heard one in ages. Few days ago, same stretch, saw a mistle thrush, which was nice.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

Got awakened by some racoons fighting in the yard about 0400 this morning... sometimes I could do with a bit less wildlife.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

Does this stuff count...

 

[Dave 123]

Portland ribbon wave- not that common by all accounts . Twas in my greenhouse.