subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
Coots, loads of them along The Regents Canal. and Geese. but no Goslings visible yet
Your day's wildlife
- Thread starter Flick of the Elbow
- Start date
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- Tags
- wildlife
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Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
A walk this lunchtime that just kept giving.
Up to Cupwith Hill, which has a small reservoir that feeds into Scammonden. It's very tranquil, and I often see various bits and pieces up there. Today started with a solitary Curlew calling, as i was getting out of the car. He was later joined by three others. As I got towards the reservoir a kestrel hopped over the track and glided down below me, onto a bed of marshy grass. It looked like he landed, but I couldn't see where. Odd to see them from above, those wingtips certainly stood out from the red brown of his body.
Next were a pair of Canadas. Not seen them up there before, but they looks quite at home. The resident mallard were making a bit of a fuss from the other side.
There weren't so many Skylarks as usual, perhaps they had seen the kestrel and were keeping a low profile.
I chatted with a guy who told me he had seen some stonechats up there yesterday, and some Whoopers. Must remember to go early morning and take a camera.
Final treat, and it was a biggie. As I was putting the dog back in the car I looked across towards Scammonden. At first I thought it was a Curlew, as I just saw a pair of broad brown wings, but as i watched it rose above the drystone wall and the shape of its head gave it away. It was a short eared owl, hunting the top of the fields leading down towards Scammonden. It was heading up towards Buckstones, so I followed it to a convenient lay-by, and was just watching it flying over the scruffy grasses by the wall when another one appeared, perhaps 500 yards back down towards the reservoir.
I'd seen a pair many years ago right down near the sailing club, and by my reckoning i was probably in line with the same bit of territory.
Up to Cupwith Hill, which has a small reservoir that feeds into Scammonden. It's very tranquil, and I often see various bits and pieces up there. Today started with a solitary Curlew calling, as i was getting out of the car. He was later joined by three others. As I got towards the reservoir a kestrel hopped over the track and glided down below me, onto a bed of marshy grass. It looked like he landed, but I couldn't see where. Odd to see them from above, those wingtips certainly stood out from the red brown of his body.
Next were a pair of Canadas. Not seen them up there before, but they looks quite at home. The resident mallard were making a bit of a fuss from the other side.
There weren't so many Skylarks as usual, perhaps they had seen the kestrel and were keeping a low profile.
I chatted with a guy who told me he had seen some stonechats up there yesterday, and some Whoopers. Must remember to go early morning and take a camera.
Final treat, and it was a biggie. As I was putting the dog back in the car I looked across towards Scammonden. At first I thought it was a Curlew, as I just saw a pair of broad brown wings, but as i watched it rose above the drystone wall and the shape of its head gave it away. It was a short eared owl, hunting the top of the fields leading down towards Scammonden. It was heading up towards Buckstones, so I followed it to a convenient lay-by, and was just watching it flying over the scruffy grasses by the wall when another one appeared, perhaps 500 yards back down towards the reservoir.
I'd seen a pair many years ago right down near the sailing club, and by my reckoning i was probably in line with the same bit of territory.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
In order to gauge the size of the unknown bird I took some photos of crows this morning using the same lens set at maximum magnification. When I compared the images using the camera screen set at 20 times mag the image of the unknown bird was slightly larger. So it would seem that the unknown bird is larger than a crow.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
[QUOTE 4235741, member: 9609"]I have the answer back, and I think it is a little controversial but she is going for a Peregrine Falcon .... h have never known her wrong on these things before so I am going to go along with that too.[/QUOTE]
A friend of mine who lives nearby has also seen it and thinks that it is a Peregrine. As can be seen from the pictures it was too far away for me to see it properly. Thanks for all the help in trying to identify it.
A friend of mine who lives nearby has also seen it and thinks that it is a Peregrine. As can be seen from the pictures it was too far away for me to see it properly. Thanks for all the help in trying to identify it.
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
In the second of the two photos you posted I thought I could see the "moustache" on the bird's face. So I wouldn't argue with that id.
I hope you see it again soon.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I may have seen it before but it has been too far away for me to identify it. I have got some pictures on the laptop which are small but look very similar.
Today it was very quiet outside , apart from crows, wood pigeons, and gulls.
Glow worm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Near Newmarket
On my ride to work I saw 4 swallows earlier looking like they were checking out a stable with a view perhaps to nest in. They were certainly buzzing in and out. I'm particularly pleased as this building ( more of a shed really) was only put up in the last year or so.
( for any locals it's just past the A14 cyclists tunnel by the Quy Mill Hotel as you head toward Cambridge from Newmarket, in the field on the right)
( for any locals it's just past the A14 cyclists tunnel by the Quy Mill Hotel as you head toward Cambridge from Newmarket, in the field on the right)
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I have just taken another look at the 2nd picture and I agree with you that it does look like a moustache.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
[QUOTE 4237189, member: 9609"]they should be in Iceland now, was it under-weight? lead poisoning is a big problem with Whoopers, they mistake lead shot for grit and it kills them, one of the signs is not being able to migrate through loss of condition.
I believe lead shot is banned for waterfowling now, although I do also hear that some still persist with it, some say it is far superior?, may be it should be completely banned - would a complete ban on all lead shot make much of a difference ? (i'm not trying to get into another argument, it is a genuine question)[/QUOTE]
Having read up on Whoopers I'm now wondering whether he was mistaken, or referring to a previous sighting. He also told me he originally mistook then stonechats for sparrows. He may just have appaling eyesight or be colour blind!
Lead shot? Thorny issue. I haven't shot waterfowl since the ban. Steel shot is inefficient enough to be inhumane IMO and tungsten matrix is eyewatering expensive. Although I like eating Mallard and half-ducks, I don't value them enough to justify the extra cost of the shells, and none of the shoots I have been a member of have had duck to shoot anyway.
I'm sure there will be some unscrupulous shooters who continue to use lead over wetland, but I don't know any. The ban is not all that well thought out if you ask me. In a ruthlessly logical way, if there is a proven link between poisoned dabbling waterfowl and lead shot, then it stands to reason that shooters should not use lead shot over wetland or water. The ban should concentrate on that aspect. The jury is out on the level of damage caused, and I haven't read anything that conviñces me either way....the level of poisoning is disputed by some in the sport. To that end I would support the ban until it's proven unnecessary.
However, progress that argument to a duck lifting from a ditch on a pheasant shoot. If the duck is hit and killed, does it matter in any way at all what the cartridge contains? Dead from lead is just as dead as were it to be shot with tungsten. A shooter killing a duck in these circumstances with lead shot would be breaking the law, despite the fact that a second ago a shot was taken with lead at a pheasant flying over exactly the same piece of land.
A complete ban on lead would have very, very far reaching consequences for the approx 2 million shooters in the UK. Until it is proven beyond all reasonable doubt that lead poses a real (not just surmised) significant threat to wildlife, the cost to the economy would be enormous. All but the wealthy elite would be forced out of the sport, and that would mean a reversal of all the good that the current shooting fraternity bring through conservation and habitat management.
I believe lead shot is banned for waterfowling now, although I do also hear that some still persist with it, some say it is far superior?, may be it should be completely banned - would a complete ban on all lead shot make much of a difference ? (i'm not trying to get into another argument, it is a genuine question)[/QUOTE]
Having read up on Whoopers I'm now wondering whether he was mistaken, or referring to a previous sighting. He also told me he originally mistook then stonechats for sparrows. He may just have appaling eyesight or be colour blind!
Lead shot? Thorny issue. I haven't shot waterfowl since the ban. Steel shot is inefficient enough to be inhumane IMO and tungsten matrix is eyewatering expensive. Although I like eating Mallard and half-ducks, I don't value them enough to justify the extra cost of the shells, and none of the shoots I have been a member of have had duck to shoot anyway.
I'm sure there will be some unscrupulous shooters who continue to use lead over wetland, but I don't know any. The ban is not all that well thought out if you ask me. In a ruthlessly logical way, if there is a proven link between poisoned dabbling waterfowl and lead shot, then it stands to reason that shooters should not use lead shot over wetland or water. The ban should concentrate on that aspect. The jury is out on the level of damage caused, and I haven't read anything that conviñces me either way....the level of poisoning is disputed by some in the sport. To that end I would support the ban until it's proven unnecessary.
However, progress that argument to a duck lifting from a ditch on a pheasant shoot. If the duck is hit and killed, does it matter in any way at all what the cartridge contains? Dead from lead is just as dead as were it to be shot with tungsten. A shooter killing a duck in these circumstances with lead shot would be breaking the law, despite the fact that a second ago a shot was taken with lead at a pheasant flying over exactly the same piece of land.
A complete ban on lead would have very, very far reaching consequences for the approx 2 million shooters in the UK. Until it is proven beyond all reasonable doubt that lead poses a real (not just surmised) significant threat to wildlife, the cost to the economy would be enormous. All but the wealthy elite would be forced out of the sport, and that would mean a reversal of all the good that the current shooting fraternity bring through conservation and habitat management.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
" Did you say Peregrine!"
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
Wow! A peregrine falcon. I thought I was lucky with "my" sparrowhawk who likes to torment the birds in my garden. Growing up in west Wales, I took the red kites for granted (once counted fourteen overhead). I wish I had spent more time appreciating them.
On another subject, a moorhen nearly had me in the canal yesterday. I could hear one, presumably protecting its nest, but couldn't see it and was so busy looking that I failed to notice the bend in the canal and tow path... If you've ever seen the Taunton-Bridgwater canal, you'll appreciate why I was so relieved to have noticed and swerved in time.
On another subject, a moorhen nearly had me in the canal yesterday. I could hear one, presumably protecting its nest, but couldn't see it and was so busy looking that I failed to notice the bend in the canal and tow path... If you've ever seen the Taunton-Bridgwater canal, you'll appreciate why I was so relieved to have noticed and swerved in time.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I thought I would post an update on those strange eggs I found. I eventually got round to put them into the pond after a rain storm had made them swell up a bit.
The spawn created a bit of excitement with the other tadpoles which seemed intent on cleaning them up. The pond is very clean at the moment with the tadpoles eating all of the algae / green stuff in the pond.
I went up this morning to check the pond and noticed that one of the eggs is developing from a dot to a curl. Whether the spawn will survive the attentions of the tadpoles remains to be seen.
The spawn created a bit of excitement with the other tadpoles which seemed intent on cleaning them up. The pond is very clean at the moment with the tadpoles eating all of the algae / green stuff in the pond.
I went up this morning to check the pond and noticed that one of the eggs is developing from a dot to a curl. Whether the spawn will survive the attentions of the tadpoles remains to be seen.
Poacher
Gravitationally challenged member
- Location
- Nottingham
[QUOTE 4235741, member: 9609"]I have the answer back, and I think it is a little controversial but she is going for a Peregrine Falcon .... hmmm, i have never known her wrong on these things before so I am going to go along with that too.[/QUOTE]
Mebbe I should have looked at the second photo!
Is this a good time to post another plug for the Nottingham Peregrine webcams?
Only one decent bird to report today, I took a diversion on my way back from Lidl due to the level crossing gate being down and watched a Grey Wagtail in the Ouse Dyke. Yesterday there were 3 buzzards circling about 500 metres away from our house - nothing remarkable, but this was over a very built-up area no more than 4km from the city centre.
Mebbe I should have looked at the second photo!
Is this a good time to post another plug for the Nottingham Peregrine webcams?
Only one decent bird to report today, I took a diversion on my way back from Lidl due to the level crossing gate being down and watched a Grey Wagtail in the Ouse Dyke. Yesterday there were 3 buzzards circling about 500 metres away from our house - nothing remarkable, but this was over a very built-up area no more than 4km from the city centre.
