wildlife

[johnw]

The balance of the Universe has been upset. Time to fix it.

You know what happened the last time you tried that.

[Maggi Young]

Hard life being a bird of prey -
"Gamekeeper found guilty of mass poisoning of birds of prey

A Norfolk gamekeeper has today been found guilty of offences after the grim discovery of at least eleven illegally poisoned birds on a game shooting estate in Norfolk in 2013."
 
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Gamekeeper_found_guilty_of_mass_poisoning_of_birds_of_prey.aspx?s_id=375584334

[Anthony Darby]

Jail him!

[angie]

Just heard that six buzzards have been found in a field in Fordoun area, Aberdeenshire . It said the police are investigating this.

Angie 

[Anthony Darby]

Buzzards feed mostly on worms! Why kill them? 

[Gerdk]

I was surprised to learn that Heptacodium miconioides was as attractive to insects just as Buddleia is -
especially the late flowering time seems to draw butterflies

Gerd

[mark smyth]

There's a male scarlet tanager on Barra, Scotland
http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/twitchers-flocking-to-barra-in-search-of-rare-bird-1-3565903

[Matt T]

There's a male scarlet tanager on Barra, Scotland
http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/twitchers-flocking-to-barra-in-search-of-rare-bird-1-3565903

Unfortunatley it's in eclipse plumage. Pics of the bird can be found here: http://www.western-isles-wildlife.com/Latest%20Bird%20and%20general%20wildlife%20sightings%20in%20the%20western%20isles,%20outer%20hebrides.htm

[Anthony Darby]

Found this fledgling song thrush at the side of the footpath on Heidi's morning walk today. Lifted it over the short hedge into the front garden of the house, but don't give much for its chances given the number of cats that are free to wander the neighbourhood.

[angie]

Found this fledgling song thrush at the side of the footpath on Heidi's morning walk today. Lifted it over the short hedge into the front garden of the house, but don't give much for its chances given the number of cats that are free to wander the neighbourhood.

So cute.

Angie 

[annew]

A goldcrest killed itself in a collision with our window yesterday - we see one so rarely, it was so sad to see it dead. What a beautiful little creature.

[Steve Garvie]

Rather bizarre weather here yesterday. It reached 18C in the afternoon. Saw a number of dragonflies on the wing (Common Darters and a single Common Hawker) whilst walking in the local Scots Pine Forest, with a few Peacock Butterflies still around.

Numerous skeins of Pink-foot passing over the garden and a single small (7) noisy flock of Whooper Swans -my first of the Autumn. Also had 5 Buzzard over the garden at one point (our local pair raised two young - the nest is 150m from the end of the garden). A mixed party of Long-tailed Tits, Blue, Coal and Great Tits with some Goldcrest and a couple of Treecreepers passed through the garden and at dusk there were still Pipistrelle hawking over the neighbours old Apple Trees.

This morning it is dreich, dour and very windy.

[Chris Johnson]

Numerous skeins of Pink-foot passing over the garden and a single small (7) noisy flock of Whooper Swans -my first of the Autumn. Also had 5 Buzzard over the garden at one point (our local pair raised two young - the nest is 150m from the end of the garden). A mixed party of Long-tailed Tits, Blue, Coal and Great Tits with some Goldcrest and a couple of Treecreepers passed through the garden and at dusk there were still Pipistrelle hawking over the neighbours old Apple Trees.

This morning it is dreich, dour and very windy.

We rarely get Pinkfeet on the west coast but good numbers are recorded annually at the Butt of Lewis before moving on down the Minch. Our commonest goose is the Barnacle which is always a thrill to see and hear.

Chris

[fermi de Sousa]

Last year we had a brown snake living between two large boulders in the rock Garden; this year we have a friendly reptile there - a blue tongue lizard, Tiliqua scincoides,
cheers
fermi

[Anthony Darby]

Blue tongued skinks are kept as pets here, although their transport into Auckland (i.e. north of the Bombay Hills) is not allowed. They eat fruit, veg. and snails. I'll stick to New Zealand geckos and tortoises. Here's my latest addition. Nautlinus stellatus, the Nelson or starred gecko, Sandy Bay form. This male was beating up his cage mate so I was asked to take it. Hopefully I'll be able to acquire a female next year.