wildlife

[Maggi Young]

I've never seen Teal's eggs - how pretty they are!

[Mike Ireland]

The solitary bees have woken up & doing their usual madcap display.
Only a few bees visible but it is manic at times.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Heard the first cuckoo this morning. Put me in mind of this:

[TC]

We went up to Loch Doon last week on our Spring cuckoo hunt.  Although we never heard any, we watched a male bird on a tree stump having a good look round.  There are about 5 birds in this area every spring.  Reports indicate that they have all come back.  Our Ospreys have settled in to their nest and hopefully should raise two young as they did last year.

Yesterday, we came across three Whooper Swans in one of their wintering sites.  The strong N. winds have held them back.  In a pond near there was an Icelandic Bar Tailed Godwit in it's spectacular rufous plumage.  There have been steady passages of Whimbrels -about 150 in the past few days.  Spring is finally here.

[ian mcdonald]

Sounds a good area Tom. It,s surprising how quick the trees get their leaves once the weather improves.

[Tristan_He]

Was out in the garden yesterday and heard a grasshopper warbler calling in the garden! There are always a few territories near us but they usually sound further away.

Heard a cuckoo a week or so ago but not lately, perhaps he will be more active in the warm weather. We usually have a few in the area.

[ian mcdonald]

Wasp on dandelion, covered in pollen img. 1010316.

[Roma]

Squirrels are looking a bit scruffy now.

[Anthony Darby]

Wasp on dandelion, covered in pollen img. 1010316.

Looks more like a solitary bee?

[ian mcdonald]

It could bee, Anthony. I was using the pre-decimal guide, if it,s got a waist, it,s a wasp.

[annew]

Squirrels are looking a bit scruffy now.

Did you mean to say Fluffy?

[Roma]

No, Anne.  Fur coats all look as if the moths have been at them

[Roma]

This one has lost most of her winter woollies.  She ate a lot of nuts very fast.  Must have been hungry.

[Roma]

I've rescued a few birds from the greenhouse recently.  One each of wren, blue tit, dunnock and female chaffinch.  Today's rescue was a surprise - a grey wagtail.

[Anthony Darby]

I see there must be a bit of networking that doesn't cross the species barrier. They tell their mates, which is why you only get one of each species.