Wildlife 2007

[mark smyth]

Your grebes show one in winter plumage and one almost in the full breeding colours

[Anthony Darby]

The sun brought out a peacock butterfly (Inachis io) in Stenhousemuir, Stirlingshire today.

[John Forrest]

I went to Pilling the other day to have a look at the birds in that area. It was bright but there was a bitterly cold breeze off the sea. A train of Red Legged Partridge trooped across the road and I couldn't get very close before they disappeared but managed to get a less than perfect picture. A fellow bird watcher told be the rather unpleasant tale that local 'hunters' put down seed for them so that they can get an easy pot shot at them.

There must have been about 100 Bewick's Swans grazing on the sea washed grass but were too far to get a very good picture but they obligingly flew closer but ones on the move are a bit more challenging to photograph.

[John Forrest]

Had a trip to Blackpool Zoo the other day, which I have been meaning to do for sevral years and never got round to it. That's the trouble with things on the doorstep, they are usually left because of the 'mañana principle'.
Not sure whether these Barnacle Geese were residents or just taking advantage of the grazing, having come from the nearby nature reserve.

The Peacock was definitely their own and was busy diplaying to a common old pigeon.

[Paddy Tobin]

Now this is a big step down from John's photgraphs above, peacocks and barnacle geese but this is what has been my wildlife in the past week. He has now departed (this life) and will not be featuring in any further postings.

The peanuts in the bird feeders are the obvious attraction but, to be perfectly truthful, rats are never far away in the countryside.

Paddy

[John Forrest]

You can't help admiring their agility and resourcefulness but not the sort of pet you want to encourage.

[Lesley Cox]

Gone to the great bird feeder in the sky Paddy?

I love the barnacle goose. With shoulders and knees like those he could be useful in a rugby tackle.
I saw some spoonbills yesterday, great white birds who visit from Australia. Roger wouldn't stop the car to let me take pictures.

[Paddy Tobin]

Re the rats above, I didn't manage to catch the most interesting action. The rat would climb up the birdtable and then jump out at one of the cylindrical plastic hopper-type feeders. These had a large hole near the base which allow the birds to pick out seed or a peanut. The rat doesn't manage to do this but by simply hitting the feeder and falling to the ground it manages to dislodge several peanuts which it then eats at its leisure.

I feed these gorgeous creatures with a diet of a pelleted poison which sees them off within a few days of putting it out.

We get an occasional invasion of these creatures - when a local field of wheat is harvested, for example.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

He was certainly one fat rat, Paddy, any bigger and he'd have been.......a politician.

[David Lyttle]

My entry in the most obnoxious vermin stakes- the Australian brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula. This one is on the lookout to pillage the cat's food. Everything is grist to the mill for these critters, roses, docks, strawberries, geraniums not to mention birds and nestlings when they get the chance. They have destroyed one of our rugosa roses that has thorns that you would not believe. I trap them when I can and now we are poisoning them.

[Maggi Young]

All well and good, David, but are YOU saving me the pelts for a rug
 Lesley and Roger haven't send any yet!

[Anthony Darby]

Is that what's in Dame Edna's mind when she greets us?

Well, looks like Maggi's luck is in. The the Chinese New Year started yesterday and it is the Golden Year of the Pig. [Click on the cranes to make them fly. Doesn't work for the pig!]

[John Forrest]

Don't let Mr Booker know its the GOLDEN year of the pig, there could be an explosion int' camp!!!

Went to a local beauty spot called Brock, which is famous for its spring bluebell wood and took a few bird snaps. They are encouraged to come by the bird feeders left near to the car park.

Just a Chaffinch but they are still cute.

Next 2 shots of a Nuthatch.

[Maggi Young]

Hello, John, more good bird shots.  You haven't been around for a while; ist thee awreet, Lad?

[fermi de Sousa]

Anthony,
That Dame is an Aussie not a Kiwi! We are much more forgiving of our own "children" than we are of others'!
There is much controversy here about whether it is the year of the Golden Pig or the Fire Pig! One commentator said that is in fact the Roast Pig!
Here's a pic of our neighbourhood ant-eater, Errol the Echidna (Although this is an arbitrary gender assignment: she could be Edna!) making a mess of the "lawn"!
cheers
fermi