Wildlife April 2011

[RichardW]

Lesser Whitethroats back now, the Diver calls are amazing, something I've always wanted to hear.

[scatigaz]

I have often heard them calling on the Isle of Mull during May. There seems to be good numbers here at that time of year before they depart to breed in more northerly climates.

[Hoy]

A lot of wildlife here! The European elk being the biggest. I haven't seen the animal itself but footprints and droppings are all over the place. They are grazing early in the morning. Hares too. A pair of Peregrine Falcons build their nest in a spruce 100m down the path and flocks of trushes are busy in every tree. The white wagtail has arrived and catches all kind of insects in the meadow. Ptarmigans and grouses play around in the morning. Rumor says a bear is observed not very far from here but I am not that lucky!

[alpinelover]

No elk here in my garden, but the green frog is an occupant in my pond. This week, they laid their eggs.

[TC]

Could see 12 Red-throated Divers (loons for those on the other side!) below the house today, some calling and displaying - waiting impatiently for the ice to disappear on the inland lakes....

Does anyone on the Forum see Great Northern Divers? Takes me back to my Arthur Ransome days.

Yes Leslie.  Many of them overwinter in the Clyde and off the west coast of Scotland.  At this time of year they are heading North to their breeding grounds.
On the 19th, there were 3 Red Throats 20 Black Throats and 13 Great Northerns on a 10 mile stretch of the coast about 12 miles South of me.
The Red Throats breed much further South than the other two.  There are a few scattered breeding pairs on Arran and KIntyre with bulk of them found on Argyll, Inverness shire, W.Ross, Sutherland, Hebrides and the Northern Isles.  The Black throats breed further North, mainly on larger lochs whereas the Red Throats prefer lochans.
 Every time we go far North in Summer, we always see a few non-breeding Great Northerns in their breeding plumage on the sea lochs.
  I was lucky enough to take a video of three Black Throats in a mating display.  They were swimming in a circle, equally spaced for about five minutes until one peeled off and left the other two.  How it was decided I have no idea as there was no aggression involved.  The Red Throats are more vocal and display against intruders by calling, extending their neck lowered to the water and launching themselves at their rival

[Lesley Cox]

Will you take some pictures for me please Tom?, later, when you see them, or any of the divers. I think they are such beautiful birds and with wonderful calls, judging from the loon we heard in the little Youtube video. Nothing like them close here but we see crested grebes occasionaly on the inland lakes.

[Stephenb]

Yes Leslie.  Many of them overwinter in the Clyde and off the west coast of Scotland.  At this time of year they are heading North to their breeding grounds.
On the 19th, there were 3 Red Throats 20 Black Throats and 13 Great Northerns on a 10 mile stretch of the coast about 12 miles South of me.

We have these plus White-billed Divers in the fjord here, but they are rare on this side of the fjord (listening to calling Red-throats on the fjord as we write...)

[Anthony Darby]

No elk here in my garden, but the green frog is an occupant in my pond. This week, they laid their eggs.

Beautiful frogs. Are they ridibunda or lessonae?

[Olga Bondareva]

Frog too. 

[arisaema]

The barn swallows have arrived here, no signs of house martins or swifts yet, but they can't be far off.

[TC]

Leslie
The only way to take pictures is to see the birds away from their nesting areas.  It is an offence to photograph any of the species anywhere near their breeding sites during the breeding season.  After this, they disperse South and go back to the sea. Normally they are about 100 yards offshore although I have taken some pictures closer in, but this is a matter of luck.  I have some fairly good pictures of Red Throats  in Winter and a juvenile Great Northern if I can find them.  My computer is suffering a glitch just now and refusing to open any of my pictures - more fun!!

[Anthony Darby]

Frog too. 

Looks a bit energetic to be out and about in the snow, or is it frozen solid Olga? Looks like Rana temporaria?

[mark smyth]

Will you take some pictures for me please Tom?,

click on the small + symbol to see larger photos
black-throated divers
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?mode=search&sp=8002&rty=0&r=1&off=255268&v=0
Great Northern
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?mode=search&sp=8004&rty=0&r=1&v=0&off=281811
red-throated
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?mode=search&sp=8001&rty=0&r=1&v=0&off=260240

[Olga Bondareva]

Anthony
I have a pond at the lowest part of my garden. Every spring frogs from everywhere jump to it. Sometimes they meet large places of melting snow. Frogs don't go around but jump directly. 

[Olga Bondareva]

Wild, wild and hungry insects at Galanthus graecus