Wildlife summer 2012

[ronm]

After our Geese were taken by the foxes this past winter, I've been taking down the fencing we used to keep them at least a little controlled. Fence is still coming down but we're going to retain the posts as these birds love to use them as vantage points for seeing mice, voles etc.  in the wild area of our garden. Usually we see them doing this very early morning, but 1 hour ago this one graced us with an evening presence. Good hunting!
A Barn Owl, Tyto alba.

[Anthony Darby]

What do you do with the trapped moths except filing the observations?



(Attachment Link)

Let them go when it gets dark.

[daveyp1970]

Ron your years getting better and better.

[Olga Bondareva]

Lovely picture Olga - is it a young Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)?

Thank you Peter! I'm ashamed I don't know. 

Downy horns. 

[Anthony Darby]

What a stunning picture.

[annew]

I agree - beautiful!

[Paul T]

Breathtaking picture, Olga.  Well done!

[ronm]

A beautiful picture Olga, really very beautiful,

[angie]

Well, I got a scare tonight. Went to feed my koi which are housed in my polytunnel and what was sitting staring at me, two pine martens. I hope they won't eat my koi. Anthony can you help.
I thought at first it was cats and they weren't scared of me, ust turned and jumped out the window. Please say they don't like fish.

Angie 

[ronm]

Mating Robber Flies, Asilidae sp.

[Maggi Young]

Well, I got a scare tonight. Went to feed my koi which are housed in my polytunnel and what was sitting staring at me, two pine martens. I hope they won't eat my koi. Anthony can you help.
I thought at first it was cats and they weren't scared of me, ust turned and jumped out the window. Please say they don't like fish.

Angie 

 Crikey Angela, I think pine martens will eat just about anything tasty and I'm prepared to bet that includes fish. They're not so very different from mink and they eat fish.

 But how exctitng to have them  there, so close to Aberdeen! 

[angie]

Crikey Angela, I think pine martens will eat just about anything tasty and I'm prepared to bet that includes fish. They're not so very different from mink and they eat fish.

 But how exctitng to have them  there, so close to Aberdeen! 

I first thought they were cats. I have never seen pine martens before and I have now closed the polytunnel doors just incase they fancy a fish supper. Typical I build the pond undercover to save the heron eating my fish then I get these four legged friends arriving. Last night I watched the badgers playing in the field just as it was getting dark. The night before I had to chase a deer out of my strawberry patch, my strawberries have been disappearing I wonder if they have been pinching them. They weren't scared of me at all.
Derek just laughs at me as I go out with the torch at night to round up my slimy creatures and I still jump when I come across a frog, what a coward.

Angie 

[annew]

Not a coward - a reflex reaction against the unknown. I don't mind touching slugs at all, but if I accidentally touch an unseen one while weeding, I jump a mile.

[mark smyth]

how cool to have Pine martens in the garden. I would train them to come to a windowsil by putting out jam butties. While in Fermanagh last weekend I saw the poop shown below. A Pine marten has been gorging on Damsons

About 15 minutes ago a saw a small deer on the side of a road. A quick jump and it was gone

[Paul T]

Just the thought of seeing Pine Martens and Badgers in my yard would be amazing.  So very cool.

Mark,

I want to know what anyone watching you photograph the poop was thinking.