CycleChat Springwatch!

[deptfordmarmoset]

A couple of days ago I finally got round to opening my living room window (it's been a long, long winter) only to discover that a pair of mistle thrushes had built a nest outside the window. Here's one of them with this morning's elevenses:

I know there are a few CCers who keep an eye on what nature's getting up to so has anybody else got any other birdies or beasties to show us?

(Though there was a very recent city v country thread, I get a great kick from seeing wildlife getting on with things, often virtually unnoticed, in the city.)

 

[Fnaar]

Our housemartins appeared again on May 1st. I have a cunning plan to get some photos, but it will require derring do and a disregard for my own personal safety.

 

[theclaud]

Our housemartins appeared again on May 1st. I have a cunning plan to get some photos, but it will require derring do and a disregard for my own personal safety.

Well get on with it then.

 

[Beebo]

Our housemartins appeared again on May 1st. I have a cunning plan to get some photos, but it will require derring do and a disregard for my own personal safety.

Here's one I made earlier, just for you. (Note the young Fat Boy Slim)

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

As I was riding back from Hertford this morning I heard a cuckoo and a woodpecker.....sorry no photos

That's one of the great things about cycling: birdsong cuts through wind and traffic noise and you can usually stop to take a look. No cuckoos around these parts but there are a few green and greater spotted woodpeckers that seem to have adjusted pretty well to suburban life.

 

[Fnaar]

Well get on with it then.

I'm at work. It might take a week or so till I get some pics, but I'll post them here when I do.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Well get on with it then.

I reckon if he's planning to abseil down from the chimney, we should send our own photographer to record it for posterity.

 

[Fnaar]

Or posteriority, if I climb down backwards

 

[Glow worm]

The first house martins appeared here on the 13th April, swallows a day later and an early swift on the 26th. The pair of swallows that nest on beams, high in an open garage next door, returned on Tuesday. I noticed a whitethroat has pitched up in the back garden as well this morning - No pics yet though. Pretty sure I heard a distant grasshopper warbler late last night across the fields (there was one/ a pair there last summer) though it's still a bit early for them.

 

[Leodis]

I pass a couple of donkeys, llamas, sheep and a very large pig (no included in pic)

 

[Crackle]

I have a starling nesting in my wall. I don't like starlings.

 

[Steve Malkin]

Spent a very pleasant 10 minutes this morning watching a pair of these goldfinches hopping round right outside my window - they're lovely, really brightened up my day!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Spent a very pleasant 10 minutes this morning watching a pair of these goldfinches hopping round right outside my window - they're lovely, really brightened up my day!
View attachment 22719

They're adorable birds, aren't they? Bold colours and a cheery musical song. And luckily they've also made the journey in increasing numbers to Deptford over the last 3 or so years.

 

[laurence]

now being a man of leisure i'm hanging out at the wetland centre even more...
this week, various flutterbys - orange tip, green veined white, speckled wood, loads of brimstones.
birds - swifts, swallows, house and sand martins. the first lapwing chicks of the year were seen last week (although the herons may have taken them all) and several mallard broods have been out (and devoured by herons).
saw a grass snake swimming in a pool today. lizards are out basking and the reptile surveys have been very good so far.
bat survey last week and we had 6 species
flowers everywhere - bluebells coming through at last.
and insects - clouds of gnats and midges. great for the birds and bats.

 

[summerdays]

My wildlife for today was a bee ... I could hear buzzing near my ear as I cycled so I stopped and took off my helmet - nothing.... put it back on again - again quiet buzzing, removed it again and thoroughly rechecked - no nothing, put it on again. Still mild buzzing - I must get my ears checked - decided to take it off and somehow it had been tucked into the straps at the back. It survived and so did I.