Your day's wildlife

[laurentian]

TBH although I live in Warrington we used to get them/it regularly. Then they ripped the local woodland down for 1200 houses. This is the 1st Nuthatch I've seen for a long time now.

I'm pretty much always looking at birds (although I wouldn't call myself a "birdwatcher"). From memory, I have only ever seen two nuthatches within a 10 mile radius of where I live and probably less than 10, anywhere, in my life. I know they are not considered especially rare but its a great thrill when I do see one.

 

[Dave7]

I'm pretty much always looking at birds (although I wouldn't call myself a "birdwatcher"). From memory, I have only ever seen two nuthatches within a 10 mile radius of where I live and probably less than 10, anywhere, in my life. I know they are not considered especially rare but its a great thrill when I do see one.

I will check that out, thanks.
I used to do a lot of birdwatching (not an expert though) and got to know where you were in with a good chance of seeing birds like Nuthatch, Treecreeper or Kingfisher etc but have no idea how territorial Nuthatches are.

 

[Dave7]

I'm pretty much always looking at birds (although I wouldn't call myself a "birdwatcher"). From memory, I have only ever seen two nuthatches within a 10 mile radius of where I live and probably less than 10, anywhere, in my life. I know they are not considered especially rare but its a great thrill when I do see one.

Google tells me that, yes, they are extremely territorial. A pair will mate for life and defend thier territory against even larger birds.
Depending on who you believe.....a pair require minimum 5 acres** of good suitable land.
** I can't compute that to mtrs x mtrs or miles x miles.......maybe you can. One estimate is 1 miles x 400 feet (what's that in English )

 

[laurentian]

Google tells me that, yes, they are extremely territorial. A pair will mate for life and defend thier territory against even larger birds.
Depending on who you believe.....a pair require minimum 5 acres** of good suitable land.
** I can't compute that to mtrs x mtrs or miles x miles.......maybe you can. One estimate is 1 miles x 400 feet (what's that in English )

As I understand it, they generally inhabit oak woodland - this concurs with the last place I saw one. I have been back there a few times (usually when passing on the bike) to see if I can see another but I've had no luck although I have heard them. I see Kingfishers quite regularly and the odd tree creeper. Used to see lots more treecreepers when there were loads of old elm trees around (incidentally, small bird climbing up a trunk = treecreeper, small bird climbing down = nuthatch). The territory thing could explain why I've never seen more than one in a single instance - thanks.

 

[Dave7]

As I understand it, they generally inhabit oak woodland - this concurs with the last place I saw one. I have been back there a few times (usually when passing on the bike) to see if I can see another but I've had no luck although I have heard them. I see Kingfishers quite regularly and the odd tree creeper. Used to see lots more treecreepers when there were loads of old elm trees around (incidentally, small bird climbing up a trunk = treecreeper, small bird climbing down = nuthatch). The territory thing could explain why I've never seen more than one in a single instance - thanks.

Again, before they ripped the woodland down for houses we got regular visits from a Treecreeper.....strangely on a particular fence panel. Not seen one for years now.

 

[Gillstay]

At certain times of the year Nuthatch are very vocal and you can count them easily. They prove to be quite common and busy in some area's.

 

[rockyroller]

do any civilizations eat mice? I mean they're bigger than snails & ppl eat snails, right?

 

[Dave7]

do any civilizations eat mice? I mean they're bigger than snails & ppl eat snails, right?
View attachment 793948

By coincidence, not people but I saw an article c/w photo showing a great Tit eating a mouse that it had killed. The article says that in harsh winters when food is scarce they will resort to this.
Who knew ?

 

[Dogtrousers]

do any civilizations eat mice? I mean they're bigger than snails & ppl eat snails, right?
View attachment 793948

Yes, but they are a lot bonier than snails. I can't imagine that there's a lot of meat on them. I imagine carving a mouse roast would be a fiddly business involving scalpel and tweezers. Or perhaps you could use them to add "body" to a stock.

You don't get that problem with escargots. You simply have to dish them up with lots of tasty garlic butter to distract from the point that they are just not very nice. (Sorry French gourmets, once was enough for me)

 

[rockyroller]

I had conch once, 35 years ago, on our honeymoon in Aruba. yeah once was enough

 

[Dave7]

Yes, but they are a lot bonier than snails. I can't imagine that there's a lot of meat on them. I imagine carving a mouse roast would be a fiddly business involving scalpel and tweezers. Or perhaps you could use them to add "body" to a stock.

You don't get that problem with escargots. You simply have to dish them up with lots of tasty garlic butter to distract from the point that they are just not very nice. (Sorry French gourmets, once was enough for me)

I had snails (escargot) 3 times when in France. The 3rd time as I went to spear one its antennae were standing out.....euck , that was the last time I tried them.
As you alude to, it's just the lovely garlic that makes them nice-ish.

 

[Dave7]

Just had a male GS Woodpecker on the feeder. As with the Nuthatch, we used to get them regularly but it's many months since I saw the last one.

 

[rockyroller]

chilly ride today

whoops wrong thread, oh well

 

[biggs682]

Nuthatch!!! Wow!

You're very lucky to get that in your garden

From memory the only time we have seen them have been when we have stayed at the various Center parcs resorts over the years.

 

[Gillstay]

You can sometimes see them going through the moss on a roof.