Your day's wildlife

[rockyroller]

no bobcat last night, just some bobcat bait

looking forward to using the cameras on stakes. I think it will be better than having them just on the ground or using tripods

 

[gbb]

My house backs onto a country park. I have used/walked much of it but today I extended my walk and was glad I did.
There were just a couple of patches of Grape Hyathinth (according to my phone) but they were really colourful.
View attachment 803304

Ironically I saw some of them on my ride a few days ago, forgot to mention it. Not sure I've ever seen them before.

 

[gbb]

Despite the blustery conditions with blustery wind, took the dog up into local.brickpits. I was resigned at 3/4 of the walk to not seeing anything at all (barring the sound of a green woodpecker in nearby woods)..then passing the brick spoil heap where I saw lizards last year, despite it being quite cool...there sat one (common lizard i assume) it was just soaking up a few rays of sunshine in amongst the bricks and weeds.

Left the brickpits themselves , onto a well used pathway....ooer, a dead lizard ?...,no, its a dead newt, orange and black belly but severaly dehydrated or dried out. The nearest ponds at that stage are maybe 100 to 200 yards away (funnily enough, I saw a grass snake in the same.place some years ago.

So despite the poor weather, not a complete loss, dog enjoyed his run

 

[gbb]

Im trying to (and relatively speaking succeeding) carving out a new sense of rhythm, one I enjoy that preferably includes cycling, wildlife and particually birdlife. Even though its chilly today, togged up, out on the bike to the local country park after the last few days of wind.
It's certainly quietened things down a bit, I suspect lots of birdlife just hunkers down.
Normal route takes in 2 viewing points over wetland /boggy grassland, 2 hides, a ride alongside the river, all skirting woodland and after maybe 1.5 hours out...very little to report.
Robins seemed everywhere, very few ducks (compared to normal) everywhere seemed very quiet.
One shrew under some corrugated sheet shelter (yes i know I shouldn't really disturb but curiosity got the better of me)
Very quiet but nice in the sun, even if my pinky finger went white with the cold

 

[rockyroller]

somebody got somebody. did the bobcat get the Cooper's hawk? well, whatever, that's not rabbit fur

 

[Dave7]

A pied Wagtail has made a few visits lately. It enjoys the patio area, picking up bits that have dropped from the feeder.
It does have 2 legs, I dont know why he hid one.

 

[rockyroller]

put the camera on the hill where I found the bird feathers

it's such a short clip, I had to repeat it

View: https://youtu.be/XGwA3gTVL8s?si=rTjFotX_HyWgefi_


left 2 cameras set up, on that hil for the day ...

 

[Poacher]

Some bird sightings from a walk yesterday in the Peak District, around Alstonefield and Wetton, with two old colleagues.
Two Curlew, heard long before seeing them. One Raven, again alerted by hearing that unmistakeable deep "cronk" before we spotted it. A small flock of around a dozen Fieldfares. Two pairs of Mallard, in different fields, far from any running water or large ponds. Several Meadow Pipits. A Little Owl, the first I've seen for about 3 years. Sorry, no photos!

 

[Dave7]

I just read the following.


Wagtails stand on one leg primarily to conserve body heat, reducing heat loss by hiding one unfeathered limb in their warm belly feathers. It is also a comfortable, energy-efficient resting position that reduces muscle fatigue while they are still

 

[blackrat]

Standing on one leg is good practice and helps sustain balance and mental agility. Useful if you are a small bird facing lots of predators and a human getting older.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Plus, if he took the other foot off the ground, he'd fall over.

 

[Proto]

Snakes, how do I attract them to my garden?

Fortunate to live in a rural area, great location, but little 'formal' garden, mostly rough ground and coarse grass/shrubs. Back and side is Forestry England woodland (only ever visited by me and my dog). Plenty of wildlife about, deer, foxes, rabbits (I don't need a lawn mower), mice etc. Huge number and variety of birds, too. Property next door has a small lake and plenty of frogs and toads about.

So, snakes, I put a coup of corrugated tin sheets on the rough patch behind the house and 9 times out of 10 I'll find multiple slowworms under there, but only once have I found a snake, a small grass snake. I've seen a snake (adder I think) sliding through the base of a box hedge next to the house, and another grass snake crossing the drive to the house. Fabulous creatures.

So, any suggestions on how to attract more? More tin sheets? Food? Some shelter?

Any handy hints and advice?

Recent photo of the side of the house (rough grass, daffs and various trees) to give an idea of the terrain. Behind the house is similar then becoming wilder/darker - hazel, ferns, little grass.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I really should know better. Did a bit of gardening this morning but left my gloves outside. There's nothing the foxes love better than gloves. Found one of my gloves with two fingers missing and an artistic fox turd on top of it. The culprit caught in the act:

 

[Dave7]

Just had this visitor. Used to get loads of them but this is sadly a rare visitor now.

 

[Gillstay]

Snakes, how do I attract them to my garden?

Fortunate to live in a rural area, great location, but little 'formal' garden, mostly rough ground and coarse grass/shrubs. Back and side is Forestry England woodland (only ever visited by me and my dog). Plenty of wildlife about, deer, foxes, rabbits (I don't need a lawn mower), mice etc. Huge number and variety of birds, too. Property next door has a small lake and plenty of frogs and toads about.

So, snakes, I put a coup of corrugated tin sheets on the rough patch behind the house and 9 times out of 10 I'll find multiple slowworms under there, but only once have I found a snake, a small grass snake. I've seen a snake (adder I think) sliding through the base of a box hedge next to the house, and another grass snake crossing the drive to the house. Fabulous creatures.

So, any suggestions on how to attract more? More tin sheets? Food? Some shelter?

Any handy hints and advice?

Recent photo of the side of the house (rough grass, daffs and various trees) to give an idea of the terrain. Behind the house is similar then becoming wilder/darker - hazel, ferns, little grass.


View attachment 803798

A pond will favour grass snakes and building somewhere they can hibernate will help as well. Large heap of wood chip for eg laying ?