Your day's wildlife

[Poacher]

Even given the Dunnock's unusual sexual behaviour (rampant polyandry and polygamy), they're normally totally shagged out by this time of year, so it's most unlikely to be a recently fledged youngster. Your guess of a drowned sparrow seems the best bet, especially given that there's what looks to me like a dry one in the background of your photo - they're gregarious birds, and I've often seen a bunch of them indulging in a communal bath while others seem to be keeping watch and waiting their turn.

 

[Alex H]

Even given the Dunnock's unusual sexual behaviour (rampant polyandry and polygamy), they're normally totally shagged out by this time of year, so it's most unlikely to be a recently fledged youngster. Your guess of a drowned sparrow seems the best bet, especially given that there's what looks to me like a dry one in the background of your photo - they're gregarious birds, and I've often seen a bunch of them indulging in a communal bath while others seem to be keeping watch and waiting their turn.

Having Googled "wet sparrow" , I think you're right

Here it is with one of it's dry friends.

 

[i hate hills]

Out for a ride out by Auchenblae / Fettercairn today. Skenes of geese overhead , three deer in a field . Three swans flying who knows where to. Finally the most concerning for me was the sight of a big black cat. Went by the golf course and this creature was in the field opposite . Some of the golfers had stopped to watch it and a couple of fellow cyclists stopped also. This defo was not a domestic moggy and there have been sightings of it before. First time i've seen one and it does make you think......can i outrun these other guys if it's hungry.......

 

[i hate hills]

[QUOTE 3971095, member: 9609"]it would be welcome to a few golfers in my book - lol

I like your avatar picture - where is it ?[/QUOTE]
Aww man i'm a golfer too and thats MY course it's stalking. Not sure the name of the Glen in my avatar. Hopefully not Glen Big Black Cat. I will be only golfing in company up there in future , never on my own and wearing a pair of Nike trainers in order to outrun my playing partners in case the beast wants a piece of us......

 

[summerdays]

Just took out the recycling and found this wee fella, I'm slightly worried that he still looks quite small at this time of year:

 

[User32269]

tried to have me chips off...

 

[Hugh Manatee]

@summerdays we have one in our garden that looks a little borderline. We are feeding him up on proper hedgehog food each night and have also left straw and bedding material around. Hopefully he will use the hedgehog house that is in the garden.

We call ours Matthew (as in Hoggard!)

 

[summerdays]

What are you using as hedgehog food... Cat food?

 

[Hugh Manatee]

What are you using as hedgehog food... Cat food?

It called Spike's Feast or something. He seems to quite like it. He was out there just now chomping away.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

What are you using as hedgehog food... Cat food?

Useful info..
The Basic Facts - British Hedgehog Preservation Society
http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/leaflets/L9-Basic-Facts.pdf

Also

www.hedgehogstreet.org/
http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/top-navigation/wildlife-advice/hedgehog-fact-sheet.html

 

[User32269]

I found a hedgehog trapped in the goal net in our garden last year. It now has its own little feeding centre and loves mealworms from B&M.

 

[Alex H]

Common Cranes on their way to their Spanish winter holidays

The great thing about the migration is you can hear the birds from about 2km away - long before you see them.

The bad thing is that they can detect someone with a long lens (300mm) on their camera and keep just too far away to get a really good picture

 

[Mrs M]

I always have mixed feelings when I see the birds migrating.
Happy they're going to a warmer climate but sad that winter's not friendly enough for them and for the wee guys that won't make it.

 

[growingvegetables]

Two little owls.

One sceeching in the trees in the middle of the night. Flew out when I stopped.

The other at dawn - it flew out the tree straight at my face, and realised I was there. Quite magic to see it spread its tail and airbrakes,and sort of "pull a handbrake turn" midair ... if a little worrying.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Yesterday's wildlife...

I had a near miss last night. Sitting in the bathroom I felt something under my nightdress. I put my hand there several times (4 or 5 perhaps) but couldn't find anything tickling my back. Convinced there was something there and unable to reach it I took my nightdress off by turning it inside out and pulling it up and over my head. There was a loud angry buzzing and something tried to attack me followed quite quickly by it changing its interest to the overhead light, then calming down enough for me to capture it in a glass and start yelling at my OH.

There had been a queen wasp in my nightdress and I had just disturbed it!