Your day's wildlife
- Thread starter Flick of the Elbow
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- wildlife
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rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
city rabbit
Psamathe
Über Member
On today's ride mostly single track roads, two (Western) Marsh Harriers on road ahead. I stopped and they stayed but after a short time they became uncertain and flew off. Interestingly no prey or "road kill" on the road they'd been on. Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).
nogoodnamesleft
Well-Known Member
On today's ride a kestrel flew across road few feet in front of me and landed in a tree beside road. Kestrels are not rare round me but not normally so close.
matticus
Guru
(there is a TV Wildlife thread, but I can't be *rsed to find it so
I heartily recommend last night's BBC offering "Red Squirrels in Cumbria"; it nearly annoyed me with a little toooo much cute, but amongst that was a lot of interesting science, environmental management, pest control, dat sorta thing. And beautiful footage of the fells, and wildlifes!
I heartily recommend last night's BBC offering "Red Squirrels in Cumbria"; it nearly annoyed me with a little toooo much cute, but amongst that was a lot of interesting science, environmental management, pest control, dat sorta thing. And beautiful footage of the fells, and wildlifes!
nogoodnamesleft
Well-Known Member
(I didn't see the program but) Something I've wondered about Red vs Grey Squirrels that I've never managed to get an answer on (on a couple of wildlife forums I'm a member on) is how we are told about how Grey Squirrels in effect drive out the Red's (eg squirrel pox, resources, etc.) but when I cycle tour in France I see loads of Red Squirrels and never seen any Greys. How come the Greys have not taken over in eg France. (Similar in Germany & Belgium).(there is a TV Wildlife thread, but I can't be *rsed to find it so
I heartily recommend last night's BBC offering "Red Squirrels in Cumbria"; it nearly annoyed me with a little toooo much cute, but amongst that was a lot of interesting science, environmental management, pest control, dat sorta thing. And beautiful footage of the fells, and wildlifes!
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
I think someone brought greys over to the UK, but not to mainland Europe.
matticus
Guru
I found this: "On mainland Europe red squirrels are much more common and greys are only found in Italy, so efforts are directed at preventing their spread across the Alps."
... which fits with last night's prog, as they said grey squirrels struggle to migrate over high ground (yes, even in Cumbria!) and need decent tree density: so the Alps would make a good barrier.
... which fits with last night's prog, as they said grey squirrels struggle to migrate over high ground (yes, even in Cumbria!) and need decent tree density: so the Alps would make a good barrier.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Phone pic but see this regularly around our depot, brave magpie!
Gillstay
Veteran
They were released in parks such as Macclesfield town and so then spread as a larger mammal which will take some foods earlier, and carries pox which affects Reds more than greys.
rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
had (4) mouse traps in the house last night. no bites, good news, may have a lull until more move in?
had 1 rat trap outside. this morning I saw it had been tripped but didn't catch anything. then I saw a video clip of this possum around midnight. toward the end of the clip, one can hear what might have been the trap snapping. hope he didn't get hurt. I don't mind possum since they stay outside (as far as I know)
had 1 rat trap outside. this morning I saw it had been tripped but didn't catch anything. then I saw a video clip of this possum around midnight. toward the end of the clip, one can hear what might have been the trap snapping. hope he didn't get hurt. I don't mind possum since they stay outside (as far as I know)
nogoodnamesleft
Well-Known Member
Many years ago my parents retired to a small island only connected to mainland by a causeway maybe ½ mile long and creeks it crosses several hundred meters wide and for years no squirrels. Then more recently a wildlife organisation clicked it would be a great place for red squirrels (no competition) so legally introduced them. Locals really supported the move and were all putting squirrel food, reporting sightings. several years later they are well established. Seems isolated enough that greys don't move there. (Mersea Island in Essex). The causeway does flood for a few hours at the top of spring tides but the flooding won't keep anything from crossing.
matticus
Guru
In a million years it will be the new Tasmania - crawling with species unique to the island!
