Your day's wildlife

[gbb]

Usual haunts, local country park...
Little Egret..

Also seen
Blackcap
First Swifts
House Martins

Hedge and treelines absolutely full of birdsong but unable to see..
Cettis Warbler (i know the call now)
Cuckoo
Common Redstart was heard as a possible on the Merlin App
Lesser Whitethroat...annoyingly close for quite a while but deep in the undergrowth so no sight

Had a lovely chat with a guy who had some serious photographic equipment.
He showed me photos of a Firecrest he took there a week ago, very rare sighting. Also gave me the location to see Goldcrest, a very knowledgable and nice chap.

 

[sevenfourate]

Taken 2 years to get some half decent shots of my local Heron; between me not walking that route, ‘him’ seeing me and fleeing first, the pond being cleaned out with diggers and given a major strip / complete reset at one point etc etc

Either way today was the day 👍

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Been working outside today and left the garage side door open and bit later a swallow trying to get out through a glass window. Managed to divert it to the open door and it left appearing no worse for the experience. They do seem to like going into buildings, last summer had one in the sitting room (again got it to leave fairly quickly and without much intervention).

 

[Gillstay]

Could you let it nest ?

 

[Gillstay]

These two Roe deer were very close when i tried to stop and get my phone out of my pocket.

 

[gbb]

These two Roe deer were very close when i tried to stop and get my phone out of my pocket.
View attachment 806815

I was once cycling a country lane, very small verge and trees alongside. As I rode, two young deer crashed out the trees and ran along the verge...almost within a few feet of me for l0 or 20 yards.
It was one of those moments you could never expect (neither did they apparently )..and then they ducked back into the trees.
Amazing moment..

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Could you let it nest ?

No. I'd be quite happy for it to nest in the garage but it only got in as I left the side door open as I was in and out today. Normally closed and locked so it would be locked in or out (so nesting wouldn't work.

Plus the windows confused it as side door was open yet it was trying to fly out through glass.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

These two Roe deer were very close when i tried ...

I've quite a few living in the garden. They are very destructive to trees. Most of the time if I look out of the window I can see a couple wandering around or grazing on the grass.

Go for a walk and always see groups of 10+ in the fields. They are now at pest population levels.

 

[gbb]

Heard..
Cuckoo
Chiffchaff
Dunnock
Cettis Warbler
Blackcap

Seen..
Long Tail Tit
Lovely bright Jay
Little Egret
Whitethroat
Little Grebe
Heron
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Muntjac
Great Tit, Blue Tit

Ooh, a very possible Goldcrest. Very small, shot across tree to scrub, very quick look but a bright patch on its top surface, probably head, it was a split second look.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I've been playing with phone app Merlin Bird ID (from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, free, no subscription).

It can use the phone microphone to listen to bird calls and ID the birds it can hear.

Useful not so much to ID birds but I use it to identify what's around and this look for. eg on walk the other day it ID'd a Jay yet I couldn't see one; walked on a 100m looking in trees and then saw it.

Tried it early the other morning lying in bed listening to the dawn corus and it ID'd around 4 different species.

Seems fairly accurate (after limited experience/use). You can also load photos for an ID. Not used that much so no idea about how well that feature works.

 

[Gillstay]

I've been playing with phone app Merlin Bird ID (from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, free, no subscription).

It can use the phone microphone to listen to bird calls and ID the birds it can hear.

Useful not so much to ID birds but I use it to identify what's around and this look for. eg on walk the other day it ID'd a Jay yet I couldn't see one; walked on a 100m looking in trees and then saw it.

Tried it early the other morning lying in bed listening to the dawn corus and it ID'd around 4 different species.

Seems fairly accurate (after limited experience/use). You can also load photos for an ID. Not used that much so no idea about how well that feature works.

It is hopeless on Hawks and falcons I find and things like Heron. But occasionally it does very well spotting stuff your missing in the background such as Goldcrest or Flycatchers. Also great in say Spain as your not fully aware of what is about so may spot a Middle woodpecker you may only get a glimse of.

 

[Gillstay]

No. I'd be quite happy for it to nest in the garage but it only got in as I left the side door open as I was in and out today. Normally closed and locked so it would be locked in or out (so nesting wouldn't work.

Plus the windows confused it as side door was open yet it was trying to fly out through glass.

I took a small panel out of the top of the door so it could nip in and out over the top. Easy on a plank door and you see it a lot cut out on French barn doors.

 

[rockyroller]

Mr. Coyote came by again last night. guessing it's the same one, but we have several in the area. I've seen as many as 3 together. I'd love to record one w/ a game camera, but I didn't have them out last night. lately all I've been recording with those are rabbits & possum. this is a crummy video frame from the bedroom camera 2 stories up looking thru several panes of glass & reflective mylar for stealth purposes

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Came across a 🦌 on the shared pathway between Hedge End train station and Bubb Lane last night at sunset.

 

[Dogtrousers]

For someone who is clueless about birds and double clueless about which noises the different species make the Merlin app is brilliant.