Your wildlife encounters....

[nappadang]

Being a bird watcher and all round wildlife enthusiast, I've been taking note of the wildlife I've spotted (or heard) when out cycling. I've even started a cycling bird list, not huge but it includes G/S Woodpecker, Grey Partridge, Little Owl and 3 raptors. This does add a new dimension to an already enjoyable activity.
Today I was lucky enough to get some excellent views of a Stoat carrying it's pray (probably a Shrew). This got me thinking about whether others on here are as sad as I am and what they have came across wildlife wise, on their travels. I live and cycle in a suburban /greenbelt environment so I guess people on here will easily be able to trump my Stoat and I'd love to hear about some of your cycling, wildlife experiences.

 

[User6179]

I once ran over a rabbit

 

[mattobrien]

I had a large deer jump out if the hedgerow in front of me recently. I had to slow a truck coming in the opposite direction to make sure it had found safe passage through the opposite hedgerow.

Oh and I also ran over a rat a while back. Sounded remarkably hollow...

 

[biggs682]

I once ran over a rabbit

and me it broke my lower spoiler on the front of my then new Citroen Visa gti !!

 

[Davos87]

Out yesterday in the country lanes of North Yorks and sadly encountered a dead deer on the roadside verge, a squished hedgehog and too many splattered rabbits to count as anything out of the ordinary.

 

[sheffgirl]

Last week I was out riding in Derbyshire and my friend scared a sheep at the side of the road which ran in front of us

 

[oiljam]

Commuting home the other day at 23:30 on a really dark stretch a fox ran in front of me, scared me half to death. Great to see though, this is the kind of things people miss out on when they're sat in front of the gogglebox. I hate tele by the way.
A Jay the other week, they're always nice to see and quite rare in our parts. And deer if I head out Doncaster way, not sure what type they are though.

Just remembered a funny incidence..when I were out running the smallest animal (stoat or weasel, dunno really) ran out in front of me and stopped directly in my path. I stopped because it started hissing really loudly at me. Now I'm 6' at it were only inch high but it managed to stop me....I thought it were gunna have me round the neck . I still find it funny now that this little thing were after a fight and had me worried!

 

[compo]

I nearly ran over a student by our college the other day.

 

[Glow worm]

A lot of my liesure rides take in nature reserves- in particular a well known one called Wicken Fen. The surrounding area has loads of car free routes ideal for hassle free cycling and is also good for wildlife watching. Burwell Fen is a great place to see short eared owls in winter - we had about 15 individuals there last winter and I took this pic of one earlier this year.

Unfortunately, although I always carry binoculars, a decent camera is something I really should carry as this rubbish shot of some waxwings that turned up near here last winter shows

And on warm summer nights, bright little green lights in the verges can be seen in the pitch black, again around Wicken. In June I counted 150 either side of a track one night - it was a magical sight. My favourite creature- the glow worm. This pic I took doesn't do it justice though.

Other highlights this year for me include two ospreys near Soham a month or so back- stopping off to fish on a lake on their way south. Marsh harriers are a common sight too as well as hen harriers in winter here.

 

[BigCam]

I'm so going to Wicken in June - glow worms sound way cool
As for me, over the years of my commuting, I've seen loads of owls, (barn and other), roe deer, muntjac deer, foxes, rabbets, hares, kingfishers, woodpeckers, loads of gypsy horses tied up at the side of the road, badgers, and the piece de resistance, the fen tiger...
Oh - and buzzards too

 

[nickyboy]

The best birds I see are the moorland specialists; Ring Ouzel, Merlin, Red Grouse, Golden Plover and the upland woodland specialists; Tree Pipit, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher.
But now the tops are getting very quiet. Just the Red Grouse sit tight through the winter

 

[nappadang]

A lot of my liesure rides take in nature reserves- in particular a well known one called Wicken Fen. The surrounding area has loads of car free routes ideal for hassle free cycling and is also good for wildlife watching. Burwell Fen is a great place to see short eared owls in winter - we had about 15 individuals there last winter and I took this pic of one earlier this year.

View attachment 31933

Unfortunately, although I always carry binoculars, a decent camera is something I really should carry as this rubbish shot of some waxwings that turned up near here last winter shows

View attachment 31934

And on warm summer nights, bright little green lights in the verges can be seen in the pitch black, again around Wicken. In June I counted 150 either side of a track one night - it was a magical sight. My favourite creature- the glow worm. This pic I took doesn't do it justice though.

View attachment 31935

Other highlights this year for me include two ospreys near Soham a month or so back- stopping off to fish on a lake on their way south. Marsh harriers are a common sight too as well as hen harriers in winter here.

Brilliant reply and I'm not in the least bit envious. To see any of what you describe would mean me travelling a lot further than a recovering fatty like me could manage.

 

[nappadang]

The best birds I see are the moorland specialists; Ring Ouzel, Merlin, Red Grouse, Golden Plover and the upland woodland specialists; Tree Pipit, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher.
But now the tops are getting very quiet. Just the Red Grouse sit tight through the winter

Again, a drive into the North Pennines for most of those species, though the merlin and golden plover winter on the coast

 

[Glow worm]

Brilliant reply and I'm not in the least bit envious. To see any of what you describe would mean me travelling a lot further than a recovering fatty like me could manage.

I suspect there's good stuff to see wherever you are- it's just a case of knowing where to look. One of the most inspirational naturalists I've come across is a guy called David Lindo, also known as the 'urban birder'. His local patch is Wormwood Scrubs Common in London and it's astonishing what he sees there - see http://www.theurbanbirder.com/

I do know of a kittiwake colony near you I'd love to see- under one of the Tyne bridges between Gateshead and Newcastle (forget which one) and on the Baltic Centre. You'll have to wait until spring now though as they'll probably be out at sea by now.

 

[User6179]

and me it broke my lower spoiler on the front of my then new Citroen Visa gti !!

l was on my bike , ran between front and back wheel and I went straight over it .