Wildlife & Gardens

Discussion in 'Taylor's Tittle-Tattle - General Banter' started by Sting, May 7, 2019.

  1. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I leave some on the ground for the male Daphnes and spear some on the branches,cut in half. The blue Wilfs like the ones on the trees.
    Chris Packham on BBC 2 now with 'Animal Einsteins'. Bees playing football (isn't it?!) Ernie starling Ruby starling how to get at the mealworm tub.
     
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  2. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    The birds are really bust at present as spring starts to appear.
    I saw a bumble bee at the nursery yesterday and a couple of smaller bees here today.
    Four squirrels were having a relay race across the grass yesterday too!
     
  3. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Yes I was out topping up the feeders yesterday and a squirrel removed an apple half from a branch.
    I was about six inches away. He didn't flinch and skipped off up the tree with it,despite my protestations.
    Have I posted this already?
    I've had a day of it with an imbecilic colleague exposing himself ( in email! ) regarding his lack of professional knowledge.
     
  4. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Apples on the ground are best when the ground is frozen and esp when there is snow on the ground. When it’s warm and damp there are worms and bugs accessible so apples are less urgent as a food source.
     
  5. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Fieldfare, Garden, Wigginton 2-2021 v04153 v2_edited-1.jpg European robin, Garden, Wigginton 1-2021 v03276 v2_edited-1.jpg European green woodpecker, Garden, Wigginton 1-2021 v03745 v2_edited-1.jpg Common blackbird, Garden, Wigginton 2-2021 v04174 v2_edited-1.jpg European goldfinch, Garden, Wigginton 2-2021 v04465 v2_edited-1.jpg Eurasian jay, Garden, Wigginton 1-2021 v03356 v2_edited-1.jpg Blue tit, Garden, Wigginton 12-2020 v03038 v2.jpg Redwing, Garden, Wigginton 2-2021 v04262 v2_edited-1.jpg
     
  6. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    I thought squirrels were supposed to be less active during the winter but we’ve had loads in our garden playing throughout the winter months. They seem to particularly like chasing round the children’s old climbing frame/swing set. It’s quite nice to see it being used again!
     
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  7. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    One of ours was just hanging upside down in the 'Kermit' feeder,eating happily.
    I said "good morning" he or she looked up and then carried on as I topped up the other feeders and cleaned the water tray!
    Brilliant pictures Tut!
    A treat on a bright,sunny morning.
     
  8. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

  9. Diamond

    Diamond First Team

    The asparagus talk earlier in the thread has stayed with me until now. I've never tried growing it before despite having an allotment for a while. My intention is to, (try to), grow it in a large container in the greenhouse, (the deer that visit garden would eat the lot). I've read up a lot and have 2 crowns ordered and on their way. Yes I'm a bit concerned that a container of soil isn't anywhere near as good as a raised bed but I have no choice. Two years from now I'd like to be looking forward to a small harvest.
     
  10. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    The goldfinches are back!
    Lovely birds.
    The starlings are very democratic in their bathing habits.
    They all take their turns in the various bathing receptacles,a few Jeff Ls and sparrows too for good measure!
     
  11. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Can't you scatter an outside bed with of chilli powder as a deterrent? Or a wire fence with jasmine (or similar deer repellent plants) around it?
     
  12. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Most of my photos are taken with canon d7 mkii and 300mm 2.8 lens and 2x converter. For grabbing and snapping around the garden and local walks I use a Sony rx10 mk iv bridge camera with built in 15-600mm zoom. I think there’s a mix here.
     
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  13. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    I really enjoyed your photos as well, TUT. Please post some more as and when you take them.
     
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  14. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Thanks WWTW. I have a Flickr account with thousands but would have to reveal my identity and therefore kill you.
     
  15. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

  16. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Just a few now and again will suffice!
     
  17. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Thanks a lot TUT. Great images as I said. I use the Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8 VR II. Not as great a telephoto lens as some of the really high end ones but budgets are limited in conjunction with a D850. Thinking of doing some macro photography again soon as Spring comes around as I am still stuck at home. Sigma have some great lenses for Nikon and Sony mounts. I really will miss Spring coming out and about though in the countryside. Especially all the migrants coming in.
     
  18. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Yes. I had a trip to Finland and Hortobagy, Hungary in May 2020. Had to cancel and roll forward to 2021 due to covid. This year will be cancelled and rolled again.
    Locally I’m really missing a good photo of a male smew duck. There’s been one at Bowyers Water in nth london for the last 2 months but too far for me to legally justify driving. It will almost certainly have migrated before we are allowed to drive 30 miles for “a walk”.
     
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  19. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Chris Packham's Animal Einstein's explored language with apes sharing the same body language as children,honey bees communicating in 'whoops' when they bump into each other in the hive, 'quacks' when a new queen is merging and 'toot' when she's out ( I think!)
    Dolphins working in pods and nudging each other with their fins to endorse friendship.
    Calugos looking like they're in their own sleeping bags and many more.
    Fascinating.
     
  20. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    Chris Packham was a guest speaker at my daughter’s school a couple of years ago. He was a fantastic speaker - not only were his wildlife-related observations fascinating but he was also very open about what it was like growing up with (at the time undiagnosed) Aspergers.
     
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  21. Mavu

    Mavu Academy Graduate

    His autobiography / coming-of-age memoir "Fingers in the Sparkle Jar" is well worth a read.
     
  22. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Yes I'm sure.
    He is a patron of Paradise Wildlife Park where my neighbour looks after the wolves.
    He is very highly regarded.
    We need more of his kind to take over the mantle from SDA and Jane Goodall when they depart.
    Fortunately there are many wonderful young people who are as passionate about the planet and protecting it.
    Power to them.
     
  23. Diamond

    Diamond First Team

    It would be constant work with the amount of animals that visit, so taking the lazy easier route.

    Planted the two crowns today halfway down in the, (old recycling), box with the roots downwards and watered in. The box has many drainage holes. I expect to have my first useable crop in spring 2023.

    Asparagus.jpg
     
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  24. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Looks good, just be careful not to over-water as even with lots of drainage holes something like that could easily become quite sodden pretty quickly and the crowns will rot.
     
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  25. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    He is a great speaker Chris Packham. So full of enthusiasm and knowledge. A superb communicator from his time on the Really Wild Show onwards. Was arrested on Malta I believe for trying to highlight the barbaric practice of trapping and shooting passerines and raptors as they cross the Mediterranean.

    Next week they focus on the architecture of animal houses. Termite nests and anthills have been studied by engineers and architects to perfect heating and cooling solutions. The government on another tack have been talking about a green powered economic recovery post pandemic. If they really want to be taken seriously they need to consider schemes like this amusement park on Swanscombe Marshes. The marshes are home to many rare species, a haven of solitude and wonder opposite Grays and Tilbury. If they are serious they should refuse planning permission. Why do we need another amusement park the scale of a Disneyland so people can wander around faux television sets. The BBC or their enterprise division should be considering their stance on this considering they constantly push a green agenda.

    Most NR's are run by volunteers and county wildlife trusts who put in an inordinate amount of work in maintaining, protecting and restoring habitat as well as undertaking scientific recording to monitor the state of wildlife in the UK. Unfortunately we also have mindless scum whose sole idea of pleasure is to be antisocial and destructive. Druridge NR lies in Northumberland, The visitor centre was subject to an arson attack and was rebuilt.

    https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/wildlife-centre-rises-ashes-arson-attack-407760

    Only for mindless morons to destroy viewing hides causing a huge amount of damage.
    https://www.northumberlandgazette.c...ands-in-damage-3151866?itm_source=parsely-api

    Sadly this situation is all too common.
    https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk...gton-nature-reserve-because-vandalism-2133384

    And during this pandemic more and more fly tipping and littering. I would happily have those if caught sentenced to hard labour, bread and water for several years. Words fail to describe these low-lifes.
     
  26. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    Walked this morning with a beautiful red kite hovering overhead - they really are magnificent creatures. Then, as I walked alongside a local lake, was joined on the path by a remarkably confident river rat that sauntered across and then just sat, hamster-like, eating something at the edge of the water. Think it was young as it was quite small for a rat. I know they get a bad press, but it was pretty cute.
     
  27. Diamond

    Diamond First Team

    Shame you couldn't introduce the two. ;)
     
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  28. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    BBC news film of a black fox in London gardens. Looks a good specimen.
    Also a cat on the roof of a fast train at Euston,the train was stationary thank goodness!
     
  29. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Presume you mean a water vole ? They are beautiful rodents with bags of character but numbers are low as a result of mink predating them and lack of habitat.
    Water vole, Bibury 7-2020 #_0028_edited-1.jpg Water vole, Bibury 7-2020 #_0029_edited-1.jpg Water vole, Bibury 7-2020 #_0036_edited-1.jpg Water vole, Bibury 7-2020 #_0047_edited-1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2021
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  30. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Not as impressive as this.... watch from 35 seconds onwards....
     
  31. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Yes!
    I've seen that before.
    Made me go wobbly.
    Ford and Arthur had to look away and go for a long sleep.
     
  32. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

  33. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    I did get a photo of the little chap eating but it was taken quickly with my phone so it’s not good quality like yours. I’ll see if I can upload it on here and you can confirm what it is, but I thought it was a rat. I’m not very good at this so apologies if I mess this up..
     
  34. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

  35. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Episode 3 of CP's Animal Einsteins.
    Builders,from birds to bees to beavers to prairie dogs to termites.
    Utterly brilliant!
    I hope you're all watching it now.
     

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