What's Buzzing or Flying near you today.... 2014

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by Marley Farley, Jan 8, 2014.

  1. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2006
    Messages:
    14,983
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wareham, Dorset
    Ratings:
    +29,826
    Amazing, both of them, the courting Cranes are brilliant.:dbgrtmb: :dbgrtmb:
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

      Joined:
      Apr 10, 2009
      Messages:
      8,774
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +12,359
      • Like Like x 1
      • Lolimac

        Lolimac Guest

        Ratings:
        +0
        Fantastic:hapfeet::dbgrtmb:
         
        • Agree Agree x 2
        • strongylodon

          strongylodon Old Member

          Joined:
          Feb 12, 2006
          Messages:
          14,983
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Wareham, Dorset
          Ratings:
          +29,826
          Common or Eurasian Crane, reintroduced in Somerset (I think). They are seen in East Anglia fairly frequently although I am not sure they have bred here yet, HsuH may know more.
           
          • Like Like x 2
          • HsuH

            HsuH Super Gardener

            Joined:
            Mar 9, 2013
            Messages:
            645
            Location:
            South Gloucestershire
            Ratings:
            +3,257
            You are right strongylodon, they are the common cranes that were reintroduced / released to Somerset levels. And a group of them somehow wandered their way back to Slimbridge and they are the ones I saw today. The Great Crane Project will give you full information about how the reintroduction is going, for example here is a summary of where they are, and their position on a map

            PS here's an extract about their breeding activities:

            Cranes rarely breed before they are 4 years old, so we were amazed that two separate pairs built nests in the Spring of 2013. One pair went on to lay a single egg and incubate it to hatching on the Slimbridge Reserve, and a pair in Somerset built an impressive nest, but took their attempt no further. Sadly the chick at Slimbridge died at around a day old, probably on account of the dreadfully wet and cold weather that occurred at the time of hatching. Pairs have started forming in early 2014 and the Spring of 2014 should be exciting! The project aims to establish around 20 breeding pairs in the South West by 2025 so 2013’s attempts are just the start!
             
            • Informative Informative x 3
            • Like Like x 1
            • Scrungee

              Scrungee Well known for it

              Joined:
              Dec 5, 2010
              Messages:
              16,524
              Location:
              Central England on heavy clay soil
              Ratings:
              +28,997
              Fledgling pigeon in the garden (there's also fledging robins about)

              pigeon on fence.jpg
               
              • Like Like x 5
              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Feb 2, 2011
                Messages:
                36,100
                Gender:
                Female
                Location:
                Dingwall, Ross-shire
                Ratings:
                +54,280
                I noticed a couple of days ago that Jackdaws are building a nest inside the chimney pot of a neighbours bungalow. Hopefully I might be able to get a picture of them tackling large sticks into position, it's quite funny to watch. :)
                 
                • Like Like x 3
                • **Yvonne**

                  **Yvonne** Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Jun 24, 2012
                  Messages:
                  1,024
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Ratings:
                  +2,347
                  @HsuH your photos are incredible! Super envious of your Kingfisher shots, I would love to photograph them!
                   
                  • Agree Agree x 2
                  • strongylodon

                    strongylodon Old Member

                    Joined:
                    Feb 12, 2006
                    Messages:
                    14,983
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Retired
                    Location:
                    Wareham, Dorset
                    Ratings:
                    +29,826
                    Durlston (cliff top) Country Park near Swanage today. Not much around, the odd Wheatear and Swallow, Ravens and Chiffchaffs but more around the cliffs. Lots of flying Guillemots but too fast to capture, a couple of Fulmar (Petrel) and some Razorbills at the bottom of the cliffs.
                    Fulmar.
                    [​IMG]

                    Razorbills.
                    [​IMG]
                     
                    • Like Like x 8
                    • HsuH

                      HsuH Super Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Mar 9, 2013
                      Messages:
                      645
                      Location:
                      South Gloucestershire
                      Ratings:
                      +3,257
                      Thanks Yvonne. These at Slimbridge are relatively "easy" as there is a hide overlooking their nest site. However, we were talking to a chap who had come from London to Slimbridge primarily to see them and he had been in the hide for an hour when we arrived. Thirty minutes later with no sign of kingfishers, he was thinking of packing up and going for a cup of coffee, when out they came and he was able to return to London a happy man!

                      MrH tells me he saw his first kingfisher about 40 years ago. He then waited about thirty years to see his second! We now see them quite often (once or twice a year) on our local river but usually as a flash of blue disappearing down the river. But sometimes when luck is on our side we are able to catch them on camera, like this one we came upon while out walking after a heavy snow fall. It was trying to fish on a frozen river which perhaps made it a bit less camera shy than usual.

                      image.jpg

                      image.jpg

                      And this one resting on a branch on the other side of the river on a spring day.
                      image.jpg

                      In summary, if you know where their nest is then sit and wait with patience, otherwise luck is what you need:).
                       
                      • Like Like x 8
                      • Spruce

                        Spruce Glad to be back .....

                        Joined:
                        Apr 10, 2009
                        Messages:
                        8,774
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Ratings:
                        +12,359
                        4 swallow's 12th April feeding over the river , no house martins yet.
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        • Informative Informative x 1
                        • nFrost

                          nFrost Head Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Feb 19, 2013
                          Messages:
                          1,763
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Occupation:
                          Leachate Treatment Plant Manager
                          Location:
                          Cottingham, East Yorkshire
                          Ratings:
                          +2,908
                          Whenever we have a pizza takeaway we always throw the uneaten free garlic bread in the back garden for the birds but always wondered what was eating it so quickly by the morning.

                          Well I found out last night...

                          Hedgehog.jpg
                           
                          • Like Like x 8
                          • strongylodon

                            strongylodon Old Member

                            Joined:
                            Feb 12, 2006
                            Messages:
                            14,983
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Occupation:
                            Retired
                            Location:
                            Wareham, Dorset
                            Ratings:
                            +29,826
                            Arne RSPB this morning, newly arrived Swallow, decided to have a rest.
                            [​IMG]

                            Sleeping Spoonbills in the Middlebere Channel.
                            [​IMG]

                            Male Blackcap, singing for a mate?
                            [​IMG]
                             
                            • Like Like x 10
                            • Jenny namaste

                              Jenny namaste Total Gardener

                              Joined:
                              Mar 11, 2012
                              Messages:
                              18,483
                              Gender:
                              Female
                              Occupation:
                              retired- blissfully retired......
                              Location:
                              Battle, East Sussex
                              Ratings:
                              +31,939
                              Love that Blackcap piccie Strongy,
                              Jenny
                               
                              • Agree Agree x 1
                              • strongylodon

                                strongylodon Old Member

                                Joined:
                                Feb 12, 2006
                                Messages:
                                14,983
                                Gender:
                                Male
                                Occupation:
                                Retired
                                Location:
                                Wareham, Dorset
                                Ratings:
                                +29,826
                                He had a very loud and distinct song but had to compete with Blackbirds and Wrens, I think he was winning.:smile:
                                 
                              Loading...

                              Share This Page

                              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                Dismiss Notice