Mammal of the day

tameblackbirds · #**581** (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 07:59 PM

not a very focused shot but this fox visited my garden at 7.30 ish this morning. Not seen a fox since last year when a fox and vixen raised 3 cubs. Shot through wet lounge window hence the quality. Any way my mammal of the day

so pleased to see one back in my garden

RAINBOWRUSSELL · #**582** (**permalink**) 12-11-2008, 07:32 AM

Since we moved in August - have not seen many mammals around here - but this morning when out feeding the birds at 6.30 I spotted a deer in the field that surrounds our property!I was so excited (!)rushed in - got the bins - but then was upset as the poor thing was trying to work out how to get over a fence that the new landowner has errected to stop people wandering off the footpaths around here !It kept running backwards & forwards for about 20 mins and I knew I couldn't help it at all !!Then suddenly from a standing start it just hopped over the fence !I was so happy for it but then got to thinking how much we humans have altered the way of life of our mammals by fencing the coutryside in this area around me was a huge big open space covering several hills- no wonder so many animals are hurt or killed on the roads as sometimes that is there only way to get to 'the other side of the fence'after nearly hitting one on Saturday on the A37 .I nearly caused a pile up but had to brake hard because I do believe both it & I would not have survived!
I will be out again tommorrow watching for 'my' deer,which I think was a Roe - but not sure!Just happy it worked things out!!!

sunnydale · #**583** (**permalink**) 12-11-2008, 05:53 PM

Hi all,

My first post on this thread!

My mammal of the day....or mammals to be exact.....was a small herd of Red Deer!

I was walking along White Edge towards the Longshaw Estate and noticed a large group of people on the path ahead. I thought they were birders at first so I was eager to find out what they'd spotted!

But as I looked in the direction of their interest, I noticed at least one Stag and a couple of females. The group were students from Nottingham Trent Uni and were there with large scopes and all the gear, ready to observe and study the rut. They very kindly offered for me to have a proper look!

It was fantastic to see the herd up there!

agrumpycow · #**584** (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 07:25 PM

Rounding a corner of a country lane driving back from the in-laws today we almost hit a beautiful fox standing in the road

It seemed completely unaware that we were there for quite a few seconds while it continued to pick at some roadkill.
I haven't seen one so close for years and it was beautiful!

vole-woman · #**585** (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 08:41 AM

I was entertained yesterday by a magpie teasing a squirrel in my garden. The (grey) squirrel was feeding on the ground, and the magpie kept running up and pulling its tail. Why would the magpie do this? There was plenty of other food around for it. The squirrel, by and large, ignored the indignity.

Pete Collins · #**586** (**permalink**) 04-12-2008, 01:22 PM

My Mammal of the Day for yesterday was a Fox, which I saw near St Leonards, Bucks. It was quite an old one, rather silvery/grey in places, I thought. Off the top of my head, it's only the second one I've seen this year.

shirl · #**587** (**permalink**) 08-12-2008, 02:30 PM

My mammal(s) of this morning - water vole and water shrew. I was doing a short canal survey before some maintenance work starts, saw 2 water voles lots of lovely fresh latrines and my little water shrew was there. Gorgeous!

Here is a fresh latrine pic, no water vole pics today

Shirl

vole-woman · #**588** (**permalink**) 08-12-2008, 04:50 PM

Great! I found a bit of w-v feeding on Sunday when I was doing a litter-pick. It's the first time I've ever seen fieldsigns during the winter.

shirl · #**589** (**permalink**) 08-12-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Great! I found a bit of w-v feeding on Sunday when I was doing a litter-pick. It's the first time I've ever seen fieldsigns during the winter.

That's good news, keep your eyes open for more signs, we had similar good latrines last December too, I did find a couple of latrines with varied coloured droppings indicating (I think) that they were feeding on vegetation and berries. Bit concerned of course about this maintenance work, but the canal is silting up there so if it isn't dredged there won't be any water left. Catch 22 really.

Shirl