Motorway verges

[eeyore]

There was an article in the independent yesterday about how our M/way verges are providing a real sanctuary for endangered wildlife. So I was wondering whats the rarest species you've ever seen along our Motorways ?

[rlchew]

Someone keeping to the speed limit? .... sorry .

Red Kite .... along the M40 in Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire .... but I am not sure they count as rare anymore.

Herd of Fallow Deer .... regularly seen near J28 M25.

Richard

[matt_xyz]

not particularly rare, but I enjoy watching buzzards at several points on the M42. More surprisingly I recently saw some circling above the M6 as you go through Birmingham. There is a reasonably large area of greenery next to the river Tame just before Fort Dunlop (heading north) which also attracts herons.

Matt

[Jonny]

Red kites for me too, infact its the only time I have ever seen them, while going down a motorway near reading..............Jon

[Gill Catton]

I used to survey motorway verges - not a lot of fun you know....- I've not seen anything that rare I suppose, highlights would be: tree sparrows, waxwings, Adders, Slow Worms, lizards, common spotted orchids, pyramidal orchids and another orchid I couldn't ID probably lots of other interesting plants but I wasn't there to look for them and was even less good at plants then than I am now - I tended to work with a botanist and he'd do the plant list.
but yes they can be very useful as green corridors for small terrestrial animals and plants as often the land immediately behind the Highway Agency Boundary is intensively managed arable. Unfortunately they are often too attractive to barn owls....

[eeyore]

Last year I saw an ostrich on the A1, though that doesnt really count as it had escaped from a farm. There was also the mystery of the dead seal on the M25 last year ...

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Last year I saw an ostrich on the A1, though that doesnt really count as it had escaped from a farm. There was also the mystery of the dead seal on the M25 last year ...

There are strick rules about drinking and driving Eeyore.................Jon

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by Jonny

There are strick rules about drinking and driving Eeyore.................Jon

lol@Jon

I only ever see Kestrels or dead foxes or Badgers

[eeyore]

Now come on you must remember the dead seal , it was just before that whale got stuck in the thames (a very bizare week that was)

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Now come on you must remember the dead seal , it was just before that whale got stuck in the thames (a very bizare week that was)

You will be telling us about the wilderbeast at heathrow next...............Jon

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Jonny

You will be telling us about the wilderbeast at heathrow next...............Jon

You mean you've seen them too, I thought i was halucinating

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by eeyore

You mean you've seen them too, I thought i was halucinating

..............Jon

[pheonix]

I've seen the usual birds of prey, deer, Rabbits etc nothing to out of the ordinary.
but i do always think how good they'd be for reptiles