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22-07-2005, 02:55 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| | | Scintillating Sightings!
What makes your day, naturally speaking? Whilst travelling towards Scarborough today (Fri. 22.7.05) I spotted a family of four foxes, quite blatantly trekking across a nearby field. I know these are seen as vermin my some folk, but for me it was quite uplifting. |
22-07-2005, 03:57 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: West Lothian in Scotland.
Posts: 122
| | I love to see deer on my walks and foxes too as they're two of my favourite British mammals. One day I hope to be lucky enough to see a live Badger.
Mind you even a shrew rushing about brings a smile to my face.  |
29-07-2005, 10:29 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| | | On Wednesday I spotted a Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltoni) in the grass. Had seen the odd Common blue Damselfly but they were moving too fast to observe. The Golden-ringed was much bigger than I had imagined, possible wingspan of 90mms with clear colouring on the body, huge blue/green eyes and four skeletal paper thin wings. Wow. |
30-07-2005, 12:16 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,328
| | For me it has to be deer, as it is such a rare sight. I have seen a few Badgers at Crickley Hill near Cheltenham and in Leicestershire but none for a few years. Foxes I see quite often, even in the city suburbs of Birmingham but I have only seen two dear, one near the new race circuit at Corby and one in Yorkshire. The one in Yorkshire was the finest as it leaped back into the woods at some speed. I later saw footsteps that prove that the deers must come down to the river I was crossing. For birds it has to be kingfishers. I only ever saw one, in Shrewsbury, but it was spectacular. |
15-08-2005, 02:04 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,389
| | | I was gazing out of my window yesterday when I noticed a bird flying quite high overhead. It suddenly swooped down and stopped so suddenly that I thought it had perched on the electricity wires until I remembered that there weren't any wires there! A quick look with the binoculars revealed it to be a Kestrel and it was hovering. I am always amazed at how still they are when they hover - but I have never seen one stop so abruptly in mid air before. I had several more minutes watching during the afternoon, but didn't see it catch anything. They are certainly wonderful birds.
henrya |
18-08-2005, 04:00 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| | | I'm enjoying reading about other members sighting experiences and almost forgot my most recent. We were down in the Midlands a week ago, when I was called to look out of the front window of my eldest son's home, which is situated amongst others with an open plan garden. There on the grass was a green woodpecker looking for ants. It was absolutely beautiful, probably immature, and quite unaware that it was being observed at such close quarters. It remained for maybe 15 minutes, and had been a frequent visitor prior to this. Wow. |
19-08-2005, 08:05 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 5,689
| | | I must admit that I travel the countryside and Europe in pursuit of my Birdwatching hobby and have seen so many incredible sights that I would be starting threads on a minute by minute basis but one occasion a few weeks ago sticks in my mind.
We have not long moved to Coventry and have been busy working on our garden to make it wildlife friendly. I happened to be looking out of the back window when a juvenile Great spotted Woodpecker landed on our fence. I was totally enthralled watching this youngster going through the motions of calling for food when the female adult suddenly landed by the youngster and preceded to feed it.
Wonderful moment and right on my doorstep. |
25-08-2005, 07:20 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| | | Yesterday evening (24.8.05) - it had to be the sunset. No bright oranges, pinks or blues here, but a dull darkening sky with grey flattish clouds, and a lighter hue around the sunset itself, together with a bright luminescent white showing through. Stunning. |
25-08-2005, 07:28 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | yesterday morning,i watched as a young(large)hare trotted up the farm driveway,ears erect giving me only a glance as it passed me by and disappeared on its self appointed task,it looked absolutely brand new and in the peak of condition |
25-08-2005, 11:27 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 18
| | | Anything can make my day, and there's always something. It might be a close encounter with the grey heron that frequents the river in the park, or a little forest of toadstools that's sprung up overnight, or salmon leaping the weir, or the robin in the woods yesterday that perched a couple of feet away from me and watched me with a bold eye.
__________________
[URL=http://watchmania.blogspot.com]My blog, Watchmania[/URL] |
26-08-2005, 08:33 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,389
| | | Quote
Anything can make my day, and there's always something.
Endquote
I agree, Sara. Yesterday it was Great Spotted Woodpecker who came and sat on the electricity wires and called his (?)head off. He was accompanied by an entourage of about ten Great Tits, three of which are visible in the (not very good) picture I've just sent to the birds gallery. Why was he calling like this? It did rain quite heavliy shortly after, but I thought it was Green Woodpeckers whose call is supposed to forecast rain.
henrya |
28-08-2005, 06:03 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | in the mist
this morning ,as i approached a stretch of"bunny road"a mouse skittered across the road closley followed by a Weasel,which in turn was followed by a Stoat.
i waited to see if anything larger would follow,a Fox perhaps ,but as i moved off
the mist just closed in as though drawing a curtain |
03-10-2005, 01:58 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| | | Autumn sightings
This weekend I glanced out across my garden towards a neighbour's house. He has an array of aerials on his roof and there must have been about 15 starlings, grouped together taking advantage of the perches. What really made me laugh, though, was the fact that just a few feet away is one of those plastic 'owl' bird scarers, sitting on another aerial and the starlings, quite clearly, didn't take a scrap of notice! Nice one. 
By the way, I had to log in again to post - just in case you have to too. System update. See forums - StuartDH was still up at 4.30a.m. working on it. |
03-10-2005, 02:22 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | I am watching half a dozen now as they pinch the small sweet black grapes just outside my patio door
I see a pointy pointy bird with irridescent feathers these must keep them very warm in most inclement weathers |
06-10-2005, 01:21 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| |
You may think this a strange thing to become excited about, but yesterday I found some fresh Hedgehog poo in my garden. I cannot see our little friend, but I now know it's there. I'll be a bit more careful as I go about my Autumn clear-up. |
06-10-2005, 01:47 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 11
| | I've been getting the occasional Sparrowhawk visit in my back garden. So far, she has dropped off a Hedgehog pelt (only bone was from the jaw) and nearly grabbed a blackbird, but my neighbour came out and she let the blackbird go. Don't like her taking 'my'birds but it is an amazing sight when it happens. You don't even hear her coming! |
06-10-2005, 03:49 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 137
| | I think my top sighting was dong some bat watching at a Church near Milton Keynes - we were surrounded by pips whizzing by when I tuned to face the moon at just the right moment and a horseshoe bat glided, wings fully stretched, vertically about 2m in front of my face. It seemed to glide so slowly for that split second you could really make out it's shape. Unfortunately it wasn't lined up for the perfect 'batman' pose in front of the moon, but was close enough for a great silhouette!  |
06-10-2005, 03:54 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,389
| | | Horseshoe Bat in Milton Keynes? Greater or Lesser?
henrya |
06-10-2005, 04:39 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 137
| | | I'm sure I remember being told it was horseshoe, it was my first time out with a detector, but have just looked up distribution and concede that I’ve probably remembered this wrong. Sorry! |
06-10-2005, 05:47 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | bats at elm farm
jo pedder hello
I was counting natterers at elm farm they are as interested in you as you are in them,they are large bats and fly within arms length only the detector shows they are scanning you i have a good idea how you felt
(the milton keynes bat was probably a brown long eared, plecotus auritus) |
11-10-2005, 04:12 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 906
| | | Paid a visit to Helmsley today, and took the turning up to Pockley on the way home. Through this lovely hamlet, with thatched cottages and onwards, not noticing the 'No through road' sign. Went on for a few quiet miles - woods, hedgerows, fields etc. to the end, where I had to turn round to head back. The scenery was absolutely stunning, deep wooded valleys, with rolling hills and moorland - odd farms dotted about and the possibility of some great walks. The trees turning orange and gold. Peace and tranquility. All quite unexpected, but what a treat. |
11-10-2005, 04:44 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | envy you that one |
17-10-2005, 11:42 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,389
| | | Re: Scintillating Sightings!
Looked out of the spare room window yesterday afternoon - five Goldfinches feeding on the Burdock and Teasels. A Blackbird and a Wren drinking from the bowl provided. The Wren looked most un-Wren-like at times as he (or she) kept his (her) tail flat, not struck up as usual.
henrya |
03-03-2006, 03:40 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,389
| | | Re: Scintillating Sightings!
Three Barn Owls in three days, seen on the way home from work. Can't be bad!
henrya |
03-03-2006, 04:02 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 66
| | | Re: Scintillating Sightings!
I've just been looking out of my office window watching a barn owl gliding over nearby fields until she disappeared out of view. It's even more surreal seeing them at night, so ghostly looking!
I love walking in the peace and quiet of the nearby countryside, listening to the birds singing, watching the Brown Hares sit, watching me approach and then darting off across the fields or up the path in front of me. Anything about nature gets me going, whether it's buds forming on the trees in spring, the first snowdrops, bird watching, a dragonfly droning overhead in summer, the starlings coming in to roost, sitting in the garden on a summer evening watching the bats flying around the garden catching insects ..... I could go on forever
It's always an honour to be party to the amazing things happening around us and one I could never get fed up of. I feel so sorry for people who don't notice or appreciate what's going on around them. | | |
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