Observations Of Nature Through The Seasons.

[knocker]

14 minutes ago, Polar Maritime said:

I have seen Stoats and Weasels take young Geese.

Yes that's true. I've never seen either in the park but then very unlikely that I would on a quick visit during the day. Went down this morning and no sign of any of them. Now either the goslings have been predated and the parents have flown or they were skulking somewhere and I didn't see them.

[knocker]

I have to say my flyby diner is becoming a haven for passing Jackdaws. Five of them there this morning with the coconut shell being quite popular  It's also quite popular with Wood Pigeons who can hoover up anything faster than a Dyson. Then there is the odd Magpie. I did spot a Blue Tit getting in under the radar but it's all quite concerning.

[knocker]

 

[Polar Maritime]

The Woodpecker makes a daily visit now to the Peanut feeder, Here he is just now.

Edited May 21, 2016 by Polar Maritime

[Allseasons-Si]

Didn't know if this belongs in the gardening thread or here so mods please feel free to move my post

been around the garden today testing some macro shots out with the new camera and i was chuffed at the vibrant colours and texture of some of the photo's

rhododendrum

clematis

conference pear

stella cherry

japanese larch cones

common larch cones

deciduous azalea's

tri-colour rhododendrum

spruce cones

a late daff

and my gooseberries are coming along nicely

 

 

 

 

 

 

[knocker]

Haven't been down to the lake for a while so wanted to first check that the swan is still nesting. She is. I'm not sure exactly when she started but it must be around 3-4 weeks so perhaps another couple.

Edited May 25, 2016 by knocker

[knocker]

Popped down to the lake after my daily dressing change and much to my surprise the first cygnets have arrived. seven of them. There must have been another nest as the pen is still sitting on the nest I've been watching. I hope some of them survive and don't go the same way as little moorhen chick this morning who was eaten by a herring gull. Mind they are slightly bigger and the parents are quite protective. Mind there isn't much one can do about the gulls. Anyway a few snaps.

All aboard

And Sidney is in fine fettle

And this little fella did three circuits before taking a nut.

[Snipper]

My observations are -

Garden looking good.

The Blue tit babies have just vacated the nest box I made them .

Got some bumble bees nesting in my garage roof under the tiles. Hadn't realised they nest as a group . You can hear the hum. Definitely not honey bees.

Keep putting lady birds on my plants to get rid of greenfly.

Slugs are a problem this year.

Best thing is if you shoot blooming wood pigeons your vegetables aren't trashed . Very satisfying. Also rather tasty .

Tomorrow I will complete my hedge hog nesting box. 

Followed by exciting hand  weeding to get rid of those perennial weeds. 

Snip

[ciel]

On 27 May 2016 at 16:32, knocker said:

Popped down to the lake after my daily dressing change and much to my surprise the first cygnets have arrived. seven of them. There must have been another nest as the pen is still sitting on the nest I've been watching. I hope some of them survive and don't go the same way as little moorhen chick this morning who was eaten by a herring gull. Mind they are slightly bigger and the parents are quite protective. Mind there isn't much one can do about the gulls. Anyway a few snaps.

All aboard

And Sidney is in fine fettle

And this little fella did three circuits before taking a nut.

Nice photos of the Swan and cygnets. 

Any news of the Canada Geese.?

I know there is not much one can do about natural predators. Survival for some, I suppose.  Watched a  Magpie raiding one of our Blackbird nests last week. This was quite unusual in my area as there are no locally breeding Magpies and over the past two years I have only sighted them two or three times in the garden.

[knocker]

9 minutes ago, ciel said:

Nice photos of the Swan and cygnets. 

Any news of the Canada Geese.?

I know there is not much one can do about natural predators. Survival for some, I suppose.  Watched a  Magpie raiding one of our Blackbird nests last week. This was quite unusual in my area as there are no locally breeding Magpies and over the past two years I have only sighted them two or three times in the garden.

When I was last down saw the two adult geese but no goslings so I presume they have gone. Much the same as last year they lasted no time at all. Hopefully pop down tomorrow to see if the cygnets are fairing any better.

[knocker]

Very pleasant down at the lake this morning. Still have seven cygnets and I've just twigged why they seem to be in the same area of the lake all the time. The nest is quite close on an island  it's very difficult to see from the bank  Anyway there was a bit of an hiatus as some people decided to feed them bread. Not a good idea as firstly they don't need it and secondly, more to the point, the seagulls can spot food at twenty miles and pretty soon there was mayhem. I was little distance away and when I got there mother and cygnets had vanished but I think she had taken them back to the nest.

Oh and there were a lot of rats around.

Edited May 29, 2016 by knocker

[knocker]

 

[ciel]

The Wagtail nest in the woodstore was abandoned during the cold snap in April, but they have rebuilt elsewhere, under the eaves of the steading.

The Blue Tits did investigate this nest box earlier in the season, but I think Great Tits are occupying it now.

The fresh green-ness of spring is beautiful.

Edited May 29, 2016 by ciel

[Polar Maritime]

The Woodpecker seems to find the Garden table comfortable now, Taken just now.

 

 

[knocker]

Another cracking day here. Down at the lake, I hope I'm not tempting fate here, we still have seven cygnets. They seem to have a daily habit of coming ashore at the same place

Having a quick feed on grass with mother keeping a beady on the Jackdaws

Having a quick nap

before back to the lake.

The nest I have watching for weeks did produce two chicks but one hasn't survived. The other looks rather lonely.

other matters A great Tit.............the nut and the tongue

A couple of butterflies

Edited June 4, 2016 by knocker

[Allseasons-Si]

Last weekend i went down to Langset reservoir to take the muts for a walk and stumbled upon this little pond/oasis which looked rather nice

so i went to have a closer look as you do,and........

hello what have we here then,i was gobsmacked at what i saw,a terrapin and quiet a big one too as can be seen with this pond rush in front of it,must of been nearly the size of a dinner plate

obviously someone has put it there and must of been there for some time,i will keep going there often to keep eyes on it,could do with a partner though ay

 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2016 by Allseasons-si
spell check

[knocker]

Yesterday the Great Tits were not shy in coming forward when they wanted a nut

[Snipper]

Anyone noticed if they have colonies of Tree Bumblebees? First recorded in UK in 2001 and spreading fast.

Have a gang of them taking up occupation of one of my blue tit boxes. Another under the roof tiles of the garage roof. 

https://bumblebeeconservation.org/images/uploads/Tree_bee_article_2015.pdf

[ciel]

This is my first sighting of a Turtle Dove, a species in decline.

It was a cold and drizzly morning, 13c just north of Clermont Ferrand on Saturday (4th June). 70kms south of our overnight stop it was 29c!

Turtle Dove

Edited June 6, 2016 by ciel

[Polar Maritime]

This Dragonfly is cooling off in the Shed just now.

 

 

 

[knocker]

On 6/6/2016 at 13:27, ciel said:

This is my first sighting of a Turtle Dove, a species in decline.

It was a cold and drizzly morning, 13c just north of Clermont Ferrand on Saturday (4th June). 70kms south of our overnight stop it was 29c!

Turtle Dove

Very much so. About 90 per cent loss in recent years mainly due to habitat loss in the Sahel and of course hunting.

[knocker]

A hive of activity down at the lake this morning.

As you can see so far only one signet has been losted (fingers crossed) so still six and two from another nest who are younger.

And Sidney got into a spot of bother

 

Edited June 8, 2016 by knocker

[Frosty.]

11 minutes ago, knocker said:

A hive of activity down at the lake this morning.

As you can see so far only one signet has been losted (fingers crossed) so still six and two from another nest who are younger.

And Sidney got into a spot of bother

 

Nice photos knocker looks like a lovely area to live.

[ciel]

15 hours ago, Frosty. said:

And Sidney got into a spot of bother

[Frosty.]

7 minutes ago, ciel said:

Sidney looks like he's having a good time