Observations Of Nature Through The Seasons.

[knocker]

I believe this is a mature male and an indication that the breeding season is nearly upon us but I could be hopelessly wrong about this.so anyone feel free to correct me.

And I was taking a quick snap of an old tree trunk, as one does, that had what looked like fossilized fungi attached, when of course there could be no show without punch

[ciel]

I noticed a group of these gulls in deepest Aberdeenshire yesterday. They appeared not to have started their moult yet. I wonder whether that's due to shorter day-length or colder temperatures?

[knocker]

I don't really know but there are quite a few on the lake and not many are as in the photo

[knocker]

A Wigeon came to say hello

[ciel]

Woodpeckers have been absent from the garden over the winter, but come spring they appear to be back. I have heard the "drumming" for a few weeks now.

This one is a bit soggy, given the weather up here...... ( pic taken through glass and rain )

Edited March 4, 2017 by ciel

[ciel]

 Siskins have been  regular visitors to the feeders during the  winter months.  This one turned up with a female today.  Their breeding season starts mid-March and so I suppose they will be away in a week or two.

    

[knocker]

21 minutes ago, ciel said:

 Siskins have been  regular visitors to the feeders during the  winter months.  This one turned up with a female today.  Their breeding season starts mid-March and so I suppose they will be away in a week or two.

    

I particularly like the 2nd one.

[Weather-history]

 

 

[knocker]

Fly-over states matter when understanding -- and saving -- migratory birds

Quote

Around the world, thousands of migratory animals travel hundreds or even thousands of miles each year. The journey of migratory animals is more important than their destination. Scientists use the endangered Kirtland's warblers to show how connecting all migration's points can chart a way to sustainability.

In the most recent issue of the journal Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, Michigan State University (MSU) researchers take a broad, holistic look at Kirtland's warblers' migration between the jack pine forests of Michigan and the Bahamas to get a better understanding of what sort of needs the songbirds have along the way, and what kind of ecological and socioeconomic impacts their annual distant movement have across the world.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-03/msu-fsm030617.php

[Allseasons-Si]

I saw some Canadian geese fly south yesterday

[knocker]

Tasmanian devils helped to fight off facial tumour disease with live cancer cell injection

Scientists reveal they have for the first time successfully treated Tasmanian devils suffering from the deadly devil facial tumour disease.

The breakthrough is hoped to speed-up development of an effective vaccine, which can be administered to devils in the wild.

The successful treatments have been made on captive animals, with scientists injecting live cancer cells into the infected devils to make their immune system recognise the disease and fight it off.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-09/scientists-successfully-treat-devils-for-tumour-disease/8339630

[knocker]

Had another visitor to the lake today, although apparently it's been around a couple of days. Decided to perch in a tree on the island so difficult to get clear line of sight.

Edited March 11, 2017 by knocker

[ciel]

Great photos, knocker.

I guess it's an egret - but what kind?

[knocker]

1 hour ago, ciel said:

Great photos, knocker.

I guess it's an egret - but what kind?

I've just been confirming and I'm pretty sure it's a Cattle Egret.

[ciel]

Yes.  I came across this link after viewing your post, but maybe you have too. Interesting though:-

http://www.cornwall-birding.co.uk/tag/cattle-egrets-in-cornwall/

[knocker]

13 minutes ago, ciel said:

Yes.  I came across this link after viewing your post, but maybe you have too. Interesting though:-

http://www.cornwall-birding.co.uk/tag/cattle-egrets-in-cornwall/

No I hadn't seen this link but I did find another with sightings in Devon today. As you say interesting.

[knocker]

On a more mundane note Sidney had a spot of bother with a Rook.

[Daniel*]

Spotted a trio of parakeets today a bright prescience in Rotherhithe no picture though. They're becoming an increasingly more common sight here.  

[ciel]

Not sure whether or not parakeets are welcome in the IK.

But I loved watching them in Roses, in Spain - they're treated as a bit of a pest there too

A pic from an old flickr account of mine

Monk Parakeet Chicks | Ciel4682 | Flickr.webarchive

I don't know if this pic will upload.

 

 

Edited March 11, 2017 by ciel

[knocker]

The Egret was still around this morning on the island. It briefly became visual as it popped down on the ground but it wasn't happy there and quickly transferred to some reeds.

 

 

Edited March 14, 2017 by knocker

[knocker]

New research finds almost 6 million Adélie penguins call East Antarctica home.

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2017/millions-of-adelie-penguins-call-antarctica-home

[knocker]

Stop doing that!

[Polar Maritime]

The birds are getting much more active round about and in the garden, lots of interest in both nesting boxes again this year which is good news.

[knocker]

Spiders eat astronomical numbers of insects

Spiders feed on an estimated 400 to 800 million tons of insects and other pests annually; in comparison, all humans consume about 400 million tons in meat and fish

Quote

A new study reveals some stunning estimates about how much the world's spiders eat annually: between 400 and 800 million tons of insects and other invertebrates. These eight-legged carnivores play an important role to keep countless insect pests in check.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170314111251.htm

[ciel]

These are probably a domestic mallard cross, but they are quite beautiful birds (imho)  and definitely have spring on their mind.