Nature pics

[Archived-1]

Well I did slow down on the feed Tivu, but they keep coming, mainly the gold finches, I live in a built up area and I think they are used to being fed all year long,

I don't mind to be honest and enjoy watching them, they are quite tame now, i can stand at my window and they are not too concerned, feeders are about 8ft away,

 

[rolfw]

I feed all year round, and I'm convinced that is why we now have a good sized group of House Sparrows, whereas 10 years ago there were only a few. The most popular food is suet in pellet form, but the Goldies still seem to prefer the hulled sunflower seeds and niger seeds.

I'll pop up the occasional suet block as well, as it attracts the Great-spotted Woodpeckers.

 

[Lazarus]

Sadly, much as we'd like to follow RSPB advice about year-round feeding, the presence of food during the Summer months exacerbates the Grey Squirrel problem and we can get overrun with them.

And the obscure legal obligation to report their presence in one's garden only came to our attention recently, when it was annulled!

 

[timo_w2s]

And the obscure legal obligation to report their presence in one's garden only came to our attention recently, when it was annulled!

I've been rather naughty too. With several large oak trees in the garden it's not unusual to see grey squirrels more than once a day sorting out the acorns or looking for old ones under the lawn and flower pots... At least I can sleep easier now. ;)

 

[rolfw]

I changed all of my feeders to squirrel proof, or added baffles/domes to the others a few years back, one particular day I counted more than 15 squirrels in my garden and it is only four by four fence panels.

Do you any of you guys still have reds in your area?

 

[timo_w2s]

Do you any of you guys still have reds in your area?

Plenty in Helsinki, but not seen any in South Bucks.

 

[timo_w2s]

Out for a short walk in the local woods here yesterday in the Buckinghamshire with the bluebells and caterpillars...

 

[sonnetpete]

Have these growing just on the house side of the animal grazing area. Not sure what the blue/purple flower is, it's bluebell like but I don't think it is one. The white flower is wild garlic.

 

[Topper]

Do you any of you guys still have reds in your area?

No but our friends in Blundellsands near Crosby have them, but they are more timid than the greys and are difficult to photograph

 

[Lazarus]

Only ever seen three Reds: One at Cragside (I nearly ran it over with the Car), one in the Lake District and one in a Cemetery in Prague.

 

[sonnetpete]

Here red squirrels are prevalent, it's rare (i.e. I've never seen one in nearly 13 years) to see a grey one. There used to be one which scampered along the gutter at the front of the house. Very occasionally I see one on the lawn and odd times when walking the dogs in the woods, though usually up a tree after one of the dogs has chased it up there.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Some images before the frost tonight.

 

[Archived-1]

A couple of shots I have grabbed today, my wife has seen a bird of prey trying to take birds from the bird table, I can only presume its a sparrow hawk,

 

[Channel Hopper]

Tried out the wife's Fuji compact on some flora/fauna whilst out yesterday.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Tried out the wife's Fuji compact on some flora/fauna whilst out yesterday.

No need to "carp" on about it. (Nice sharp pictures.)

 

[excollier]

Have these growing just on the house side of the animal grazing area. Not sure what the blue/purple flower is, it's bluebell like but I don't think it is one. The white flower is wild garlic.

View attachment 64756 View attachment 64757

The blue ones are native British Isles bluebells, not the pale imitation from the continent that seem to proliferate (and contaminate the native species).
You can tell the difference by the fact that the natives are a deeper blue and the bells hang from one side of the stem only, much nicer and getting rarer due to the invasive "foreigners". I have an ever increasing spread of the natives in my "garden" here in Ireland and am pleased to see them increasing in local woodland and hedgerows too.
Nurture them and eliminate the others.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Bluebell

 

[sonnetpete]

The blue ones are native British Isles bluebells, not the pale imitation from the continent that seem to proliferate (and contaminate the native species).

So......what are they doing in France???

 

[excollier]

It's a counter invasion....

 

[sonnetpete]

Well there certainly isn't a shortage of the 'contaminant' type......

View attachment 65001

 

[Lazarus]

A Grand Day Out ............................ in Riccal Dale (Near Helmsley, North Yorkshire Moors)

Green Hairstreak Butterfly (from a walk a couple of days ago), then Bluebells and Roast Dinners