Page 1 of 2

Wild life

Posted: 15 Oct 2011, 4:07pm
by crazydavid
I haven't posted for a while, been watching though!

I thought I would share this with you. I live in an urban sprawl, but we do have an un-made up alley way running down the side. Over the years, we have had our fair share of wild life visit the garden, foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels, bats and a heron which nicked all our gold-fish. I had thought that it would not get much more exotic than that.

Last night however, at about 11pm, we were treated to the sight of a tawny owl. He sat for about 6/7 minutes on our washing line before diving down in the side alley. I presume he caught a mouse or something. It was quite a clear night and the moon was up, so we were able to get a good look at him. Hopefully, he will come back tonight for a repeat performance.

All the best.

Re: Wild life

Posted: 15 Oct 2011, 4:14pm
by HPFlashman
Wonderfull experiences, the random encounters with wildlife. When they drop in, litterary out of the blue... Thumbs up and hope the owl returns for an encore. :D

Re: Wild life

Posted: 15 Oct 2011, 9:19pm
by reohn2
Its funny you should mention that,we had a Sparrow Hawk drop its prey,small bird, right outside the kitchen door yesterday then drop down and mantle it whilst staring at Mrs R2 through the open door :shock:

Re: Wild life

Posted: 16 Oct 2011, 12:06pm
by Edwards
reohn2 wrote:then drop down and mantle it


This is a phrase I have not heard before, what does it mean?

Cats and Magpies do for most of ours. I do hear foxes in the night and it is a horrid sound.

Re: Wild life

Posted: 16 Oct 2011, 5:47pm
by reohn2
Edwards wrote:
reohn2 wrote:then drop down and mantle it


This is a phrase I have not heard before, what does it mean?

Cats and Magpies do for most of ours. I do hear foxes in the night and it is a horrid sound.


They spread their wings over the prey to stop other birds seeing it and attempting to steal it.The S/hawk must have thought Mrs R2 was looking to cook up the sparrow for my tea :?

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 1:00am
by Redvee
I had a bat above me one night last week, at least I think it was a bat. No trees nearby and the shape and time of night wasn't that for a bird.

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 9:14am
by Si
Startled a fox in the middle of the cyclepath t'other night. And, as it was a moon lit night and I'd turned my lumi off, he started me somewhat too.

Also got to play goose-slalom in the dark too, which was fun.

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 9:20am
by al_yrpal
On the mtb last week in daytime - a fox on the Thames path, several groups of Roe deer and a Muntjac in the forest. Oh, and loads of Red Kites wheeling overhead calling their mates and presumably hoping to pick off a fallen pensioner!

Al

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 4:31pm
by reohn2
I've only noticed Redwings and Fieldfares in any numbers in the last couple of weeks which is a sure sign its been warmer further north and east.
The Swallows and Swifts seemed to leave us later this time too.

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 5:14pm
by Redvee
On the rural part of my commute I've had a fox cross the path ahead of me and also had to contend with lunatic rabbits coming out of the bushes and running along the road ahead of me too close for comfort, you never know where there will run. This video, not mine, shows an urban fox in the centre of Bristol close to the Old Market roundabout .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDs_RAfC84g&feature=g-u

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 6:54pm
by eileithyia
I've had a sparrow hawk 'mantle' on my front grass, and recently the long tailed tits have returned to my feeder.

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 7:08pm
by MikewsMITH2
Deer stood in the road next to the golf course a couple of times (that's a real treat). Rabbits all the time. Bats on summer evenings. A sparrow hawk missed me by inches a few weeks ago. On the back of the tandem Mrs MWS spends her time bird watching and wildlife and wildflower spotting in general as she can't see much in over my shoulder. Its one of the joys of cycling for us. She also feeds hedgehogs and foxes in our front garden. We are only a mile from the town centre.

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 8:15pm
by dodger
Was out fishing in Looe Bay 2 weeks ago and a puffin flew low over the boat heading up the English Channel.
Noticed a story on the BBC site at the weekend about a puffin that had been found about 10 days ago at Winchester Hospital. Wonder if it was the same one?

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 10:21pm
by Manx Cat
Love reading these... No wildlife thats very exciting where I live, although I did see a pod of dolphin a few weeks back. Over for the herring spawning...


Better than life isnt it, to see something truly wild and free.


M

Re: Wild life

Posted: 6 Dec 2011, 10:57pm
by Redvee
The biggest spooking I got froom wildlife was when a heron took off ahead of me when in Holland. Plenty of space between us but seeing one in real life with the wings at full stretch made me realise that pictures in books don't do it's size justice.