Wildlife Wherever

Folks' garden

2008-07-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

A few photos taken recently in my folks' garden, the weather has been mixed so some of these were in pretty poor light. It's primarily just a record of a few things you can see around here and a few young 'uns.

Stock Dove
Juvenile great spotted woodpecker

Juvenile robins

One of the hard working parents - missing tail feathers

One of this years young blue tits

A beautiful fox

Feral rock dove or "frock dove" to me

Currently the only visiting sparrow

Photos, photos, photos... Part 1

2008-07-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

A couple from Aylestone Meadows in June...

Male whitethroat in full song in the shadeMale bullfinch

Male swallow

These were a couple from a trip to Jeffrey Harrison Reserve at Sevenoaks run by the Kent Wildlife Trust. The day I dropped by, a drake garganey had flown in to feed, fantastic. Unfortunately he was pretty far away so even my "record" shot is awful quality.

Drake garganey

One of two reed warblers battling over territory

Wow, governments really just don't care...

2008-07-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Can someone please put a stop to all this biofuels nonsense? The thing is, "biofuels" sounds kind of eco-friendly doesn't it? Well it's about as far from eco-friendly as you can get... It's time to tell your government that you don't buy this whole biofuels rubbish and that you are aware that they're doing more harm than good. The increased targets and subsequent demands for biofuels means that extremely valuable, delicate and important habitats are now being destroyed to produce them.

this article is worth a read.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1725975-1,00.html

Biofuels are universally bad for everyone except for having relatively short-term benefits for those growers in 2nd and 3rd world countries that destroy their carbon sinks and natural habitats for financial benefit.

Disgust

2008-07-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I've seen and read about a lot of things that have made me concerned, sad and in some cases, feel physically sick. I won't mention specific things, I don't want to go into them again and I don't think this is necessarily the right place. You may have realised I am talking about wildlife crime and the unthinkable, barely conceivable things people do to animals. Another reason i won't echo the stories here is that I feel those who do this sort of thing get off on the publicity and especially, the anger and disgust of people like me, who do care.

Last day of May

2008-06-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

I have to start on a sad note.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-190624

Yet another chapter in the long history of raptor persecution. My guess is that in today's climate where raptor persecution has become a more widely addressed issue, with the RSPB doing a lot to make people aware, incidents like this are now just a big two fingers up in the face of conservationists from whoever is behind it. When I think of raptor killings I often think of gamekeepers and their associates and they are usually the most likely culprits but I suppose in today's bizzarre world it could be anyone who decides they don't like birds of prey.

Things got even more ridiculous earlier this year when the queen donated money to 'Songbird Survival', a "charity" based in Norfolk that advocates the killing of magpies and sparrowhawks among other species as a means to increase songbird numbers. They claim that the removal of magpies has a beneficial effect on song thrushes, however, my local nature reserve has plenty of both. They claim to include in their ranks, "ornitologists" and "rspb members". As one RSPB volunteer said when asked if they ever had to "control" bird numbers, "we are the the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds." This "charity" is at best a group of very ill-informed people but unfortunately, it is more likely a veil for the interests of those with a vested interest in the removal of raptors and corvids. The fact that Queenie donated an undisclosed (read: large) sum of money seems to point to ties with something even more dubious than they're apalling website suggests. The royal family, they own a few shooting estates right? Anyone remember the incident at Sandringham?

Anyway...

Got out quite early yesterday as I went to the National Water Sports Centre for a spot of rafting, which was fun, but what of the birds? Several sand martins flew past my head as I was paddling up the trent - fantastic - plenty of swallows too. Another highlight was a buzzard mobbed by a few crows. A common tern was flying along the Trent too, presumably toward Attenborough where there are quite a few. An array of feral geese included various hybrids with a few Anser x Branta (presumably Greylag x Canada, although swan goose probably wasn't out of the question, didn't really have time to examine) among them, typically bigger than all the others. All the usual waterfowl you might expect about. It seems like a pretty good place for a few birds, even a whitethroat singing from a bush (they are everywhere at the minute).

A coot chick at NWSC

Attenborough was a pleasant afternoon's wandering. Weather not as good as it had been in the morning but alright for birds. Busy Saturday afternoon so a few idiots about, inlcluding one guy who prevented me from getting the my first decent shot of a whitethroat. "Want one o' me?! I'm very photogenic!" "No, sod off." Another couple of idiots were messing about in a little inflatable dingy not far from the hide.

A few wigeon were visible on the scrape as well as 5 or 6 grey herons. There's also a few pochard about elsewhere that I only noticed later on when the light was fading, on the way out towards the village, they were hanging around with a couple of tufted ducks. An interesting incident occurred when a carrion crow came down to feed on the seed dropped under the feeding station by the hide, video here.

Crow, Rat and Mallards

Other highlights included a passing lapwing, the only wader I saw, a stock dove feeding by the visitor centre and a reed warbler singing its heart out on a reed by the visitor centre.

Dunnock on a thorny branch

The whitethroats were obvious as usual but no photos worth uploading. thanks man. A couple of chiffchaffs were very agitated and calling the loud "hu-it" call as they flitted around in a tree by the bridge. Later on the way out there was a group of at least 5 blackcaps all moving about together, both male and female and making little "chrr" calls. I've never seen so many all together before.

Chiffchaff with a meal

Another chiffchaff

Distant whitethroat

If you expect a tern to fly over your head, make sure your settings are a little nearer the mark.
Common tern on the Trent.

Black-headed gull

Pied wagtail having a bath

Stock dove near the visitor centre

Probably a familiar site to regular visitors at the minute - a coot's nest by the visitor centre (note the crisp packet)

A reed warbler that was singing by the visitor centre

Pochard in the fading light

Sky sharing and ospreys at a barbeque, what next?

2008-05-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

I've meant to post an update covering the strange occurences back at my parents' house a few weeks back but ended up devoting the whole post to Aylestone last time. Anyway, I asked Mum out of interest "seen any more of the sparrowhawk?" "No," she said but not sooner had she said it over glided the male that i'd seen displaying on my last visit. I watched him for a while, no dramatic dives this time though, and no sign of a female. Two odd things struck me. He was lazily flapping and gliding, almost coming to a halt (at least it looked that way from the ground) and swifts darted and flapped around him apparently taking no interest at all. I have only come across one account of a sparrowhawk taking a swift (without googling, obviously) before and never really thought of swifts being much of a target for sparrowhawks but still seemed a little odd. I tend to assume sparrowhawks go for the easiest target and i also assume finches, thrushes, pigeons etcetera are a little easier than a speeding swift. The second interesting thing was that a kestrel also seems to be present over the area these days, which is fantastic. The odd thing was that, at that time of year I'd expect both raptors to be incredibly territorial and not very tolerant of each other but they were at one point sharing the same patch of sky. I had to do a double take to make sure it wasn't a pair of sparrowhawks but nope, both species present. I kept seeing the kestrel dip down behind a particular line of trees into a specific garden or possibly to perch on the house there. It's a big leap as I've only seen the one so far but I think there is plenty of scope for kestrels to nest, there's probably a few crows' nests available to take over. The abandoned crows' nest in our garden has, over the last couple of years since its abandonment been pilfered /fallen away to nothing so no hope there. Another highlight from that particular weekend was looking up at just the right moment to catch a pair of swifts mating. I now see where they get their name. Ho ho.

Another favourite bird occurence this year was an osprey (possibly a pair) overflying a barbeque on the other side of Leicester. I sat possibly a pair because there was another large bird a little further on and higher up that looked rather osprey like but sadly no positive ID on that one (although it sounds like it should have been from this account, I really wasn't sure). Who knows where it/they were heading. Not being familiar with where I was I couldn't say what direction they were flying in. I can't remember the road name or I'd multimap it for just that purpose although north would seem the obvious choice I suppose.

Other news, my film camera is broken. So it's purely digital compact at the minute. In a few years I imagine I'll sort myself out with a DSLR and a 400mm AF lens aswell. I can only save my pennies for now.

Springwatch is back, although I was thinking that if they BBC are going to invest this much time and money in a programme on British wildlife that they should bring some topical issues to the forefront a little more alongside the nestbox cameras and fantastic footage, although it's only in the early stages so we'll see if our Ravens get a look in and perhaps some fair representation.. I could digress on the issue of the tabloid media's fantasies about ravens and some of the rubbish they print but I'll save that for another post.

Great black-backed gulls and more

2008-05-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

There's quite a bit of Aylestone Meadows in this entry, partly becuase it's the only place I've really been in terms of watching the birds recently and partly because the chap that does Aylestone Meadows blog is off halfway round the world in China.

There's been a few great black-backed gulls wheeling over this side of Leicester these past few days at least. I should say I've not been out as much as I should have. A male sparrowhawk has also been very showy this side of Aylestone Meadows, even making one appearance at the junction where the Grand Central path meets Upperton Road being harrassed by a pair of carrion crows. It's precarious business trying to watch a sparrowhawk flapping and gliding right over you while you're also midway across a busy road.

There seems to be a few more jackdaws around Aylestone Meadows, especially on the southern section and aside from that, it's the usual summer visitors that have been around. Hirundines are represented most numerously by swallows of course, but there were a few house martins joining them on both sections. I didn't notice any sand martins so I'd assume most of the birds that were hanging around a while ago have now departed, although I've not had a lot of time to do a really good search around for stuff. Warblers continue to fill both sections with song. Whitethroat are the most obvious and showy on the north section and there are still at least ten holding territory, although it was much quieter thursday so I'll have to check on that situation, although I even saw one along the grand central by the north section. A lesser whitethroat finally showed itself on the southern section in the bushes next to the packhorse bridge aswell. Also representing the Sylvia warblers, a fair few blackcaps have been singing away on the north section and along the grand central path. No sign of the garden warbler by the carpark that was mentioned on Mark Andrew's blog earlier. Several chiffchaffs are singing away with one strange, stuttery individual heard from the path just south of the boardwalk (not an Iberian I'm afraid). Willow warblers have been less obvious. Not managed to get down past King's Lock recently so it will be good to hopefully go for a more extended trek on a sunny day. A few reed buntings can be seen along the boardwalk calling and singing, especially towards the end of the day (or in the morning i suppose if you're that way inclined), moustaches in full glory. As usual, the resident thrushes are all in full song.

Woodpeckers are calling all over the place, green and great spotted calling and the latter drumming on trees and telegraph poles. Swifts are evident in reasonable numbers, especially over the north section where they are joined over the meadows by a few of the aforementioned house martins. An interesting little drake mallard is also something I've not noticed before, a bit smaller than the others with a neat little bill as opposed to the longer dabbling bill of his peers. A friend of mine has affectionately termed him 'Beaky'.

Aside from birds, life on the Meadows has also been supplemented by the odd barbeque (sometimes left unattended), kids and recently finished students have a splash in the river and of course, the local fishing crowd.

Not a very good post i'm afraid, but hopefully this week i'll spend a good several hours trudging about and unearth a few more visitors (not the wrong sort I hope!).

On a (pseudo)philosphical note, i was considering that Leicester city centre could benefit from a pair of peregrines, there's enough to eat. It's only a matter of time hopefully.

2008-05-02T05:11:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say there were a bunch of four guys spitting on the ducks from the Bede park bridge this morning. They were all in overalls so i guess they're working on the new building there. I've also seen a couple of dead pigeons around that spot, I guess they don't like them roosting or generally just being in the building.

On a far, far happier note, I saw my first swifts of the year swooping about over the same spot this morning, 2 of them. Just try spitting on them, you bloody cretins.

First Post - 2008 So Far

2008-04-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

A lot of time to cover seeing as we're going into may in a few days, so a few highlights from the year so far.

Like my most people interested in wildlife, i always have an ear out and an eye open for wildlife, birds especially wherever i am, which certainly pays off now and then.

Highlights start in january, naturally. I happened to find a chiffchaff in a local park which was a winter first for me. Really abundant in the summer but the overwintering ones seem elusive, especially when just milling around in the undergrowth but the sparse low vegetation down by the canal provided good views of it frantically feeding about 6 feet away. I'd paid more attention to the park back then because of a large flock (40+) of redwing that had taken to feeding alongside the resident mistle thrushes for a few weeks back in january/february. Always something to see there, a few starlings (especially during winter) like to feed on the field and around the play area when it's quiet. Black-headed gulls gather during the winter and carrion crows are always about looking fantastic and handsome as do the magpies. The mistle thrushes can be seen seemingly all year round, although all birds are less present in the summer when the park is filled with people obviously. There's an occasional song thrush and a fair few blackbirds here too. good numbers of goldfinches are always present and the patient and observant might see a pied wagtail or two prospecting the paths for morsels. I once saw a green woodpecker over fly the trees along the canal and i suppose the avenue of trees along the canal provides a green corridor as such for species moving around leicester as today's busy, urban birds might be inclined to do. Down on the canal there's always a few mallards, and usually moorhen and coot and not far away on the soar there's a few mute swans and feral geese (canada and greylag) to add to that. a few woodpigeon and feral rock pigeon, blue tits, great tits and a good number of wrens round out the park as a good site for a few urban birds. Aside from this, just up the road I was surprised to see a buzzard circling over De Montfort University campus - one of the birds sometimes seen at Aylestone Meadows I would suppose.

A couple of shots of the Bede Park redwings from January

Apologies for the disorganised nature of that list, might have been nice to give it some kind of taxonomic order i suppose but that's just the way it comes.

Most of my wildlife spotting and general rambling about tends to happen at Aylestone Meadows nature reserve just south of urban Leicester and if you're interested in a good comprehensive guide to what's occuring down there, i'd suggest Mark Andrews' blog (aylestonemeadows.blogspot.com).

A view from the north end of the boardwalk at Aylestone Meadows in February 2008

Just a few shots from Aylestone this, I won't go into detail about all my sightings but it's a great place for some interesting species that have been declining elsewhere.

A showy male reed bunting from the Aylestone boardwalk

A Meadows male bullfinch

A lady reed bunting

One of a group if lesser redpolls that could be found around the north section earlier this year

A surprising highlight from earlier this year was this male stonechat around the long grass meadows on the north section

Looking back, I see Mark Andrews' blog has some more (read: better) pictures of this chap, the bird did make his presence known. Both times i walked up that way on that day, he managed to pop up right next to me, just as curious as me i suppose.

Mallards in flight near the gasworks

A very entertaining crow bashing snail shells on a concrete stump like a song thrush, apologies for the glare.

A sunnier day on the boardwalk
My first 2008 blackcap

This blackcap was regaling me with its song on the walk down to the Meadows and there seems to be a fair few of the commoner warblers on the Grand Central down and linking the two sites, particularly the ubiquitous chiffchaff.

A blurry whitethroat from the Aylestone boardwalk

Mark Andrews' blog seconds my count from thursday morning of ten whitethroat on the north section, really good. A few more blackcap around too. For a more detailed report on the current warbler situation, check him out.

A pair of mistle thrushes on one of the paddocks

The first ducklings I've seen this year

The kingfishers have been quite showy all year but alas no shots worth putting up. Anyway, that's enough Aylestone related rambling, here's just a few more shots from out and about (or in) as the case may be.

A very confiding pair of goosander at Attenborough NR

The same pair feeding

A young female red-crested pochard present at Attenborough earlier this year

I wasn't sure if this was an adult female or a juvenile but the good folk at birdforum cleared this up for me, a little of both.

Adult winter black-headed gull

A male goldeneye

I think that's enough for now. I won't be out much in the next couple of days so this should give me a chance to make a quick post about my trip to Oare Marshes NR in Kent before I have something current to enter.

Thanks for taking a look if you've had a read,
John