Off Topic Naturewatch

[samwise_new]

This gets a lot more complicated, when I was a youngan I had a cracking egg collection and the egg I had down as a Sky lark was definitely a Yellow hammer. Look at the two eggs and you will see why it’s called a scribbly Jack. The skylark egg looks nothing like scribbles

aye, my dad was left part of the biggest (non museum type) egg collection i ever saw.

remember over the fields and a skylark would take off, the lads would run straight to where it took off looking for the nest..always made me laugh that one.

 

[Becs]

No Blue Tits for me again this year.
This is the second on the trot after years of regular occupation.

We used to get loads of tits - blue, great and coal tits.

I get the occasional blue tit now but I'm not sure where they've all gone.

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[rowley]

We used to get loads of tits - blue, great and coal tits.

I get the occasional blue tit now but I'm not sure where they've all gone.

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Don't know how prevalent it is, but apparently there is a bird flu about this year. A lot less of quite a few birds I was told. Maybe that.

 

[Becs]

Don't know how prevalent it is, but apparently there is a bird flu about this year. A lot less of quite a few birds I was told. Maybe that.

Oh yes! We had the signs out saying it was a bird flu area as there was a lot of it about here. Some of the swans down Chester park caught it and died

 

[OldNewtown]

We used to have a bat that would fly around our house catching insects, but I haven't noticed it this year.
I'm concerned that it may have been roosting in my conifers that I cut down early this year.
I shall keep my eyes peeled as I quite liked watching it's acrobatics.
I'll be upset if I've destroyed its home.

 

[Robertson]

The low numbers of insects must be hurting birds and bats.

There are definitely fewer than there used to be and it seems to be getting worse. Used to get loads of moths coming in on a night when you've got the light on and a window open but it's just 1 or 2 now.

 

[Becs]

Modern gardens don't help with nature. There's too many covered in gravel or plastic grass rather than plants where insects can thrive.

 

[King Kareoke]

We used to have a bat that would fly around our house catching insects, but I haven't noticed it this year.
I'm concerned that it may have been roosting in my conifers that I cut down early this year.
I shall keep my eyes peeled as I quite liked watching it's acrobatics.
I'll be upset if I've destroyed its home.

We had bats for about 4 years from our roof eaves. Apparently they are maternal so if they have moved it may be the bat has died.
I could be spouting bollocks but I am sure I was told this

 

[OldNewtown]

We had bats for about 4 years from our roof eaves. Apparently they are maternal so if they have moved it may be the bat has died.
I could be spouting bollocks but I am sure I was told this

Thanks for that, I'll cling to that idea.
Meanwhile, eyes peeled and hopefully a sighting.
It is a little strange as when we stayed up on the West Coast of Scotland, near Oban, the old fortified farm had quite a colony of bats. However we've only ever seen one bat flying about apart from one year when there was two. In others words, not a colony..
Time will tell . Thanks again

 

[Disco down under]

Can't seem to work out how to post pictures but I wanted to post a couple from Tolmie, the weird little settlement I live in up in the hills of High Country Victoria.

Pack of feral pigs roaming the woods and a pack of wild dogs/dingoes (depends on what science you believe).

It's a bit weird round here. Just about everything can kill you.

 

[OldNewtown]

Can't seem to work out how to post pictures but I wanted to post a couple from Tolmie, the weird little settlement I live in up in the hills of High Country Victoria.

Pack of feral pigs roaming the woods and a pack of wild dogs/dingoes (depends on what science you believe).

It's a bit weird round here. Just about everything can kill you.

Not only can, but actually does want to kill you.

 

[RTB]

The low numbers of insects must be hurting birds and bats.

There are definitely fewer than there used to be and it seems to be getting worse. Used to get loads of moths coming in on a night when you've got the light on and a window open but it's just 1 or 2 now.

I've noticed that too, apparently due to climate change, loss of habitat and probably the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers by farmers.
Not seen many wasps this year, but still loads of other annoying insects like green & black fly,slugs and snails though

 

[Nacho]

Saw one of these little guys on the lavender the other day, wasn't aware of their existence before but it couldn't have been described as anything other than a hummingbird moth.

Fascinating watching him going about his business, surely must have evolved from a hummingbird at some point, the similarity was uncanny.

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[Late goal Scorer]

Modern gardens don't help with nature. There's too many covered in gravel or plastic grass rather than plants where insects can thrive.

My garden was just grass and a leylandi tree when I moved in. I’ve ditched most of the grass for beds with bird or pollinator friendly flowers and dug a wildlife pond.its gone from being pretty much sterile to full of life and in basically in a city centre. Planning to dig up the remaining grass and put a mini low growing wildflower meadow in instead.

 

[OldNewtown]

Saw one of these little guys on the lavender the other day, wasn't aware of their existence before but it couldn't have been described as anything other than a hummingbird moth.

Fascinating watching him going about his business, surely must have evolved from a hummingbird at some point, the similarity was uncanny.

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Had one in our garden a few days ago but I couldn't get a decent picture, well done you for that.
We've markedly changed our garden since I retired and there are now lots of pollinators visiting us. We even have a bees nest at the bottom of a box hedge.
We need to get water feature/ pond in but I'm a bit concerned about maintenance.

 

[Nacho]

Had one in our garden a few days ago but I couldn't get a decent picture, well done you for that.
We've markedly changed our garden since I retired and there are now lots of pollinators visiting us. We even have a bees nest at the bottom of a box hedge.
We need to get water feature/ pond in but I'm a bit concerned about maintenance.

No credit to me for the pictures, I didn't have my phone on me at the time. Just stood very still and watched him, quite surreal really. Apparently no relation to hummingbirds whatsoever, just somehow turned out to act exactly like them.

Pleasing when creatures take up residence in your garden isn't it, we had baby blackbirds in the tree for the first time this year. Thought I'd scared the parents off when I started pruning before I knew they were there but I stopped right away obviously and they came back.

Got to see one of them taking his maiden 'flight' or series of awkward fluttery hops more like.

 

[rowley]

The low numbers of insects must be hurting birds and bats.

There are definitely fewer than there used to be and it seems to be getting worse. Used to get loads of moths coming in on a night when you've got the light on and a window open but it's just 1 or 2 now.

Pesticides on verges which councils are obliged to maintain are a terror for bees and insects of all kinds. It saves them cutting them more often my mate tells me.

 

[rooch 3]

My garden was just grass and a leylandi tree when I moved in. I’ve ditched most of the grass for beds with bird or pollinator friendly flowers and dug a wildlife pond.its gone from being pretty much sterile to full of life and in basically in a city centre. Planning to dig up the remaining grass and put a mini low growing wildflower meadow in instead.

Well done mate

 

[FellTop]

Saw one of these little guys on the lavender the other day, wasn't aware of their existence before but it couldn't have been described as anything other than a hummingbird moth.

Fascinating watching him going about his business, surely must have evolved from a hummingbird at some point, the similarity was uncanny.

You must log in or register to see images

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Cracking that. I have to say I find moths bloody terrifying things. Make my skin crawl. But that is impressive to see.

 

[FellTop]

My garden was just grass and a leylandi tree when I moved in. I’ve ditched most of the grass for beds with bird or pollinator friendly flowers and dug a wildlife pond.its gone from being pretty much sterile to full of life and in basically in a city centre. Planning to dig up the remaining grass and put a mini low growing wildflower meadow in instead.

Ponds are amazing things. I built a big one, down and up using railway sleepers and keep fish which is rewarding. I also have waterflowers in it which attracts all sorts of interesting insects. I have to net it because the Herons know where I live. They are like bloody dinosaurs them things - massive. Scared the dog whitless when she chased one and it took off

I also have a small wildlife pond in a corner. Loads of plants have taken round the outside, which stops the dog going in. Some weird and wonderful things visit it. Frogs galore, but they also tend to find the dryer spots of our garden as well for some reason. I try to leave shallow water sources dotted around for them.

A couple of years ago, about 4 am, I was woken to the sound of ducks quaking. I looked out the bedroom window and they were a few in the garden. Wandering around the edges of my fish pond, all ober my lawn etc. I assume they were in flight and sae water? My wife was moaning about the racket so had to chase them off. Funny buggers ducks.