Pictures of Wildlife.

Discussion in 'The Lounge Bar' started by Drew5233, Apr 18, 2010.

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  1. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Buzzards prefer the high ground where they can soar, gliding on thermal uplifts. We tend to see them around Cannock Chase to the Staffordshire Moors & Derbyshire Peaks.
    They have moved down to lower land over recent years.
    We went to my mother in laws 80th birthday in Cornwall many years ago. A Buzzard flew low across the heathland very close to us causing my nephew (from Oxfordshire) to ask what it was.
    One of his uncles local to Cornwall, told him it was a Kestrel, big Kestrel said the lad. Thick yokel was more he truth of it.
    Very impressive close up, reminiscent of an Eagle to the uninitiated.
    Had one land in our garden a few years ago. They aren't built for vertical take-off!

    Buzzard Bird Facts | Buteo Buteo - The RSPB
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2022
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  2. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Our Fox deterrent seems to be working, no foxes last night.
    A new hedgehog turned up.
    Whether that was because the foxes were absent or just a coincidence, I'm not sure. checked Spikes Hibernation house, nothing has come or gone since September.
    It was a milder breezy night whereas tonight is still, with a clear sky (not Forecast) there appears to be a slight frost on the grass despite the thermometer reading 12 degrees.
    The camera is working again so we will see what transpires.

    New Hog 271022_Moment.jpg
     
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  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    So the search continues, rain has washed the deterrent away.
    The holes are back next to the first one but they get bigger, we are leaving them for now.
    The Fox is after something, for two evenings she has camped under the bush for a few hours watching the holes.
    I need to get the camera closer to see what she is after.
    She runs, jumps and dives onto the holes, pity I cant post the video clips.
    I've posted a still moment.

    IMAG0359_Moment.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2022
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  4. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Another phenomenon, I call them Polaris insects as they rise from the grass like missiles. They are a white flash across the picture. when caught close up they resemble bats or something from ET. They are, I am told "Winter Moths".
    Looks like a white mark above left of the flower pot I will go back to my portable memory for photos from the archive.

    IMAG0356_Moment.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2022
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  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    The garden is quieter but still something disturbs old Millie. We have some seriously powerful pain killers just in case but are avoiding using them at the moment.
    She slept well once she got off to sleep at 0300 and I went to bed. My youngest son took over as he was computer gaming until dawn.
    A fox came in at 20.01 and 00.06 but didn't return until 0625 which convinces us that the foxes are the problem.
    I placed some of Millie's poo down a hole that the fox dug last week then filled it in. They sniff at it and go away. Seems to be a good repellent.
    The one small female cub born in the spring seems to be the main culprit, but it is fairly obvious that she is hunting mice or something similar.
    They dont show up on camera so they might be insects of some sort, maybe the Forest Beetles seen in previous photos. We will let her get on with it.
     

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  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    upload_2022-11-16_22-31-10.jpeg
     
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  7. Little Friend

    Little Friend Senior Member

    I took this photograph within the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk 1993.

    IMG_20221120_0001.jpg
     
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  8. Juha

    Juha Junior Member

    A red squirrel, the coat of its body had already changed to the grey winter coat. It was difficult to photograph because it was moving very fast, probably trying to catch a Eurasian tree sparrow, of which there were several on the branches.
     

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  9. Juha

    Juha Junior Member

    Here the situation is more visible although it is difficult to spot a squirrel. It is about one-third from the right and one quarter from the bottom. Squirrel's action seemed pretty desperate; squirrels are not good hunters.
     

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  10. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    A tornado blew through nearby last night.
    This young white tail jumped my fence and was enjoying the winter grass in my back yard. 20221130_071351.jpg
     
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  11. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    This doe was leisurely enjoying breakfast outside of my daughter's living room window.
    IMG_9962.jpeg
     
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  12. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    On a rainy night, this praying mantis helped me grill a steak on the back deck.

    IMG_9973.jpeg
     
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  13. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Female Sparrow Hawk in our neighbours tree, it appeared just after sunset. Probably a young one looking for the juvenile Robins that feed in the Garden.

    Sparrow Hawk 031222.jpg
     
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  14. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Wobbler, not seen you post lately hope all is ok.
    Millie our ageing husky is gone.
    She had a terrible night so we took her to the vet. She died at 1pm 23/12/22
    Her dementia was not her only problem, she was losing her sight so was afraid to step out of the patio door in the dark.
    We got through a lot of puppy pads which then revealed kidney problems.
    In our discussion with the vet we all agreed that considering her age (15) she should be put to sleep.
    R.I.P Millie

    I wont be around here so much now as I don't have to sit at my computer in the study to keep Millie company.

    The foxes have a free run now.
     

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  15. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    I’m really sorry to read of the loss of Millie, our pets are very much part of the family, our Murphy certainly is and we will be devastated when the time comes to say farewell to him. The decision you had to take is, as so many of us already know, a very hard one but is usually for the best, albeit that it never feels that way at the time.

    For my own part, I have been absent from here for a short while as, very sadly, my dear old mother passed away on 13 December at the grand old age of 88 and, as you can imagine, things have been very fraught and hectic, still much to do and thus my priorities and thoughts have laid elsewhere and will, of course, remain so, for the immediate future. Raised a glass of my favourite brandy to her and my father, together again, on Christmas Day…

    Rest assured, “I shall return” ;)

    Finally, may I take this opportunity to offer my very best wishes for the New Year to you all.
     
  16. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Pileated Woodpecker in my parents' neighbourhood. I was very surprised!

    Large (the size of a North American crow roughly) with a beautiful red crest.

    IMG_20221226_135753_9.jpg
     
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  17. Andsco

    Andsco Well-Known Member

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  18. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Male Sparrow Hawk sheltering from the heavy rain in our garden 07/01/23

    Male Sparrowhawk sitting in the rain. 070123.jpg

    Smaller than the pigeons one might question its ability to kill them but it is often chasing Blackbirds.
    The female is much larger and brown. She sits up in the trees waiting.
    The male seems to imitate pigeons, sitting still on the fence next to the bird table.
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2023
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  19. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Robin on the cold Marches

    upload_2023-1-18_17-57-6.jpeg
     
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  20. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Keep your heads down
    Hill ponies
    upload_2023-1-18_17-58-17.jpeg
     
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