Who likes the birds.......and wildlife ?

bikerpiker · Post by **bikerpiker** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:39 pm

Any wildlife lovers amongst you lot

I went Pike fishing last Saturday to Woodhall Loch near Dumfries,.....before anybody asks NO ...i didnt catch anything

On leaving my village we saw a Barn Owl ,....then another Barn Owl 30 miles or so into our journey, and during the course of the day also a few Buzzards , ..some Red Kites (reintroduced to Dumfries and Galloway), ..a Jay , ..some Herons (they nest up the trees at the lochside) and quite a few Ravens

We also saw a RED Squirrel (very rare nowadays), and two Roe Deer ran in front of the car

And a lot of Pheasants

bikerpiker · Post by **bikerpiker** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:21 pm

I could go months or even years before seeing a Barn Owl ,never mind two in one day.

Buzzards ,...loads about here virtually every day ,if you keep yer eyes peeled ,still nice to see them though

And as for Magpies ,they seem to be everywhere now ,when i was a boy (mid 70's) they were very rare about this area .

When we were younger ,maybe aged 10 -14, we used to collect birds eggs ,SHAME ON ME

, it's just what we did in those days , Swans ,Hawks ,Swallows ,you name it , or sometimes we'd go shooting with airguns...or we'd go fishing to Ayr or Troon on our cycles, no computers/games back then

Jaglifter · Post by **Jaglifter** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:53 pm

BikerPiker, you're lucky to have seen such a variety.

We have a couple of deer (not sure what sort) which visit our garden every couple of days or so - I've got pics of them (sad bugger I know).

My wife says she's seen a wild boar in the garden, but I've only heard it!

Lots of foxes, lots of grey squirrels (next door hates em cus they eat his thatch - on the roof that is).

silentjewel · Post by **silentjewel** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:59 pm

Hi Stevie

Stopped the car at the bus stop next to the Fenwick Hotel to let a family of deer cross the road. On my way back from Tesco there was a heron on the fence at the side of the road.
Love living in the countryside.

cupasoop · Post by **cupasoop** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:13 pm

Owls, deer, swallows, sheep, coos, heron's, bats, dogs, cats, chickens..........and thats just my house

What do you call these hawk like birds that hover over their prey. I usually see them close to the side of the road. Are they kestrels?

bikerpiker · Post by **bikerpiker** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:49 pm

Richie
Yes , the wee bird of prey that hovers at the side of the road are Kestrels

Grant (Silentjewel), ,i've saw the deer down near the hotel before , infact saw one crossing into the field next to my house not long ago

p.s Got your PM ,i had a look for you on the way past your house ,no sign of you , nae luck you gettin soaked ,i got in just in time

Post by **sirch345** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:21 pm

Some of you guy's seem to be spoilt for choice

you did real well to see all of those Stevie on your fishing trip

We had a rare bird down this way recently. One of the watchers was filming it when all of a sudden a buzzard swoops down and takes him of for dinner, or perhaps I should rephrase that, he takes him off as dinner

I know I shouldn't laugh but it just struck me funny

poor bird though

Pic's and write up here:-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... zzard.html

Chris.

bikerpiker · Post by **bikerpiker** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:56 pm

Jaglifter wrote:BikerPiker, you're lucky to have seen such a variety.

We have a couple of deer (not sure what sort) which visit our garden every couple of days or so - I've got pics of them (sad bugger I know).

My wife says she's seen a wild boar in the garden, but I've only heard it!

Lots of foxes, lots of grey squirrels (next door hates em cus they eat his thatch - on the roof that is).

Jaglifter,
hearing the wild boar is safer than seeing it, you dont want one of em running at you

Saw a programme about them , breeding somewhere ,Forest of Dean i think it was

Also any hunters with a wad of cash can shoot them on some estate , in Dumfrieshire i think

There also in the process of reintroducing Beaver

up here ,Kintyre or Oban area

bikerpiker · Post by **bikerpiker** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:05 pm

sirch345 wrote:Some of you guy's seem to be spoilt for choice you did real well to see all of those Stevie on your fishing trip

We had a rare bird down this way recently. One of the watchers was filming it when all of a sudden a buzzard swoops down and takes him of for dinner, or perhaps I should rephrase that, he takes him off as dinner I know I shouldn't laugh but it just struck me funny poor bird though Pic's and write up here:-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... zzard.html

Chris.

Aye ,i saw that on the news ,...Buzzards usually sit on fence posts waiting on road kills,thats when they're not being chased by crows

I have seen them taking live rabbits though

Same with the Red Kites thats been reintroduced up here and in Wales ,mostly carrion they eat ,really nice to see , there's a breeding area/feeding station just next to the Loch we fish

http://www.gallowaykitetrail.com/gallow ... ymack.html

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:13 pm

We have squirrels and deer at work - they even have a nature watch!

But we did have to call the rspca on friday as there was an injured deer the other side of the window where my desk is.

One of my dogs hates squirrels - he goes mental whenever he see's one luckily we keep him on a lead.

Oh yeah and I have a massive hedgehog in the garden - he's lived here for about 2 years - the ebd is overgrown so plenty of food for him and safe - my dogs just ignore him ( I assume it's a he - no idea really)

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:55 am

Timbo wrote:
Stu wrote:my dogs just ignore him ( I assume it's a he - no idea really)
Flip it over, if its got a spout its a boy If it looks like it has 2 bottoms, its a girl. Didnt they teach you anything at school?

School of hard knocks don't teach you that stuff lol

doggit · Post by **doggit** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:32 pm

all we have is worms, woodlice, spiders, and the exotic sparrow

carl

Beamish · Post by **Beamish** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:01 pm

Suprised Tony hasn't posted the real wildlife piccies yet

We have Barn owls that patrol the side of the main road waiting for cars to scare the mice/voles into moving. Scares the crap out of you if you are on the bike at night. The white wings look huge and would surely hurt like hell if you hit one at speed.

marravtr · Post by **marravtr** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:09 pm

the only wildlife round my way are hoodies on the park, chav'c in there corsa's and next doors cat shitting in my garden!!!

Jaglifter · Post by **Jaglifter** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:49 pm

Dogit. is that a short legged Jack Rusell in your avatar??

Is it yours?

My son has one. Brilliant dog, but uncontrolably mental at times!