Category Archives: wildlife

Birds who use our bird feeders

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A few pictures taken around our birdfeeders, not birds who feed on our food, but rather birds who feed on the birds feeding on the feeders.  So there is a Kestrel, and a regular visitor, a Sparrowhawk.  Last year we were sitting in the garden when the Sparrowhawk struck and removed one feeding bird.  There was silence for a few minutes when all others disappeared.  They soon forgot and were back out.  This Sparrowhawk regularly comes and sits on the bird feeders, but had been rather camera shy.

The Redwing and Fieldfare were photographed in out field.  There can be flocks of 40 – 50 at a time.

Gallows Bridge BBOWT

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Rosemary and I, along with a few others, had a tour of the BBOWT wetlands nature reserve at Gallows Bridge.  This is one wetland reserve of many they own on the Upper River Ray.  Gallows Bridge has the Tetchwick Brook flowing through it which is a tributary of the Ray, joining the Ray at Three Way Meadows.  Tetchwick Brook should be well known to readers of this blog, as the river (stream, ditch) over which we have a tug of war over.

The morning was misty, not ideal for photography.  The warden explained the type of management the reserve received, and why.  Interestingly we heard how some of the land had been ploughed years ago with a technique called ridge and furrow which causes long ridges to form in the fields which remain today and are now protected.  Many of the nesting wetland birds are predated by animals, mink and fox being the main culprits.  An effort is made before the breeding season to trap and kill the mink, and reduce the number of foxes in the area.  The trap at this time of year contained a mud pad which was used to estimate the number of river mammals living in the area. Paw prints of Mink and Otter could be seen.

BBOWT had been creating a number of ponds and scrapes to keep water on the site over the summer season, providing feeding areas for Snipe, Lapwing and Curlew . Grass has to be managed in several ways allowing for short and long grass to suit different species of bird.  The reserve is also a habitat for Short Eared Owls, Barn Owls, Hobby and Kingfishers.   After the tour we stayed in the hides for a while in the hope of seeing the Kingfisher.  Alas we didn’t, just saw a few LBJs.

An update on Bulgaria

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We arrived back from a lovely holiday in Bulgaria, dragonfly spotting.  We travelled around the country with a small group, mainly in the South of Bulgaria staying in a new hotel each night.  The tour was operated by Nature Trek, a specialist wild life tour company using experts in the chosen subject.  There will be an update to the site when I have filtered through the thousands of pictures I have taken.  We managed 47 or so species of dragonflies, that leaves 7,000+ in the world to go.  Bird life and plant life were similarly fabulous in the country.

For a taster I have included a couple of Dragonflies, one obliging Dragon who flew around for quite a while allowing us to practice flight shots.

The final two days were spent in Sofia drinking cocktails next to the president’s offices, watching the presidential cars coming and going, the armed security guards, and the beautiful ladies in the bar.

Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day

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Christmas is over, with the real Boxing Day nearing the end. Family has left and Rosemary and I are left alone to eat our turkey and bread sauce sandwiches. This Christmas has been a white one with snow on the fields, and -10C frosts and hot wood burners toasting our toes. Friends in the pub to share a pint or two, Selina and Phil to share a turkey with. Alas did not manage to persuade Selina to run to the village shop. Yes, an evil plan hatched by her parents, the shop does not open on Boxing Day.

Here are a few pictures for you, I have even take a departure from the norm and condescended to include some people in one or two shots.

You are my Little Bird

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Greenfinch at the feeder

Greenfinch at the feeder

Trying out some action shots with my new Canon EOS 550 on the local bird population.  (Feathered variety alas.)  One wonders with all those extra pixels whether a new pro lens is in order.  Looks like I will have to keep on working a while.

Some more wildlife at the local oasis.

Needless to say, as soon as I went indoors, two pairs of Goldfinches arrived, but not the Greater Spotted Woodpecker who is often to be seen on the peanuts.  We’ve also had Long Tailed Tits who were charming.  The Greenfinches are highly aggressive and bad tempered.

Butterfly Days

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Despite the recent bad weather, we seem to have had some lovely butterflies in the last few sunny days, so Steve took their portraits and has posted an album of them –

http://www.blasdale.com/blog/picture-albums/blasdale-picture-gallery-2009/2009butterflies/

We have yet to add their names – Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admirals (is one just faded into that “Orange” Admiral?), Comma, Painted Lady.

Cast in Feathers Buzzard

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Rosemary was doing an ad hoc check of the field, when she spied some odd activity and so got the binoculars out.    It looked like a large bird of prey was eating a late breakfast.

A few minutes later, large bird had gone but something remained….. the breakfast?  Surely not a lamb?  Rosemary went out to investigate and found, amidst some feathers, a buzzard, lying on his back, looking near death but with his stomach still going up & down.  His eyes were open but his head looked at an odd angle and a bit bloody.  He didn’t respond to her shadow over him.  Fearing the worst, she went back to phone the RSPCA for advice.  Several phone calls later, she awaited a call from them and went to check up  on the patient.  This time he looked brighter and moved his head and opened his beak.  She assured him help was on its way and went back to the house wondering how to pick him up (to take him to the vet) without hurting him and without making contact with his beak.

But wait, Miles & his mum were in  the pick-up in the field checking on their sheep.  They paused by the bird.  Rosemary shot out.  “I dispatched him,” said Miles.  Oh goodness, thought R.  “He’d got himself cast, so we righted him with my stick,” said his mum, Annie. Ah! breathed R with relief.  “I didn’t realize that could happen to a large bird,” she babbled to Miles.  “Well how do you get up if you’re stuck on your back?” asked Miles.  He had a very good point.  Everyone decided the buzzard probably flew into a nearby powerline and stunned himself on impact.  

R phoned the RSPCA to tell them to cancel the call and the lady on their helpline was also surprised to hear buzzards can get themselves cast. 

So now we all know it’s not just sheep that need righting, keep your eyes open and binoculars & stick handy.

Country Landowners Association Game Fair

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Country Landowners Association Game Fair Saturday 26th July. We visited the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace on the Saturday. Fairly early start and no real problems getting in. Previous day we had heard of people turning around and not making it because of all the traffic.

The day was very hot and sunny, the place was packed with stalls selling various country goods from posh tables, wood stoves, wood central heating, wellies, guns, and the latest 4 x 4. Notable exception was that Landrover did not have a stand.

Took a look at the birds of prey, and watched some flying with Jemima Parry-Jones.

Spent a considerable time down by the river watching the dogs retrieve their dummies. Later met up with Ann and Chris, we were going to see Chris perform with his gun and dog, but alas the stand had finished.

Very pleasant meal (BBQ steak) with Ann and Chris in the camping site attached to the Gane Fair. Left after dark, took a little while to find the car parked on its own in a dark and large field. No queues leaving at 11.00pm

[jalbum_iframe_album:http://www.blasdale.com/pictures/2008/CLAGameFair/index.html,100%,600px]

New Lamb

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During one of Rosemary’s ad hoc, but frequent, sheep counts of the field flock, a discrepancy was noted.  One extra.  More stringent stocktaking showed the reason – a tiny, newborn lamb.  It is June, isn’t it?

Moorhen

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Rosemary has reported that my weeding of the pond has caused disruption in Moorhen World. The weeding from the pond is still on the bank, (allowing the pond life which was removed to wander back into the water at their leisure). Alas they are too near the bank, and the increase in height compounded by the slippery mud has made it difficult for the moorhen to get out of the pond. Rosemary was attracted to this plight by considerable squawking and splashing as the moorhen tried to surmount the bank side. Why it didn’t try an easier route is anyone’s guess.