Big Merv's nature watch.

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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Dave wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:00 pm Image
Where did you photograph that Dave?

Wouldn't mind toddling along to get a few pics myself. :D
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

big mervyn wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 10:53 pm Nice. I'll have to take more photos.
It's as good a way as any of passing time during a pandemic. :D

It amuses me anyway.
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

lastly, for tonight, a couple of bullfinches and a buzzard overhead (a bit far off though)
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Dave
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Dave »

Cap'n Grumpy wrote:
Dave wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:00 pm Image
Where did you photograph that Dave?

Wouldn't mind toddling along to get a few pics myself. :D
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Snipe Watson
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Snipe Watson »

Spoke to a guy on Friday who has lesser spotted woodpeckers in woodland at his house in county down
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch

Post by justinr73 »

Superb work Grumpy.

Deffo a song thrush that I saw today.

Spotted a sparrowhawk in a tree in our garden in December.

Would love to see a peregrine before they all get murdered.
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by big mervyn »

Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:00 am Spoke to a guy on Friday who has lesser spotted woodpeckers in woodland at his house in county down
There was a massive increase in the population in Belvoir Forest last year, Definitely one of our most successful recent immigrants. We're coming into the season where you hear and see them.
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

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big mervyn wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:43 am
Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:00 am Spoke to a guy on Friday who has lesser spotted woodpeckers in woodland at his house in county down
There was a massive increase in the population in Belvoir Forest last year, Definitely one of our most successful recent immigrants. We're coming into the season where you hear and see them.
Loads of them yesterday in Hillsborough Forest although my Bird Nerd app couldn't make up its mind if they were Greater or Lesser spotted woodpeckers.
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Snipe Watson »

Fintan wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:30 am
big mervyn wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:43 am
Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:00 am Spoke to a guy on Friday who has lesser spotted woodpeckers in woodland at his house in county down
There was a massive increase in the population in Belvoir Forest last year, Definitely one of our most successful recent immigrants. We're coming into the season where you hear and see them.
Loads of them yesterday in Hillsborough Forest although my Bird Nerd app couldn't make up its mind if they were Greater or Lesser spotted woodpeckers.
Good to hear
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by solidarity »

Forgive a dim question: I saw a hedgehog ambling through our garden around midnight last summer. Is this likely to be wild or an escapee?
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:00 am Spoke to a guy on Friday who has lesser spotted woodpeckers in woodland at his house in county down
Lesser spotted woodpeckers are supposedly absent from Ireland according to RSPB, Woodland Trust etc, but one or two may have got lost. :lol:

Spotted a greater spotted woodpecker at Kiltonga a couple of years ago when I only had a small compact camera with me. Quite pleased with the result considering how far away it was, but have never seen one since when I've had a half-decent camera.
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

solidarity wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:27 pm Forgive a dim question: I saw a hedgehog ambling through our garden around midnight last summer. Is this likely to be wild or an escapee?
I would have thought wild ... especially if you called it names or threw things at it. :duck:
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

big mervyn wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:43 am
Snipe Watson wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:00 am Spoke to a guy on Friday who has lesser spotted woodpeckers in woodland at his house in county down
There was a massive increase in the population in Belvoir Forest last year, Definitely one of our most successful recent immigrants. We're coming into the season where you hear and see them.
And there ya go ... I never knew they were recent immigrants.

Welcome lesser spotteds - hope the locals don't drive you out as some immigrants are. :roll:

In a month or two I'll maybe take a short turn around Belvoir, more in hope than expectation.
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Cap'n Grumpy
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Anyone seen any sign of these? Yellow Legged Gulls? They were until recently considered a sub-group of Herring Gulls but have now been recognised as a distinct species.

They are supposed to be rare, but they seem to me to be , if not common around County Down, certainly not rare.
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Re: Big Merv's nature watch.

Post by Cap'n Grumpy »

Cap'n Grumpy wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:18 pm Have a pair of blue t1ts looking very interested in a nest box (25mm hole) I put up on one of the trees just outside my kitchen window, and some interest in one with a 28mm hole from some great t1ts.

have lots of coal t1ts which dart all over the place and are lovely, and every few days get a wee flock of long tailed t1ts doing acrobatics in the trees and on the feeders.
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Coal T1ts are just all go, darting around.
Coal T1ts are just all go, darting around.
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Some initial interest by Great T1ts (and Blue T1ts) when I put this box up at start of February, but less in recent weeks.
Some initial interest by Great T1ts (and Blue T1ts) when I put this box up at start of February, but less in recent weeks.
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A lot of sustained interest in this by a pair of Blue T1ts so I'm hopeful they may move in in the next couple weeks.
A lot of sustained interest in this by a pair of Blue T1ts so I'm hopeful they may move in in the next couple weeks.
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