spuggies and jackdaws and hedgehogs and frogs

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

On ‎5‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 6:05 PM, ivans82 said:

Live in West Cumbria and Lapwings have all but vanished from this area although the fields and marshy areas where they used to nest are still the same don`t know why .

Sadly, also much less common than, say 20 years ago, around the New Forest and the river valleys around Salisbury.

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

This is the time of year when, with any luck, at dusk and in the night, you can hear or see a cockchafer beetle - a flying insect, called a 'maybug' in country parlance, and which makes an amazing, soft, droning noise as it approaches. (is this perhaps why German WW2 flying bombs were called 'doodlebugs', I wonder.)  

I have come across two in recent nights.  Like many flying creatures they are attracted by light, so may crash into your windows, making a surprisingly loud noise for a small creature.  That, however, is probably because they have strong casing on the wings, which looks like beautiful polished, grained wood.  There legs are bright red.  

My favourite insect!

[Ullman]

On 5/14/2018 at 7:02 PM, BryanC said:

Peculiar, isn't it?

Twenty or so years ago, I remember flocks of 20-40 lapwings being commonplace. On our local moors, we used to have many skylarks singing on the wing during the summer months. Seemed like every few hundred yards or so. Good to see 'em coming back though.

We do still have more curlews than many areas, though.

Heard loads of skylarks over the last couple of days.

Even a good old fashioned Holderness sea roke didn't seem to dampen their spirits.

[Bedford Roughyed]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/31/herbicides-insecticides-save-british-countryside-meaows

Quote

From orchids and moths to hedgehogs and toads, our wildflowers and wildlife are dying out. Making the meadows safe again is a huge challenge – but there are glimmers of hope

 

[Bearman]

10 hours ago, Bedford Roughyed said:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/31/herbicides-insecticides-save-british-countryside-meaows

 

For the last few years Coventry Council have been sewing wild flowers on road  verges.

The displays are fabulous.

[Red Willow]

On ‎5‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 2:43 PM, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

This is the time of year when, with any luck, at dusk and in the night, you can hear or see a cockchafer beetle - a flying insect, called a 'maybug' in country parlance, and which makes an amazing, soft, droning noise as it approaches. (is this perhaps why German WW2 flying bombs were called 'doodlebugs', I wonder.)  

I have come across two in recent nights.  Like many flying creatures they are attracted by light, so may crash into your windows, making a surprisingly loud noise for a small creature.  That, however, is probably because they have strong casing on the wings, which looks like beautiful polished, grained wood.  There legs are bright red.  

My favourite insect!

My least fav. Hate the things, glad they don't appear in the north 

Edited June 5, 2018 by Red Willow

[Bedford Roughyed]

On 6/4/2018 at 9:11 AM, Bearman said:

For the last few years Coventry Council have been sewing wild flowers on road  verges.

The displays are fabulous.

You would imagine that its cheaper than mowing too?  So win win!

[Old Frightful]

On 6/4/2018 at 9:11 AM, Bearman said:

For the last few years Coventry Council have been sewing wild flowers on road  verges.

Must take bloody ages to do that....why not just plant seeds instead?

They could always employ prisoners to do it as a sort of payback to society.

Although sometimes it's not such a great idea...

[Bearman]

[Bearman]

Of course there is a theory that the seeds were planted by Afghani opium farmers.

[Farmduck]

On 6/6/2018 at 4:55 PM, Bearman said:

Of course there is a theory that the seeds were planted by Afghani opium farmers.

The main commercial opium poppies are the two-tone purple ones. Little-known fact: Australia produces about 50% of the World's opium.

 

In avian news, rare sighting of a black kookaburra:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-08/rare-black-kookaburra-spotted-wa-backyard/9845764

[Ullman]

Got a great close up view of a marsh harrier this morning just by the road between Broomfleet and Ellerker, absolutely magnificent sight.

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

On ‎6‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 10:02 PM, Ullman said:

Got a great close up view of a marsh harrier this morning just by the road between Broomfleet and Ellerker, absolutely magnificent sight.

Great sight - I'm envious!

[Ullman]

4 hours ago, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

Great sight - I'm envious!

First time I've ever seen one, well knowingly anyway. It was a great moment.

[longboard]

On 6/16/2018 at 10:02 PM, Ullman said:

Got a great close up view of a marsh harrier this morning just by the road between Broomfleet and Ellerker, absolutely magnificent sight.

Cream crown?

[Ullman]

9 minutes ago, longboard said:

Cream crown?

It took off right near me so I saw more of its underparts. It was quite pale and greyish with distinctive black wing tips. Looking at the pictures of the males and females online, I'm pretty sure it was a male.

[longboard]

45 minutes ago, Ullman said:

It took off right near me so I saw more of its underparts. It was quite pale and greyish with distinctive black wing tips. Looking at the pictures of the males and females online, I'm pretty sure it was a male.

It sounds like it. The females and juveniles have the cream crown colouration. There should be plenty of marsh harriers around Blacktoft and surrounding areas at this time of year.

Edited June 20, 2018 by longboard

[Rodill Rover]

On ‎4‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 1:33 PM, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

Just heard my first cuckoo, in the New Forest about an hour ago.  Time to dust down the Frederick Delius CD, me thinks!

Not heard a cuckoo in my area for the last 3 years after never missing for as long as I can remember, are there other areas missing them.

[Old Frightful]

On 6/20/2018 at 10:23 PM, Ullman said:

It took off right near me so I saw more of its underparts. I'm pretty sure it was a male.

Remind me never to date any ex "girlfriends" of yours.

[Old Frightful]

6 hours ago, Rodill Rover said:

Not heard a cuckoo in my area for the last 3 years after never missing for as long as I can remember, are there other areas missing them.

There was a self imposed exile of Steve Reed from these parts for a while but he's back now.

[Ullman]

6 hours ago, Old Frightful said:

Remind me never to date any ex "girlfriends" of yours.

That's exactly what Des Lynam said.

[Ullman]

On 6/20/2018 at 11:09 PM, longboard said:

It sounds like it. The females and juveniles have the cream crown colouration. There should be plenty of marsh harriers around Blacktoft and surrounding areas at this time of year.

I read somewhere that their numbers were increasing along the Humber.

I also saw a large bird of prey overhead not far down the road. I assumed it was a buzzard but the markings under its wings weren't like a buzzard's. I'm wondering now if it was the female partner of the male I saw.

[ivans82]

Do the rounds at Loweswater , Crummock and Basenthwaite in West Cumbria always plenty of Cuckoos around the fell sides over the lakes .

[Bearman]

On 6/6/2018 at 7:50 AM, Bearman said:

Now gone into a blue phase

[Old Frightful]

18 hours ago, Ullman said:

That's exactly what Des Lynam said.

It seems rather apt during a FIFA World Cup that I should offer you the opportunity to slot one home.

(Said Caroline Cossey, moments before the romance ended...)

Des now sticks to female company that he knows has never had any sort of cosmetic surgery...