Wildlife -Winter 2008

[ranunculus]

It's certainly a pretty buff hello!

In cookery terms; 'a bison to take a mousse'?

[Lesley Cox]

That poor moose is one hard-up lad!

[Anthony Darby]

Definitely a case of moosetaken identity.

[Gerdk]

A fine example to use a platform the wrong way

Gerd

[Armin]

The poor moose must have been very lonesome

[TC]

For our Irish and Ulster forum members.  Waxwings were reported today in county Antrim

[mark smyth]

yes they are mainly in County Down as far as I know

[mark smyth]

They must be new arrivals because they are in a town on the east coast. When Scotland gets covered by snow this Friday they will come to us

[Maggi Young]

Since I saw the big flocksand posted excitedly on here, I haven't seen any waxwings here... they must have gone further south... or maybe west, to Mark's neck of the woods?


 By the way, you'll see I have split off from the previous topic( from around early November) to make an "Autumn" version 

[TC]

Maggi,  They can turn up anywhere.  They only hang around to feed.  When a flock descends on a tree laden with berries, they will strip it bare and then move on.  The ones I saw at the weekend have now moved on. There were reports from Arran and Lochgilphead on Kintyre.  Some have now reached N. Ireland and could move on to Eire in search of food.  The reports I have for Scotland today are for Dundee, Dunblane, Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Motherwell.  There was one report for Bangor in Down and many more throughout the UK as far South as Kent.
A place worth checking is your local supermarket car park.  These are often planted with berrying shrubs and are attractive to Waxwings who seem to be perfectly happy in traffic or human company.

[Anthony Darby]

BTW what is the difference between a buffalo and a bison?

[Maggi Young]

Yes, To, I know... that is why I'm surprised that they have moved on so quickly... it previous years they have stayed around until every berry tree in the area --- and there are LOTS of those--- are stripped out! And in quieter areas they are all over the ground around the trees as well, eating the fallen fruit.
I was tempted to think they know it's such a good year for berries that they just stopped long enough to refuel and moved on, leaving plenty for their cousins who may still be en- route.... I'm a romantic old soul!



Anthony, if you think you're going to sucker me into making remarks concerning humps, you are much mistaken 

[Anthony Darby]

Moi?  Before anyone else answers, you can't wash your hands in a buffalo. Probably works better in Essex?

[Maggi Young]

I have just had an email from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.... . ...... I think I have managed to persuade them that no animals have been harmed in the production of jokes on this website..... Phew! 

[gote]

Is that a Joke too Maggie 
or is it a case of:
"I dislike all moosedemeanor but sexual moosedemenaour I dislike with a special interest"
Göte