We hope you have enjoyed the SRGC Forum. You can make a Paypal donation to the SRGC by clicking the above button

Author Topic: Wildlife December into Spring 2008  (Read 86418 times)

Maggi Young

  • SRGC Hon. Vice President
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 44966
  • Country: scotland
  • "There's often a clue"
    • International Rock Gardener e-magazine
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #60 on: December 20, 2007, 12:53:51 PM »
We have only occasional Bramblings here, they are more than welcome to come more often!
Chough's bill looks pretty yellow to me, Anthony...  ::)
Love that combination of yellow bill and red legs... makes me think of BD's socks!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

Editor: International Rock Gardener e-magazine

Katherine J

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 521
  • Lurking and learning
    • Flowers from the Alps
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #61 on: December 20, 2007, 12:57:38 PM »
Chough's bill looks pretty yellow to me, Anthony...  ::)
I hope so.
It was the alpine form.
Kata Jozsa - Budapest, Hungary
Zone 6

http://gardenonbalcony.blogspot.com

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #62 on: December 20, 2007, 02:34:35 PM »
The Alpine Chough is Pyrrhocorax graculus with a yellow beak (bill) whereas the one found in Britain (and the Alps) is P. pyrrhocorax and has a bright red beak. Both species have red legs.

In today's 'Daily Mail' (no, I didn't buy a copy) there's a fantastic pic of a leucistic Robin (Erythacu rebecula) taken in Dorset. Various shades of blue-grey.
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

mark smyth

  • Hopeless Galanthophile
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15254
  • Country: gb
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #63 on: December 20, 2007, 02:56:13 PM »
I thought it was a cock Blackbird until I enlarged the image
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

ranunculus

  • utterly butterly
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5069
  • Country: england
  • ALL BUTTER AND LARD
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #64 on: December 21, 2007, 08:05:48 PM »
Brief local walk taken yesterday to Healey Dell nature reserve (about 1/2 mile from our doorstep)....beautiful clear frosty day on the moors but one unfortunate gull didn't relish the conditions, frozen to death in a small nature reserve pond.
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

ranunculus

  • utterly butterly
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5069
  • Country: england
  • ALL BUTTER AND LARD
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #65 on: December 21, 2007, 08:09:51 PM »
Just a couple more culminating in the demise of the gull....
« Last Edit: December 21, 2007, 08:12:17 PM by ranunculus »
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

Rob

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 311
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #66 on: December 21, 2007, 08:30:28 PM »
You've got a great eye for photography.

I think you will sweep the board in Maggies Christmas Season Competition ....TWO 
Midlands, United Kingdom

mark smyth

  • Hopeless Galanthophile
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15254
  • Country: gb
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #67 on: December 21, 2007, 09:27:22 PM »
fabulous! but are you sure that's a dead gull?
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

ranunculus

  • utterly butterly
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5069
  • Country: england
  • ALL BUTTER AND LARD
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #68 on: December 21, 2007, 10:16:49 PM »
Well Mark....I was quite convinced at the time..... and I stubbornly resisted the chance to 'skate' out for a closer look. It appeared that the tail feathers had been ruffled (perhaps by a scavenger)?
...But now that you have mentioned it, it does look a little like a fisherman's boot and woollen sock!!  Hope he wasn't still wearing it!!
Didn't get a closer shot....don't REALLY know why I took that one?

Thanks for the kind comments folks....
« Last Edit: December 21, 2007, 10:18:46 PM by ranunculus »
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

ranunculus

  • utterly butterly
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5069
  • Country: england
  • ALL BUTTER AND LARD
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #69 on: December 21, 2007, 10:36:26 PM »
Well Mr Smyth....you called my bluff before the forum members managed to send their waves of pity for the stricken gull....

Is there an 'eye-spy' prize for observation Maggi?
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

mark smyth

  • Hopeless Galanthophile
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15254
  • Country: gb
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #70 on: December 21, 2007, 10:51:07 PM »
sorry boss!
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #71 on: December 21, 2007, 10:54:09 PM »
 ;D ;D ;D
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

Ed Alverson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 267
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #72 on: December 22, 2007, 12:12:17 AM »
Here is a view from my annual solstice hike earlier today - this is the view south from the top of Spencer Butte, outside of Eugene Oregon, USA.  Lots of nice wildflowers here in the spring, but for now, on this shortest day of the year, we can content ourselves with visions of the flowers yet to come.  Happy holidays everyone!

Ed
Ed Alverson, Eugene, Oregon

Paul T

  • Our man in Canberra
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8435
  • Country: au
  • Paul T.
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #73 on: December 22, 2007, 12:15:04 AM »
Oh Cliff!!  What glorious pics.  I'd posted my comment in the compteition thread before seeing these....... and these just confirm it.  What a difference a good eye, a great camera, and living in or visiting interesting areas makes!!!!!!!  :o

Lovely view, Ed!!  8)
Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia.
Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

Andrew

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 294
  • Trainee Croconut
Re: Wildlife December into Spring 2008
« Reply #74 on: December 24, 2007, 04:52:25 PM »
Lucky you, Sue, I haven't seen a Barn Owl in years. :'(

When I go to/from work around dawn/dusk I see them and once saw one, two days in a row, same one ?
Andrew, North Cambridgeshire, England.

 


Scottish Rock Garden Club is a Charity registered with Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR): SC000942
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal