Wildlife December into Spring 2008

[Maggi Young]

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!

[Katherine J]

Chough's bill looks pretty yellow to me, Anthony... 

I hope so.
It was the alpine form.

[Anthony Darby]

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.

[mark smyth]

I thought it was a cock Blackbird until I enlarged the image

[ranunculus]

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.

[ranunculus]

Just a couple more culminating in the demise of the gull....

[Rob]

You've got a great eye for photography.

I think you will sweep the board in Maggies Christmas Season Competition ....TWO 

[mark smyth]

fabulous! but are you sure that's a dead gull?

[ranunculus]

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....

[ranunculus]

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?

[mark smyth]

sorry boss!

[Anthony Darby]

 

[Ed Alverson]

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

[Paul T]

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!!!!!!! 

Lovely view, Ed!! 

[Andrew]

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 ?