Wildlife -January 2010

[Michael J Campbell]

Mark, the Blackcaps are eating apples and pears that I put out for the Blackbirds this morning. -6°C here.

[Stephenb]

My Blackcap still hasn't discovered that apples are edible. Only the Fieldfare takes them...

Maximum temperature today -12C.

[Gwenblack]

It seems that heavy snow brings out the worst in the territorial behaviour of Wood Pigeons    7 of them are so intent on battling the others away that they are missing out on the feed    Fat Balls are favourite with all birds just now including pheasant.  Carrion Crows are overcoming their wariness to join the throng under our feeding stations

[Michael J Campbell]

A male blackbird has spent the morning chasing a female blackbird away from the apples and pears that I put out.
In five or six weeks he will be trying to encourage her in, and will be offering her food. Funny old world, isn't it.

[Stephenb]

THE BIRDS INVADE AGAIN

Yes, the Waxwings were back in force today, about 80 in number, intent on taking all the Berberis berries from the bush next to the kitchen window. The Blackcap was in the middle of the bush as the attack commenced and remained there throughout looking more and more dismayed that her food supply was disappearing...

[annew]

Great pictures, Stephen.

[Gwenblack]

Saw a  funny thing from my study window just now.......... an Acer Drummondii serves as host to numerous birdfeeding devices and the flattened snow below is awash with opportunist birds mopping up the fallen grain etc. There were about a dozen chaffinch there when a couple of Carrion Crows alighting in the tree dislodged a biggish lump of snow that fell smack onto a blameless Chaffinch going about its lawful business on the ground.  I rushed out to the rescue just in time to see the finch flutter up from its personal snowdrift and fly off unharmed. A chance in a million sighting.

[Paul T]

Gwen,

I can almost picture the disgusted look on it's face for the cold snow unexpectedly down the back of it's little neck.  

Stephen,

The waxwings are beautiful.  Not something we get down here of course, nor much snow either, particularly at this time of year.    1am and a balmy 18^oC here at present.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Dear friends -_ As I known there are also animal-specialist on our forum this time a question about an ID for a bird and snake that we see on our trip to Zakynthos.I hope somebody could identify . .
Thanks .

[mark smyth]

I'm not good on waders but it looks like a godwit Limosa limosa but the legs are too short

[krisderaeymaeker]

Thanks Mark ,I think you put me on the right track for the bird.
Google a bit with this input brought me to Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa )wich looks correct to me.

[Maggi Young]

A friend, francine Riez, ahs sentthese links to photos of her freind Jules Fourage , presently on pixagogo, but she seems unsure as to how long they may remain there...... I advise you to check them out now! The pix can be enlarged.....
It will take a while to download the whole pages, but the photos are superb!
   http://www.pixagogo.com/6736834217      les oiseaux de Jules Fouarge en 2008  oiseaux + quelques plantes alpines


et   Les PHOTOS DE JULES EN 2009 
http://www.pixagogo.com/0608084522


http://www.pixagogo.com/2609064101   à Namur en 2008
 

[Maggi Young]

I think perhaps a Bar-tailed Godwit: Limosa lapponica ??

[Melvyn Jope]

Could the snake possibly be a meadow viper?  Vipera ursinii?

[annew]

They are fantastique!