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John's Mammals 2012 (1 Viewer)

Pix from the canal, including the twin suns on the way there: you won't be surprised to hear this is an optical illusion, its the second time I've seen it.

John

Twin suns
Badger
Wood Mouse
Blackavar
 

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I popped into Grafham Water this morning for the Red-rumped Swallow (which showed really well) & on the walk back to the car park I was treated to a Weasel hunting voles. It was chasing them for c5 minutes. They were shooting out of the longer grass along a path, back into the grass, with the Weasel in hot pursuit. The Weasel caught something (not sure what) & went into a pile of uprooted tree stumps with its prey.

If anybody goes to Grafham after you go through the gate to walk along the dam wall there is a group of partially uprooted tree stumps, on the other side of the wall c50 yds past the gate, with brambles around them. This is where the Weasel was hunting & went into with its prey.

Cheers, Simon

A few pics of the R-r Swallow & (rubbish ones of the) Weasel are on www.flickr.com/photos/sinlw
 
Its that time of year when ladies all start going aaaaaahh...

Moor Green is pretty hot at the moment, provided you like Roe Deer. I also connected with a local Muntjac this evening, a brief view from the car.

Oh yes - and Grey Squirrel.

John
 

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A few more. Cuteness factor even higher.

John
 

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I popped into Grafham Water this morning for the Red-rumped Swallow (which showed really well) & on the walk back to the car park I was treated to a Weasel hunting voles. It was chasing them for c5 minutes. They were shooting out of the longer grass along a path, back into the grass, with the Weasel in hot pursuit. The Weasel caught something (not sure what) & went into a pile of uprooted tree stumps with its prey.

If anybody goes to Grafham after you go through the gate to walk along the dam wall there is a group of partially uprooted tree stumps, on the other side of the wall c50 yds past the gate, with brambles around them. This is where the Weasel was hunting & went into with its prey.

Cheers, Simon

A few pics of the R-r Swallow & (rubbish ones of the) Weasel are on www.flickr.com/photos/sinlw

Good tip. If my brother wasn't getting married this weekend I'd go!

John
 
My first new mammal of the year, found myself an Algerian Hedgehog this week just gone.
 

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The weekend was very busy with wedding stuff but a big family dinner on Saturday evening was at the Millhouse in North Warnborough, near the Basingstoke Canal. Maz found a Mink on the patio and rushing away from my pint I managed to get views of it though no picture: it was hutning through the millpond bankside vegetation and I never got a clear shot. Daubenton's Bats skimming the millpond after dinner were enjoyed by all.

I can't remember Sunday after about three in the afternoon..... it was a very good party. Dave is now honeymooning in California so I might be in for a gripping next week.

John
 
New location for Mountain Hare on Mull.

Whilst the Fidden Mountain Hare are easy they are quite a drive. Last year we glimpsed a few Mountain Hare at Gruiline towards Knock Wood. This year we saw up to 10 everyday between 5am and 7am. They can be seen from the car and as usual with this species can be very confiding.

They frequent the woodlands from the main road and down the private road towards 'Hideaway Cottages" in Drumlang woods - http://www.hideawaylodges.co.uk/
 
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Dave is now back. I begin to understand just how far my life has drifted from the normal - he showed me a photo of a turd and asked me if I had any idea what dropped it......

He also has a pic of a chipmunk which is outside my comfort zone, I'll stick it up here for opinions idc.

Last weekend I got down to Arne RSPB where over 100 Sikas were in the fields en route to Shipstal Point, including a very pale one, not quite white but close enough. Its a buck but currently without even velvet antlers, so will look better by about August.

An evening visit to the fringes of Fleet for Nightjar yielded good views of Noctule and Serotine Bats in the early dusk.

John
 
Looks very good to me. As Graham says, it ticks all the feature boxes. It looks as if the animal is only partly moulted into summer coat - there is still a lot of thick pale under-fur showing on the body though the head and forequarters look very slim and dark.

It would seem a fair inference that because the Polecat is moving prey, it has a nest with young somewhere nearby. If Graham would like to tell us where to look I will lead the charge!

John
 
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Yes. Another interesting inference is that young polecats in general must be weaned but still in/around the nest. Also Polecat activity due to having to feed large young is currently daytime as well as the hours of darkness, so there is a much better chance than usual of seeing one.

John
 
I zipped over to Tring on Thursday for the Sabine's Gull but it had left a little earlier. I did see a black Rabbit among normal ones in a field opposite Startops. I heard a rabbit screaming but didn't see the cause.

I hung around at Wendover till early dark (after 2200) and had a whole bunch of Edible Dormice. Sad to say, the traditional nest tree just up from the car park has been felled. I am really fed up with the tidying up of ailing trees in woodlands. It prevents full development of the ecosystem, dehomes animals and who cares if a branch falls on someone out of our 65,000,000 humans anyway?

A Muntjac was barking for most of the two hours I was stalking the dormice, and three plus Tawny Owls were calling as they moved around the woodland, a male and two or more female/immatures.

I got a couple of nice pix and will post one later.

John
 
For any East Yorkshire readers, the Otters are are showing quite well at Tophill Low (or at least as well as Yorkshire Otters do). Best time is late evening or very early morning so you would need a membership permit to access the reserve at these times. On Wednesday evening I watched a young dog Otter as it chased the Mallards around the marsh . A Water Vole also seen.
 
Pix as promised:

Black Rabbit
Edible Dormouse X 2

John
 

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BTW if anyone is going for Edible Dormouse, with the old nest tree gone, a decent substitute is the big Beech further up the track on the left, where it bends slightly left and the right side opens out into bushes instead of closed canopy.

John
 
Went for Quail at Elmley this afternoon with Clare. We had to wait ages for a decent view of the bird but the wait was enlivened by cracking views of Brown Hares boxing, chasing each other and just ambling along the entrance track paying no attention to the birders staking out the Quail.

We also nailed the long-term resident Harris' Hawk sitting on a fence post near the beginning of the entrance track and year-ticked Marsh Frog.

Altogether a satisfying quick evening trip.

Pix tomorrow.

John
 
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