-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Guinea Pigs, Notts (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter knotsbirder
- Start date
Farnboro John
Well-known member
After what I've heard about the seventies (I was only born half way through) are you sure you weren't all stoned and looking at the local rats/rabbits which had also grown their hair? :-O
How bizarre. John & I have both recently seen prairie dogs in the wild in the UK. Wonder what else is out there and more importantly what is definitely breeding?
James
stonechat1
New member
Sorry, but I can´t see a proof that they bred in the wild nor can I read about it. This claim of the photographer/observer is nothing then a guess.
5 pigs and every one in another colour is rather the proof that they aren´t related.
5 pigs and every one in another colour is rather the proof that they aren´t related.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
I scanned down the comments about the Notts Guinea Pigs and noticed someone mentioned dumped pet rabbits. I saw a Lop-eared Giant at Moor Green a couple of years ago, and our local hoarder (now sadly deceased, nice chap apart from the hoarding) let his black rabbits run wild up and down our street, so probably dumping of inconvenient pet, and escaping, is rife.
Mark has a fair old list of stuff he has seen and even I have in the past seen Lynx sp, Steller's Sealion, escaped Cairngorm Reindeer and of course Striped Skunk loose in Britain. Then there have been road-accident Golden Cat and shot Lynx reported.So who can come up with more?
John
Mark has a fair old list of stuff he has seen and even I have in the past seen Lynx sp, Steller's Sealion, escaped Cairngorm Reindeer and of course Striped Skunk loose in Britain. Then there have been road-accident Golden Cat and shot Lynx reported.So who can come up with more?
John
knotsbirder
Well-known member
Cheers fellas, it would be interesting to know whether any of the populations of Guinea Pigs on some of the islands are still thriving, having less possible predator species must make this rather likely.
Very interesting John! I'm especially intruiged about the Lynx sp and Steller's Sea Lion, where and when were these?
Thanks all, Sam
Very interesting John! I'm especially intruiged about the Lynx sp and Steller's Sea Lion, where and when were these?
Thanks all, Sam
John Knifton
Active member
Is the Steller's Sealion the female at the Brisons, or have there been others ?
John Knifton
Active member
There certainly used to be a Steller's Sealion in Cornwall. I saw it for the first time around 1988.
I can't remember who told me , but I was given the story that somebody in England had ordered a sealion for their circus from a rather iffy dealer in California. The latter, not being a top zoologist, sent over a Steller's Sealion, which is, apparently, a species unwilling to learn tricks. He should have sent a Californian Sealion, of course.
Anyway, when he discovered the truth, the circus man refused to pay, and released the sealion into the sea somewhere off England. I watched it on and off for seven or eight years from the cliffs to the south of the Cot Valley. It was great ! It was always on the Brisons. Left hand end of the right hand rock. Apparently, it used to play follow my leader with the local Grey Seals, but personally I never saw this. It was, however, even as a female, one hell of an impressive animal.
I can't remember who told me , but I was given the story that somebody in England had ordered a sealion for their circus from a rather iffy dealer in California. The latter, not being a top zoologist, sent over a Steller's Sealion, which is, apparently, a species unwilling to learn tricks. He should have sent a Californian Sealion, of course.
Anyway, when he discovered the truth, the circus man refused to pay, and released the sealion into the sea somewhere off England. I watched it on and off for seven or eight years from the cliffs to the south of the Cot Valley. It was great ! It was always on the Brisons. Left hand end of the right hand rock. Apparently, it used to play follow my leader with the local Grey Seals, but personally I never saw this. It was, however, even as a female, one hell of an impressive animal.
James,
I've never been stoned in my life, perhaps you watched too many mis-informed films & documentaries. I was too busy working and trying to save for a deposit on a house; also the rats and rabbits were much the same then as they are now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Good grief, was that a female? I always assumed it was a male, it was massive!
I never knew the release story, though release always seemed more likely than escape - sealions are not obvious candidates for wire-hopping!
I've told the lynx sp story before, but here goes again briefly.
I was driving overnight to Anglesey for a Bridled Tern (got it) with my mother and her then dog, a half German Shepherd, half Border Collie. We went cross-country and not quite directly in the hope of seeing an owl or two, or maybe even a Polecat (we didn't).
Near Trawsffynydd an animal crossed the road left to right in the headlights then turned and walked towards us along the edge. Long legs, stumpy tail, tufty ears, WHAT THE....
The dog was on the parcel shelf at the back, his usual observation post. He was always OK with deer, dogs, sheep, cows, rabbits, you name it, but he hated cats. He went ballistic at this thing, so all three of us were agreed on the ID.
We were going quite fast and by the time I got stopped and turned round it had left the road. End of sighting.
John
I never knew the release story, though release always seemed more likely than escape - sealions are not obvious candidates for wire-hopping!
I've told the lynx sp story before, but here goes again briefly.
I was driving overnight to Anglesey for a Bridled Tern (got it) with my mother and her then dog, a half German Shepherd, half Border Collie. We went cross-country and not quite directly in the hope of seeing an owl or two, or maybe even a Polecat (we didn't).
Near Trawsffynydd an animal crossed the road left to right in the headlights then turned and walked towards us along the edge. Long legs, stumpy tail, tufty ears, WHAT THE....
The dog was on the parcel shelf at the back, his usual observation post. He was always OK with deer, dogs, sheep, cows, rabbits, you name it, but he hated cats. He went ballistic at this thing, so all three of us were agreed on the ID.
We were going quite fast and by the time I got stopped and turned round it had left the road. End of sighting.
John
John Knifton
Active member
To be honest, I was told that it was a female by the same person who told me the circus story. It certainly was a huge animal, but I reckon that in those days, perhaps information might have been lacking about such an unusual beast. At the time, for example, I had never heard of the species.
I saw the Brisons One mentioned in a book once, and reference was made, I seem to remember, to the fact that all the seals who played follow-my-leader with it were females. Whether that would indicate a male or a female for the Steller's I am not qualified to say.
The animal did, however, always give you something to go and see on a family holiday when there might be no rare birds about in the area. I also reckon that this was the most isolated animal in the world. How far away would the nearest other Steller's Sealion have been ?
I saw the Brisons One mentioned in a book once, and reference was made, I seem to remember, to the fact that all the seals who played follow-my-leader with it were females. Whether that would indicate a male or a female for the Steller's I am not qualified to say.
The animal did, however, always give you something to go and see on a family holiday when there might be no rare birds about in the area. I also reckon that this was the most isolated animal in the world. How far away would the nearest other Steller's Sealion have been ?
Farnboro John
Well-known member
They are a North Pacific species found from California northwards to and presumably into the Bering Sea. These days with the summer ice limit so far North we might have to consider that as a possible direct vagrancy route, but not back then!
John
