Farnboro John
Well-known member
A couple of pictures from the other night as it's a while since I've taken any. Both vixens now in summer coats though Midge's tail doesn't look quite finished yet.
John
John
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John's Mammals 2024 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Farnboro John
- Start date
Allen
Well-known member
John. Just an update on my fox which, as you can see, is becoming brazen! Pottering in garden on hands and knees and suddenly realise I have company boldly approaching to see if there's any hand outs on offer! I think she only had one cub this year as caught her and it on the trailcam one night. And after being fed she decided that next doors garden furniture would be a suitable relaxing spot to rest up!!! Mine gets fed a diet of dog food and dog treats.
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Midge yapped at me last night for not feeding her quickly enough (admittedly I'd chosen to feed both Hoppity and Toff before her but that was for her own good as Toff at least would happily rob her) - I've never known another fox give me an oral "hurry up" before and this isn't the first time she's done it!
If I could talk to the animals........ and they could talk to me - it's not entirely a good thing!
John
If I could talk to the animals........ and they could talk to me - it's not entirely a good thing!
John
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Maz and I had a trip to Northumberland over Sunday and Monday, main target was of course the Bridled Tern on Coquet Island but I was also hoping to photograph Roseate Terns and in the back of my mind was the possibility that if all went well we would have time to visit the Long Nanny so Maz could see the American Black Tern for insurance and I could photograph it in summer plumage (I've pictured a juv at Longham Lakes in Dorset in the past).
After a journey through more sets of roadworks than I've ever seen on the motorway network we first nailed the Bridled Tern with the ol' Swaro at 60X from the dune car park South of Amble, so pressure off. Then we used up a bit of our ample flex at Hauxley Northumberland Wildlife Trust knocking off Tree Sparrow for the year and gaining a smart male Bullfinch into the bargain, not to mention (in front of Maz anyway) three year-tick Brown Rats underneath the feeders. Something I will mention is the excellent scones in the cafe!
Back to Amble and on the boat, pausing at the head of the steps for a chat with Mark Hows just coming off the previous boat with the beaming smile that indicated success. Fingers crossed and onto our own 1630 mission!
The transit to Coquet Island from Amble harbour with Puffin Cruises doesn't take long and soon we were in among Puffin rafts along with the odd Guillemot. On the island itself Puffins stood in serried ranks, while on the low cliffs a few pairs of Fulmars were nesting and Kittiwakes roosting. The boat arrives at the North end of the island but the best action is near the lighthouse buildings and just South of there, where nest tunnels protect Roseate Terns among hordes of Arctic interspersed with Commons, while (relatively) hulking Sandwich Terns form roosts on the flat shelves of rock at the shoreline. Several Grey Seals were either hauled out or bobbing in the small waves for the second mammal year-tick of the day.
Half a dozen Rosies were showing well and occasionally flying about and I got some shots off but most of the passengers were willing the boat onwards to the steps and bare area where the Bridled Tern was hanging out in between fishing trips. Once we got to the right spot the bird was not immediately on show and birders began to scan both land and sky to detect it. Fortunately it wasn't long before someone spotted it: unfortunately it took me a while to get on it partly because I got that feeling of desperation which seems to render normally decent birders unable to get their act together. Somebody described it as being "bird-blind" - I hadn't heard the phrase before but it's spot on!
Anyway once I did lock onto the Bridled Tern I had no further trouble staying with it or coming back to it and even got a few pictures - good record shots not competition winners but I was happy to add it to my photo list at all. I did better with a couple of flying Puffins and a Roseate Tern at the water's edge just after we set off back the way we had come.
We passed the night at the Amble Inn which is a chain inn/motel just out of town and in the morning drove up to see the Yank Black. I'd not realised the car park is where we went for the Grey-headed Lapwing but recognised it as we drove in to park up. I then made a potential mistake by not paying for the full day and risking having to scuttle back for a top-up. It's a nice walk up the track to the tern colony, with Skylarks and Meadow Pipits giving close views and the trio of House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow whipping just past our noses. When we reached the rangers' hut the tern wasn't there: gone fishing!
So we settled down to wait and I took some pictures of Arctic Terns flying about. The light was bright (incidentally we were incredibly lucky with the weather and although it was sometimes windy and there were showers around, we enjoyed sunshine for almost all of both days) and not altogether from a helpful direction but perhaps I can make something arty out of the harsher lit pix.
With plenty of time still on the car park ticket, our target American Black Tern flew in and gave us three flybys before dropping down to the beach beyond the dunes and out of sight. Luckily (there's a lot of luck involved in birding and we had it for once) it soon returned and gave us a prolonged flying display though it only landed for a few seconds and even then was obscured by long grasses.
We added Little Tern to our tally for the trip and returned to the car to start our long journey back South through not only the miles of roadworks but also weekday traffic, but one more wildlife highlight happened as we drove back up the lane when a Weasel ran across the road in front of us. Brief but fabulous! Another one for a fairly short mammal year list as well.
John
After a journey through more sets of roadworks than I've ever seen on the motorway network we first nailed the Bridled Tern with the ol' Swaro at 60X from the dune car park South of Amble, so pressure off. Then we used up a bit of our ample flex at Hauxley Northumberland Wildlife Trust knocking off Tree Sparrow for the year and gaining a smart male Bullfinch into the bargain, not to mention (in front of Maz anyway) three year-tick Brown Rats underneath the feeders. Something I will mention is the excellent scones in the cafe!
Back to Amble and on the boat, pausing at the head of the steps for a chat with Mark Hows just coming off the previous boat with the beaming smile that indicated success. Fingers crossed and onto our own 1630 mission!
The transit to Coquet Island from Amble harbour with Puffin Cruises doesn't take long and soon we were in among Puffin rafts along with the odd Guillemot. On the island itself Puffins stood in serried ranks, while on the low cliffs a few pairs of Fulmars were nesting and Kittiwakes roosting. The boat arrives at the North end of the island but the best action is near the lighthouse buildings and just South of there, where nest tunnels protect Roseate Terns among hordes of Arctic interspersed with Commons, while (relatively) hulking Sandwich Terns form roosts on the flat shelves of rock at the shoreline. Several Grey Seals were either hauled out or bobbing in the small waves for the second mammal year-tick of the day.
Half a dozen Rosies were showing well and occasionally flying about and I got some shots off but most of the passengers were willing the boat onwards to the steps and bare area where the Bridled Tern was hanging out in between fishing trips. Once we got to the right spot the bird was not immediately on show and birders began to scan both land and sky to detect it. Fortunately it wasn't long before someone spotted it: unfortunately it took me a while to get on it partly because I got that feeling of desperation which seems to render normally decent birders unable to get their act together. Somebody described it as being "bird-blind" - I hadn't heard the phrase before but it's spot on!
Anyway once I did lock onto the Bridled Tern I had no further trouble staying with it or coming back to it and even got a few pictures - good record shots not competition winners but I was happy to add it to my photo list at all. I did better with a couple of flying Puffins and a Roseate Tern at the water's edge just after we set off back the way we had come.
We passed the night at the Amble Inn which is a chain inn/motel just out of town and in the morning drove up to see the Yank Black. I'd not realised the car park is where we went for the Grey-headed Lapwing but recognised it as we drove in to park up. I then made a potential mistake by not paying for the full day and risking having to scuttle back for a top-up. It's a nice walk up the track to the tern colony, with Skylarks and Meadow Pipits giving close views and the trio of House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow whipping just past our noses. When we reached the rangers' hut the tern wasn't there: gone fishing!
So we settled down to wait and I took some pictures of Arctic Terns flying about. The light was bright (incidentally we were incredibly lucky with the weather and although it was sometimes windy and there were showers around, we enjoyed sunshine for almost all of both days) and not altogether from a helpful direction but perhaps I can make something arty out of the harsher lit pix.
With plenty of time still on the car park ticket, our target American Black Tern flew in and gave us three flybys before dropping down to the beach beyond the dunes and out of sight. Luckily (there's a lot of luck involved in birding and we had it for once) it soon returned and gave us a prolonged flying display though it only landed for a few seconds and even then was obscured by long grasses.
We added Little Tern to our tally for the trip and returned to the car to start our long journey back South through not only the miles of roadworks but also weekday traffic, but one more wildlife highlight happened as we drove back up the lane when a Weasel ran across the road in front of us. Brief but fabulous! Another one for a fairly short mammal year list as well.
John
prhodes
Well-known member
We also headed up the A1 the other day. The main target was the Stejneger's Scoter, but we also stopped on the way home for the yank Black Tern and the Black-winged Pratincole.
I was particularly pleased however to see these Stoats playing in the dunes near the tern colony at Long Nanny.
I was particularly pleased however to see these Stoats playing in the dunes near the tern colony at Long Nanny.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Clare and I went to see the Canterbury Beavers about ten days ago on at the time privileged information, but now that they are very much in the public domain I can give an account and put some photos up.
We'd been told any time of day but to be honest evening is best. We turned up late morning and stayed two hours without scoring (nice Pike, Perch and Brown Trout though), at which point we decided to nip off to Oare Marshes for the afternoon and then come back - its only thirteen miles each way. I managed to avoid rubbing out an exceptionally entitled Chinese tourist who stood in the middle of the road with her back to me to photograph the walled town's gates.
Oare was great although we missed the Bonaparte's Gull, which would only have been a year tick as it has been a familiar individual for ages. After a quiet start to the year we both added a bunch of year birds as well as nice views of Little Grebes feeding five chicks and a Norfolk Hawker patrolling the ditch. Ruddy Darter was also a year tick.
Anyway, back to Canterbury and the coachloads of tourists filing past the Beaver lodge on the tarmac path. Not to mention small boys fishing, the dominant ones among them telling tall stories about how a Beaver would have your leg off: they were having great fun and not causing disturbance since anglers are quiet by nature. The river is heavily wooded and the Beavers are currently working on one tree. We wondered briefly at the apparent unexpected climbing ability but eventually decided the higher removed bark strips were probably pulled away from below.
We only had to wait about ten minutes for a splendid prolonged view of one of the kits, foraging along the far bank from in the water and then feeding on the submerged banks of weed in the clear stream. Once it disappeared we went off towards Sainsbury's to photograph the other rodents present in profusion along the river but just before leaving we had another brief Beaver encounter, this time with two kits.
Wildlife watching really doesn't get any easier than this, there are even benches along the river from which I would think you can see the Beavers quite often - certainly the ones near the Sainsbury's end are great for Brown Rat.
Cheers
John
Gratuitous Beaver Shots (and one other rodent):
We'd been told any time of day but to be honest evening is best. We turned up late morning and stayed two hours without scoring (nice Pike, Perch and Brown Trout though), at which point we decided to nip off to Oare Marshes for the afternoon and then come back - its only thirteen miles each way. I managed to avoid rubbing out an exceptionally entitled Chinese tourist who stood in the middle of the road with her back to me to photograph the walled town's gates.
Oare was great although we missed the Bonaparte's Gull, which would only have been a year tick as it has been a familiar individual for ages. After a quiet start to the year we both added a bunch of year birds as well as nice views of Little Grebes feeding five chicks and a Norfolk Hawker patrolling the ditch. Ruddy Darter was also a year tick.
Anyway, back to Canterbury and the coachloads of tourists filing past the Beaver lodge on the tarmac path. Not to mention small boys fishing, the dominant ones among them telling tall stories about how a Beaver would have your leg off: they were having great fun and not causing disturbance since anglers are quiet by nature. The river is heavily wooded and the Beavers are currently working on one tree. We wondered briefly at the apparent unexpected climbing ability but eventually decided the higher removed bark strips were probably pulled away from below.
We only had to wait about ten minutes for a splendid prolonged view of one of the kits, foraging along the far bank from in the water and then feeding on the submerged banks of weed in the clear stream. Once it disappeared we went off towards Sainsbury's to photograph the other rodents present in profusion along the river but just before leaving we had another brief Beaver encounter, this time with two kits.
Wildlife watching really doesn't get any easier than this, there are even benches along the river from which I would think you can see the Beavers quite often - certainly the ones near the Sainsbury's end are great for Brown Rat.
Cheers
John
Gratuitous Beaver Shots (and one other rodent):
Farnboro John
Well-known member
I have been away in Bolivia - my first experience of continental South America. There will be a report, my intention is to write the whole thing then start putting instalments up on here. 24 mammal species was good.
While I was away Maz fed the foxes. She was slightly miffed that when she was sitting on her bench outside the front door, with the box of drumsticks, the foxes kept looking past her at the door waiting for me to appear!
On my return on Friday evening I was astonished and gratified to see all the foxes suddenly come much closer than they do normally: since they had been fed by Maz I can only assume it was not a chicken but a John thing and a great welcome back from a bunch of wild animals. Quite emotional actually.
John
While I was away Maz fed the foxes. She was slightly miffed that when she was sitting on her bench outside the front door, with the box of drumsticks, the foxes kept looking past her at the door waiting for me to appear!
On my return on Friday evening I was astonished and gratified to see all the foxes suddenly come much closer than they do normally: since they had been fed by Maz I can only assume it was not a chicken but a John thing and a great welcome back from a bunch of wild animals. Quite emotional actually.
John
Good to see you in the Chilterns recently, John, and hope you don’t mind me hijacking your thread to ask the following:
I’m heading out to Oman in the new year. Does anyone know of a good mammal specialist guide who might help us with spotlighting for Caracal, etc? Many thanks.
I’m heading out to Oman in the new year. Does anyone know of a good mammal specialist guide who might help us with spotlighting for Caracal, etc? Many thanks.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Good to see you too, and I don't mind at all. I assume you've also inquired over on mammal watching.com?
Incidentally while I'm here, on 30 October I went on a combined museums and cathedral trip to Kent with my brother and his family, taking in the Canterbury Beavers again en route from car park to cathedral: we scored at once and on the return trek had one feeding actually on the same bank as we were. Highly recommended, there's a pay car park nearby or you can have two hours free parking at Sainsbury's Kingsmead Road CT1 1BW, walk through the coach park to the river path and turn towards the city. Beavers anywhere along there but perhaps best some 50-100 yards from where you reach the river. Brown Rat also very likely.....
John
