Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Rod Paradise]

Those who said merlin on my pic above, correct. Beautiful wee birds, seeing them hunt dragonflies is one of the most amazing flying displays you'll see.

This magnificent creature above is (according to the RSPB in a bit of a UKIP manner) - an illegal immigrant from the continent. The Eurasian Eagle Owl is a quite stunningly beautiful, but despite them re-expanding their range in Europe, and being capable of crossing the channel, the RSPB insist any in the UK are escaped pets/falconer's birds. Sadly because they can and do eat any uk prey up to and including buzzards the RSPB say they are a problem argue that there is not evidence of them being a UK species (despite fossil evidence) and may in future support a cull.

As you might guess Ralph I'm VERY jealous, as I count the Eagle Owl as one of my favourite creatures and would love to see one in the wild!!

I saw this handsome fellow on the golf course today and am struggling to figure out what he is:

He wasn't really on the golf course today Rod - but he was on Twitter

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is correctamundo.

They're so rare and where they're known people are keeping it secret if they can, so I'd no way of knowing. Bucketlist sightings for me, Eagle Owl, Goshawk & the White Tailed Sea Eagle.

[typhoon13]

When the beast from the east blew I had a black redstart turn up to feed under my bird table

My first ever sighting of one

On a side note last year I had a goldcrest fly into my office window knocking itself half unconscious  after spending an hour in the office to get its senses back it was able to get on its way again

[Rod Paradise]

When the beast from the east blew I had a black redstart turn up to feed under my bird table

My first ever sighting of one

On a side note last year I had a goldcrest fly into my office window knocking itself half unconscious  after spending an hour in the office to get its senses back it was able to get on its way again

Wow, great work even identifying the black redstart, I think I'd have been stumped, hadn't even heard of them.

We have goldcrests about here, the most ridiculously small eggs you'll see.

[Karabiner]

Those who said merlin on my pic above, correct. Beautiful wee birds, seeing them hunt dragonflies is one of the most amazing flying displays you'll see.

This magnificent creature above is (according to the RSPB in a bit of a UKIP manner) - an illegal immigrant from the continent. The Eurasian Eagle Owl is a quite stunningly beautiful, but despite them re-expanding their range in Europe, and being capable of crossing the channel, the RSPB insist any in the UK are escaped pets/falconer's birds. Sadly because they can and do eat any uk prey up to and including buzzards the RSPB say they are a problem argue that there is not evidence of them being a UK species (despite fossil evidence) and may in future support a cull.

As you might guess Ralph I'm VERY jealous, as I count the Eagle Owl as one of my favourite creatures and would love to see one in the wild!!

I saw this handsome fellow on the golf course today and am struggling to figure out what he is:

He wasn't really on the golf course today Rod - but he was on Twitter

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is correctamundo.

They're so rare and where they're known people are keeping it secret if they can, so I'd no way of knowing. Bucketlist sightings for me, Eagle Owl, Goshawk & the White Tailed Sea Eagle.

They said the pics were taken on the North Yorkshire Moors.

[typhoon13]

When the beast from the east blew I had a black redstart turn up to feed under my bird table

My first ever sighting of one

On a side note last year I had a goldcrest fly into my office window knocking itself half unconscious  after spending an hour in the office to get its senses back it was able to get on its way again

Wow, great work even identifying the black redstart, I think I'd have been stumped, hadn't even heard of them.

We have goldcrests about here, the most ridiculously small eggs you'll see.

I had to sit there with my bird books looking at the bird to get recognition... I didn't know what it was either lol

Then whilst out hunting I mentioned it to somebody and they said that a few sightings had been reported on the east coast between Boston and Skegness

[RED-DOG]

Look at this pheasant relying on it's camouflage. I walked right past it and so did three of the four dogs.

Poppy must have caught the merest whiff of it's scent because she paused, stiffened, sniffed the air for a moment..  and then relaxed with a kind of doggy shrug.

I could tell she wasn't sure she had actually smelled anything.

"I what is it Poppy?" I asked in the type of hissy whisper that's guaranteed to get a dog excited and she immediately started to cast around with renewed enthusiasm.

Within 30 seconds she had pinpointed the source of the scent and was staring intently at a spot in the hedge. Even though she was showing me where to look, it took me several minutes to see it.

It's worth noting that Poppy wouldn't have been able to see it either, but her nose told her exactly what and where it was.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

Up next in this stunning photographic series:

THE BRIDGES OF BLABY COUNTY.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Look at this pheasant relying on it's camouflage. I walked right past it and so did three of the four dogs.

Poppy must have caught the merest whiff of it's scent because she paused, stiffened, sniffed the air for a moment..  and then relaxed with a kind of doggy shrug.

I could tell she wasn't sure she had actually smelled anything.

"I what is it Poppy?" I asked in the type of hissy whisper that's guaranteed to get a dog excited and she immediately started to cast around with renewed enthusiasm.

Within 30 seconds she had pinpointed the source of the scent and was staring intently at a spot in the hedge. Even though she was showing me where to look, it took me several minutes to see it.

It's worth noting that Poppy wouldn't have been able to see it either, but her nose told her exactly what and where it was.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Great story, wonderfully told, thanks Tom.

[tikay]

Up next in this stunning photographic series:

THE BRIDGES OF BLABY COUNTY.


 

Click to see full-size image.

Good to see The Guvnor at the front of the queue.

[Rod Paradise]

Local spotters page had a beautiful shot of one of the peregrines nesting at Threave Castle:

Click to see full-size image.

Threave Castle, stronghold of the Black Douglases. The top floor is currently closed to visitors since the peregrines moved in.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

Local spotters page had a beautiful shot of one of the peregrines nesting at Threave Castle:

Click to see full-size image.

Threave Castle, stronghold of the Black Douglases. The top floor is currently closed to visitors since the peregrines moved in.

Click to see full-size image.

What a great photo.

Mind you, I'm not sure that actually is a peregrine.

[Rod Paradise]

Mind you, I'm not sure that actually is a peregrine.

 

[RED-DOG]

I'll tell you what I find incredible. According to Wiki he highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 242 mph. Now if I do 100mph on a motorcycle the wind almost tears me off it, so how does a bird manage to get through the air so fast.

Terminal velocity for a human falling is 122mph, how is something with the size to weight ratio of a sock in a paper bag capable of going twice as fast?

[typhoon13]

The peregrine probably didn't have its Hobnailed boots on

[Rod Paradise]

I'll tell you what I find incredible. According to Wiki he highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 242 mph. Now if I do 100mph on a motorcycle the wind almost tears me off it, so how does a bird manage to get through the air so fast.

Terminal velocity for a human falling is 122mph, how is something with the size to weight ratio of a sock in a paper bag capable of going twice as fast?

Peak terminal velocity recorded for a human being is 373 mph. http://www.speed-skydiving.com/index.php/rankings



Steamlining helps a OT