Wildlife Getting Closer

[Neal 1,857]

Until about ten years ago, the only time I ever saw red kites was when we went a little farther north (I live in South Hampshire). Now I see several every year.

Also, two species which I always thought of as West Country species were the buzzard and jackdaw. When I was growing up I very rarely saw them until we went on holiday to Cornwall or Devon. I always found that, the farther west we drove, the magpies petered out and were replaced by jackdaws. While I was at art college in Falmouth in the early 90s it was all jackdaws and virtually no magpies. Now, although the magpies are still commonest, I see jackdaws and buzzards daily. 

I wonder if that's why jackdaws are one of my favourite birds; because they remind me of Cornwall.

Edited April 16 by Neal

[greg64 2,806]

2 hours ago, Greyman said:

See ravens most days here in Gloucestershire were I am 

 quite a few Ravens by me on pen llyn and a healthy amount of choughs which breed on the cliffs in front of my house 

Edited April 16 by greg64

[Arry 21,387]

In all my life only ever seen one Red Kite in Devon and that was about two years back right over my house.

Cheers Arry

Edited April 16 by Arry

[Daniel cain 44,996]

31 minutes ago, Arry said:

I all my life only ever seen one Red Kite in Devon and that was about two years back right over my house.

Cheers Arry

In wales,they are like feral pigeons.... everywhere...noticed that theres alot more sparrow/gos hawks about the last 5 seasons,was rare to see them in the 80/90's when I was growing up,same as barn owls

[Greyman 28,104]

1 hour ago, Daniel cain said:

In wales,they are like feral pigeons.... everywhere...noticed that theres alot more sparrow/gos hawks about the last 5 seasons,was rare to see them in the 80/90's when I was growing up,same as barn owls

It’s like owl central round here hooting and screeching from twilight to first light, have seen tawnys barn short and long eared within a mile of me think the goshawk is making a bit of a quiet comeback don’t really see them but they leave sign get a plucked out woodie once or twice a week in the woods and on my walks 

[forest of dean redneck 11,532]

4 hours ago, Greyman said:

I was walking round the local estate recently and saw a green budgie in the woods interacting with a load of other small British birds quite naturally ,saw a pair of macaws flying free in Blaise  castle woods as a kid looked quite impressive in flight think the polecats we are all seeing are bred and released like the otters though otters are now a self sustaining population seems the people behind this rewilding caper have now moved onto pine martinis so should be seeing lots of them sunning themselves on the side of roads this year got this beaver about 25mile from were I live no official release site around here otters have absolutely devastated the water foul population it’s incredible how destructive they are they hit the pike giddy when they came into spawn feb March now absolutely battering the nesting waterfowl finding signs of raided nests most mornings surprising what’s out there when you really look  lol

Yes I went to the public consultation meeting for the Forest of Dean pinemartins it was at Chepstow I was still living in Monmouthshire then . They admitted they had some in pens so it was pretty forgone conclusion they was going to be let out. 
think the wildcats will be next big thing .

[Daniel cain 44,996]

17 minutes ago, forest of dean redneck said:

Yes I went to the public consultation meeting for the Forest of Dean pinemartins it was at Chepstow I was still living in Monmouthshire then . They admitted they had some in pens so it was pretty forgone conclusion they was going to be let out. 
think the wildcats will be next big thing .

As you know,All sorts of stuff, running around that forest,you would never go hungry .

[Arry 21,387]

2 hours ago, Daniel cain said:

In wales,they are like feral pigeons.... everywhere...noticed that theres alot more sparrow/gos hawks about the last 5 seasons,was rare to see them in the 80/90's when I was growing up,same as barn owls

There was no Canadian Geese or Deer when I was kid near me strange how things change. Canadian Geese like a plague now and loads of Deer everywhere.

Cheers Arry

[Greyman 28,104]

1 hour ago, Arry said:

There was no Canadian Geese or Deer when I was kid near me strange how things change. Canadian Geese like a plague now and loads of Deer everywhere.

Cheers Arry

We would drive down to Salisbury plain from Bristol for a run on a roe back in the 80s now there are roe and muntis everywhere and gradually even fallow making more and more appearances locally 

[Greyman 28,104]

Out on my walk this morning otter been at the duck eggs and a nice fat cock pheasant for tea nice mooch 

[gnasher16 30,025]

15 hours ago, WILF said:

Essex is lifting with fallow deer, there’s that big group graze at the side of the M25 of an evening and I don’t think that can be too far from you but more than that, head off into North Essex in the wee small hours and I have seen fields with 70 plus beasts stood in there like they don’t have a care in the world. 

Further out still, head out overnight to Woburn Abbey area and it’s unbelievable, muntjac just walking about at the side of the lanes, fallow, CWD……brilliant 

 

I know where you mean just near the Bell Common Tunnel im literally minutes from there i can look out the window upstairs and see groups of Fallow across the fields most days,Muntjac as well......The Copped Hall Estate which is old Rod Stewart land is a short walk through the forest for me where we often get groups of Roe as well.

[gnasher16 30,025]

2 hours ago, Greyman said:

It’s like owl central round here hooting and screeching from twilight to first light, have seen tawnys barn short and long eared within a mile of me think the goshawk is making a bit of a quiet comeback don’t really see them but they leave sign get a plucked out woodie once or twice a week in the woods and on my walks 

Fair do's mate you get into all the nooks and crannies id love to have the countryside nouse as to know what im looking out for in order to come across such interesting shit i just wander about like a complete div following the dog most of the time   

Edited April 16 by gnasher16

[Greyman 28,104]

1 minute ago, gnasher16 said:

Fair do's mate you get into all the nooks and crannies id love to have the countryside nouse as to know what im looking out for in order to come across such interesting shit i just wander about like a complete div following the dog most of the time   

Cheers mate its a natural curiosity thing I see things and need to no more,( like my cat obsession if I’d never seen one in the flesh I,d be more normal now lol) I grew up in the city on a large council estate, but always just loved being outdoors, 

[forest of dean redneck 11,532]

4 hours ago, Daniel cain said:

As you know,All sorts of stuff, running around that forest,you would never go hungry .

It’s finding the quiet spots now to many people with a camera phone or a go pro

[Franks dad 856]

9 hours ago, Greyman said:

I was walking round the local estate recently and saw a green budgie in the woods interacting with a load of other small British birds quite naturally ,saw a pair of macaws flying free in Blaise  castle woods as a kid looked quite impressive in flight think the polecats we are all seeing are bred and released like the otters though otters are now a self sustaining population seems the people behind this rewilding caper have now moved onto pine martinis so should be seeing lots of them sunning themselves on the side of roads this year got this beaver about 25mile from were I live no official release site around here otters have absolutely devastated the water foul population it’s incredible how destructive they are they hit the pike giddy when they came into spawn feb March now absolutely battering the nesting waterfowl finding signs of raided nests most mornings surprising what’s out there when you really look  lol

Lots of beaver a  mile away  from me as the crow flies …… but I ain’t complaining likes beaver I do’s