Conservation Thread

Goweresque · Jul 7, 2019

One of 4 fledgling barn owls that are just emerging from the owl box in an old dutch barn (which as you can see is a dumping ground for all manner of junk). A chap comes every year to check the boxes and ring any young.

RushesToo · Jul 7, 2019

Goweresque said:
View attachment 818072
One of 4 fledgling barn owls that are just emerging from the owl box in an old dutch barn (which as you can see is a dumping ground for all manner of junk). A chap comes every year to check the boxes and ring any young.

That so looks like you photoshopped a 2D image of "something that looks a little like an owl"

For the reason that this is so clearly a terrible fake it has to be real - Well done

ps. they like frogs - I guess round you it is mice?

Danllan · Jul 7, 2019

RushesToo said:
That so looks like you photoshopped a 2D image of "something that looks a little like an owl"

For the reason that this is so clearly a terrible fake it has to be real - Well done

ps. they like frogs - I guess round you it is mice?

It does look remarkably like the quality of owl 'decoy' that my children - all at primary school - would make from cardboard etc. and that I would have to admire.

Goweresque · Jul 7, 2019

Danllan said:
It does look remarkably like the quality of owl 'decoy' that my children - all at primary school - would make from cardboard etc. and that I would have to admire.

It was definitely real

there was another one flapping around at the back and it flew out before I could get a picture, but the other one stayed put and just looked at me. Unfortunately my phone is prehistoric, so the camera is not that special.

RushesToo said:
ps. they like frogs - I guess round you it is mice?

I would have thought so. I often see the adults flying around the grassland and arable margins, I assume its mice and voles they're after.

Vincent · Jul 8, 2019

We have two leverets about the house, have a few every year they must think it's safe to be near the house.

Kevtherev · Jul 8, 2019

Something has been setting off the security light in our outside porch last few nights.
Found the culprit
Mr bat after moths etc.
Young pippestrelle I think.

Danllan · Jul 8, 2019

Goweresque said:
It was definitely real there was another one flapping around at the back and it flew out before I could get a picture, but the other one stayed put and just looked at me. Unfortunately my phone is prehistoric, so the camera is not that special...

I too have a clockwork 'phone, ten years old and counting - but I like it and, recently, even found out how to get to the calendar via a shortcut.

Mrs Danllan says that my 'phone's camera is very 'special'...

Pan mixer · Jul 9, 2019

Ermine moth or tiger moth caterpillar?

Whichever, I am not touching it.

Goweresque · Jul 14, 2019

As I begin to clear my arable margins of hay, its clear I'm actually running a deer and hare farm, as they are everywhere. And at dusk last night as I took the dogs out I saw the barn owl fledglings again, all flying now, I don't think I've ever seen so many barn owls in one place before, 4 of them. One of them hissed just as it flew over me, I jumped about a foot in the air.

Pan mixer · Jul 14, 2019

A birding anorak I know told me about barn owls attacking as I was complaining to him about ruining the state of my underpants following one of those hissing 'surprises' like you had.

He reckoned that seasoned birders will only ever carry a torch at arms length in barn owl territory as they attack the light.

This was, and is, really comforting to me when I do the night check around the yard every night wearing my trusty head torch.

I have only been targeted once though but it was memorable for the no warning silent approach and then suddenly, Aaaargh.

Brisel · Jul 14, 2019

Princess Pooper · Jul 14, 2019

Pan mixer said:
A birding anorak I know told me about barn owls attacking as I was complaining to him about ruining the state of my underpants following one of those hissing 'surprises' like you had.

He reckoned that seasoned birders will only ever carry a torch at arms length in barn owl territory as they attack the light.

This was, and is, really comforting to me when I do the night check around the yard every night wearing my trusty head torch.

I have only been targeted once though but it was memorable for the no warning silent approach and then suddenly, Aaaargh.

I've had that too, it's absolutely petrifying (wasn't wearing a head torch, luckily). The photo above shows an owl in classic 'make myself as tall and scarey looking as possible' mode when feeling threatened.

FG. · Jul 15, 2019

Unfortunately the camera doesn't seem to have shown the staggering amount of butterflies.
I left a good chunk of the field to cut in a week or two.
This field has always been like this, it gets fert and spot sprayed occasionally.
My mowing got progressively wobblier as I watched the Kytes and Buzzards gliding on the thermals

Short_Angus · Jul 15, 2019

@Pan mixer look away now

The 4 chicks are all flying now

Just can't get a pic of them all together apart from the blurry one above.

Cab-over Pete · Jul 15, 2019

Cracking.

Kevtherev · Jul 17, 2019

Lots of grass hoppers on this site

Cropper · Jul 17, 2019

Had a strange feeling I was being watched this morning.

RushesToo · Jul 17, 2019

@Pan mixer @Cropper has some of those devils for you.

It is a good year for them.

Kevtherev · Jul 18, 2019

Anyone know what type of lizard this is ?
Not a clue on reptiles.

RushesToo · Jul 18, 2019

Mine don't have the blue stripe - but whatever you are doing they are happy bunnies and fat on it.

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