The Wildlife (and Gardening for Wildlife) thread

[6Foot2]

Link 1: Rare albino squirrel spotted in South Downs National Park [The Argus]

 

 

A RARE albino squirrel has been spotted scurrying up a tree in the South Downs.

 

A rambler was shocked when he spotted the animal in Friston Forest in the South Downs National Park.

 

The confident critter happily posed for photos before shooting off up a tree and out of sight.

 

The photographer said: “While wandering in the woods, I spotted a large white thing ahead. Thinking it was a mushroom I went closer.

 

“This is when I realised it was not a mushroom but a rare albino squirrel. The squirrel was quite happy to have his photo taken and stayed around for ten good minutes. A nice way to clear your head and end the day.”...

 

Link 2: White Squirrel and Albino Squirrel - White Squirrels of Sussex

 

[Andrew_C]

On a walk last week - pigs pannaging.

 

Also spotted on the walk - TASTY (NOT!)

 

Edited October 25, 2020 by Andrew_C

[6Foot2]

Link: Prickly business: the hedgehog highway that knits a village together [The Guardian]

 

Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. This was the first lesson from my village safari around Kirtlington in Oxfordshire, home to the UK’s longest volunteer-run hedgehog highway. “Leaving out bread and milk is the worst thing you can do,” says resident Chris Powles, who created the highway. It passes through 60 properties in the village, all linked by CD-sized holes cut into fences and walls, some of which have been around since the 18th century.

 

Hedgehogs need space to create territories, forage and find mates. The compartmentalisation of land into private gardens is one of the causes of their disappearance from our landscape – they have declined by 90% since the second world war. More than 12,000 hedgehog holes have been created as part of the UK’s hedgehog highway network, and Kirtlington has one of the most creative routes on the map. Miniature ramps and staircases thread between gardens in this higgledy-piggledy place, with its 13th-century church and notices about cake sales and “cricketers wanted”.

 

Powles’s eureka moment came in 2016 when he saw hedgehog faeces in his garden. He started putting down food and then realised his hedgehogs needed somewhere to go other than on to the road, so he knocked a hole in the wall (and made miniature stairs) so they could get into his neighbour’s garden...

 

A hedgehog caught on camera using the ramp at Peter Kyte and Zoe Johnson’s house. Photograph: Stephen Powles

[mikeprice]

Went out on bike ride today as usual - what was unusual was that I remembered my camera!

 

going pat a big field I saw loads of gulls - in most of the field they were just sitting there (OK standing - in case any pedants come along)

 

but near me and over to the right they were more agitated and flying around/landing/taking off etc etc

 

I noticed a darker bird - so I stopped - I was a hawk like bird just standing in the field about 50 yards away from the hedge

 

natually - by the time I had stopped and got my camera out it has flown off into the middle of the field. closer looks revealed another one further away - but after a while the second one flew over and they ended up closer together

 

These photos were taken on my superzoom - at max zoom and hand held as there was no convenient fence or gate to steady it

hence rather grainy etc

 

Edited November 5, 2020 by mikeprice

[elsiegee40]

Went out on bike ride today as usual - what was unusual was that I remembered my camera!

 

going pat a big field I saw loads of gulls - in most of the field they were just sitting there (OK standing - in case any pedants come along)

 

but near me and over to the right they were more agitated and flying around/landing/taking off etc etc

 

I noticed a darker bird - so I stopped - I was a hawk like bird just standing in the field about 50 yards away from the hedge

 

natually - by the time I had stopped and got my camera out it has flown off into the middle of the field. closer looks revealed another one further away - but after a while the second one flew over and they ended up closer together

 

These photos were taken on my superzoom - at max zoom and hand held as there was no convenient fence or gate to steady it

hence rather grainy etc

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]59689[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]59690[/ATTACH]

 

Buzzards looking for worms

[mikeprice]

Buzzards looking for worms

 

Do they eat worms???

[elsiegee40]

They certainly do. They eat bigger things too, but after a spell of wet weather worms are a very easy catch.

 

Kestrels are quite fond of them too

[Andrew_C]

Things I filmed in my garden on a borrowed IR trap:-

 

 

 

[elsiegee40]

I think our hogs have hibernated. We haven’t seen them for a couple of weeks now. We regularly get Wood Mice in the garden and, last night, the camera caught a rat for the first time ever. It polished off the remaining hedgehog food and I shan’t be putting any more out until the spring. I guess the rat will move on.

[Andrew_C]

I think some of our hogs are still visiting; or else that rat is going to explode!

[6Foot2]

We had another visitor today (not a moth, this time)

 

A robin was trapped in one of our Technology classrooms:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]58684[/ATTACH]...

I have just helped a robin find a way out of our conservatory.

 

The first I knew of it was a surprised 'squeak' from 5Foot2. I don't think our visitor has left us any 'presents'

 

No pictures this time, as it seemed more important to get him/her out and stop the repeated impacts on the windows.

 

[elsiegee40]

Jay we saw on our walk this morning

 

[Ditto]

Jay we saw on our walk this morning

Seriously long claws on show!

[6Foot2]

Link:

[Picture Tweet]

 

spider mobile home

 

[elsiegee40]

Link:

[Picture Tweet]

 

 

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]59703[/ATTACH]

 

It might regret that in rutting season

[Ditto]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but decided this was the best place. This is a local news story for me, but it's a feel good update about the outrageously talented Brian May of Queen fame doing his bit for hedgehogs and other wildlife. https://www.guildford-dragon.com/2020/11/09/queen-star-brian-may-saves-burphams-threatened-hedgehogs-as-sainsburys-surrenders/. For non-locals, it's pronounced 'Burfam', not 'Burp-am'

[StevieM]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but decided this was the best place. This is a local news story for me, but it's a feel good update about the outrageously talented Brian May of Queen fame doing his bit for hedgehogs and other wildlife. https://www.guildford-dragon.com/2020/11/09/queen-star-brian-may-saves-burphams-threatened-hedgehogs-as-sainsburys-surrenders/. For non-locals, it's pronounced 'Burfam', not 'Burp-am'

I love that Brian May's trust is called 'Save Me'. I've got it buzzing around in my head now.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I love that Brian May's trust is called 'Save Me'. I've got it buzzing around in my head now.

 

This one?

 

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Or this one?

 

 

They're both equally ear-wormy

[DaveTheTech]

Quite a few Save Me videos!

[elsiegee40]

[jmak]

I think some of our hogs are still visiting; or else that rat is going to explode!

They don't tend to live alone...

[elsiegee40]

Someone checking their bird feeder on the Isle of Wight found a dormouse had moved in [emoji7]

 

Edited November 18, 2020 by elsiegee40

[6Foot2]

Link: Tiny owl rescued from New York Rockefeller Center Christmas tree [bBC News]

 

 

It's been a big few days for a tiny bird.

 

A saw-whet owl is recovering at a wildlife refuge in New York state after it was discovered clinging to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

 

The bird was found by workers helping to transport the spruce 170 miles from Oneonta, New York, to New York City.

 

"It's just a story out of a movie," said Ravensbeard Wildlife Center director Ellen Kalish, who is caring for the owl.

 

After the feathered stowaway - now named Rockefeller - was dropped off with Ms Kalish and taken to the wildlife centre, her team began giving him fluids and "all the mice he will eat". Rockefeller had not had anything to eat or drink during his three-day road trip. "It's amazing he didn't get crushed," Ms Kalish said.

 

Rockefeller was taken to the vet on Wednesday night for a check-up and some X-rays, but Ms Kalish said he appears to be in great condition considering his adventurous week.

 

"So far, he's pensive and cautious. Very alert, bright-eyed," she said. "And the cuteness factor is just off the charts."...

[6Foot2]

Link: Tiny owl rescued from New York Rockefeller Center Christmas tree [bBC News]...

Link: Rocky the owl back in the wild after Rockefeller Christmas tree rescue in New York [bBC News]

 

Good news for fans of Rocky the owl - the bird found in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

 

It's believed the feathered stowaway hitched a ride when the tree was being transported to New York City - and she'd gone three days without food or drink when she was rescued.

 

The Northern saw-whet owl was nursed back to health at Ravensbeard Wildlife Center, with plenty of fluids and "all the mice she could eat".