The Wildlife (and Gardening for Wildlife) thread

[elsiegee40]

Useful link if you find sick or injured wildlife.

 

HelpWildlife maintains a searchable database of rescues and wildlife hospitals. You can search by location and species. However, you may do better to remove the species from your search as some cover multiple species and don’t always show.

 

https://helpwildlife.co.uk/map/

[elsiegee40]

 

Went out on a Harvest Mouse survey with ecologist daughter this afternoon. She needed to resurvey an area we last surveyed together 3 years ago.

 

We were looking for nests in longer grass by brambles. They’re easier to find in winter when the undergrowth is dying back.

 

The area is by the river behind Aldi and the golf driving range which doesn’t sound promising, but I’m pleased to report the Harvest Mice are still there

[elsiegee40]

Today in adventures of a wildlife care volunteer... I was based in the rescue’s intensive care unit (ICU) where all the new admissions start their treatment. I bring you a tale of 3 tiny voles probably less than 2 weeks old.

 

Their nest was dug out by accident in someone’s garden yesterday afternoon and they arrived with us huddled together and very, very cold. One of them looked like it was very unlikely to survive.

 

They needed warming quickly and standard practice with tiny animals and birds is to pop it in your bra (I’m not sure what the men do [emoji23])

 

I, ahem, had enough room for a party of 3 so in they went and ten minutes later they started to fidget so they were then to be transferred to a critter box. Except they had other ideas. I ended up kneeling on the floor, to stop them falling, and gradually peeling off my sweatshirt... and then my shirt while two of the (female) staff attempted to catch them. [emoji23]

 

We succeeded! And yes I did find tiny vole poop in my bra when I went for a shower when I got home [emoji23]

 

Here are two of the 3 miscreants

 

We also had a very young baby hedgehog admitted. It’s far too small to hibernate. She was syringe fed a mixture of puppy mousse and puppy milk and is now with one of our human foster mummies for the winter [emoji4]

Edited November 30, 2020 by elsiegee40

[Ditto]

I clicked on the first photo and then clicked next a couple of times to see the three voles. When I saw the third photo, I thought, "Gees, that must have been uncomfortable". Edited November 30, 2020 by Ditto

[RobD]

I've just bought a bird box with camera for my wife for Christmas, starting to think I should of got a bird table camera but hey-ho. Still very excited.

[Ditto]

Not the best photo, but this was given our dying (dead?) prunus a right hammering!

[StevieM]

Not the best photo, but this was given our dying (dead?) prunus a right hammering!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]60055[/ATTACH]

 

I heard a woodpecker in the local park, this morning, for the first time in several months.

[Andrew_C]

Funnily enough, walking to the other end of the school this morning, I pointed out a green woodpecker. No pics though...

[mikeprice]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-55193809

 

This sort of stuff makes me mad

 

the landowner should be fined to such an extent that he owns no more land

 

there really is no excuse for this sort of environmental vandalism

 

even the river seems to have been moved into a straight line - that is serious earthworks - cannot be accidental - never mind the trees that have been destroyed

 

 

this must have been done for money - either increasing field size or selling it for housing or something

 

 

when it happens it need to be cracked down on in a serious manner

[elsiegee40]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-55193809

 

This sort of stuff makes me mad

 

the landowner should be fined to such an extent that he owns no more land

 

there really is no excuse for this sort of environmental vandalism

 

even the river seems to have been moved into a straight line - that is serious earthworks - cannot be accidental - never mind the trees that have been destroyed

 

 

this must have been done for money - either increasing field size or selling it for housing or something

 

 

when it happens it need to be cracked down on in a serious manner

 

Furious reaction in this household too

[6Foot2]

Link: Utah Wildlife Overpass Working Like A Charm [unofficial Networks]

 

 

...The $5 million Parleys Canyon Wildlife Overpass in northern Utah near Salt Lake City is indeed working as intended. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources shared these trail cam videos confirming the animal friendly bridge over I-80 built in 2018 is well traveled by everything from bears, deer, bobcats, and moose. Safer for cars, safer for animals, win win.

 

 

Video Credit: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. | Back in 2018, the Utah Department of Transportation opened a $5 million overpass across six lanes of the highway as part of an effort to reduce crashes between cars and animals. It was the state's first project like this.

 

The DOT and researchers at Utah State University have been monitoring the new system ever since. And, it appears to be working remarkably well.

 

For two years, the Parleys Canyon Wildlife Overpass has allowed critters to stroll and sprint across I-80 without having to worry about the fast cars down below. The overpass is covered in rocks and logs to make the animals feel right at home, and it's got high fencing to make sure they don't accidentally tumble off.

[elsiegee40]

You’ll need Facebook to see otters in the middle of Salisbury

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/584172192045787/permalink/1087550241707977/

Edited December 6, 2020 by elsiegee40

[AJWhite1970]

Finally something else the back of Tesco can be famous for*

 

They were spotted earlier in the year in a similar spot, so nice to see them back fit and healthy but gutted I missed them in real life as I walked past that spot yesterday morning.

 

*For those who don’t know Salisbury, that video was shot from almost the exact spot the Skripal’s were found on the bench that is no longer there

[Ditto]

Saw this on my lunch 'keeping sane' walk. I guessed the name purely by it's appearance! apparently this one is small as they can get quite large.

 

Latin name is Sparassis crispa. Apparently edible and tasty - but I'll leave it to the expert foragers. Great informational video at https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/cauliflower-fungus/

[6Foot2]

Link: Countryfile Plant Britain

 

 

Countryfile launches Plant Britain, an ambitious two-year challenge aimed at galvanising everyone in the nation to get planting - no matter where you live or how large or tiny a space you may have - to help combat climate change and at the same time, boost our wellbeing and wildlife.

 

Matt Baker is in Cheshire, planting the very first trees in what will become the Countryfile Plant Britain wood, while Anita Rani is in her home town of Bradford, helping residents of the Canterbury Estate to plant trees in their front gardens and at the local primary school. Anita is also on her home turf in Hackney, discovering how her local area is going green with help from voluntary organisation Tree Musketeers.

 

Margherita Taylor is at Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire, discovering exactly how trees capture carbon. Steve Brown is in Neath, south Wales, to learn which trees to plant in which location, while John Craven discovers a micro-forest close to his home and plants a simple window box to demonstrate how you can still do your bit even if your outdoor space may just be a window ledge. Ellie Harrison climbs high at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire, finding out how trees function as a vital life support system for Britain’s wildlife.

 

There are also special messages from such well-known tree lovers as HRH The Prince of Wales, Dame Judi Dench and Brian May.

[Andrew_C]

The second picture in this article is DEFINITELY NOT a dormouse.

 

New Forest dormouse on the BBC

[6Foot2]

The second picture in this article is DEFINITELY NOT a dormouse.

 

New Forest dormouse on the BBC

 

From the linked report:

 

...He and his partner - both knowledgeable about native small mammals - were initially "perplexed" by the creature...

 

Understandable!

[mikeprice]

The second picture in this article is DEFINITELY NOT a dormouse.

 

New Forest dormouse on the BBC

 

it is a VERY big dormouse???

 

are animals allowed to self identify???

[stevejp]

it is a VERY big dormouse???

 

are animals allowed to self identify???

 

I’m sure someone, somewhere has formed/will form a group to stand up for their right to self-identify...

[elsiegee40]

If you’re on Instagram and need something to make you feel better about the world, I suggest you follow the adventures of Beave, an orphan baby beaver, being rehabbed by his rescuer

https://instagram.com/beaverbabyfurrylove?igshid=36h6mh4pzuai

Edited December 13, 2020 by elsiegee40

[Andrew_C]

Anyone got any clues about sea birds? Got one visiting the garden. Almost all white, thin black chinstrap, small (for a gull).

 

Tried RSPB site but can't see it.

[6Foot2]

Anyone got any clues about sea birds? Got one visiting the garden. Almost all white, thin black chinstrap, small (for a gull).

 

Tried RSPB site but can't see it.

 

Does this help?

 

Link: Bird Id - Bird Identification by colour, size etc

 

[Andrew_C]

Nope. A terny sort of thing, but no match. Might be a seasonal plumage issue.

 

I'll try to get a pic, but it doesn't stop still for long.

[6Foot2]

Nope. A terny sort of thing, but no match. Might be a seasonal plumage issue.

 

I'll try to get a pic, but it doesn't stop still for long.

 

How about this search?

 

Link: Identify a Bird [RSPB]

 

[elsiegee40]

Nope. A terny sort of thing, but no match. Might be a seasonal plumage issue.

 

I'll try to get a pic, but it doesn't stop still for long.

 

The terns should all have buggered off somewhere warmer by now. Sometimes the summer plumage black head doesn’t fade completely and that’s what might leave a chinstrap.

 

Black headed, Mediterranean or Little Gull in winter plumage is all I can think of.

 

Photo would be handy