The Wildlife (and Gardening for Wildlife) thread

[StevieM]

I've had wildlife on my decking project too. Didn't start when it was outrageously hot... Now gopping down!

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BD8vrbjmPGSV8pAX6

 

Is that a killer rabbit about to jump out on the cat from behind?

 

[Andrew_C]

Doorstop - AKA - "Deformed Rabbit"

[Dos_Box]

A bush bog cricket snapped at Foulshaw Moss in Cumbria the other week.

My brain keeps calling it a bog brush cricket!

 

[elsiegee40]

A bush bog cricket snapped at Foulshaw Moss in Cumbria the other week.

My brain keeps calling it a bog brush cricket!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66365[/ATTACH]

 

I have a similar problem with the Pied Flycatcher. I was really excited to see this female last week, but it keeps coming out as Flyed Piecatcher [emoji3]

[6Foot2]

Is that a killer rabbit about to jump out on the cat from behind?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66363[/ATTACH]

 

 

[6Foot2]

We had a visitor to our washing today as it dried in the afternoon sun:

 

 

*It was the washing that was drying, not the speckled wood butterfly.

 

[elsiegee40]

On Monday we went to RSPB Snettisham to see the murmurations of migrating waders. A particular combination of tides at dawn and dusk sets off these enormous spectaculars and and it was simply amazing.

 

Most unexpected was that the birds were largely silent, but you could hear their wingbeats. There were tens of thousands of birds and many settled on the fresh water gravel pit behind the beach which was equally amazing. Again you could hear them shuffling around.

 

 

Sound up to hear the wings

 

I really recommend doing this. Dates of when the murmurations are likely to be most spectacular are on the reserve website

 

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/snettisham/

Edited September 15, 2022 by elsiegee40

[southhamster]

On Monday we went to RSPB Snettisham to see the murmurations of migrating waders. A particular combination of tides at dawn and dusk sets of these enormous spectaculars and and it was simply amazing.

 

Most unexpected was that the birds were largely silent, but you could hear their wingbeats. There were tens of thousands of birds and many settled on the fresh water gravel pit behind the beach which was equally amazing. Again you could hear them shuffling around.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66400[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66401[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]66403[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66402[/ATTACH]

 

Sound up to hear the wings

 

I really recommend doing this. Dates of when the murmurations are likely to be most spectacular are on the reserve website

 

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/snettisham/

Looks like an amazing display. I went to RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset a few years to see the starling murmuration. Quite something.to see all those bird flying about together.

[southhamster]

During the heatwave our pond almost dried up but we've refilled it with rainwater and put a solar powered oxygenator in which has revived it. Here is a greenfinch with 2 young ones having a drink. Trail cam pic is not brilliant but good enough.

[elsiegee40]

We have had two young vixens visiting our garden from when they were first free range cubs earlier this year. They’re easy to tell apart because one has an ear missing.

 

Last night we realised that the one eared fox is blind in one eye too. We have no idea what happened to her and she has always seemed as healthy as the other vixen.

[6Foot2]

Perhaps a little outside the "normal range" of this thread, but I wasn't sure where else it might go:

 

Link: Gorilla clutches nurse's hand as he undergoes health check [Ladbible]

 

 

A photographer who captured heartwarming images of a gorilla holding a nurse's hand during a health check has spoken out about the experience.

 

At the Buffalo Zoo in New York, the 34-year-old western lowland gorilla named Koga - who weighs a whopping 400lb - is required to undergo a 'health MOT' biannually to make sure he's fit and well.

 

Christian Dobosiewicz took pictures during Koga's 'health MOT' and captured a wholesome moment of the gorilla clutching one of the nurse's hands.

 

The zoo's team were checking on Koga's teeth, eyes, muscles, joints and heart, making sure everything's working in perfect order and that the gorilla isn't at risk of heart disease.

 

In order to undergo the check-up, Koga had to be placed unconscious.

 

"It's a big process and takes a big team to ensure everything goes smoothly.

 

"He is huge and can be a very dangerous animal, so it can be tense to begin with, but our team are remarkable," Dobosiewicz explained.

 

Although, the team were immediately put at ease as soon as they caught sight of Koga holding a nearby veterinary nurse's hand while his heart was being checked.

 

Dobosiewicz noted how the gesture exemplifies the kind nature of the animal, explaining how the gorilla may give off 'mean looks' but that it's his 'role as the protector' of his troop.

 

Dobosiewicz added how Koga has been a 'very good father' ever since coming to the zoo in 2007.

 

"He is really good with keepers and responds well to training sessions and behind the scenes he is always playing with the kids," he continued.

 

Dobosiewicz reflected on how 'incredible' it was to 'see the size of [Koga's] hands and fingers'.

 

"I put my hands up against his and it puts a lot of things into perspective.

 

"It's very cool to see it how powerful and strong he is, as well as getting so close to such an interesting animal," he continued.

 

The photographer and author of the zoo's news added that the team are 'always on the ball' and 'professional' so it's 'never nerve racking' getting so up close and personal with an animal anyway. "I know how amazing they are at their job," he said.

 

Dobosiewicz concluded: "Everything went well during the examination and Koga is as happy and healthy as ever."

[LeMarchand]

When your cat thinks he's an outdoor cat but rings the doorbell at 12am because he's scared.

 

Edited September 26, 2022 by LeMarchand

[elsiegee40]

When your cat thinks he's an outdoor cat but rings the doorbell at 12am because he's scared.

 

https://v16-webapp.tiktok.com/d1102632023ada55576db2207a7e1910/6331ef2b/video/tos/maliva/tos-maliva-ve-0068c799-us/fe2d711e05c54abf8f55ef313aca225a/?a=1988&ch=0&cr=0&dr=0&lr=tiktok_m&cd=0%7C0%7C1%7C 0&cv=1&br=708&bt=354&cs=0&ds=3&ft=gKSYZ8QLo0PD1S 5Y ayg9wKX2O5LiaQ2D~54&mime_type=video_mp4&qs=0&rc=Nz VmZmlnM2dpZ2UzZTk1ZkBpMzZoOzU6Zm1wZjMzZzczNEAyX18x MV5iNV4xLmAzMl5iYSNlNnNfcjQwajBgLS1kMS9zcw%3D%3D&l =20220926172733010190209214232E4168&btag=80000

 

Link doesn’t work @LeMarchand

[LeMarchand]

Link doesn’t work

 

Must have been cached on my machine. Edited - hopefully works now.

[elsiegee40]

Must have been cached on my machine. Edited - hopefully works now.

No @LeMarchand… 404 now

[6Foot2]

No @LeMarchand… 404 now

[ATTACH]66486[/ATTACH]

 

Hmm. Works for me.

 

 

[LeMarchand]

No @LeMarchand… 404 now

 

Hmm. Works for me.

 

Seems OK here (at work) but just tried from my mobile and get the 404. Last try (probably not worth the build up!):

 

That didn't work, can't see why. Better do some work now!

Edited September 27, 2022 by LeMarchand

[6Foot2]

Seems OK here (at work) but just tried from my mobile and get the 404. Last try (probably not worth the build up!):

 

That didn't work, can't see why. Better do some work now!

 

Works for me (as struck through link) on both Chromebook and Android phone.

 

[6Foot2]

Link: Keyworth street named Britain's best for hedgehogs - BBC News

 

A village where residents have drilled holes in their fences to create wildlife corridors for hedgehogs has won a national award.

 

Dale Road, in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, has been named Britain's Biggest Hedgehog Street by two wildlife charities.

 

Residents said they were thrilled at the news.

 

Hedgehogs were listed as vulnerable to extinction on the Red List for Britain's Mammals 2020.

 

Jennifer Manning-Ohren, who lives in the village, set up a group to help the animals called Wild Things Keyworth in July 2020.

 

She said she had started it to get people to share photographs of natural habitats on social media.

 

"What became evident was that we were getting more and more hedgehog footage," she said.

 

After becoming concerned concrete fencing was acting as a barrier to the creatures, she encouraged residents to drill holes in their fences, leading to dozens of little paths between gardens to allow hedgehogs to interact.

 

"There was one gap we made that was used that same night, within three hours of creating it," she said.

 

Ms Manning-Ohren added: "For one of our roads in Keyworth to be awarded the title of Britain's Biggest Hedgehog Street is a huge achievement and has shown a lot of community spirit.

 

"We have been appointing 'Super Hedgehog Carers' to create a kind of pit stop for hedgehogs where we provide feed stations, hedgehog houses and gaps, and we encourage these contacts to spread the hedgehog love on their road.

 

"We focused our efforts on Dale Road, doing garden visits, drillings, creating ramps and decorating gaps. Some residents were able to do their own gaps too."

 

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People's Trust for Endangered Species, who together ran the Hedgehog Street campaign called on more people to connect their gardens to allow hedgehogs to roam between them, so the creatures could find food, mates and nesting materials.

 

Grace Johnson, from the Hedgehog Street project, said: "Hedgehogs are a much-loved native species, and helping them, particularly in urban areas, is easy and affordable.

 

"We know gardens can be havens for hedgehogs, but only if they're connected to let hedgehogs in and out."

 

🦔

[6Foot2]

Link: Miracle recovery for baby hedgehog found on 'on death's door' in Newquay | ITV News West Country

 

 

A hedgehog has made a miraculous recovery and is ready to be released back into the wild after being found 'on death's door' in Newquay.

 

Honey the Hedgehog arrived at Prickles and Paws animal sanctuary in Cubert in August.

 

The hoglet was severely underweight and battling pneumonia and ringworm. At two weeks old, she weighed just 97g - the same as a deck of cards.

 

Staff feared she would not survive a week after being rescued due to dehydration and the fact she was a fifth of her expected size. They put her on a course of antibiotics as well as putting aloe vera on her dry skin to help it heal.

 

But honey has miraculously been nursed back to health in just four weeks. She now weighs 618g, and she has also now started to develop spikes.

 

Education lead Emma Brown told ITV News West Country: "Honey needed to be hand-fed every four hours but she very quickly she then started eating by herself.

 

"When she arrived she required the highest level of care so we started off by putting her in the incubator.

 

"She was then moved to a hutch and she grew more fur and eventually spikes.

 

"She started being able to fight off infection and on October 3 she graduated to an outdoor hut in the cooler air to make sure she is maintaining her weight.

 

"It makes us feel quite humble that we have been able to help wild animals. We are in a very privileged position and are proud of all our volunteers who make what we do possible.

 

The plan is now for the charity to release Honey back into the wild as she has spent some time in an outdoor hutch.

 

She is one of more than 1,000 hedgehogs that will be rescued this year by volunteers at Prickle sand Paws.

 

[elsiegee40]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-63192608

[Andrew_C]

Hoglet off to the local rescue Sunday. Saw it out in the morning, but caught it when it came back mid-afternoon. Only 140g, spot of mange, but otherwise looked healthy. Certainly enjoyed tucking into a pouch of Whiskers while Mrs_C made contact with the rescue. Apparently, they've had several from near us over the last couple of weeks.

[LeMarchand]

Wildlife Photographer of the Year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63209350

 

Some great pics, but be warned the winner is of a bee orgy.

[6Foot2]

Link: Newbridge: Crashed owl outline discovered on patio doors - BBC News

 

 

The outline of an owl which crashed into a window has been found on patio doors in Caerphilly county.

 

Michael Kimber took the picture after the owl apparently slammed into the patio windows of his home.

 

However, he said it was nowhere to be found when we woke up and found the imprint on Monday morning.

 

The owner of an owl sanctuary said the owl was probably being chased by another bird.

 

Mr Kimber, 49, who who runs a business in Newbridge said: "My girlfriend wants the door cleaned, but I just can't stop looking at it.

 

"If you zoom into the picture you can actually see the detailing of the feathers and its eyes!"

 

Mr Kimber and his girlfriend came home from a weekend in Jersey late on Sunday evening, so decided to go straight to bed that evening.

 

When he woke up the next morning, he walked past the patio doors and spotted a new pattern on the glass.

 

"As my early morning eyes started focusing, I could see this splat and I could see what it was - an owl in full flight.", he said.

 

"Of course I had to get my girlfriend out of bed. We had a look around for it, but it was gone.

 

"We live in a semi-rural location here, if it was injured it would definitely still be there."

 

Patricia Webb, owner of Festival Park Owl Sanctuary in Ebbw Vale said the occurrence was not common.

 

She said: "The most probable reason is that the owl was being chased by another bird.

 

"It was probably being chased by something and would have flown into the window thinking it was an open space."

 

The day after finding the imprint, Michael said he still hasn't cleaned the door yet.

 

🦉

[mavhc]

Put dots on your windows https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8953498/