I've heard of it numerous times but it always fascinates me to hear of foxes in London.
Two black swans in some flooded fields from the bus today. I don't see them often here.
Urban foxes are more populous than rural foxes in the UK I think - easy food sources and no threat from farmers shooting them or fox hunting (which is officially illegal but illegal hunts still happen).
Black swans aren't native to the UK but we have some here that are escapees from private collections. Near me there are some on the Itchen around Southampton.
During my morning dip and paddle near the shore of the beach here, I am frequently approached by small groups of fearless fishes that occasionally take a nip at something they see on my skin, such as a mole.
Ususally they cluster around my knees and ankles, and only when I am standing on a stony bottom. Their bite doesn't break the skin, and feels like someone scratched me with an emery board. It's sometimes a surprise if I'm not aware they have arrived.
I call them "the nibblers". I really enjoy interacting with them, it's kind of hilarious to be "attacked". They are about the size of a smelt. I looked them up and they appear to be some species of two banded bream.
Today I brought a small scrap of bread with me as an experiment. I held the piece of bread under the water and they ate it from my hand.
During my morning dip and paddle near the shore of the beach here, I am frequently approached by small groups of fearless fishes that occasionally take a nip at something they see on my skin, such as a mole.
Ususally they cluster around my knees and ankles, and only when I am standing on a stony bottom. Their bite doesn't break the skin, and feels like someone scratched me with an emery board. It's sometimes a surprise if I'm not aware they have arrived.
I call them "the nibblers". I really enjoy interacting with them, it's kind of hilarious to be "attacked". They are about the size of a smelt. I looked them up and they appear to be some species of two banded bream.
Today I brought a small scrap of bread with me as an experiment. I held the piece of bread under the water and they ate it from my hand.
Highly entertaining.
AFF
I've had that experience too but in a lake where the water was murky enough you couldn't see WHAT was nipping you. A bit unnerving...
We occasionally see bunnies in our back yard. They are tan/brown. Down by the train station, not half a mile away, the bunnies are black. All of them we can see.
We occasionally see bunnies in our back yard. They are tan/brown. Down by the train station, not half a mile away, the bunnies are black. All of them we can see.
Sounds like there's a melanistic population around the train station. You often see melanistic squirrels and sometimes deer.
It is hot hot hot in foie gras land and the lizards are out in force. They scuttle away as soon as you get close to them though.
Jealous - are they Common Lizards? I know there are some around here but I have never seen one. There are some wall lizards in Kent. Around here slow worms are very common in gardens though.
These little guys. Supposedly they can grow up to 20cm but most of the ones I see tend to be smaller than that. They're pretty common in the South of France.
Saw a green dragon fly this morning on leaving my flat. Quite a surprise in central Sheffield. Not totally unknown at this time of year but that last time I thought it had hitched a lift of a portaloo between festivals.
Lots of swallows gathering on wires, surely too soon. Please stay!
The swifts have gone already. Such a short time, 13-14 weeks, I guess that's part of their magic.
Eta, this seems apt as we were listening to it at Cropredy last night (not enough time to parse the link properly - who knows where the edit time goes?) https://www.sandydenny.co.uk/lyrics/whoknows.htm
Today I had fun again feeding the small fish hanging out on the stony bottom of the beachfront. When I ran out of bread they just kind of clustered around me, all facing toward me, waiting for my next trick.
Today I had fun again feeding the small fish hanging out on the stony bottom of the beachfront. When I ran out of bread they just kind of clustered around me, all facing toward me, waiting for my next trick.
Not sure who was more entertained by whom.
AFF
I was told bread can be harmful for fish in the wild, it was suggested that greens or worms were better.
Well, plover (masked lapwing) swooping season has started. Out on the morning dog walk 3 swoops from a protective parent. Unlike magpies, plovers make a bit of a piercing noise and turn away at a farther distance than our black and white friends.
I usually see them alone or in quite small (2/3) groups but saw 10 or so noisy miners around a small tree on the verge. They live up to their adjective.
Well, plover (masked lapwing) swooping season has started. Out on the morning dog walk 3 swoops from a protective parent. Unlike magpies, plovers make a bit of a piercing noise and turn away at a farther distance than our black and white friends.
I usually see them alone or in quite small (2/3) groups but saw 10 or so noisy miners around a small tree on the verge. They live up to their adjective.
Noisy miners are not only noisy but also are inclined to swoop. I used to encounter a troupe of them who nested in a tree close to the bottom of the hill near GardenIsland ( navy base in Sydney) where I worked and had a few near misses. Interestingly they didn’t go for personnel in uniform who all wore hats!
I think I was watering my garden a little too enthusiastically this afternoon as a little lizard came racing out from under the seaside daisies. He ran across the concrete and hid behind a large pot on the patio. I'm assuming he'll wander back once the water has soaked in a bit.
I did have a good look around to check there weren't any birds lurking that might like to have him (or her) for a little snack.
Lovely walk in local woods* yesterday with lepidopterist Beaky husband and daughter.
Lots of butterflies: Peacock, Red Admiral, Fritillary, Large White, Brimstone, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Small Heath- Plus a couple we didn't manage to identify!
Lovely walk in local woods* yesterday with lepidopterist Beaky husband and daughter.
Lots of butterflies: Peacock, Red Admiral, Fritillary, Large White, Brimstone, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Small Heath- Plus a couple we didn't manage to identify!
*We're near the South Coast in West Sussex
Do you get any of the blue butterflies like the Chalkhill Blue? You must be on chalk downland too.
Lovely walk in local woods* yesterday with lepidopterist Beaky husband and daughter.
Lots of butterflies: Peacock, Red Admiral, Fritillary, Large White, Brimstone, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Small Heath- Plus a couple we didn't manage to identify!
*We're near the South Coast in West Sussex
Do you get any of the blue butterflies like the Chalkhill Blue? You must be on chalk downland too.
We have Holly Blues but if we want to see Chalkhill or Adonis Blues we need to go up onto the real Downs which we don't do as often as we did when we had dogs to exercise!
Today I had fun again feeding the small fish hanging out on the stony bottom of the beachfront. When I ran out of bread they just kind of clustered around me, all facing toward me, waiting for my next trick.
Not sure who was more entertained by whom.
AFF
I was told bread can be harmful for fish in the wild, it was suggested that greens or worms were better.
Noted. Greens it is. We have plenty of cuttings from our salad preps.
Comments
Urban foxes are more populous than rural foxes in the UK I think - easy food sources and no threat from farmers shooting them or fox hunting (which is officially illegal but illegal hunts still happen).
Black swans aren't native to the UK but we have some here that are escapees from private collections. Near me there are some on the Itchen around Southampton.
Ususally they cluster around my knees and ankles, and only when I am standing on a stony bottom. Their bite doesn't break the skin, and feels like someone scratched me with an emery board. It's sometimes a surprise if I'm not aware they have arrived.
I call them "the nibblers". I really enjoy interacting with them, it's kind of hilarious to be "attacked". They are about the size of a smelt. I looked them up and they appear to be some species of two banded bream.
Today I brought a small scrap of bread with me as an experiment. I held the piece of bread under the water and they ate it from my hand.
Highly entertaining.
AFF
I've had that experience too but in a lake where the water was murky enough you couldn't see WHAT was nipping you. A bit unnerving...
We get the standard light brown with a white tail bunnies. What few we see, as there are a zillion hawks and eagles around here.
Sounds like there's a melanistic population around the train station. You often see melanistic squirrels and sometimes deer.
Multiple great egrets (I think; egrets definitely) wading in the water.
I like squirrels.
Jealous - are they Common Lizards? I know there are some around here but I have never seen one. There are some wall lizards in Kent. Around here slow worms are very common in gardens though.
The swifts have gone already. Such a short time, 13-14 weeks, I guess that's part of their magic.
Eta, this seems apt as we were listening to it at Cropredy last night (not enough time to parse the link properly - who knows where the edit time goes?)
https://www.sandydenny.co.uk/lyrics/whoknows.htm
Not sure who was more entertained by whom.
AFF
I was told bread can be harmful for fish in the wild, it was suggested that greens or worms were better.
I usually see them alone or in quite small (2/3) groups but saw 10 or so noisy miners around a small tree on the verge. They live up to their adjective.
Noisy miners are not only noisy but also are inclined to swoop. I used to encounter a troupe of them who nested in a tree close to the bottom of the hill near GardenIsland ( navy base in Sydney) where I worked and had a few near misses. Interestingly they didn’t go for personnel in uniform who all wore hats!
I did have a good look around to check there weren't any birds lurking that might like to have him (or her) for a little snack.
Lots of butterflies: Peacock, Red Admiral, Fritillary, Large White, Brimstone, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Small Heath- Plus a couple we didn't manage to identify!
*We're near the South Coast in West Sussex
Do you get any of the blue butterflies like the Chalkhill Blue? You must be on chalk downland too.
We have Holly Blues but if we want to see Chalkhill or Adonis Blues we need to go up onto the real Downs which we don't do as often as we did when we had dogs to exercise!
Noted. Greens it is. We have plenty of cuttings from our salad preps.
AFF