Getting close to wildlife - literally

[PhilJ W]

2 hours ago, Nick Holliday said:

We've had a Trail Camera out to monitor activity at our hedgehog feeding station and hibernatorium for some time, and we've been surprised to capture footage of what we think are bats. The only trouble is that they appear for only a few frames and are usually travelling so fast they are just a blur. Stepping through, frame by frame, the images vary from a narrow flash of light, via an almost dragonfly silhouette to a large parallelogram. In fact I suspect that every Star Wars fighter shape, and more, has appeared. We're convinced that we are seeing a number of different species, does anyone know if anyone could identify them for us?

What is particularly surprising is that the camera is noise/motion activated and only takes 15 seconds of video, and is working some 20 or 30 times a night, yet we seem to get two or three sightings most nights, which would suggest we are receiving many more visits than we are capturing, unless the bats' calls are activating the camera, or the infra-red light attracts them and/or the moths they prey on.  The area under surveillance is only about 15 feet square, enclosed by buildings, a fence and shrubbery, so they are having to drop down to ground level quite sharply, and, although Sutton is a very leafy and green London borough, nonetheless the immediate surroundings are fully residential. 

However, notwithstanding that comment, last November a woodcock turned up in our garden, a bird I've never seen in the wild before

Bats are quite common around our MRC clubroom which is adjacent to a cricket field surrounded by thick hedges.

[PhilJ W]

Just spotted outside of my kitchen window, a dragonfly. Rather unusual as to my knowledge there are no ponds or streams within 500 metres. Quite possible that its been blown off course by the strong breeze. Sorry I was unable to take photographs but it was a reddish brown colour.

[Phil Bullock]

4 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Bats are quite common around our MRC clubroom which is adjacent to a cricket field surrounded by thick hedges.

Always had bats wherever we have lived in England . I think they are more common than they are given credit for. Special too....

[melmerby]

Spotted this in the garden today.

First time we have seen one since we moved here 11 years ago:

 

[boxbrownie]

2 hours ago, Phil Bullock said:

Always had bats wherever we have lived in England . I think they are more common than they are given credit for. Special too....

I think your correct, back in Essex (a small town not middle of the country/no where) I must have fished out a dozen or more bats from our swimming pool on summer mornings where they had skimmed in the night for a drink and misjudged either the surface or coping edge.......always upset me that, where we are now I see them whizzing around the lane’s lamp at night feasting on the various flying beasties attracted to the light.

[Chrisr40]

Build a pond they said, it will attract wildlife they said...

[Barry Ten]

On Friday we took the sd card out of one camera to check it. As we were talking, a weasel walked right past the camera with a baby in its mouth! A minute earlier and we'd have the photographic proof! This is only the third weasel I've seen on our property in 13 years.

[jbqfc]

Humming bird hawk moth in my garden this morning 

humming bird hawk moth by john brace, on Flickr

[Sidecar Racer]

On 03/08/2020 at 23:09, Barry Ten said:

. As we were talking, a weasel walked right past the camera with a baby in its mouth!

 

 There has to a joke there somewhere .   

[J. S. Bach]

On 03/08/2020 at 18:09, Barry Ten said:

 ...snip... the camera with a baby in its mouth!  ...snip...

Odd, I have never seen a camera with a mouth; let alone carrying a baby!

Edited August 5, 2020 by J. S. Bach

[Chrisr40]

3 hours ago, jbqfc said:

Humming bird hawk moth in my garden this morning 

humming bird hawk moth by john brace, on Flickr

We had these and the first time I saw one I did a double take...i havent been drinking and theres a humming bird in Strood.

[boxbrownie]

1 hour ago, J. S. Bach said:

Odd, I have never seen a camera with a mouth; let alone carrying a baby!

SLR’s do have lens throats though 

[boxbrownie]

16 minutes ago, Chrisr40 said:

We had these and the first time I saw one I did a double take...i havent been drinking and theres a humming bird in Strood.

First time I ever saw one was when we moved down here, I had the same reaction as I thought “never thought humming birds were that small!” .......then I realised.

[Barry Ten]

Each time I've gone to my ponds this week I've startled a green woodpecker which has obviously taken a fancy to them. I'm hoping to set up a trap camera to see if I can catch him before he flies off.

[Phil Bullock]

On 05/08/2020 at 13:49, Sidecar Racer said:

 

 There has to a joke there somewhere .   

How can you be sure it wasn’t a stoat? 

[Barry Ten]

1 hour ago, Phil Bullock said:

How can you be sure it wasn’t a stoat? 

 

because stoats are stoatally different etc

[Chrisr40]

1 hour ago, Barry Ten said:

 

because stoats are stoatally different etc

And weasels are weasely wecognised

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, Barry Ten said:

 

because stoats are stoatally different etc

 

31 minutes ago, Chrisr40 said:

And weasels are weasely wecognised

[tigerburnie]

[Barry Ten]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

 

 

Thanks for this, all, gave me a well-needed laugh on a particularly stressful day!

[boxbrownie]

Pretty sure we’ve had two Asian Hornets in the house this weekend.......had a look online and they match the Asian Hornet closer than anything else I can see, angry little bu99ers as well, buzz like fury when trapped.

Would be very happy If somebody who knew better could confirm this, but coincidentally there has been sightings in Fowey as well just a few miles up the road.

 

[boxbrownie]

[Chrisr40]

Why does that last photo put me in mind of the parrot sketch...its bleedin demised!

[sb67]

On 5 August 2020 at 13:22, jbqfc said:

Humming bird hawk moth in my garden this morning 

humming bird hawk moth by john brace, on Flickr

 

Stunning picture John, was that a Buddleia it was on?

[boxbrownie]

2 minutes ago, Chrisr40 said:

Why does that last photo put me in mind of the parrot sketch...its bleedin demised!

Having looked intently for a while on t’net......I have come to the conclusion with eyes that big it must be just a Hoverfly, no sting but BIG and very noisy.......bit of a relief though.