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Roger Parsons
21 April 2024 10:24:20
Anyone heard a cuckoo yet? We have had a few sightings in Lincolnshire.
BTO project: Satellite tracking of cuckoos:
https://www.bto.org/cuckoos 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
21 April 2024 13:08:01

Anyone heard a cuckoo yet? We have had a few sightings in Lincolnshire.
BTO project: Satellite tracking of cuckoos:
https://www.bto.org/cuckoos 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


No.
I have yet to see a swallow.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
21 April 2024 13:30:13

No.
I have yet to see a swallow.

Originally Posted by: NMA 

See this Lincs Bird Club link for a local sample. Swifts, swallows, house/sandmartins and ring ouzels.
Lincolnshire Latest Bird News
https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
+1
Retron
21 April 2024 15:12:44

Anyone heard a cuckoo yet?

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Plenty of "coo-coo" noises in my garden, but that's from the resident woodpigeons!

I can't say I've ever heard a cuckoo here, but the owner of the wolf centre said last week she's still waiting for the first one there, and they've always appeared before now.
Leysdown, north Kent
Roger Parsons
21 April 2024 16:26:16

Plenty of "coo-coo" noises in my garden, but that's from the resident woodpigeons!
I can't say I've ever heard a cuckoo here, but the owner of the wolf centre said last week she's still waiting for the first one there, and they've always appeared before now.

Originally Posted by: Retron 

I usually reckon on first week of May - but with our weird winter and spring, I wonder. Also with all the wet going, the countryside has been relatively quiet, so that may well affect the timing.
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
+1
Retron
21 April 2024 16:32:03
I was at the wolf centre yesterday. As well as the lesser-spotted Berkshire wolf (sample image below), one of the handlers spotted a tiny bee on a dandelion. I'd assumed it was just a fly, but it seems not - has anyone else seen one of these small bees before?

https://ukwct.org.uk/images/updates/2404/12.jpg 
UserPostedImage

https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/bee.jpg 
UserPostedImage

EDIT: And apparently there are badgers out and about at the wolf centre too. Here's Nuka pushing his neck down really, really hard on a fresh deposit from a badger... it's a good job there's no way to transmit smell over the Internet!

UserPostedImage
https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/nuka.jpg 
 
Leysdown, north Kent
Roger Parsons
21 April 2024 16:50:06
There are a lot of solitary bees, Retron, identification made that bit more difficult as males and females can be somewhat different [size/colour] in some species. My first thought is "solitary" and "mining bees". We've had quite a few here. e.g. Tawny Mining Bee and Hairy-footed Flower Bee.
The mining bees make those small earth "volcanoes" on bare patches of ground. You may well have noticed these at the Wolf Centre and assumed they were worm casts. Could yours be the Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria)?
Check this link and also the one to the Bee Fly which is a kleptoparasite or brood ectoparasitoid. [Look it up!] I hope Beast won't - it might give him unhealthy ideas! 🤣
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/ryan-clark/identify-solitary-bees-uk 
https://www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/articles-british/613-bee-flies 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Retron
21 April 2024 17:06:35

There are a lot of solitary bees, Retron, identification made that bit more difficult as males and females can be somewhat different [size/colour] in some species. My first thought is "solitary" and "mining bees". We've had quite a few here. e.g. Tawny Mining Bee and Hairy-footed Flower Bee.
The mining bees make those small earth "volcanoes" on bare patches of ground. You may well have noticed these at the Wolf Centre and assumed they were worm casts. Could yours be the Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria)?

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Now that's interesting - yes, even though my phone's zoom lens mangled the detail, that mini bee matches the look and description of an ashy mining bee. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't realise you could even find such small bees in this country, my knowledge started at bumble bees and ended at honey bees!
(I have a nest of bumble bees in the garden again this year, albeit a few metres away from last year's effort).

I may well have to poke around my garden a bit more closely this summer... I've a feeling there's a heck of a lot of "minibeast" life that I simply haven't noticed, and the same will apply at the wolf centre too! (Albeit there, we're generally focused on much bigger wildlife, such as the roe deer which burst from a hedge yesterday... made a change from the odd-looking muntjac deer we usually see).
Leysdown, north Kent
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
21 April 2024 17:14:34
I'd go with one of the early mining bees
https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/spring-bees-identification 

Besides the Ashy mining bee as picked out by Roger, the Early mining bee (Andrea haemorrhoa) looks possible.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
+1
Roger Parsons
22 April 2024 04:52:08

I'd go with one of the early mining bees
https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/spring-bees-identification 

Besides the Ashy mining bee as picked out by Roger, the Early mining bee (Andrea haemorrhoa) looks possible.

Originally Posted by: DEW 


Could be. Photos not always as useful as one might hope. To get into this group of insects BWARS is a useful site:
https://bwars.com/ 
https://bwars.com/information_sheets 
 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Roger Parsons
22 April 2024 06:37:18

Now that's interesting - yes, even though my phone's zoom lens mangled the detail, that mini bee matches the look and description of an ashy mining bee. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't realise you could even find such small bees in this country, my knowledge started at bumble bees and ended at honey bees!
(I have a nest of bumble bees in the garden again this year, albeit a few metres away from last year's effort).

I may well have to poke around my garden a bit more closely this summer... I've a feeling there's a heck of a lot of "minibeast" life that I simply haven't noticed, and the same will apply at the wolf centre too! (Albeit there, we're generally focused on much bigger wildlife, such as the roe deer which burst from a hedge yesterday... made a change from the odd-looking muntjac deer we usually see).

Originally Posted by: Retron 

Given the importance of pollinators in facilitating reproduction in a huge number of plant species on which the biosphere depends, it is extraordinary how little bees are understood or appreciated. Most people can only name a handful at best. Public knowledge is often limited to pests or introduced species like the honeybee! 🙄 Not surprising perhaps, given we are an introduced UK species ourselves!

17 invasive species causing problems in the UK - humans not on the list.
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/facts-about-uk-invasive-species 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Windy Willow
22 April 2024 08:19:14
For the first time ever I saw to young deer, whilst we were travelling to Cornwall yesterday, in the Devon area. I've seen them before, of course, but never been fortunate to see them here in the UK.

There were also several birds of prey, one was a kite and a couple of others may have been hawks, but I am not so hot on my ability to identify exactly what they were. There's also an owl near to our accommodation, as I could hear it last evening whilst looking for "shooting stars".
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

Don't feed the Trolls!! When starved of attention they return to their dark caves or the dark recesses of bridges and will turn back to stone, silent again!
+1
speckledjim
22 April 2024 09:55:03

For the first time ever I saw to young deer, whilst we were travelling to Cornwall yesterday, in the Devon area. I've seen them before, of course, but never been fortunate to see them here in the UK.

There were also several birds of prey, one was a kite and a couple of others may have been hawks, but I am not so hot on my ability to identify exactly what they were. There's also an owl near to our accommodation, as I could hear it last evening whilst looking for "shooting stars".

Originally Posted by: Windy Willow 


We're fortunate to have quite a lot of deer round us so see them regularly on my walks. Red kites are also our most popular bird of prey, due to the breeding programme at Harewood House which is local to us.
Thorner, West Yorkshire


Journalism is organised gossip
+1
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
23 April 2024 05:45:06
We have too many deer (sika, roe the most common) around here. Ticks are an issue perhaps because of this factor and if you wander in woody areas or the heaths it's essential to check for them when you get home.
Red Kites recently arrived but buzzards are the ones you often see going around in circles on thermals. They mew like cats too.
There is a peregrine nest in a pylon across the road but I'm not sure if it is occupied yet.
And lastly, the ospreys in Poole Harbour. Almost forgot the Sea Eagles. Haven't seen one yet though.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+2
ARTzeman
23 April 2024 15:23:07
Young squirrels seen this morning on the lawn. AlsoTWO white ferrets being walked by a young lady.




Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
Windy Willow
25 April 2024 09:30:38
Yesterday morning, on our way out to Kynance cove, I spotted a Harrier Hawk perched on top of a roadside Sign frame, looking very regal.
This morning's adventure was out to the Piskey Hall, "Fogou" in Cornish, which is on the farm land where we're staying. It's a small cave with glow in the dark lichen, a pretty little place.
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

Don't feed the Trolls!! When starved of attention they return to their dark caves or the dark recesses of bridges and will turn back to stone, silent again!
+1
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
25 April 2024 10:17:54
Thanks for that. I had to look up Piskey Hall. A new one for me. Hope the holiday is going well.
https://acornishjourney.uk/early-medieval/fogous/piskey-hall-fogou/ 

 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Windy Willow
25 April 2024 11:07:41

Thanks for that. I had to look up Piskey Hall. A new one for me. Hope the holiday is going well.
https://acornishjourney.uk/early-medieval/fogous/piskey-hall-fogou/ 

 

Originally Posted by: NMA 

Thanks! The holiday is going great so far, and the farmer and his wife are so very accomodating, they took us to the site because of the electric fences and I have some lovely photo's of it, which I will share here later for comparison to those on that website.
Their holiday let is top notch too (and suitable for those in a wheelchair) and I highly recommend as it was cheaper than a static caravan for this time of the year (and probably throughout the year) and a lot more comfortable all round. 
We're off out Marazion way this afternoon, in spite of the light, passing showers, which is the first rain (if you can call it that lol) we've seen so far this week. The husband and I have been blessed 😊
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

Don't feed the Trolls!! When starved of attention they return to their dark caves or the dark recesses of bridges and will turn back to stone, silent again!
+1
Windy Willow
26 April 2024 09:41:34
So I uploaded just the one picture of the Piskey Hall Fogou onto the TWO gallery. You can see that it's being maintained so that it's accessible, without going overboard. The glow in the dark lichen is pretty interesting though.

https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/userpics/20240426/20240426093605.jpg 



UserPostedImage 
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

Don't feed the Trolls!! When starved of attention they return to their dark caves or the dark recesses of bridges and will turn back to stone, silent again!
+3
StoneCroze
26 April 2024 11:12:22
 Our gannet cam is now live.  Unfortunately, it has been estimated up to 20% of our gannets succumbed to avian flu.
Working with the RSPB, it's interesting that the gannets which contracted avian flu and survived have now got black pupils in their eyes.
Whether this affects their ability to fish, is unknown.

https://www.alderneywildlife.org/wildlife/webcams/gannet-cam 
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
+2
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
26 April 2024 16:37:29
Apropos trees being early this year, I was in a local beech wood at Eartham this morning and  the trees are coming into leaf. Last year, when I was organising an orienteering event there, the trees had reached about the same stage on the 18th May. Big difference!

Also heard the cuckoo again.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
+3
Roger Parsons
08 May 2024 14:24:05
Saw 2 swifts over village from garden at 3pm. 😁
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
+2
Northern Sky
09 May 2024 20:38:44
Exciting news today for me. I have 3 little ponds  - one in the front garden and two on the back lawn. I've been watching the dragonfly nymphs climb the reeds and keep finding empty cases but I've not seen a dragonfly emerge yet. There's still quite a few in the pond and as I was watching them one surfaced and I thought wow that was quick. I looked again and saw it was a newt! I've been waiting for an amphibian of some kind for two years since I put these ponds in and finally one has arrived :)

We used to get frogs in the old pond at the top of the garden (which was so silted up I converted it into a bog garden last year) but I haven't seen a frog or toad in the garden for years which I assume is because of the cats that visit or the foxes who seem to use our garden as one of their homes.

And until today, never a newt. So a good day 😀
+2
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
10 May 2024 06:07:59
I've got three ponds too and the other day I saw this frog sitting on a stone. I'm pleased as I think it's one from a batch of spawn I acquired, though I shouldn't have, last year. Anyway a result for my 'wildlife' garden. The pools all have fish to eliminate the mosquitoes.
Frog
UserPostedImage

I'm also pleased with my propagation of Sea Kale from root cuttings. Little purple shoots appearing. These will recolonise the shore at Kimmeridge Bay in due course where they used to grow.
Sea Kale
UserPostedImage
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
13 May 2024 07:43:08
A pair of blackbirds are feeding a newly fledged brood if that's the correct term.
They are flapping around the garden and one managed to land on my back yesterday and clung on for a bit like a pirate's shoulder parrot. The parents gave me a strident scolding but then another one managed to spend the night in the shed as it got dark. I've managed to release it and it's back to flying lessons after its parents fed it on release. This damp/soft weather is good for grub hunting, because the parents don't need to go deep to find food. 
 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+2

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