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Roger Parsons
23 June 2024 06:32:04
p.s.
I also "invented" a new noun. "Lepidopotread."

Lepidopotread = Promiscuous tramping down of vegetation for purposeless repetitive photographing of butterflies you have already photographed. I suppose it is better than catching and murdering them!
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
Bertwhistle
24 June 2024 18:13:40
What a cracking bit of footage- not quite a Bambi scene; deer and otter meet:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cekkkd9re0go 
 
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
Retire while you can still press the 'retire now' button.
Northern Sky
25 June 2024 07:27:22
I think this subject probably deserves its own thread on UIA but I wondered if anyone else has noticed the lack of insects this year? Certainly numbers are well down here but I've seen reports from entomologists and people who collect data all around the country and nearly all are reporting very poor numbers recorded.

One scientist I follow on X said that the declines over the last 4 years have been exponential and can only be described as catastrophic. 

Obviously the dull, wet Spring, followed by the cool and wet first half of June has hit hard and this has taken place against a background of long term decline due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Very worrying.  
Roger Parsons
25 June 2024 07:39:34

I think this subject probably deserves its own thread on UIA but I wondered if anyone else has noticed the lack of insects this year? Certainly numbers are well down here but I've seen reports from entomologists and people who collect data all around the country and nearly all are reporting very poor numbers recorded.

One scientist I follow on X said that the declines over the last 4 years have been exponential and can only be described as catastrophic. 

Obviously the dull, wet Spring, followed by the cool and wet first half of June has hit hard and this has taken place against a background of long term decline due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Very worrying.  

Originally Posted by: Northern Sky 



There's truth in that, NS, but fluctuations of populations in response to unseasonal weather are not uncommon. Insects and other invertebrates also have an ability to "bounce back". If something dramatic changes in response to weather/climate trends or agriculture/land use/development, it's not the response that is "catastrophic" so much as the cause. Before you fix a leak you need to turn off the water! 😁

We have a rather good "Let It Bloom June" on the go and has been well used by bumblebees. Not honeybees so much. I'm noticing more moths now.  Bats are working these - we even caught a bat flying low on our trailcam. But I'd say bat numbers were down too. I'm hearing only a few on the detector compared with earlier years.
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
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
25 June 2024 11:30:24

I think this subject probably deserves its own thread on UIA but I wondered if anyone else has noticed the lack of insects this year? Certainly numbers are well down here but I've seen reports from entomologists and people who collect data all around the country and nearly all are reporting very poor numbers recorded.

One scientist I follow on X said that the declines over the last 4 years have been exponential and can only be described as catastrophic. 

Obviously the dull, wet Spring, followed by the cool and wet first half of June has hit hard and this has taken place against a background of long term decline due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Very worrying.  

Originally Posted by: Northern Sky 



I noticed the same thing last year. I think by the end of the summer there was what Roger terms a bounce back.
But yes, I agree this year so far there seems to be a lack of insects. That said, I've never seen so many dragonflies/damselflies as this year. There is a large body of freshwater nearby and the other day the place was thick with them on a calm early evening.
Bees. I have an olive bush just outside the office door. It is flowering and in the past (not this or last year) I've seen dozens of bees at a time collecting pollen from this plant. A few minutes ago there were three bees collecting pollen like this one.
UserPostedImage
 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
Roger Parsons
25 June 2024 16:23:23
A mewing Buzzard flew over the garden at 5.05pm. Splendid sight. A Carrion Crow saw it off.
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
25 June 2024 16:58:43

A mewing Buzzard flew over the garden at 5.05pm. Splendid sight. A Carrion Crow saw it off.

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


A very evocative sound Roger. Get them here too going around on the thermals but it can be hard to spot them because they are often so high up. Is that a cat(s) in the sky?
And talking of which, I believe I have solved my cat problem with an ultrasonic machine.
The birds are happy (if they can feel happiness) and the fish in the ponds. No more ambushes and a safe garden.

 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
25 June 2024 17:48:57

A very evocative sound Roger. Get them here too going around on the thermals but it can be hard to spot them because they are often so high up. Is that a cat(s) in the sky?
And talking of which, I believe I have solved my cat problem with an ultrasonic machine.
The birds are happy (if they can feel happiness) and the fish in the ponds. No more ambushes and a safe garden.

 

Originally Posted by: NMA 

Got any suggestions about Grey ***** Squirrels? I used to cage-trap them and dispatch them with an air rifle - close range - at our former place, but I can't offend public sense of decency by doing that here in full view of the Village Green and Post Office! 🤣 One chap here drowns his captives in a wheely-bin - but somehow that does not seem a proper use of a bathtub's worth of pure tap water. It brought its friend along today!!!!! I did suggest stabbing with a sharp spike but the other half thought that an unacceptable suggestion. 
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
Bertwhistle
30 June 2024 09:49:09

Got any suggestions about Grey ***** Squirrels? I used to cage-trap them and dispatch them with an air rifle - close range - at our former place, but I can't offend public sense of decency by doing that here in full view of the Village Green and Post Office! 🤣 One chap here drowns his captives in a wheely-bin - but somehow that does not seem a proper use of a bathtub's worth of pure tap water. It brought its friend along today!!!!! I did suggest stabbing with a sharp spike but the other half thought that an unacceptable suggestion. 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall in A Cook on the Wild Side recommends them for the plate; apparently sone London eateries have sold them as 'tree rabbit'. 
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
Retire while you can still press the 'retire now' button.
Roger Parsons
30 June 2024 15:32:41

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall in A Cook on the Wild Side recommends them for the plate; apparently sone London eateries have sold them as 'tree rabbit'. 

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 


It's socially-acceptable execution that will be the stumbling block, Bertie!
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
Bertwhistle
01 July 2024 11:29:45

It's socially-acceptable execution that will be the stumbling block, Bertie!

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


An alternative might be a daschund- our two go loopy at the sniff of one. A friend's actually caught one but she rescued it- it had strayed too far from trees, where even the swiftest little sausage can't follow.
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
Retire while you can still press the 'retire now' button.
+1
Roger Parsons
01 July 2024 12:29:37

An alternative might be a daschund- our two go loopy at the sniff of one. A friend's actually caught one but she rescued it- it had strayed too far from trees, where even the swiftest little sausage can't follow.

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 


A badger-killer would make short work of a squirrel. 😁
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
Roger Parsons
02 July 2024 15:53:03

A very evocative sound Roger. Get them here too going around on the thermals but it can be hard to spot them because they are often so high up. Is that a cat(s) in the sky?And talking of which, I believe I have solved my cat problem with an ultrasonic machine.The birds are happy (if they can feel happiness) and the fish in the ponds. No more ambushes and a safe garden. 

Originally Posted by: NMA 


You might already know all about the star this Guardian piece. The fossil finder: one man’s lifelong search
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/02/the-fossil-finder-one-mans-lifelong-search-for-fragments-of-britains-jurassic-past-photo-essay 

Do you know the poem "The Joy of Fishes"? This is a Thomas Merton version of a poem by Chuang Tzu.
https://www.coastalanthology.com/the-joy-of-fishes 
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
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
03 July 2024 07:23:23

A badger-killer would make short work of a squirrel. 😁

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


My awful neighbours wolf/deerhound has in the past made short work of unwary cats but we don't have many squirrels here in the local gardens. A squirrel would in any case be too easy I think.
The poor beast next door has taken to 'singing' in recent weeks.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
03 July 2024 07:43:36

You might already know all about the star this Guardian piece. The fossil finder: one man’s lifelong searchhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/02/the-fossil-finder-one-mans-lifelong-search-for-fragments-of-britains-jurassic-past-photo-essayDo you know the poem "The Joy of Fishes"? This is a Thomas Merton version of a poem by Chuang Tzu.https://www.coastalanthology.com/the-joy-of-fishes

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


I know of the fossil hunter (we wear the same hat). I know at least two others quite well my end of the coast. Both prefer to collect sea monster bits but not ammonites.
The anthology is new to me and one to bookmark. Thank you Roger.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
03 July 2024 08:01:56

Got any suggestions about Grey ***** Squirrels? I used to cage-trap them and dispatch them with an air rifle - close range - at our former place, but I can't offend public sense of decency 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Times change - round about 1950 a shilling a tail was paid
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Roger Parsons
03 July 2024 08:03:35

Times change - round about 1950 a shilling a tail was paid

Originally Posted by: DEW 


Yes - I remember the bounty - though at the time I was more into "returning bottles" for the deposit! 😁
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
speckledjim
03 July 2024 15:43:03
Humpback whale sighting thrills excited children

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cn09gjz4q7lo 
Wonderful experience for these Channel Island kids
Thorner, West Yorkshire


Journalism is organised gossip
+3
Roger Parsons
03 July 2024 16:39:56

I know of the fossil hunter (we wear the same hat). I know at least two others quite well my end of the coast. Both prefer to collect sea monster bits but not ammonites. The anthology is new to me and one to bookmark. Thank you Roger.

Originally Posted by: NMA 


I love "The Joy of Fishes". Always makes me smile!
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
StoneCroze
04 July 2024 06:52:01

Humpback whale sighting thrills excited childrenhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cn09gjz4q7loWonderful experience for these Channel Island kids

Originally Posted by: speckledjim 


I've never known so many cetaceans as in the last couple of years down here in the Channel Islands. We're seeing minke, sei, fin on a fairly common basis. Two humpbacks were seen last year between Jersey and Guernsey. We get the annual migration of both long and short finned pilot whales transiting through.

Bottlenose dolphins we see in the hundreds, I personally have seen a huge pod from the shore probably numbering at least two hundred. My brother last week on his way across to Sark on his boat nearly had an adult bottlenose dolphin land on his boat, probably underestimated the speed, he cruises at 30 Kts.
I would estimate possibly six resident bottlenose dolphin pods in the Channel Islands currently. Common dolphin are also abundant.
Growing up in the islands as a youngster we never saw seals, they now number in the hundreds. Commercial fishermen are starting to grumble about the numbers and the impact on fish stocks.
Bluefin tuna are making a very strong comeback, this another species I often see from the shore, incredible predators. 
I think the only species which is in decline is the harbour porpoise, but this could be due to there being so many dolphin, the two species don't get on.
We are also starting to see a huge influx of octopus. This species was dramatically killed off during the cold winter of 62/63.  
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
+3
speckledjim
04 July 2024 07:11:58

I've never known so many cetaceans as in the last couple of years down here in the Channel Islands. We're seeing minke, sei, fin on a fairly common basis. Two humpbacks were seen last year between Jersey and Guernsey. We get the annual migration of both long and short finned pilot whales transiting through. Bottlenose dolphins we see in the hundreds, I personally have seen a huge pod from the shore probably numbering at least two hundred. My brother last week on his way across to Sark on his boat nearly had an adult bottlenose dolphin land on his boat, probably underestimated the speed, he cruises at 30 Kts.I would estimate possibly six resident bottlenose dolphin pods in the Channel Islands currently. Common dolphin are also abundant.Growing up in the islands as a youngster we never saw seals, they now number in the hundreds. Commercial fishermen are starting to grumble about the numbers and the impact on fish stocks.Bluefin tuna are making a very strong comeback, this another species I often see from the shore, incredible predators. I think the only species which is in decline is the harbour porpoise, but this could be due to there being so many dolphin, the two species don't get on.We are also starting to see a huge influx of octopus. This species was dramatically killed off during the cold winter of 62/63.  

Originally Posted by: StoneCroze 


Is it climate change or are we looking after our seas better?
Thorner, West Yorkshire


Journalism is organised gossip
StoneCroze
04 July 2024 12:08:30

Is it climate change or are we looking after our seas better?

Originally Posted by: speckledjim 


Dunno, I think it's more complicated than that and is down to a number of factors.

More CO2 would provide an extra boost for plants/animals like phytoplankton at the bottom of the food chain. 
The commercial fishing fleets within the Channel Islands aren't as big as they once were and the French are definitely more restricted in their past damaging techniques. 
Certain fish species are in big decline, pollack are quite rare, but whether that is because of the explosion in seal numbers I don't know.
Sharks don't seem to have increased, basking sharks are relatively common in the summer, we also get blue, mako, porbeagle, thresher (young one got trapped in one of the marinas in Guernsey a few years back) and even great whites aren't unknown. 
In Alderney we used to have about 2% of the Atlantic Gannet population, but it is estimated that we lost up to 25% of that population to avian flu. It's hard to calculate how much fish that number would have eaten. Pre avian flu we had nearly 9,000 breeding pairs on our two colonies.
I'm waiting for the arrival of Orcas. They have been known to transit, with a small pod of four overwintering in 1974.
Cetaceans seem to be increasing generally throughout the British Isles going by the number of strandings and sightings reported by the media. Is that because people are more aware and have smartphones with cameras as standard? Could it be a general recovery due to the demise of commercial whaling?  
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
+1
Retron
04 July 2024 13:50:11
Spotted a dragonfly for the first time this year. For the past few years I've had a few via the pond - as I've now got the only one in the immediate area, everyone else having either filled theirs in, or replaced them with slabs / decking / plastic grass etc.
Hopefully there will be more emerging over the coming days!
Leysdown, north Kent
+2
Roger Parsons
15 July 2024 10:59:43
Big Butterfly Watch - will you be doing it?
Big Butterfly Count- Friday 12th July and Sunday 4th August
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ 
As British butterflies head north, scientists ask public to help track migration - Grauniad.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/12/big-butterfly-count-ask-public-track-migration 
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
16 July 2024 15:46:41
First Suede Boletus of the season - in our No Mow May area. I'd started strimming and spotted it in time!
https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/suede-bolete-2/ 

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

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