The animals on the green.

For the past month or so I have been watching the animals on my local patch a little closer than usual.
Having recently set up a camera trap it has given me an insight in to the creatures that venture out after dark. Every day critters like the Rabbit are pretty common. There isn't a day goes by without seeing one, although numbers are reducing. They run around playing chase oblivious to who is watching, then scurry off quick when they realise your there.

Bird life is varied from the usual Chaffinches and Robins to the lesser seen Whitethroat. I have even had a Spotted Flycatcher take bugs from my front door frame, while the door was open and I was sitting just three feet away! The Buzzards are regular visitors, as are the Kestrels too. They hunt in the field surrounding the green and produce some beautiful aerial displays. I have also found the roost site of the local Tawny Owls and was delighted to discover that they had three chicks. They are a hoot! But my birding highlight has to be the Barn Owl. It comes out at dusk every evening and I stand in the half light and watch him fly within feet of my head. So close I can almost touch him. He then hunts on the borders until the light fades and I can no longer see it. A true natural gem.

My camera has recently revealed a Fox that is more of a regular visitor than I first thought. He has visited almost every night. Rarely seen during daylight hours. A true country Fox.

I am still waiting to see the elusive Roe Deer but local neighbours have seen them nearby. Now if I could just catch one on camera.

My latest addition to the animals on the green is the Stoat. While on my way to retrieve the camera I stumbled across the cheeky Stoat playing around. He was very aware of my presence yet he didn't seem to care. He carried on scurrying regardless. I stayed where I was to let him play until he finally ran in to the hedge.

I must not forget the Bats too. They are a constant companion during my evening Owl watch and fly around my head catching moths and going about their business. Their aerial acrobatics are stunning. I even have them living in my loft. Pipistrelles being the commonest, but my loft Bat is a Brandts. Rare for this region apparently.

The animals on the green have provided me with heartwarming amusement and are a real treat to watch. I am very lucky to have them so close to my home and I can watch them at any time. They are all a welcome distraction from the pressures of work and watching the wildlife has a calming effect and help me to wind down after a busy day. Take a closer look around you and you can see the wonders of nature right on your own doorstep.

Spring walk at Austerfield.

Time for a bit of a blog.

Finally been able to get to the Mosaic reserve at the Austerfield study centre and have a decent walk around. It's been a while what with winter taking it's time to give up and let spring have a go.
I went the long way round and explored every path possible, starting at the main road beside the study centre and walking clockwise around the perimeter, then zig-zagged through the centre past all the ponds. So glad i did. So many birds calling and busy with their nests. Really excited to find a Cuckoo egg shell. Not heard it yet but the shell means they are laying somewhere within the reserve.

Down by the main pond the Carp were so busy top feeding they were oblivious to me getting to within a few feet of them. Slurping away around the weeds and looking like torpedo's. Great to see them. Although very disheartened to see so much rubbish left behind by fisherman. Take it home eh.
Ducks were plenty and enjoying the floods. I was also really pleased to come across a three foot Grass Snake basking in the sun before it slithered off into the undergrowth.

Saw plenty of Rabbits around with a few young. Multiple small birds including Blackcaps. Green Woodpeckers laughing their way through the woods. Also Buzzards circling overhead and Kestrels hovering in the nearby fields. Nothing obvious using the nest boxes dotted around but i didn't get close enough to study them and I didn't hang around long enough to see anything in and out so they may have occupants. Fingers crossed. The big gnarly Oaks coming in to leaf and the abundance of Birch gives this place a real atmospheric ambience. A real gem of a nature reserve. One you should try and visit. Make sure you walk every trail and look in every pond. Look up, and listen out. Wildlife is all around you. But please, leave only footprints and take your litter home.

Thanks for the read.

An ode to nature.

Last night, for the entire night, a Robin was singing outside my bedroom window. This is a common phenomena for some birds to sing all night because they can be confused by the street lights. It's an odd sound to hear Robins and Owls calling at the same time. Fair play to the Robin for keeping up his singing for a full 11 hours plus. As i listened to his unrelenting song it reminded me of a poem I once heard many years ago. I thought I would share this with you. It goes like this........

  "As I awoke one morning, when all sweet things are born.
   A Robin perched upon my sill to sing all coming morn.
   He was fragile, sweet, gay and young and sweetly did he sing
   and thoughts of happiness and joy in to my heart did ring.
   I smiled sweetly at his song and paused beside my bed, 
   and gently closed the window, and squashed his bloody head!"

I look forward to a peaceful nights rest tonight.

Love nature. Love sleep!


P.S. No Robins were actually harmed in this anecdote.

Feathered friends

Since moving in to my little country cottage is South Yorkshire I have been making the acquaintance of the local wildlife. I put up bird feeders on my front room window, literally on the glass, to get the closest views I could. I now get regular daily visits from Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits and Chaffinch. The food dropped by the latter is taken up by Blackbird, Dunnock, Pigeon, and most recently, Pheasant. I have also had recent visits from Voles. Despite my Cat sitting in the window watching with baited breath, the birds keep coming. I think they know that the Cat cannot get them. At night I have had a visit from a Barn Owl, and a Tawny Owl is a regular. I'm hoping that the Deer from the woods will one day wander up, but I somehow doubt it. I may be lucky to get a Fox, Badger or a Hedgehog. My next plan is to install a night vision camera so I can monitor night time visitors. (Of the wildlife kind I may add).

I have been working on some birds at my place of work too. So far I have had a Robin cast a shady eye on a handful of food but my best feathered buddy so far is actually a Pied Wagtail who follows me for a scrap of food in our South American exhibit. No mean feat when you have to compete against seven feisty Squirrel Monkeys. 

A sighting of a Leucistic Crow is common just of late, especially in the Polar Bear enclosure. A Kestrel is seen daily taking scraps from the Polar Bear leftovers. I have even seen it eating fish. Ever the opportunist. The wetlands area behind the Tiger enclosure is teaming with Lapwings, various Ducks and Geese a plenty. In the Summer a pair of Oystercatcher live and nest in our African enclosure. Goldcrest are plentiful as are Long Tailed Tit. 

Locally is Potteric Carr nature reserve with Bittern and Egret as regulars. As is the stunning Starling murmuration. I have a lot of bird watching to catch up on. New county, new wildlife. Nature is just the best and can lighten any dark heart. Get out and take a look around you. The countryside is a wonderful place. (Be quick before that Trump bloke ruins it all!) 

Here are my Pheasant friends outside my house. Crap pic from my phone but hey, I'm not a photographer! 

Love life. Love nature.

Return of the blog

So. I have been requested to resurrect my blog by popular demand. Okay, a demand of one, but hey, someone likes it so who am I to argue.

Lots have happened since my last blog. Far too much to write about in one go so I will condense it a bit so i don't bore you too much.

I now live in South Yorkshire. Ironically next door to the birth place and childhood home of William Bradford who was one of the Pilgrim Fathers and Governor of the Plymouth Colony who set sail on the Mayflower from Plymouth. Not only is there a geographical co-incidence but I have a family connection also. A close family member is a direct descendant of his. Small world eh.

I am now working at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and loving every minute. After eight years of ............ I won't go in to that. It is so nice to be working with a forward thinking progressive zoo that actually delivers. One of the fastest growing zoo's in the country. The staff are highly professional and generally great people to be around. Love it.


My home is situated in the country and I have set up some bird feeders which is frequented daily. Even have Tawny Owl at night and Pheasant in the day. Just feet from my door is open countryside and a small woodland that Roe Deer live in. On the other side of the road is a nature reserve and a study center with two large astronomical telescopes. I have yet to visit but will do one day. I have joined the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and found an excellent nature reserve nearby. Potteric Carr. Large waterways and reed beds with Bittern and Egrets and a large Starling murmuration most evenings. A few miles up the road is the Humberhead Peat Marsh which is a site of international importance and has Nightjars among it's wildlife visitors. 

I will be posting more blogs as and when I see some cool stuff. I will post pictures and video too if i can work it out. Please feel free to comment so i at least know people are reading this. Don't be rude though eh. If you don't like it, don't read it. 

Watch for wildlife, exotic animals, interesting trips and astronomy. 

Thanks to my fan.... You know you are :-) 

Here's an amusing Polar Bear picture to keep you going.

Tasmanian Tiger alive!

An interesting read that indicates the Thylacine, (Tasmanian Tiger), may actually still exist. If it's true then I for one would be ecstatic. Such a wonderful, strange beast. It even has a pouch!
Please be alive!!

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2003/06/18/879154.htm

Crow life.

Here's a short video of a friendly Crow enjoying a spot of lunch. She is very cool. Gotta love Corvids eh. She started by tearing off pieces and burying them then going back to eat the rest. A very interesting close study of Corvid behaviour.