Wildlife Surveyor with NG Bailey / Freedom Group Author of 'Country Corner' weekly in 4 local newspapers for 30+yr. Author of "Practical Pest Control".
Lothians
Joined November 2015
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Autumn in the garden this week . Few wildlife gardeners have mown grass , so leaves can be left to add to your soil and seeds can be left to plant themselves in niches chosen by Nature .
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An ecosphere is a sealed jar of pond water incl some silt and pond plants .
Within minutes Green Hydra should stick to the glass .
Big enough to study with a magnifying glass and a bit of amazing internet hydra info , This could be the start of a lifelong interest !
Surprised to see an adult newt in the pond tonight as November approaches . Mind you it isn't too unusual to see frogs in there during winter so maybe newts are prone to an underwater hunt if it isn't too cold
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Wild Thyme plugs donated and planted by my ranger pal Nick Aitken at Torness this week . Just a few the many plugs he was planting along the coast .
So few folk are aware of all the conservation work that goes on in the background to maintain biodiversity .
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As we all know, when badgers emerge after dark ,they are ready for a full night's activity . Usually !
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Even the smallest freshwater mites have even smaller hangers on !
The tiny animals attached to this mites legs are epizoic organisms , probably Epistylis . An internet search will show you enlarged pics of Epistylis
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I know folk will view my pondlife safaris as explorations among aliens . I wish pondlife was far less alien to folk . So here's another safari !
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Stoat poo on the cushion of a garden bench .
Placed by a stoat to mark it's territory .
What can I say . Stoats like their comfort too !
(scale is in cm.)
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Recall being amazed when a pal pointed out a "thrush" and struggled to believe me it was a female blackbird . Fortunately a song thrush appeared and I could show her they are buff and more speckled .
So , in case anyone is in doubt , this is a female blackbird
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The moulting young bullfinches are beginning to look like smart adults now . A few more days should complete the transformation
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While photographing bullies and blackies in the whitebeam the session ended very suddenly . Dead quiet and not a sign or sound of birds. Then, high in the tall beech , I spotted the reason .
#Sparrowhawk
How did you fare during the storm ?
One climbing rose and it's trellis needed reattached, but all else stood up to it.
Not this oak , the second time it has suffered storm damage since we moved here .
Of course it is in the nature of ageing oaks to become stag headed over time
My preference for dense wildlife planting starts to show why .
Conventional gardens thin in autumn and are often bare in winter .
Heavy cover ensures habitat remains all winter for the many species which call this place home .
(Four amphibian species , bank vole, woodmouse ..)
Just checking ,what are the blue blurs ? Bluetit, great tit , nuthatch or something scarce . East coast woodland recently
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Yeah, I know , more Bullfinch photos, but they are still here , still getting smarter each day as the moult progresses , and still making me check the Swedish Whitebeam numerous times each day !
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In Spring only three male toads turned up .
I hoped a female was in the garden ,growing /maturing . The other night a large toad was on the bottom of the pond , big enough to be female . Tonight on the deck her size suggests she will breed in Spring . Here's hoping !
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19th October is National Harvest Mouse Day .
I found one when they were officially extinct in Scotland
They just need enough volunteers to survey for them .
Details here
mammal.org.uk/current-resear…
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