Your Wildlife Sightings!

Just to let you know mate…..all your clips played great on my iPad….smashing footage

 

Cheers mate, that's good to know.

 

Brilliant clips Johnie.

 

fantastic footage of a fantastic animal Johnie

 

Yesterday mid morning I was delighted to see a cool Hobby passing through my local patch.

Took my time writing this as I was heavily distracted by the Bhoys getting 3 more points yesterday

 

Dangerous times and I am worried about our mommy ducks chances after this morning. A fox came into our garden this morning and thankfully myself and my wife happened to be there at the time and after a bit of a shouting and waving sticks were able to scare it away but not before it had made a run at the ducks nest and scared the duck away. We put up some netting around the nest and left a narrow path for the duck hoping she would come back and she has and is back on her nest now. But obviously concerned for her and her eggs. The Robin flew off from her nest in the midst of all the shouting and noise as well but being up in the tree is in no danger from a fox and is back now.

 

Fair play Eire4, she might be safer when the eggs hatch and she can take the Ducklings into the water.

 

A few from Loch Colgagh, i've been out at Colgagh the last couple of weekends and found it really quiet, the water level at the minute is way higher than usual at this time of year so the reed beds that would be starting to show above the water aren't there yet, i'm not sure if that's part of the reason why it's so quiet but i think some of the water fowl would be depending on the reeds for shelter and cover.

 

I am just hoping she can get that far. We are keeping an eye out for her but obviously we can't be here all the time to help.

 

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A couple from the Trailcam.

 

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I don't know if this is two different Pine Martens but there seems to be a bit of scent marking going on.

 

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This is the video i meant to post

 

Well bad news unfortunately to report today. When we got up this morning and went outside the fox was in the garden trying to figure out how to get past the fencing we had set up last night to protect mom and her eggs. Mom was elsewhere in the garden with 2 male ducks watching. We scared away the fox. But then had to leave and do a few things. When we came back unfortunately it looks like the fox came back and figured a way to get at the eggs in the nest as mom was gone and there were no eggs in the nest. Our Robin mom to be is still on her nest at least and while her eggs didn't make it at least it seems mommy duck got away ok.

 

That's tough Eire4, but it's nature, the Fox possibly had cubs to feed and the eggs were a free meal, i think it's still early enough in the year that the Duck could have another clutch of eggs, she might lay somewhere a bit more sheltered this time.

 

I went a bit further down the coast on Sunday and came across this handsome Great northern Diver in all his finery.

 

A few more from Sunday.

 

Yes it is tough but as you say its also nature. The fox was a big one as well so I am just thankful that at least the duck was able to get away and hopefully she finds a better spot then the side of our house next time. We turned off all the lights on that side of the house every evening when it got dark once we saw she was there in the hope that would help her stay hidden but my wife said right from the start that was not a good spot for her and sadly it proved to be accurate.

We will see now how our Robin mom to be gets on. She is still working away sitting on her eggs.

By the way amazing pictures you have been posting. You must have a great zoom lens on that camera. Loving those pictures.

 

Outstanding photos of an outstanding bird Johnie

 

The Herring Gull is a massive Eurovision Fan

 

Superb pics, again, Johnie. Love the diver.