@IWRATS. Should I stop feeding the sparrows for a bit? Will the Sparrowhawk be waiting for another meal? Or do they just move around when they hunt.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7223 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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@jdanielp: any pampas grass in the garden?
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Stickman I suspected that I might be missing a reference and indeed it would appear that I was based on a quick search.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@stilskin
Sparrows and sparrowhawks go hand in hand. Intervening in the system would have unpredictable results. Feed the sparrows and you feed the hawks. So it goes. I just rejoice in the urban presence of such fierce, shy raptors.
In Berlin goshawks have taken up residence. They're like sparrowhawks, but big enough to consider sparrowhawks as a meal.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The peregrine falcons are taking out the pigeons on the south bank of the Thames near Tate Britain.
Are peregrines not the fastest animals on the planet when they dive?
Posted 8 years ago # -
@gembo
There is a guy gets paid to chase the pigeons off Holyrood with a tame Harris hawk every fortnight. He actually goes round and removes the carcasses left by the resident sparrowhawk which is the real, present terror for the flying rats. Tell no-one - he is a nice man.
There are ten urban peregrine pairs in Greater Glasgow. They are orange-tinged and highly groomed, but otherwise similar to ours.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The moth that flew into my right ear just as I was falling asleep last night. Took its sweet time making its exit as I tried all sorts of futile head shaking and ear wiggling in an effort to persuade it to leave.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The moth that flew into my right ear just as I was falling asleep last night
The effect of a moth in one's ear is the same as being very close to a Chinook helicopter as it takes off.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@kaputnik
Prescient. Sat on the back step with Madame IWRATS as a mystery helicopter circled town last night, and a big fat moth flew past my ear into the lit sitting room. It was as you say...whump whump whump full metal jacket style.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@IWrAts, trust Glasgow to have orange tinged peregrines see also the volvic campaign proud to be orange being pulled
Posted 8 years ago # -
An enormous female sparrowhawk circling in the azure void over Craigmillar Castle Park.
Posted 8 years ago # -
And another female sparrowhawk (likely the same one) cruising high over our garden as I fired up the barbie last night.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hitherto-unspotted allotment-beast:
Posted 8 years ago # -
Lizard king
Posted 8 years ago # -
With a day off to go and take photos of a wedding this afternoon, I was free for a first wander in the Figgate in a while (which is unforgiveable given I live so close). I'm getting more certain that we've now got resident Kingfishers.
Figgy King_3 by Anthony Robson, on Flickr
Posted 8 years ago # -
I can't compete with that Anth but I saw this Yellow ox-eye near Oxenfoord on Wednesday.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Lizard king
I think that's a palmate newt (common newts have spotty throats in both sexes). The colour can go a bit orange at times. Probably a female if there wasn't a fine crest along the back.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Could be but Wingpig is the lizard king?
Posted 8 years ago # -
@WC Nice picture of a Kingfisher on BBC Scotland News photos today :)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37253992Posted 8 years ago # -
Just spotted that @wingpig is growing cardoons in the lizard king photo. Retro vegetable fun.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Cycling up the back road this evening with 2 herons just above my head flying at almost exactly the same speed up the road with me. Was fully recumbentalized with seat right back and got a wonderful view of them for a good few minutes.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Think I recognise this one:
Posted 8 years ago # -
Lovely set up in that shot, maybe the photographer could snap my painted ladies.?
Posted 8 years ago # -
A story that's never been told - on Cammo walk last Friday, exactly seven magpies.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Caught the shadow of a cat in my headlight on the way home from swimming on the NEPN tonight. Only it then turned around to have a look and it was a beautiful badger.
I know they do live here but I've never seen a badger in Edinburgh before.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Two days ago a sparrowhawk hunting low across Blackford Glen Road. Third one there in a month - seems to be a hotspot.
Just now another sparrowhawk chasing a blackbird at full throttle through a bush and about two metres over my head. Very impressive flying from both.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Amazing vid here -
Posted 8 years ago # -
@chdot
The very fellow!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Lowlight of course -
"
More than 1,000 British wildlife species are under threat of extinction after decades of decline caused by factors including shifting agricultural practices and climate change, a major report warns today.
"
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/1000-british-species-face-extinction-conservationists-warn/
Posted 8 years ago #
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