Wildlife spotting

[Tony Tony Tony]

In my back garden the other day when I heard a bird going mental. It was a sort of rasping/clicking noise. Atop a shed in a nearby garden one of the local moggies was perched and obviously on the look out for some prey to have a bit of sport with. Leaping about all around the cat was a magpie keeping just out of paw range and making the cackling noise I had heard. This was obviously some kind of alarm call to ensure the other local wildlife knew about pussy and his evil intentions. I know magpies can be feisty beggars but this took the biscuit. It was like the bird was actually taunting him.

Is this unusual?

Edit: just did a bit of Googling and it seems yer magpie can be pretty fearless https://youtu.be/1Fezl5GCee8

[purlieu]

Oh yeah, I've seen magpies going after cats and foxes before, really brave birds they can be. Always fun to watch.

Great fly agaric shots on the previous page. Seems to be a bumper year for them, my dad reckons he counted around 200 on our local patch last week.

[bgmnts]

Last Saturday. Enclosed valley to the south of Dolwyddelan. Vast amounts of fly agaric associated with some conifers:


[/quote

They look amazing. Like something Super Mario could platform on.

[Gurke and Hare]

I once saw a couple of magpies in the garden successfully taunt a cat into following them into a tree whose branches clearly couldn't support its weight so it was floundering once it got up there. They did seem to know exactly what they were doing.

[Bigfella]

Please identify a couple of birds I've spotted in the countryside, both small and near hedges.  First one had bright red on the top of it's head, going right down it's back so it looked like long red hair.  It's other main colour was beige/eggshell.  Other one was all light green, kind of dusty looking like a moth is.  Any ideas?

[paruses]

Where are you? And how big? But first sounds like a redpoll but the red isn't as extensive or vivid as you describe. They are small and streaky brown rather than uniform.

Not sure about the second. Maybe it was a moth.

[Bigfella]

Where are you? And how big? But first sounds like a redpoll but the red isn't as extensive or vivid as you describe. They are small and streaky brown rather than uniform.

Not sure about the second. Maybe it was a moth.

A few miles south of Glasgow.  The red/beige one maybe a little smaller than a starling.  I know it sounds crazy but I got a good look at it pecking amongst the dirt beside the road. 

[Gurke and Hare]

How big was the green one?

[Bigfella]

How big was the green one?

Sparrow sized.  If it helps, both were on their own, the local farms are mostly dairy and sheep, no crops.  Small streams and ponds, forests of various sizes and tree species.

[Twonty Gostelow]

Possibly green woodpecker for the redhead. They spend most of their time feeding on the ground.

[Gurke and Hare]

                                    Sparrow sized.

Possibly a greenfinch then.

[Buelligan]

Yes or a yellowhammer, maybe?


_{A greenfinch and a yellowhammer looking mothy}

[jobotic]

I think nearly every time I've seen a Green Woodpecker it's because it's flown up from the ground after I've disturbed it.

Saw a lovely Stonechat on a hedgerow the other day. I was cycling (slowly so got a good look) but there was car right behind me so couldn't stop get a photo.

[Bigfella]

The green one was definitely all green, no other colourings.  The red one was nothing like the suggestions.  Thanks for the effort anyway, it's appreciated.  I'll try to take some pictures.

[Twonty Gostelow]

First one had bright red on the top of it's head, going right down it's back so it looked like long red hair.  It's other main colour was beige/eggshell.

The red/beige one maybe a little smaller than a starling.

The red one was nothing like the suggestions.

Fuck off.

😌

[Bigfella]

Fuck off.

The bird I saw had a red back, no black in it's face and was a different shape.  Thanks anyway.

[purlieu]

Greenfinch is our only really green bird, so it's either that or an escaped something.

edit: actually, if you're in Scotland, there's the absolute tiniest possibility it was a male and female crossbill.

[Twonty Gostelow]

Fuck off.

The bird I saw had a red back, no black in it's face and was a different shape.  Thanks anyway.

I was kidding, but making the point that you said it "was nothing like the suggestions", when it was a pretty good approximation from your first description. The green would look beigey at certain times of the year. There's no British bird with red on its head and down its back 'like long red hair'.

[Bigfella]

The bird I saw had a red back, no black in it's face and was a different shape.  Thanks anyway.


I was kidding, but making the point that you said it "was nothing like the suggestions", when it was a pretty good approximation from your first description. The green would look beigey at certain times of the year. There's no British bird with red on its head and down its back 'like long red hair'.

I was worried that you thought I was trying to be cheeky!  I know little about birds, but I knew it was something unusual.  I'll try to get a pic, but I can't remember the time of year it was, this took place a good while ago.

[Twonty Gostelow]

                                  I was worried that you thought I was trying to be cheeky!  I know little about birds, but I knew it was something unusual.  I'll try to get a pic, but I can't remember the time of year it was, this took place a good while ago.

Wait, were the birds together? I thought you were talking about two separate occasions.
If they were together then purlieu's suggestion of crossbill mates is a good one. Male red and female green. The male Scottish crossbill has red bits everywhere though - not just a streak down its back, but if it was a long time ago maybe you've forgotten a bit.

[jobotic]

That did cross my mind, I'd be very jealous.

Perhaps it was a linnet looking behind him?!!

[Bigfella]

Wait, were the birds together? I thought you were talking about two separate occasions.
If they were together then purlieu's suggestion of crossbill mates is a good one. Male red and female green. The male Scottish crossbill has red bits everywhere though - not just a streak down its back, but if it was a long time ago maybe you've forgotten a bit.

Same day, about five minute's walk between them. 

[Twit 2]

Was out on a boat near Norwich and clocked this seal, 'bout 30 miles inland from the sea (Great Yarmouth), but probably chuffed with the fishing:



Here's a video of the cunt:

https://streamable.com/543amx

[Twonty Gostelow]

Was out on a boat near Norwich and clocked this seal, 'bout 30 miles inland from the sea (Great Yarmouth), but probably chuffed with the fishing:



Here's a video of the cunt:

https://streamable.com/543amx

Nice. Stating the obvious but plenty of salmon still swimming upriver to spawn right now, so some maverick seals will take long trips from the sea to find them.

[Twit 2]

No salmon but plenty of pike and other big fish.

[Twonty Gostelow]

Love these contrasting photos of summer and winter ibexes in France.

[AzureSky]

I saw a Mediterranean Monk Seal off the coast of Madeira last week, apparently very rare, only 500 left in the world and around 30 off Madeira. We were on a boat trip to see dolphins and the guy stopped the boat after he had spotted it, he said how lucky we were to see it.

[Spoon of Ploff]

anyone want to guess what this is?

[Twit 2]

The Queen's cunt.

[Dex Sawash]

Lamb shank that has gone off