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Half-cocked · 05-09-2016 1:49pm

TopTec wrote: »

Woud be nice to see the pics if you can post them half cocked. I have a den near me too but no film of them yet.

TT

It's 2 short video clips - not sure how to post them.

Plus - what it's carrying in one clip might cause some consternation in certain quarters if you know what I mean.

Half-cocked · 05-09-2016 1:50pm

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

What's the story with all the stories on the radio bout pine Martin's attacking people/cornering people in sheds???

Silly season crap.

whyulittle · 05-09-2016 7:24pm

Sky full of Swallows here this evening; not on the move, just feeding.

Half-cocked · 05-09-2016 7:37pm

Flying ants are out, 2 hawkers having a field day.

MeteoritesEire · 09-09-2016 12:22am

Anybody know which bird (if it even is a bird and not some insect) that makes a single note high pitched call that lasts about a second and repeats every 2 seconds or so? The note drops slightly in pitch towards the end

stumped-thanks in advance

*edit, in woodland

Hotei · 09-09-2016 8:43am

A Dunnock makes a high-pitched 'tseep' call.
You can hear a Dunnock call on this link:

http://www.xeno-canto.org/319881

MeteoritesEire · 10-09-2016 12:21am

Thanks for reply-interesting......kinda close tho not long enough and doesnt drop towards the end hmmmmm

magicbastarder · 11-09-2016 4:45pm

we seem to be well into 'hedgehog roadkill season'.
an unusual amount of roadkill spotted today around north county dublin; rats, foxes, about five hedgehogs, and a grey squirrel.

whyulittle · 16-09-2016 7:28pm

Can't be very often you see a Manx Shearwater in Athlone!

https://www.facebook.com/AthloneSpca/photos/a.164307830387620.1073741825.160609754090761/678586792293052/?type=3&theater

whyulittle · 19-09-2016 10:25pm

Funnily enough, there's a record from Cavan today!

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/91224/Manx_Shearwater.html

whyulittle wrote: »

Can't be very often you see a Manx Shearwater in Athlone!

https://www.facebook.com/AthloneSpca/photos/a.164307830387620.1073741825.160609754090761/678586792293052/?type=3&theater

Capercaillie · 21-09-2016 9:59pm

For anybody that is interested giving two talks for Irish Wildlife Trust Galway and Laois/Offaly on my Corncrake project. Tullamore 20th October and Galway 2nd November.

laoch na mona · 22-09-2016 10:50pm

where in Galway?

Capercaillie · 23-09-2016 12:50pm

laoch na mona wrote: »

where in Galway?

No place booked as of yet.

Half-cocked · 25-09-2016 11:46am

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/spider-feared-to-be-deadly-false-widow-found-at-irish-home-35076749.html

Looks like I missed my chance to be famous, I never told the Indo about the dozens of them living in my shed. I can confirm I haven't lost any limbs yet.

gzoladz · 26-09-2016 7:26am

Great air battle today between a sparrowhawk and 2 magpies over the Dodder around Milltown. It went on for minutes, I had the sun in my back so great to watch.... But off course I had no camera...

And before and after that, numerous goldcrests, tits, 2 dippers and 2 kingfishers.

whyulittle · 10-10-2016 8:20pm

Over in Boora today and they've cleared a big tract of land of vegetation and ploughed it all up. Didn't see anyone around to ask - so pure speculation when I wonder are they going to put it to use for Corncrake conservation maybe?

whyulittle · 20-10-2016 10:54pm

Just to say, I headed over to Capercaillie's talk in Tullamore this evening; very enjoyable. Even having seen the photos he puts up here, I didn't appreciate just how much work he has put into the farm. Get along to the Galway talk if you can.

Capercaillie wrote: »

For anybody that is interested giving two talks for Irish Wildlife Trust Galway and Laois/Offaly on my Corncrake project. Tullamore 20th October and Galway 2nd November.

Capercaillie · 21-10-2016 9:30am

whyulittle wrote: »

Over in Boora today and they've cleared a big tract of land of vegetation and ploughed it all up. Didn't see anyone around to ask - so pure speculation when I wonder are they going to put it to use for Corncrake conservation maybe?

Top photo looks like it has been presprayed with round-up. They will probably be growing cover crop for partridge. No plans for any reintroductions of corncrake in midlands or anywhere in Ireland. NPWS have trialled rearing a couple of crex, but in reality 100's of birds would have to be reintroduced (No money)

philstar · 26-10-2016 10:34pm

do we have dormice in ireland?

out of interest how many species of mice do we have?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 26-10-2016 10:57pm

philstar wrote: »

do we have dormice in ireland?

out of interest how many species of mice do we have?

Just House Mouse and Wood Mouse in Ireland.

Capercaillie · 26-10-2016 11:31pm

philstar wrote: »

do we have dormice in ireland?

out of interest how many species of mice do we have?

1 species Hazel Dormouse, centered around Naas.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 27-10-2016 9:34am

Capercaillie wrote: »

1 species Hazel Dormouse, centered around Naas.

I forgot about that. 2012/2013 only. There's thought to be as few as 15 of them, I think.

Not native and a quandary when one is caught as it should not be released again.

philstar · 27-10-2016 10:26am

how about field mouse? or is that the same as a house mouse?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 27-10-2016 1:19pm

philstar wrote: »

how about field mouse? or is that the same as a house mouse?

What people here call the field mouse is the Wood Mouse, or Long Tailed Field Mouse.

Base price · 31-10-2016 6:39pm

Found this fella this morning. I never saw a red grasshopper before.
I assume that it is in fact a grasshopper.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 31-10-2016 6:53pm

Base price wrote: »

Found this fella this morning. I never saw a red grasshopper before.
I assume that it is in fact a grasshopper.

It's a very unusual variation of the Meadow Grasshopper. Rarely seen.

Base price · 31-10-2016 7:01pm

Kayla Moldy Supernova wrote: »

It's a very unusual variation of the Meadow Grasshopper. Rarely seen.

He was on the bottom of my patio door frame. There is a wisteria and climbing hydrangea just around the corner growing on the gable of the house. He may live in amongst them. I think he is missing part of one of his hind legs.

meolwan · 05-11-2016 1:04am

2014-09-12 17.41.58.jpg

2014-09-12 17.41.52.jpg

This guy joined me while having a drink on holidays in Turkey anyone know what it is ?

Capercaillie · 05-11-2016 2:54am

meolwan wrote: »

2014-09-12 17.41.58.jpg

2014-09-12 17.41.52.jpg

This guy joined me while having a drink on holidays in Turkey anyone know what it is ?

Some type of Preying mantis

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 05-11-2016 10:31am

Yes, a Mantis.

whyulittle · 05-11-2016 4:54pm

A new version of the BirdTrack app was released last month.

Some good improvements on it; easier to see and edit your current list, and you don't need to turn on GPS to select one of your previous sites.

fryup · 09-11-2016 5:43pm

a climate change sceptic in the white house

bad news for the environment

Hotei · 09-11-2016 6:10pm

fryup wrote: »

a climate change sceptic in the white house

bad news for the environment

He has vowed to abolish the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

recedite · 10-11-2016 9:23pm

Capercaillie wrote: »

Some type of Preying mantis

Its actually spelled "Praying Mantis".
I believe the Turkish type adopts a face-down prostate position for its praying.

mr.wiggle · 14-11-2016 5:20pm

There's a forestry plantation just behind my house and I'm being treated to the sight of flocks of thrushes, I think, flying into roost around 5pm for the past week. There'll be 20 minutes where flocks of between 10 and 30 fly overhead, coming in from the south and south east, skimming the hedges on their way in. Hard for me to calculate the numbers but it must be between 150 and 200 from what I've tried to count..could easily be more as they are quiet spread out coming in.Its an eerie enough sight as they don't make a sound passing over head. Nice to see though.

TopTec · 14-11-2016 7:57pm

Probably Fieldfare?

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/f/fieldfare/

Have them up here in Mayo and are usually mixed in with Starlings.

TT.

Half-cocked · 14-11-2016 9:26pm

Quite a few bats around tonight, common pips I think. Sutton/Baldoyle area.

MeteoritesEire · 15-11-2016 1:32am

mr.wiggle wrote: »

There's a forestry plantation just behind my house and I'm being treated to the sight of flocks of thrushes, I think, flying into roost around 5pm for the past week. There'll be 20 minutes where flocks of between 10 and 30 fly overhead, coming in from the south and south east, skimming the hedges on their way in. Hard for me to calculate the numbers but it must be between 150 and 200 from what I've tried to count..could easily be more as they are quiet spread out coming in.Its an eerie enough sight as they don't make a sound passing over head. Nice to see though.

Agree with other person,most likely fieldfares-seeing hundreds of them here in Donegal

OpenYourEyes · 19-11-2016 12:32am

Saw my first adult male Hen Harrier this evening, having seen countless ringtails in the last three or four years! Stopped by a site that I know can be good for Short-eared Owls and ringtails at this time of year, and was delighted to see the unmistakable pale grey/blue of an adult male! I know there's regular turnover of birds at HH roosts, but when you're just seeing ringtails its often hard to confirm, so I'll be interested to see if that male is around next time I'm home!

Bsal · 22-11-2016 5:15pm

Big increase in birds to the garden today most notably a Goldcrest lots of Starlings, Bluetits, Chaffinch, a Scandinavian looking male Blackbird

and all the usual other suspects.

Keplar240B · 06-12-2016 7:18pm

Rosahane · 06-12-2016 7:40pm

People renting a house near us since the summer have three cats which have discovered that birds visit the feeders in our garden. No collars or bells of course.

We have chased them out a few times but I'm considering getting a cage trap and handing them over to the warden!

Base price · 06-12-2016 10:55pm

Rosahane wrote: »

People renting a house near us since the summer have three cats which have discovered that birds visit the feeders in our garden. No collars or bells of course.

We have chased them out a few times but I'm considering getting a cage trap and handing them over to the warden!

Are you allowed to legally trap them and can "the warden" remove them without the owners permission ?

Rosahane · 07-12-2016 10:13am

Base price wrote: »

Are you allowed to legally trap them and can "the warden" remove them without the owners permission ?

To be honest, I don't know.

My argument is that if they are in my garden without any identification they are feral. I don't know if the warden will held a similar view although I doubt it.

Unlike dogs, there seems to be little legislation dealing with cats - other than the cruelty to animals laws.

magicbastarder · 07-12-2016 10:33am

i'd say the warden wouldn't touch that with a bargepole, because if it became known that he dealt with cases of cats entering other peoples gardens, he'd be swamped by people doing it because of petty grievances etc.

that said, i do have sympathy with you - if a cat came into my garden and attacked a pet of mine, i am curious about what steps i'd be allowed take to defend my pet. so a cat coming in and attacking what is protected wildlife could be a grey area legally.
one thing you could check if there's any cat charities in your area which have TNR arrangements with a local vet - i.e. if the cat is not neutered and has no ID on a collar or in a microchip, they trap it, neuter it, and release it.

Base price · 07-12-2016 1:11pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

i'd say the warden wouldn't touch that with a bargepole, because if it became known that he dealt with cases of cats entering other peoples gardens, he'd be swamped by people doing it because of petty grievances etc.

that said, i do have sympathy with you - if a cat came into my garden and attacked a pet of mine, i am curious about what steps i'd be allowed take to defend my pet. so a cat coming in and attacking what is protected wildlife could be a grey area legally.
one thing you could check if there's any cat charities in your area which have TNR arrangements with a local vet - i.e. if the cat is not neutered and has no ID on a collar or in a microchip, they trap it, neuter it, and release it.

Cats are not required to be neutered let alone have ID be it a microchip or collar although imo anyone putting a collar on a cat is endangering the cat. There is no Control of Cats Act. I agree that cats should be neutered and most responsible cat owners do have them done.

recedite · 07-12-2016 1:11pm

Maybe try an intermediate solution; like an airgun or a catapult. A sting in the tail might dissuade them from hanging around.

Mod Edit: The above would be cruel and illegal. Do not under any circumstances resort to this.

Rosahane · 07-12-2016 2:27pm

recedite wrote: »

Maybe try an intermediate solution; like an airgun or a catapult. A sting in the tail might dissuade them from hanging around.

That would, from what I read, leave me open to a charge of animal cruelty!

When I see the birds disappear from the feeders I let the lab out and they disappear pretty sharpish. He nearly got one last week. But obviously they see the opportunity to hunt outweighs the threat of the dog.

Rosahane · 07-12-2016 2:29pm

Base price wrote: »

Cats are not required to be neutered let alone have ID be it a microchip or collar although imo anyone putting a collar on a cat is endangering the cat. There is no Control of Cats Act. I agree that cats should be neutered and most responsible cat owners do have them done.

Id imagine that is their owners attitude. They are well looked after cats.

OpenYourEyes · 07-12-2016 3:44pm

recedite wrote: »

Maybe try an intermediate solution; like an airgun or a catapult. A sting in the tail might dissuade them from hanging around.

Mod Note: Don't try anything of the sort! Any similar suggestions along these lines will result in a ban. Doing something like this would be both cruel and illegal.

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