The Hide (chat thread)

magicbastarder

i just did interfere with some spawn - found a fresh batch about a foot and a half from the pond, uphill from it. i did move that...

AhHaor

recedite wrote: »

Not good, it would artificially accelerate the spawn and the tadpoles would be too early.

Watch what level it hangs in the water. In sunny weather, the spawn can be at the surface and it can be warmer than the water because the black spots in transparent gel pick up solar heat.
At other times it can sink. Once water temp drops below 4 degrees, the warmest water is at the bottom. So down at the bottom of a decent sized pond, the water will never drop below that temperature. Its a peculiar characteristic of water that makes pond life possible in northern latitudes On planet earth!.

FYP

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Just a reminder to keep some water available to birds in this cold spell.

Lepidoptera

I kept my bird bath topped up today, but I noticed some starlings bathing in it late this afternoon. Is there a risk of them freezing in the cold weather after a bath or do they know what they're doing getting wet in such cold temps?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They seem to know what they're at, as that happens here with many species during cod weather.

Lepidoptera wrote: »

I kept my bird bath topped up today, but I noticed some starlings bathing in it late this afternoon. Is there a risk of them freezing in the cold weather after a bath or do they know what they're doing getting wet in such cold temps?

Base price

I have a few bags of prawns in the freezer than my youngest Son kept for bait (fishing) and I want rid of them. Would it be better to cook them before offering them to dicky birds/corvoids/local buzzards etc or would it be ok just to defrost them. The prawns were caught off the East coast of Ireland last Summer by trawlers and scientifically processed at the time by the Marine Institute.

Bsal

The snow today has brought a Redwing into my garden, I've seen them before out and about but first time in the garden.

sudzs

Bsal wrote: »

The snow today has brought a Redwing into my garden, I've seen them before out and about but first time in the garden.

I'm seeing lots of redwings this morning in my and nextdoors garden. I've never seen them around here before.

appledrop

I have also had a Rewing in my garden for last two days! Never had one before. The apples + other birds feeding brought him in. Also had a Fieldfare. Can't stand this weather but delighted to have seen these birds:D

ZX7R

Had a very unusual gest to my back yard today, a lapwing, was rooting with sterling, at the Base of the food table.
I know it was a lapwing as I see the regular in lullymore,
I am in suncroft kildare

appledrop

The bad weather always brings unusual birds into gardens. A few years ago when there was extreme flooding we had a reed bunting in the garden. We live near estuary which was totally flooded so they headed into gardens.

Alun

It's like Grafton Street for birds out there at the moment, but they're all on the ground and resolutely ignoring the hanging feeders despite me having freed them of accumulated snow.

Saw a couple of redwings, and a pair of long tailed tits this morning which is unusual for here. Dozens of chaffinches and starlings plus a smattering of other birds. Occasionally a small flock of magpies swoop in and all the smaller birds go and hide in the trees until they've gone.

fryup

are fieldfare nationwide? or just in certain parts?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

fryup wrote: »

are fieldfare nationwide? or just in certain parts?

Fairly nationwide at the moment.

fryup

seen plenty of redwings in recent days but no fieldfare...do these species mix together?

or they stick to their own patch?

appledrop

They can often be seen together so you might get one yet!

Half-cocked

4 Fieldfares and 3 Redwings in the garden today.

biZrb

Bsal wrote: »

The snow today has brought a Redwing into my garden, I've seen them before out and about but first time in the garden.

I saw my first ever Redwing yesterday, there was a group of four eyeing up my bird feeder, then later in the day I seen a solitary one. I live in quite an urban area, but I'm always surprised at the variety of birds that I've seen here.

Lepidoptera

biZrb wrote: »

I saw my first ever Redwing yesterday, there was a group of four eyeing up my bird feeder, then later in the day I seen a solitary one. I live in quite an urban area, but I'm always surprised at the variety of birds that I've seen here.

Same - saw my first redwing today and was very excited! I cut up some apples to put out with the seed as well earlier, and I spotted one eating them and got to spend a good 20 minutes looking out at him with binoculars.

I was busy with my bird id book today as there are a few new visitors to the garden.

appledrop

We have 2 blackcaps as well last few days. Now I know they are more common but never had them in our garden before. Had about 40 starlings but others birds glad of them as they unearthed all the apples that the snow had buried + they never stay too long!

Keplar240B

Will the snow kill the frog spawn? I was walking in the hills week ago and there was huge amounts of it about tons of frogs.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Keplar240B wrote: »

Will the snow kill the frog spawn? I was walking in the hills week ago and there was huge amounts of it about tons of frogs.

It depends on depth of water, how low temperatures got in an area and for how long. Snow can insulate from the worst of the cold as well. Time will tell.

magicbastarder

saw a coot in the phoenix park today which seemed to be doing what appeared to be a regular half-sneeze, half cough. all the other birds were up on their feet, but this was hunkered down. seemed to be sitting in too open a spot to be brooding. would that be a possible symptom of avian flu? i know there's a public warning out about it, but i have only read of a couple of confirmed cases.

Base price

magicbastarder wrote: »

saw a coot in the phoenix park today which seemed to be doing what appeared to be a regular half-sneeze, half cough. all the other birds were up on their feet, but this was hunkered down. seemed to be sitting in too open a spot to be brooding. would that be a possible symptom of avian flu? i know there's a public warning out about it, but i have only read of a couple of confirmed cases.

As a precaution I would contact the park rangers (OPW) and advise them of your concern. Attached is a link and if you scroll down to the bottom of the page there are two mobile numbers for the park rangers that are available from 6am to 11.30pm seven days a week.
http://phoenixpark.ie/nature-and-biodiversity/

magicbastarder

cheers, done so. they'll check it out.

Camac Hibs

Does anyone know where in St Anne's Park the heronry is located?

whyulittle

Bat currently feeding over the back garden.

New Home

Yep, a couple was swooping around here, too, earlier on. First sighting, this year.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

whyulittle wrote: »

Bat currently feeding over the back garden.

I haven't had any here this year yet but it's one of my favourite rites of Spring.

whyulittle

Best I could do!