Nature on your farm.

massey 265

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Have noticed a pair of these lads round here last few months.I think they are buzzards.Very hard to get a proper picture as they soar very high .Never saw them before but now have seen them in a good few lacations in the west.

magicbastarder

my first reaction on seeing that tiny little dot is that it's a kite.

does it have a forked tail?

massey 265

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120989114#Comment_120989114

Doesnt have a forked tail but has white under its wings and a very distenct screech when they are hunting which seems to be mid morning for some reason.11 am seems to be their feeding time

blue5000

Easy way to tell if it’s a buzzard is by its size, they’re big.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120990100#Comment_120990100

Adult red kites would be bigger than a buzzard. Buzzards have short stocky bodies with a thick wing span whereas kites have longer bodies and wings and are more aerodynamic looking. The forked tail is one of their features that makes kites easy to identify.

magicbastarder

it's just a few pixels, but my eyes are saying red kite to me in that pic; red kites seem to have a more convex 'kink' at the leading edge of the wings. also has white under its wings too.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120990292#Comment_120990292

Looks like a kite to me. They are regularly seen around Ballyboughil in NCD after reintroduction a few years ago. I've seen individuals in Duleek, Slane, Kells and Skryne. I understand that they were originally reintroduced in Wicklow.

magicbastarder

yep, my wife goes horseriding in kilsallaghan and once saw six soaring over the stables.

they were reintroduced in avoca, and in newbridge house in donabate - most of the north county dublin ones are presumably from the latter reintroduction.

Base price

The majority of swallows here have headed off on their holidays. I've only seen a few in the last couple of days around the house/yard and there are none to be seen flying in/out of the garage. The two house martin nests at the gable end of the house are still active so I presume they are still feeding youngsters.

Austinbrick

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Love it when a hare bolts from under your feet.

Base price

I was late herding this evening and twas nearly dark when walking back to the house. My fleece is covered with gossamer and spiderlings drifting in the calm air from the hedgerows. The honeysuckle smells really good too.

Austinbrick

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They will probably stay for the fine weather next week.There are at least 10of them around the farm.

Base price

I think the house martins that resided and bred under the eaves of the gable end of the house headed off on their summer holidays today. There was an awful silent commotion earlier this morning with about 15-20 of them flying towards the gable of the house but non of them landing in the two nests.

As an aside are Barn Swallows more vocal than House Martins???

Austinbrick

No. London 0 Hull 4.

Say my name

Misty.

blue5000

Spotted this in the yard earlier being attacked by swallows. He must have had one for lunch earlier. Apologies for the dirty windscreen but it’s nearly a week without using the wipers.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121081726#Comment_121081726

Sparrow hawk?

blue5000

Not sure I think it’s a buzzard.

SuperBowserWorld

Female sparrow hawk

Austinbrick

You got fairly close.great picture.

Austinbrick

Actually only a few metres away .

memorystick

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What type of spider is this? Fairly big. The daughters friend is feeding our cats while we’re away.

magicbastarder

looks like a garden spider.

Stephen_Maturin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121090295#Comment_121090295

Common garden spider alright

And it’s a she!

Base price

Saw a male hen harrier flying by the yard towards dusk yesterday evening mobbed by crows and jackdaws. It's the second time I've seen one, the last time was a couple of years ago. I wonder is it the same bird.

RockOrBog

Driving the tractor yesterday I had some birds following me, not after worms more swooping in and out around the tractor... Unreal how nimble they were. I'm guessing swallows but not sure as I didn't think they frequented this area

Lime Tree Farm

We'll never go hungry - from tonight's British Bake off.

"Forager Abbi has to take the prize for this one: her plaited loaf centrepiece takes the shape of a tree and includes a little something called ‘dock flour’. What is that? I hear you cry. Apparently, it’s dough made with the seeds from dock leaves. And it’s all been topped with foraged wild garlic and nettle bread. You have the first slice, I insist – Paul goes onto call it “really unusual”. In a good way"

Esel

Comon Dock is in the Buckwheat family.

Austinbrick

Clever bullocks.

How do they know when it's time to feed the pheasant.

They just seem to appear at the exact same time.

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kirk.

Woodlice climbing at the back patio door

Would they be gaining entry or just breeding in gutter or what ?

I'm gonna clean gutter and any items at back and check entry points

Havent ever seen one inside

Thanks