Nature on your farm.

Say my name · 27-06-2020 9:22am

At the end of the day it's just letting your farm get a bit more "scruffy" and letting more nature have some room.

The current mindset of the old school is that denotes a 'bad' farmer.
However the current generation and some of the old school see through this and know the value it brings to life.

Capercaillie · 28-06-2020 10:14am

Say my name wrote: »

For me personally it's all optics. Virtue signalling and attacking the other side to justify yourself by the Greens.

I've never been in reps or any of the schemes up to now. Yet I know and have always known the value of hedgerows and waterways fenced off.
You do it off your own bat. If you're waiting for a scheme. You're waiting for these self important "advisors" fresh out of college to come on your farm and tell you what to do.
Nobody wins except the advisors. The farmer resents being told what to do and just does the bare minimum to cover their ass.

Some farmers are like advisors. Thinking there's a never ending supply of money going to be coming from on high. When the reality is that pot is getting smaller every year. And farmers are being asked to do more for the same money that they used to get. Not to mention administration and their advisors taking from that pot too.

Doesn't impress me.

Some scheme genuinely help both farmer and biodiversity, results based schemes. Farmer in consultation with ecologist/agri-consultant decide what plan to follow. Technical advice given to specific fields is given.
In GLAS most the advisors hadn't even any background in ecology, how are they supposed to advise farmers. The standards set so low, didn't help either.

28-06-2020 11:06am

HillFarmer wrote: »

With the greens now in government whats the overall view on this thread?

For me, even though I'm a farmer I'm pretty happy tbh and am hopeful we will see bio diversity take a much bigger step forward.

However I think i'm pretty alone in this having spoke to a few farmers locally.
I looking forward to new schemes to increase nature as much as possible over the next 10 years.

I'd agree with Say my name and with the best will in the world I believe you'll regret the above. The greens are now in charge of land use policy, you should inform yourself on the stuff coming out in regards to all peatland types and the knock on effects that will come from there. I can tell you from experience with our new super junior they're dangerously ill informed on hills. There's an ex green senator advocating no ag related payments on peatlands, also looking to be applied are levels of "strict protection" and "appropriate protection" two levels above National Park status and three to four levels above current SAC. 13% of Ireland is designated, 30% is what the new designations will cover (that's not a 30% increase, it's a 300%+ increase). These are coming through the greens as well as the EU's biodiversity 2030, farm to fork 2030 and GAEC2. Should these be applied there will not even be an avenue to apply for planning permission on lands, privately owned or not, in ag or not. Welcoming Irish greens to ag and land use is like welcoming a petrol tanker to a house fire.

Dinzee Conlee · 28-06-2020 11:50am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'd agree with Say my name and with the best will in the world I believe you'll regret the above. The greens are now in charge of land use policy, you should inform yourself on the stuff coming out in regards to all peatland types and the knock on effects that will come from there. I can tell you from experience with our new super junior they're dangerously ill informed on hills. There's an ex green senator advocating no ag related payments on peatlands, also looking to be applied are levels of "strict protection" and "appropriate protection" two levels above National Park status and three to four levels above current SAC. 13% of Ireland is designated, 30% is what the new designations will cover (that's not a 30% increase, it's a 300%+ increase). These are coming through the greens as well as the EU's biodiversity 2030, farm to fork 2030 and GAEC2. Should these be applied there will not even be an avenue to apply for planning permission on lands, privately owned or not, in ag or not. Welcoming Irish greens to ag and land use is like welcoming a petrol tanker to a house fire.

It’s hard to know what’ll happen for farming overall...
The greens have some scary stuff, but then some of the things that are currently happening such as turf cutting I do think should be reviewed...
But then - we’ve had years and years of FF and FG governments, and look at us.

So maybe the conclusion is we’re fcuked no matter who is in power?

I do hope the greens make some kinda improvements, as I feel FG and FF have shown they don’t really give a sh!te... but I do accept that’s hope more than anything.

NcdJd · 28-06-2020 12:35pm

There is a lot of quail this year in the barley and corn where I live. Recorded them but don't know if this will upload.

NcdJd · 28-06-2020 12:36pm

There is a lot of Quail this year in the barley and corn where I live. Can't upload the audio file.

Base price · 28-06-2020 1:35pm

NcdJd wrote: »

There is a lot of Quail this year in the barley and corn where I live. Can't upload the audio file.

I think you need to have 50 posts before you can upload a photo.

Lime Tree Farm · 28-06-2020 1:54pm

Base price wrote: »

I think you need to have 50 posts before you can upload a photo.

I think that should read 5 posts before attaching a link or a photo.

memorystick · 28-06-2020 2:27pm

Just after seeing some type of a seagull in the heart of the midlands. Why?

Base price · 28-06-2020 3:36pm

memorystick wrote: »

Just after seeing some type of a seagull in the heart of the midlands. Why?

We have black headed gulls and common gulls living and breeding on the lakes around us in Longford and Cavan. I see lots of them especially when we plough the WBC every year or spread slurry.

Capercaillie · 28-06-2020 4:17pm

NcdJd wrote: »

There is a lot of Quail this year in the barley and corn where I live. Can't upload the audio file.

Where are you based, how many calling?

NcdJd · 28-06-2020 5:17pm

Capercaillie wrote: »

Where are you based, how many calling?

North County dublin, not too far from dublin airport. I would say at least 4 when going through the different fields the other day. Tried walking up to where one was calling got to about 20 feet but stopped.

Lime Tree Farm · 28-06-2020 5:23pm

Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown, clinging on in the wind this morning - took a while waiting for the wings to open out.

small tortoiseshell.png

meadow brown butterfly.jpg

tabby aspreme · 28-06-2020 7:47pm

memorystick wrote: »

Just after seeing some type of a seagull in the heart of the midlands. Why?

I believe seagulls are constantly flying inland, but at a height that you don't notice them, years ago, within a few minutes of starting to plough, seagulls would land in the field and I live 50 miles inland.

Capercaillie · 28-06-2020 9:37pm

NcdJd wrote: »

North County dublin, not too far from dublin airport. I would say at least 4 when going through the different fields the other day. Tried walking up to where one was calling got to about 20 feet but stopped.

Good stuff, have you exact location?

Rows Grower · 28-06-2020 9:51pm

tabby aspreme wrote: »

I believe seagulls are constantly flying inland, but at a height that you don't notice them, years ago, within a few minutes of starting to plough, seagulls would land in the field and I live 50 miles inland.

You must be living in one of the furthest points in Ireland from the sea.

The only reason I'm commenting on this is I read on one of those daily facts on a calendar just the other day that there is nowhere in England more than 75 miles from the sea.

Rows Grower · 28-06-2020 9:54pm

We live 5km from the sea and if we see a seagull anywhere within a kilometre or two of our house then sure as night follows day there is a serious storm on the way.

kollegeknight · 30-06-2020 9:59am

Coming In From a walk last Night around 11: A barn owl screeching over my head. Got a video but more like one of those ufo Videos.

They are living about 100meters from our house.

Say my name · 02-07-2020 7:43pm

Walking across the garden this evening and I heard a bit of a ruckus in the glasshouse.
I went for a look and what is it only a sparrowhawk.

There was one pane of glass missing and he must of chased a bird into the house.

So I opened the door and off he flew.

Say my name · 02-07-2020 10:51pm

I saw two young foxes this evening.
One going among the grass tufts on the dungpats and one just sitting up watching me bring in the cows. No fear in em.
You'd nearly be tempted to try and grab one to make a pet of.. :pac:
Have good crops of sow thistles beneath the wires in places and one or two in the field. Fair bit of biodiversity. Good farmer.

One day last week (Wednesday the hot day) gorse on the ditches could be nearly heard in the parish going snap, crackle and pop.

Oh and a frog was hopping about in a paddock today when I was spreading dairy washings.

AckwelFoley · 04-07-2020 4:50pm

Found a dead crow this morning.

Looked at the camera to see if a cat or something was the cause.

..sorry about the poor video quality, it's a zoomed in portion of the video.

https://youtu.be/42xXw5MGsrQ

kollegeknight · 04-07-2020 10:18pm

AckwelFoley wrote: »

Found a dead crow this morning.

Looked at the camera to see if a cat or something was the cause.

..sorry about the poor video quality, it's a zoomed in portion of the video.

https://youtu.be/42xXw5MGsrQ

I reckon twas a murder.... I’ll get my coat.

Water John · 08-07-2020 11:51pm

Got a lovely pic of an Irish Hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) outside the sitting room window yesterday evening. Seemed to be watching the television. Must learn how to put up pics here.

alps · 09-07-2020 7:49am

Rows Grower wrote: »

You must be living in one of the furthest points in Ireland from the sea.

The only reason I'm commenting on this is I read on one of those daily facts on a calendar just the other day that there is nowhere in England more than 75 miles from the sea.

You'd never think it but true...

Messing here now and reckon point furthest from the sea is a mile NE of Camross in Laois at 62miles.

blue5000 · 15-07-2020 11:40am

I've seen a few of these shield bugs before, but they were green. First time seeing a brown one;

Lady Haywire · 15-07-2020 12:01pm

A forest shieldbug apparently. Love those little guys, they're so fun to watch.

https://irishnaturalist.com/irish-shieldbugs/#:~:text=It%20is%20common%20in%20Ireland,coloured%20shieldbug%20in%20the%20garden.

ganmo · 15-07-2020 12:48pm

Saw a proper red squirrel yesterday here

Base price · 15-07-2020 2:16pm

ganmo wrote: »

Saw a proper red squirrel yesterday here

Would they be normally in your area. I haven't seen any in NCD since I was a child. Lots of greys about though.

tabby aspreme · 15-07-2020 10:08pm

This Grasshopper didn't mind having his picture taken

Genghis Cant · 15-07-2020 11:23pm

I don't have a picture but I might take one yet, the other night I happened to look at the plum tree with the torch. It was full of little eyes reflecting back at me. Moths, about 30mm long, mainly brown wing with orange under wing.
Bad infestation of greenfly on the tree seemed to attract them. I think greenfly produce honeydew. Maybe that's the moth attractant.
Anyone put a name on them?

Edit. I looked it up there. Seems to be the Large Yellow Under wing. Noctua pronuba.

Lime Tree Farm · 16-07-2020 7:38am

Large Yellow Under wing. Good range of pics on this site.

https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/large-yellow-underwing

NcdJd · 16-07-2020 10:42am

Genghis Cant wrote: »

I don't have a picture but I might take one yet, the other night I happened to look at the plum tree with the torch. It was full of little eyes reflecting back at me. Moths, about 30mm long, mainly brown wing with orange under wing.
Bad infestation of greenfly on the tree seemed to attract them. I think greenfly produce honeydew. Maybe that's the moth attractant.
Anyone put a name on them?

Edit. I looked it up there. Seems to be the Large Yellow Under wing. Noctua pronuba.

I was reading this post and had to go in to a room in the house just there and what was on the window? The moth you were talking about!

Have a couple of acres of pumpkins growing and find there is a big scarcity of bumble bees this year. So I'm hand pollinating them for 2 hours every morning. Wonder was it due to the drought earlier. Have a couple of beds of phacilia to aid the pollination which would normally be buzzing with activity but very quite.

6034073

Base price · 16-07-2020 11:29am

NcdJd wrote: »

I was reading this post and had to go in to a room in the house just there and what was on the window? The moth you were talking about!

Have a couple of acres of pumpkins growing and find there is a big scarcity of bumble bees this year. So I'm hand pollinating them for 2 hours every morning. Wonder was it due to the drought earlier. Have a couple of beds of phacilia to aid the pollination which would normally be buzzing with activity but very quite.

Are you near any of Keelings commercial orchards. If so they are constantly spraying the trees so I assume it would impact insect populations.

forgottenhills · 16-07-2020 11:34am

NcdJd wrote: »

I was reading this post and had to go in to a room in the house just there and what was on the window? The moth you were talking about!

Have a couple of acres of pumpkins growing and find there is a big scarcity of bumble bees this year. So I'm hand pollinating them for 2 hours every morning. Wonder was it due to the drought earlier. Have a couple of beds of phacilia to aid the pollination which would normally be buzzing with activity but very quite.

There were plenty of bumble bees around in the good weather spell earlier in the summer, in fact there seemed to be more than normal, certainly around me. However they seem to have disappeared in the colder and wetter snap since. Maybe they are resting on their piles of forage and waiting for warmer weather to re-emerge?

_Brian · 16-07-2020 12:28pm

forgottenhills wrote: »

There were plenty of bumble bees around in the good weather spell earlier in the summer, in fact there seemed to be more than normal, certainly around me. However they seem to have disappeared in the colder and wetter snap since. Maybe they are resting on their piles of forage and waiting for warmer weather to re-emerge?

Finding less flowering around the garden/farm this year and so seeing fewer bees than other years. This year we’re seeing a massive explosion in numbers of ladybugs, every where I go I’m seeing plenty.

NcdJd · 16-07-2020 1:15pm

Base price wrote: »

Are you near any of Keelings commercial orchards. If so they are constantly spraying the trees so I assume it would impact insect populations.

I'm at the other side of the airport near cloghran but the some of the lads are growing corn and garlic so I suppose there would be a bit of drift. But plenty of ladybirds and other predators about.

NcdJd · 16-07-2020 1:20pm

forgottenhills wrote: »

There were plenty of bumble bees around in the good weather spell earlier in the summer, in fact there seemed to be more than normal, certainly around me. However they seem to have disappeared in the colder and wetter snap since. Maybe they are resting on their piles of forage and waiting for warmer weather to re-emerge?

Yeah there was a good few around earlier in the year. Probably all holidaying in someone's posh garden up the road ha

Lime Tree Farm · 16-07-2020 9:14pm

White Jackdaw in Donegal.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/very-rare-white-jackdaw-seen-in-donegal-1.4306404

kollegeknight · 17-07-2020 10:03am

The two barn owls have become a family of barn owls, the two parents are flying to and fro all evening. The chicks calling mad.

I emailed birdwatch Ireland about them, interesting to see will they get back to me.

A new neighbour is coming into the area with birds of prey and he is supposed to have a pair of hawk owls. Who, if free seek out other birds of prey nests and kill them and chicks.

forgottenhills · 17-07-2020 10:19am

kollegeknight wrote: »

The two barn owls have become a family of barn owls, the two parents are flying to and fro all evening. The chicks calling mad.

I emailed birdwatch Ireland about them, interesting to see will they get back to me.

A new neighbour is coming into the area with birds of prey and he is supposed to have a pair of hawk owls. Who, if free seek out other birds of prey nests and kill them and chicks.

Surely it would be illegal for your new neighbour to let those hawk owls go free to seek prey? Local animals and birds would not have any defence against something new like that.

kollegeknight · 17-07-2020 2:31pm

forgottenhills wrote: »

Surely it would be illegal for your new neighbour to let those hawk owls go free to seek prey? Local animals and birds would not have any defence against something new like that.

Well he is not supposed to let them off and is liable if they do damage, but I can’t say as I’ve never met him. Like lads with big dogs, you get good owners and bad owners. Hoping this guy will be a good one. Another neighbour races pigeons so he won’t be long laying down the law. I’ll take soft approach if one is needed.

Water John · 17-07-2020 4:17pm

Interesting piece on RTE News at one. It showed a vet in Mayo who had set his land as a special habitat for corncrake. In one part he had a crop of nettles. He had six males calling.
They should show it again at six.

NcdJd · 18-07-2020 9:39am

Anyone know what this fella is? Never seen it before.

Lime Tree Farm · 18-07-2020 12:06pm

NcdJd wrote: »

Anyone know what this fella is? Never seen it before.

May be a burnished brass moth.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gails_pictures/23898604896

Water John · 18-07-2020 8:39pm

Here's an interesting interview with James Lovelock at 101, father of the Gaia Theory;
'James Lovelock is best known as the father of Gaia Theory, the revolutionary idea that life on Earth is a self-regulating community of organisms interacting with each other and their surroundings.'
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/18/james-lovelock-the-biosphere-and-i-are-both-in-the-last-1-per-cent-of-our-lives

Genghis Cant · 19-07-2020 12:14am

Poplar Hawk Moth. Visited last night. Impressive chap.
Wingspan 65 to 90 mm. This lad was towards the top end of this.

Lady Haywire · 19-07-2020 9:00am

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Poplar Hawk Moth. Visited last night. Impressive chap.
Wingspan 65 to 90 mm. This lad was towards the top end of this.

If you stuck eyes near the top he'd be a fairly good elephant lookalike.

Dinzee Conlee · 19-07-2020 2:16pm

Not sure you can make it out in the photo - but found a hive of bumble bees in moss out the back of the house... I strimmed it earlier and noticed there was a good few bees about all right...

And we have honey bees living in an old tree trunk out there front of the house...

forgottenhills · 20-07-2020 11:02am

Water John wrote: »

Here's an interesting interview with James Lovelock at 101, father of the Gaia Theory;
'James Lovelock is best known as the father of Gaia Theory, the revolutionary idea that life on Earth is a self-regulating community of organisms interacting with each other and their surroundings.'
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/18/james-lovelock-the-biosphere-and-i-are-both-in-the-last-1-per-cent-of-our-lives

The Gaia theory must be one of the most interesting theories ever put forward about the Earth and its life systems, even if you don't buy into it.

Lovelock himself is a fascinating and incredibly important scientist//inventor that almost no one knows about. That interview with him in the Guardian that you linked is an incredible interview with someone who is one 100 years old.

Capercaillie · 20-07-2020 11:10am

Water John wrote: »

Interesting piece on RTE News at one. It showed a vet in Mayo who had set his land as a special habitat for corncrake. In one part he had a crop of nettles. He had six males calling.
They should show it again at six.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0716/1153740-corncrake-farm/
Yip that's me. Link to video in main page.

Nature on your farm.

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