Nature on your farm.

Rows Grower · 02-10-2020 9:42pm

Roots of a Sitka Spruce tree that was blown over some time ago.

Thargor · 03-10-2020 12:11am

Rows Grower wrote: »

Roots of a Sitka Spruce tree that was blown over some time ago.

Do you ever notice lumps of white quartz stuck in those roots of fallen trees way more than any other type of rock? Maybe its a Wicklow mountains thing but I always wondered about that...

Rows Grower · 03-10-2020 9:40am

Thargor wrote: »

Do you ever notice lumps of white quartz stuck in those roots of fallen trees way more than any other type of rock? Maybe its a Wicklow mountains thing but I always wondered about that...

I haven't noticed it to be honest Thargor but I'll be a bit more inquisitive in future.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 05-10-2020 2:56pm

Nice video of a few red squirrels below.
https://twitter.com/IrelandsFarmers/status/1313112490692227073?s=19

fleabag · 05-10-2020 4:41pm

I'm not a farmer but I'd like to say a big thank you to all the posters for this thread and all the news and images it contains.

I live next door to a diary farm and walk the fields every day. The farmer keeps some scruffy land about his fields which is where I do my wildlife spotting.

Farmers get a lot of stick for damaging the environment but this thread shows that there are lots out there who are invested in nature and the environment on their land and doing their best to encourage this despite the regulations. It's been lovely reading through it and given me a real hope that not all is lost for our native wildlife while there are farmers out there willing to work with it.

Thanks

tabby aspreme · 05-10-2020 9:25pm

Saw this today on the bottom of a tree after all the rain, just like suds

gozunda · 05-10-2020 10:18pm

tabby aspreme wrote: »

Saw this today on the bottom of a tree after all the rain, just like suds

Likley you'll find an insect of some sort at the centre of what looks like froth.

The most common froth seen is called Cuckoo Spit which is formed by an insect called a froghopper

The 'spit' is actually a protective bubble wrapping the froghopper, which sucks the plant sap and distorts the young growth of flowering plants. It protects the insect from attack by predators and stops it from drying out.

bobbyy gee · 05-10-2020 10:20pm

i have about 30 badgers on my farm

gozunda · 05-10-2020 10:25pm

Some twigs doing dancing impersonations

Rows Grower · 08-10-2020 10:06am

Thargor wrote: »

Do you ever notice lumps of white quartz stuck in those roots of fallen trees way more than any other type of rock? Maybe its a Wicklow mountains thing but I always wondered about that...

Came across a few more fallen spruce but no sign of any quartz, must be a Wicklow mountains thing alright. By the way I meant to put the other picture in a different thread, they're not on my modest 4 acres.

NcdJd · 08-10-2020 9:09pm

Mushrooms and two old milk bottles i found in the ditch that probably my oul fella fcked out about 30 years ago.

The big one mushroom coming out of the beech tree must be the size of a bin lid.

NcdJd · 08-10-2020 9:14pm

Pheasants, trees that have seen better days and crab apples. Ate one of the crab apples and didn't notice until I looked at the brown streak running through it that I probably ate a maggot as well.

forgottenhills · 09-10-2020 1:13pm

NcdJd wrote: »

Pheasants, trees that have seen better days and crab apples. Ate one of the crab apples and didn't notice until I looked at the brown streak running through it that I probably ate a maggot as well.

Those apples look a little too large and yellow for true crabs. That might be an old apple tree that is self-regenerating and could be a sign that there was once a house or cabin near there many years ago where the owner planted the parent of that apple tree.

NcdJd · 09-10-2020 1:47pm

forgottenhills wrote: »

Those apples look a little too large and yellow for true crabs. That might be an old apple tree that is self-regenerating and could be a sign that there was once a house or cabin near there many years ago where the owner planted the parent of that apple tree.

There's loads of them trees all along the hedge. Each one a different looking apple. Them are about the size of a golf ball. Most are smaller but there's another one that's streaky red so ya could be right.

Base price · 14-10-2020 10:45am

The lapwing's are back for Winter. I saw a flock of about 25 this morning in one of the fields.

SouthWesterly · 14-10-2020 7:05pm

Saw 3 pheasants in my field this week. Also found these strange creatures

not a farmer!

Lady Haywire · 14-10-2020 7:05pm

Dead hedgehog in the hayshed stuck in the netting on a bale

Not the lad I was feeding, this guy was smaller.

Oh and a gang of whoopers flew over last week.

feartuath · 14-10-2020 8:22pm

Deer have taken up residence in the wild bird cover by night, but yet to hear a stag call.

Last of the Swallows flew around the 1st week of the month.

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 9:33pm

feartuath wrote: »

Deer have taken up residence in the wild bird cover by night, but yet to hear a stag call.

Last of the Swallows flew around the 1st week of the month.

Was very surprised to see 3 swallows still around the weekend gone. Thought they'd be well gone. Wonder are they a late brood and the parents had to stick around for the young ones to be ready.

Birdnuts · 15-10-2020 1:02am

NcdJd wrote: »

Was very surprised to see 3 swallows still around the weekend gone. Thought they'd be well gone. Wonder are they a late brood and the parents had to stick around for the young ones to be ready.

In recent years a small population of swallows appear to be wintering in this country - Galway bay seems to be a hotspot for whatever reason

NcdJd · 15-10-2020 8:11am

Birdnuts wrote: »

In recent years a small population of swallows appear to be wintering in this country - Galway bay seems to be a hotspot for whatever reason

Never heard of that birdnuts. Must see if they are still there over the weekend.

amadangomor · 15-10-2020 8:24am

Birdnuts wrote: »

In recent years a small population of swallows appear to be wintering in this country - Galway bay seems to be a hotspot for whatever reason

Heard that they started staying in SW Kerry and in Cornwall when we had a run of very mild winters up until 2010.

Galway bay/West and South coast probaly would be more likely to be frost free and have midges etc all year.

feartuath · 15-10-2020 9:01am

amadangomor wrote: »

Heard that they started staying in SW Kerry and in Cornwall when we had a run of very mild winters up until 2010.

Galway bay/West and South coast probaly would be more likely to be frost free and have midges etc all year.

You would be eaten alive by midges in the bogs of Connemara.

Say my name · 15-10-2020 10:41am

Birdnuts wrote: »

In recent years a small population of swallows appear to be wintering in this country - Galway bay seems to be a hotspot for whatever reason

Swallows feed on a lot of dung beetles.

A big reason dung beetles find it tough in this country is that cattle are housed during the winter depriving the beetles of a food source during those lean months.
If there's cattle or horses or sheep outwintered near Galway bay it would provide lots to the beetles and keep them going year on year.
The swallows would have them too for the winter.

Edit: I'm not talking the big earth dwelling dor beetles but the small overground fly type ones.
The Dors build up a larder source underground for the winter and for the young.

endainoz · 15-10-2020 10:41am

It's an ambition of mine to attract a barn owl into a high part of the bedded area of the slatted house. It will involve making a nesting box out of a sheet of ply but hopefully it will work.

Have a wooded area at the back of the land and have heard the distinct screech of the barn owl a couple of times already.

Id be delighted if I could coax one of them the come down to the shed to keep an eye on vermin around the yard but I understand they are probably quite happy where they are already.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

blue5000 · 15-10-2020 10:54am

Rough white grass area is where owls like to hunt, high hedges help as well I think. I'm no expert though.
I saw a buzzard sitting on a round bale at sunset last night but too far away for a decent photo. I wonder what phones will be like in another 10 years, hard to believe the first iphones arrived 10 years ago.

NcdJd · 15-10-2020 11:03am

We had a barnowls here a couple of times. They like going around the grass margins of hedges and ditches. Beautiful graceful birds. None since the fields beside me were ploughed. Neighbour had cattle but once the cattle went the barnowls also disappeared.

I'm halfway though putting up a big shed and was going to do something similar with a barnowl nest box.

Say my name · 15-10-2020 11:15am

Say my name wrote: »

Swallows feed on a lot of dung beetles.

A big reason dung beetles find it tough in this country is that cattle are housed during the winter depriving the beetles of a food source during those lean months.
If there's cattle or horses or sheep outwintered near Galway bay it would provide lots to the beetles and keep them going year on year.
The swallows would have them too for the winter.

Edit: I'm not talking the big earth dwelling dor beetles but the small overground fly type ones.
The Dors build up a larder source underground for the winter and for the young.

Bruce Thompson showing the beetles here.

https://twitter.com/Friesian_man/status/1316461196766257152?s=20

Capercaillie · 15-10-2020 11:35am

Say my name wrote: »

Bruce Thompson showing the beetles here.

https://twitter.com/Friesian_man/status/1316461196766257152?s=20

H ise doing a lot of work on dung beetles. He regulary does faecal egg counts on dung samples so he knowes whether to give an anthelmintic dose or not, rather than a blanket dosing regime. Anthelmintic use is one of the biggest drivers in dung beetles decline.

Say my name · 15-10-2020 11:46am

Capercaillie wrote: »

H ise doing a lot of work on dung beetles. He regulary does faecal egg counts on dung samples so he knowes whether to give an anthelmintic dose or not, rather than a blanket dosing regime. Anthelmintic use is one of the biggest drivers in dung beetles decline.

Housing has a lot of an impact too.
Sally Ann made that point as well.

The dosing has a big near total impact but lots if they really wanted to have high total impact could do worse than have one or two Shetlands or donkeys out wintering on the farm.

Faecal egg counts are nice for all involved but it's really just noticeable by eye whether a dose is needed or not. It is easier for dairy farmers just rearing replacements though than the beef growers.

Capercaillie · 15-10-2020 11:49am

Say my name wrote: »

Housing has a lot of an impact too.
Sally Ann made that point as well.

The dosing has a big near total impact but lots if they really wanted to have high total impact could do worse than have one or two Shetlands or donkeys out wintering on the farm.

Faecal egg counts are nice for all involved but it's really just noticeable by eye whether a dose is needed or not. It is easier for dairy farmers just rearing replacements though than the beef growers.

Lack of outwintered cattle has led to decrease in chough breeding numbers. Chough feed on dung beetles....

forgottenhills · 15-10-2020 3:36pm

Capercaillie wrote: »

Lack of outwintered cattle has led to decrease in chough breeding numbers. Chough feed on dung beetles....

Do dung beetles also feast on sheep dung? Pretty much all sheep still outwinter I would imagine so if that's the case there should be enough around to support dung beetles.

From https://www.rspb.org.uk/

"Choughs feed in pairs or flocks. A specialist feeder on invertebrates, they will take beetles and their larvae, fly larvae (especially leatherjackets), ants, their grubs and pupae, spiders, sand hoppers, and sometimes earthworms. In the winter, cereal grains may be taken, especially just before birds go to roost."

So a reasonably varied diet and all may not be lost.

Dinzee Conlee · 15-10-2020 5:20pm

Capercaillie wrote: »

H ise doing a lot of work on dung beetles. He regulary does faecal egg counts on dung samples so he knowes whether to give an anthelmintic dose or not, rather than a blanket dosing regime. Anthelmintic use is one of the biggest drivers in dung beetles decline.

How long Capercaillie after you dose will it continue to kill dung beetles?

Like, is it the first 24-48hrs as they pass the worms out? Or is it the effective length of the dose (so a few weeks potentially?)

gozunda · 15-10-2020 5:29pm

amadangomor wrote: »

Heard that they started staying in SW Kerry and in Cornwall when we had a run of very mild winters up until 2010.

Galway bay/West and South coast probaly would be more likely to be frost free and have midges etc all year.

A major issue with smaller migratory birds coming overland - is that many are netted and caught across regions of North Africa. They never make it here.

This type of unrestricted netting and deliberate killing of birds needs to be stopped imo.

Lady Haywire · 15-10-2020 6:24pm

gozunda wrote: »

A major issue with smaller migratory birds coming overland - is that many are netted and caught across regions of North Africa. They never make it here.

This type of unrestricted netting and deliberate killing of birds needs to be stopped imo.

And glue traps. I remember reading that a couple of years ago and feeling so angry, disgusted & sad.
Morning birdsong here has declined rapidly, most mornings now I hear one very cheerful robin & a hape of crows squabbling over the apples left on the tree.
And the whoopers on the lake add a nice backdrop of squalking.

Kickstart1.3 · 15-10-2020 6:25pm

https://www.biodiversityireland.ie/biodiversity-irelands-top-10/10-species-risk-losing/

Worth a look just in case you come across any

Birdnuts · 15-10-2020 8:08pm

endainoz wrote: »

It's an ambition of mine to attract a barn owl into a high part of the bedded area of the slatted house. It will involve making a nesting box out of a sheet of ply but hopefully it will work.

Have a wooded area at the back of the land and have heard the distinct screech of the barn owl a couple of times already.

Id be delighted if I could coax one of them the come down to the shed to keep an eye on vermin around the yard but I understand they are probably quite happy where they are already.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Don't rule out a Long Eared Owl either in that kind of habitat. Actually the more commoner of the 2 breeding owl species in the country atm. Attracting Barn Owls is a tough task that even experts in the area do well to see a 10% occupancy of new boxes within 5 years. Your best bet is to maintain as much suitable habitat on your farm ie. rough meadows and grazing with good tall hedgerows, and of course avoid the use of rodenticides!!

NcdJd · 15-10-2020 11:53pm

Was looking at something like this some time ago for a corner of a field that i can't do anything with. They have down a cost of 10 k.. i can't figure out how this costs 10k to put up ? I've alot of blocks and sand left over..

https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/wildlife-tower

Birdnuts · 16-10-2020 12:25am

NcdJd wrote: »

Was looking at something like this some time ago for a corner of a field that i can't do anything with. They have down a cost of 10 k.. i can't figure out how this costs 10k to put up ? I've alot of blocks and sand left over..

https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/wildlife-tower

Seems a bit steep alright - some good advice in that link all the same

NcdJd · 16-10-2020 11:50am

Birdnuts wrote: »

Seems a bit steep alright - some good advice in that link all the same

They've been about a long time. Plenty of advice about constructing nest boxes and placement etc

I might go ahead with something like that but like everything it's getting the time!

16-10-2020 12:42pm

NcdJd wrote: »

Was looking at something like this some time ago for a corner of a field that i can't do anything with. They have down a cost of 10 k.. i can't figure out how this costs 10k to put up ? I've alot of blocks and sand left over..

https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/wildlife-tower

They likely did it by the book, so health and safety jazz and proper stonemason on official rates and so forth. It wouldn't be long adding up, particularly if there was any hint of public money being spent.

NcdJd · 16-10-2020 12:56pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

They likely did it by the book, so health and safety jazz and proper stonemason on official rates and so forth. It wouldn't be long adding up, particularly if there was any hint of public money being spent.

I was thinking that. Wealthy estate owner and everyone fleecing them for as much as possible. When I saw the old red brick added in there's money involved and probably old slate to make it more blending in with the old feel of it. It's a good idea but the price is off the wall.

NcdJd · 19-10-2020 12:05am

Fox waiting on his bit of grub.

gozunda · 19-10-2020 1:34am

NcdJd wrote: »

Fox waiting on his bit of grub.

Aye we have few like that around looking for poultry ...

NcdJd · 19-10-2020 8:01am

gozunda wrote: »

Aye we have few like that around looking for poultry ...

Handy for keeping control of the rabbits and rats. Here's one for ya man, would they take geese ? Was often thinking of fencing off the orchard area I have and putting a few geese in it to keep the grass down.

gozunda · 19-10-2020 9:16am

NcdJd wrote: »

Handy for keeping control of the rabbits and rats. Here's one for ya man, would they take geese ? Was often thinking of fencing off the orchard area I have and putting a few geese in it to keep the grass down.

Yes they take geese. And with fencing - foxes will go under, over and through most. I've seen them try to eat the siding off a wooden shed to gain entry to poultry Best thing for an orchard would be electrified poultry fencing run off a mains charger. Its the only fencing they seem to respect.

I've a wild bird / water fowl area near a piece of forestry and a significant number of nesting birds where wipped out by foxes. They can do a lot of damage. Around here they are falling out of the trees ðŸŒ³

Just remembered these photos by a wildlife photographer of foxes trying to take down wild geese in the UK. Some shot.

NcdJd · 19-10-2020 3:18pm

Had a post that I put down for a pear tree that was a bit unstable but unfortunately broke at the root stock.

Buzzard is now using it for keeping an eye on things.

SmartinMartin · 23-10-2020 3:01pm

There's about 10 of these attached to the roof of one of the sheds. Anyone know what makes them?

Lady Haywire · 23-10-2020 3:03pm

They're a type of wasp I think but can't recall the exact name now. Wood wasp? Normal wasp? Waspy McWaspface?

Rows Grower · 23-10-2020 4:52pm

Ordinary wasp I'd say, aka wassie normolous.

Nature on your farm.

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