Continuing my annual first frogspawn photo tradition. 25.2.21 I do a forum search & it allows me to compare dates. Not really what a WW2 forum is for but I find it helpful.
Thats what makes this forum the best we dont all wear anoraks and smell of grease and tcp lifes rich tapestry of interest
My back garden is a Nature Reserve which starts 100 metres from Gloucester Docks. A Drake Teal. Had to take this photo with a long range lens. They don't like people around. Mallards in mating mode. A swan in a beautiful shimmering light. Checking it's make up in the reflection. One of the Female Gloucester's from the Heritage herd with an itchy tail. One of the two youngsters from last May. This one checked my Camera bag for contraband. Two different Swans and a pair of Canada Geese. Waiting for a free feed from Alney Island's two Rangers. Sadly, people do walks and dump their crap on the reserve. A view of the River Servern. The spot where I watch the Severn Bore, half a mile away.
Neighbour's dog coveting my backyard: More of my snaps here: Flowering Red Eucalyptus tree / Clickasnap
A pied wagtail standing on a cow pat. A saw a Buzzard overhead, 2 male pheasant fighting, heard a woodpecker, Dunnock. Many that I can't id. Watched and filmed the Severn Borel. Beautiful weather today. Smiling faces also.
Sie sind wieder da!! Last weekend I went to the Zwillbrocker Venn. Every year flocks of wild flamingos settle in this fen just across the Dutch border in Germany .
A quite small but apparently hungry vixen breaking into the hedgehog feeder station last weekend. A commercially made hibernation/ feeding box. First she removed six bamboo sticks driven into the ground to prevent her getting in close to the entrance. Then she undid the catch that holds the roof on. Making a frim grip with her teeth she pulled the roof hard (the box was held down with tent pegs). The pegs came loose the box tipped and the roof came loose. She cleared off without eating the food and didnt come back. The hedgehog was watching from a distance. I noticed the break in because my husky heard it and went out to look. I put the box back and clamped it down with screw in pegs and a wooden broom handle, He went in later to finish his meal. Fox and hog dont seem to bother each other, the fox often sniffs him, he curls up and leaves him be. This is their second year. The hedgehog has a heavy 18mm plywood hibernation box nearby but the fox ignores it.
Water Buffalo. My favourite youngster (She investigated the contents of my camera bag last year). Canada Geese.
Today I saw a different pair of Geese I did not recognise. I then came across an expert, who I've talked to a number of times, who works for Slimbridge Wetlands Wildlife Trust (perfect timing). He said they were Grey Lag Geese. A first i've seen/noticed. Not brilliant photos, as per usual did not have a camera with a long enough lens today. One of the Young Cows came up to me today, sniffed and then licked my hand. I then stroked her neck and both events made my day. She had her head in my camera bag last year. A good way to escape from the current madness in our world. A stock image from a wildlife trust.
Wagtail is one of my favourites. Where I used to live we frequently had one or two visit the patio whenever we had snow or a severe frost. Never see any here, I do miss that.
There are lots here in Glos. There are a pair which pick up crumbs outside a Supermarket. They wait on the ground and swoop for passing trade. Good social distancing protocol. I'll try and take a photo if I remember.
That would be great. Last one I saw “live” was two years ago on our Cornish summer holiday and it tickled me pink.
0920 Easter Monday the little vixen appears cold and wet. She looked better five hours earlier foraging around. Perhaps she wanted pigeon for breakfast. Some of our neighbours put food out at times but perhaps she is hungry or has cubs to feed somewhere close by. She ran off when I took her photo. It was fluttering snow and she looked cold and wet but the sun has come out now. Luckily the 13 year old Husky was asleep in the house she might have got over excited.
The Wagtail does not want to play today. I followed the Gloucester Cows to see where they went on the Alney nature Reserve. They were eating fresh leaves from Brambles earlier.
