Category: Animals

  • The King of Bomere Heath

    It took a while but at last we managed to get a close-up photo of the kingfisher waiting to catch a fish on the pond, just as the sun came out.

  • Stonechat

    A new sighting of a stonechat: caught on the camera set up to catch the kingfisher (who is proving rather camera-shy).

  • Kingfisher 1 fish 0

    The kingfisher is proving an expert at fishing and the roach less expert at hiding.

  • Home viewing

    A brief visit from a female barn owl last night. She is ringed so has come from a managed nest but we don’t know where, yet.

    Update. On closer inspection we can just make out some of the digits on its ring, which match the adult male from this year. So he’s roosting somewhere else and keeping an eye on the empty nest box.

    (the oak leaves are from a squirrel who has tried to make a nest in the nest box)

  • A flash of blue

  • Moorhen update

    Three juvenile moorhens have survived (so far) and are now settled in with the two parents on the island. They are all quite shy and skittery so we never see them that close up, but they seem quite happy where they are, safe on the island and with lots to eat.

    Here’s where they live.

  • IBB

    Important Badger Business.

  • Fish thief

    The heron’s managed to find a way in past the wire around the pond: limboing under it in a gap in the reeds. Beautiful bird but a menace to our fish.

    So we added two more strands of fishing line which seems to be working, at least for now.

    The scarecrow hasn’t been that effective though.

  • Empty nest

    The two barn owlets have dispersed and the nest box is now empty. A good opportunity to clean it out and service the cameras, all ready for new residents.

  • All grown up

    The two young owls are now flying well and hunting for themselves. This may well be the last time we see them before they disperse and find new homes.

  • Buzzard

    Category: ,

    Our resident buzzard caught close up on the wildlife camera.

  • Learning to fly

    A few stretching exercises then the two owlets start their night of flying lessons.