ED Nature Watch

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Apparently both sexes twitter, to wit Dulwich Mum and Stephen Fry.

[Peckham native]

See plenty of birds in the garden despite having two cats (luckily they are too lazy to attempt catching birds). The wood pigeons are the real pests, they clear the bird feeder of food in less than an hour. See blue tits, robins, jays and a wren. A few weeks ago during the snow had about 6 mistle thrushes feeding in the tree. Haven't seen them before or since.

[louisiana]

I'm a little concerned about the coal tit babies. Making quite a noise, magpies see to be quite close too. Taking an interest? Is there any way I could protect the nest (in the wall) I wonder...

[dazeykat]

Hope the coal tit family are ok!

[Sherwick]

I've been watching day and night for over 7 days now, and I have yet to see one goose appear on Goose Green.

Very disappointing.

:-$

[Sue]

Sherwick Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've been watching day and night for over 7 days

> now, and I have yet to see one goose appear on

> Goose Green.

> Very disappointing.

> :-$

xxxxxx

Well, the Goose is Out tonight at DHFC :)) Doors 7pm :))

Sorry admin :-$

[louisiana]

dazeykat Wrote:

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> Hope the coal tit family are ok!

Hey, they are fine this morning, cheeping cheeky chappies. Cheep cheep!

I must say I'm feeling very protective though...

(PS now back online with actual proper broadband.)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Just seen distressing situation on lake: two coot chicks bobbing along quite sweetly - their mum aggressively moved them on by picking them up and dragging them (rather like a cat with a kitten) and then left them to it.

One was swiped by a crow which dropped it onto the grass. Despite running for the chick I couldn't get to it on time and the crow bore it off.

The other chick had been injured by its mother and was swimming half upside down and getting weaker by the minute. Another crow tried to get it but a coot successfully defended it. A moorhen tried to upright the chick but gave up.

My dilemmas is that I could have scooped the chick out with my dog throwing tool but I am loathe to interfere with nature and left it - I doubt it will survive. Yet, I'm not being consistent - I tried to rescue the other chick.

I now have a guilt complex the size of Q's hump - what would you have done?

[louisiana]

Cats I hear are the biggest culprits, so don't feel too down about it.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Just back from another jaunt. I took Steve's advice and bought a pair of binos from Lidl. It was brilliant, I was able to see into the coots nests dotted around the lake. Lots more chicks and it was wonderful to watch daddy bring back food for them. I hope the next tranche survive.

There are lots of ducks eggs on the island. Does anyone know if these are abandoned and why? Never seen a duck sitting on them.

[louisiana]

How are the bargain bins peckhamgatecrasher? How wide-angle are they?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I bought the wee ?6 ones - there are larger ones available. They are good for seeing clearly about 12 yards away which is all I need them for in the park. 10 x 25 GA is the description if that means anything.

Ok detectives - what did I see this morning? By Goose Green swing park, a pair of birds that looked like tits but had a bright yellow streak on their wings. I've gone through one website and the nearest is a finch, but they were definitely tit shape. Any ideas?

[red devil]

lots of geese loving websites out there PGC...

Geese prefer isolated sites near water to nest. Islands are their favorite location.

? Nests are usually on the ground, in the open.

? Sometimes geese nest in brushy or swampy areas not subject to flooding.

? When egg laying begins the "Father" goose will stand sentinel watch nearby, but not so close as to give away location of nest to a predator. When a solitary goose is seen during nesting season a nest is somewhere in the vicinity.

? The eggs in a nest are called a "clutch"

? Average number of eggs in a nest: 5

? Mother goose lays 1 egg approximately 1_ days apart until full clutch is obtained.

? Eggs not being incubated are cool to the touch.

? Mother goose waits until all eggs are laid before she begins to sit on nest to incubate eggs

? Incubation time: 28 ? 30 days

? Undeveloped eggs (still fluid) will sink or float vertically with the wider portion of the egg pointing down.

? Developed eggs will float horizontally or at a slight angle and break the surface of the water. At that point they are one to two weeks away from hatching.

? All geese eggs in a single clutch hatch on approximately the same day

I noticed there was the odd egg lying around last year after the hatching period so some obviously don't develop and are just left there, the island is ideal protection for them against foxes who would normally try and steal their eggs...

[louisiana]

OMG, a nice farmer type allowed me to take a look through his Swarovski bins today (8.5 x 42?). Astonishing, really amazing (looking at a dragonfly far away).

Unfortunately these are not Lidl money. They are bonkers money. :(

[louisiana]

Today I saw a green-veined white (first time), an unidentified brown or two, and a red admiral.

Aren't butterflies wonderful?

Some butterflies like plants you might call weeds, including nettles... And if you have violets in your garden you may see fritillaries.

[Sue]

Saw a weird white spider like thing yesterday which on being touched extended its legs/feelers in a spooky manner - anyone know what it was? Was it actually a spider?

[louisiana]

Yikes, Sue. How big?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Dear Google! Could it be a daddy long legs? Is it transparentish?

[red devil]

Sounds like one of those spindly spiders you often see, look away now girls, aaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!....

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/gallery/files/7/4/8/Pholcusphalangioides2.jpg

[reetpetite]

Four new ducklings on Peckham Rye park lake this morning .hope they survive.

[panda boy]

We've had a spotted woodpecker on our nut feeder for the past 8 months.

1st arrived when it was quite young and keeps coming back for more.

(And this may not count but also spotted a kingfisher in P Rye park last year. Saw it on 3 occasions. Nothing yet this year though...)

[Alan Brady]

Interesting material on this thread but none of you has told me what the hell the foxes are getting up to when they make that shreiking noise that sounds like an infant being stabbed, I've heard that it's the female vixens 'fakeing it' but surely there's more solid explaination.

[louisiana]

Spotted woodpacker! Wow!

Lesser spotted or greater spotted...?

Maybe a nut feeder is in order....

[Alan Brady]

Maybe it's not, don't want them getting too comfortable do we now Louisiana.

[louisiana]

The two huge copper beeches along our 'backs' are now in full leaf and look magnificent. The colours are fantastic, the shapes so majestic, even the trunks are amazing.

Having learned how much wildlife likes ivy-clad trees, and the importance of dead wood, I'm now feeling really, really bad about having chopped a dead cherry covered in ivy a couple of years back... :(

(The living cherry is still there and providing lots of yummy food for the birds)