OneGuyFromBarlick

Rather than change the title of the wildlife topic I've started a new one and locked Wild?..."I was Livid"...!.
Hope that is OK with everyone.

Fine with me Wendy....
I've been enjoying watching 'Islands on the Edge', the natural history of the Hebrides. I could look at that scenery all day and the wildlife is a bonus. A pole apart from the angst-ridden 'drama' that seems to be all the rage these days. Mind you, I may be showing my age, I used to enjoy the Potter's Wheel intermission film in the early days of TV.....
The wild meadows at the top end of Letcliffe are coming into full bloom now. They enlarged the area this year and I think it's a brilliant idea. Another good thing about it is that it is adjacent to the stretch of Butts Beck hidden behind Briggs and Duxbury's. This is inaccessible to humans and is probably the best wild life hot spot in Barlick.

The barn owl was busy last night, it covered our side of the lane and then went across to do the other. It looked more whiter in colouring than I've noticed before, perhaps it was the female? or is the male the lightest in colour?

Those black birds with the white collar are enjoying the wild meadow plantings at the top end of Letcliffe.

The water cress in the race at Valley Gardens was re-establishing itself nicely but I see most of it has been ripped out. I wonder whether they know about the cleansing effect cress has on water flows... Or are they just paranoid about Liver Fluke.

Who is this on my back wall last night? I think it could be a young pied wagtail, but I'm not sure.

A meadow pipit? on the wet wall this morning....



But look who is bird watching too...



It's safer on the chair



and the three legged hunter decides it's too wet after all.

Nice pics Wendy. Two magpies fluttering round in Valley Gardens having a good play. Always a good sign when you see play behaviour, they don't do it if they are hungry.

A Painted Lady butterfly on our buddleia this morning, the first we've seen this year. Lots of Tortoise Shells too.

I think I may have seen more butterflies this year than usual but still nowhere near what there used to be.

This morning our sunflower began to open, in the past we have grown them for pleasure,but this one was accidental, a stray seed from the bird feeding station took root and we took pity and transplanted it to a pot and it is now eight feet tall. In the past they have reached the gutters, this may be a pygmy variety, but its smiling face is welcome.

Two extra diners for scones and tea at Buttermere.[attachment=0]PHOT0019.JPG[

We saw two fox cubs as we walked up the path beside the wood yesterday, they took one look at the dogs and ran into the undergrowth.

Disturbing reports of poisoned Condors in the Andes. It is thought they had scavenged poisoned carcasses intended for other predators. (LINK)

A flock of goldfinches came by this morning, these youngsters were attacking the thistle heads with gusto...there's a bee too! I was taking pictures through a slightly mucky window.

Not wildlife at all, just a couple of my girls taking advantage of a wheelbarrow full of dry soil & mossy stuff to have a dustbath.

Lovely photos Wendy, you really must think of sending some off to Countryfile.

Another of our swallows had to be rescued this morning from the stable floor. This is the second one in the week, there are four of them in a very small nest. Another week and they should be flying but they are all pushing and shoving about at the moment.

Are the hens rescued cage birds? If so it must be like heaven to them.....

No Stanley, same variety (ISA Browns) but this lot haven't been cooped up. Keeping ex-bats proved too emotionally draining for a pair of old softies like us, they are such friendly little things you can't help but get attached to them, but they only last a year to eighteen months before they get sick and pop off.
I hope this lot don't go as quickly...they do lay a lot of big eggs. which cant be good for their innards!

Enjoying todays sunshine. This sunflower has been a godsend for the insects one Bee has even slept overnight on it so as to be first there in the morning.

A lovely picture Hartley353. (Any chance of a first name??)

Peony and Bee

Wendyf wrote:A lovely picture Hartley353. (Any chance of a first name??)

Not a problem Wendy its Mike.

Another Bee shot for scale the flowers are the size of 20p's

Small hover Fly about a cm in length in every garden.