....but first the Short-eared Owl.
Thanks to Howard Stockdale for the header image, which shows what looks like what can only be described as a twig protruding from the birds right armpit. I'd suggest this is the possible cause of the inability to fly any distance, and is the reason the owl has remained on Conder Pool for two months now, since it was first seen here on 27 February....I've seen no reports of sightings of the bird in the past few days.
A visit to Lancaster Cemetery was primarily for more evidence that the Nuthatch are breeding in the Cypress Tree. Eventually I got the confirmation, when a bird emerged from the nest hole as I was leaving the site. Earlier I had trained my camera on the tree, if only to get the recording of a bird in the area, with a song new to me. I was confused - nothing new there, as I'm easily confused - but hey, a fellow birder threw in his opinion, and we had a result.
....'Song of male Nuthatch a uniform series of loud notes, very variable in tempo, from drawn-out whistling notes slowly repeated, to very short notes rapidly repeated'....BWP
Other interest in the visit, up to 3 Chiffchaff and singing Blackcap heard, 4 Nuthatch, 2 Jay, and a Goldcrest. Butterflies, 8 Orange Tip, 3 Speckled Wood, and 2 Red Admiral.
Also in the cemetery, this 22cm queen Tree Wasp is common, but with the grand scientific name Dolichovespula sylvestris.
Common Carder-Bee.
I love a bit of data. Always interesting to see information like this. Keep up the excellent site.
ReplyDeleteFor your interest, one became two Common Terns on Conder Pool Tuesday....Thanks for compliments Marc.
ReplyDeleteIt's not often that I find a photo that is both beautiful and disturbing, Pete, but Howard's shot of the SEO is just that. It makes me wonder how such a thing can happen, and how the owl, with such a flexible neck, is not able to extract it with its beak. I hope that the owl manages to survive.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the sound and vision of the Nuthatch clips.
I join Marc in being impressed by your statistical data!
Stay safe - - - Richard
Good point about the owl not having removed the object from its wing. Thanks also for echoing Marcs compliments Richard.
ReplyDeleteRegards....Pete.