Our Germansweek Animals
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Water Birds .
Garden visitors .
Butterflies .
Fourlegs .
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Since the building of the
Reservoir there are many migrant birds who stay for a while. I am not
an expert twitcher so cannot give too much "gen" in this connection. What I do know
is I regularly see spotters with their long and cumbersome lens looking for
unusual visitors. A whole group told me they were watching for a Puffy duck last year,
I think that described the species and not it's tubby looking shape but I'm not sure.
We have our natives, Cormorants and the like. I'm not sure if they now qualify as
native but there are also many
Canada geese, here is a picture of them. I also show a picture
of a swooping seagull, another frequent visitor if not resident.
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Strange how when I was a kid my
Mother used to say we were in for bad weather when the gulls come inland. I guess
with all the landfill sites and various other waste disposal dumps there are good
pickings at all times. Pity they don't eat old 'fridges and cars, it may keep the Euro Directives
boys happy.
Finally by the lake our little baldy friend, the coot.
There are several breeds of duck but now I'll mention some of the local birds who
are frequently in the gardens and lanes.
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The local birds are numerous 'tho during 2001 there did not seem to be as many
Greenfinches. We see numerous Tits, Blue, Great, Cole, Willow, Goldcrests. Chaffinches,
Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, beautiful Songthrushes and sometimes Bullfinches which
are so shy. They are mainly seen by the lanes. Every year we see Siskins, I think they are
little Mike Tysons.
Last year we had a family of Greater spotted Woodpeckers in the garden
, Mum, Dad and three young. The picture shows Dad on the bird feeder, note the red on the
nape of his neck, thats a man for you, mum loses her red neck in the early stage of life.
Next to the Woodpecker I show a Cole Tit, smallest of all Tits and next to him a cheeky Blue Tit
sharing my breakfast. He is always here glaring at me if I am late up in the morning.
On my short dog walk this morning I saw 14 different species, and I didn't really go out
of my way to look. I saw the yellowhammers which are reaaly super, especially dad with his
bright yellow head. They always seem to be around the organic farms dungheaps, excuse the pong.
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The birds are not the only visitors to the Bird feeder. We regularly see mice clinging
to the feeder. They jump on from the ivy to the nuts, then hang on curling themselves
around the feeder.
Other visitors are Butterflies. The species appear at different times of the year. Orange
tips, Large Whites, Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Brimstones, Fritillaries, Red Admirals,
Painted ladies.The photos I show are of a Brimstone and Peacocks who love the Buddleias.
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Last for the time being are a couple of non flying visitors to our gardens 'tho that could
be debateable as far as the squirrel is concerned. The fox you see didn't escape
a killers gun. Fortunately he wasn't ripped to bits.
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