[SA Chris]

I didn't know there was a Cartenega in Colombia too, I thought you were in Spain!

[andy popp]

I didn't know there was a Cartenega in Colombia too, I thought you were in Spain!

Yes! Incredible walled Spanish colonial old city (surrounded by modern development of course).

[andy popp]

This bear was spotted in out neighbourhood this morning, it came down off the "mountain" where the local bouldering spots are (not my picture and I didn't see it personally):

[SA Chris]

Where did it shit?

We had wandering round town centre when we were in Squamish.

[Will Hunt]

First swift of the year for me this morning.

[andy popp]

We had wandering round town centre when we were in Squamish.

Squamish is one thing, but its distinctly not the norm in this part of PA.

[JR]

Saw an adder for the first time (in the UK) at Queen’s Crag at the weekend!

[SamT]

Sat in the garden at easter watching a peregrine circle slowly higher and higher above Nether Edge.  I'd almost lost sight of it when the stoop I'd been hoping for launched.  So amazing to watch, it just seemed to plummet forever, dropping like a stone.  Unfortunately, didn't see if it bulls-eyed its quarry as it disappeared behind some trees. 
 

[SA Chris]

Squamish is one thing, but its distinctly not the norm in this part of PA.

OK, no idea how deep in the boondocks you actually are!

[fatneck]

Saw tonnes of Swallows and both types of Martin up at Stocks Reservoir a couple of weeks ago. First Swifts last weekend at RSPB Marshside and my local Swifts were back yesterday

Loads of Siskins and my first Crossbills up at Llyn Brenig last weekend as well as the female Osprey on her nest - a real treat!!

[andy popp]

Squamish is one thing, but its distinctly not the norm in this part of PA.

OK, no idea how deep in the boondocks you actually are!

In the suburbs of the third largest city in the state, so barely at all really. There are genuine boondocks fairly close by.

[galpinos]

Probably not exciting to anyone else but we had a few goldfinches in the new garden this weekend. Beutiful birds.

Also, if anyone has any tips on a squirrel proof birdfeeder..........

[nai]

Probably not exciting to anyone else but we had a few goldfinches in the new garden this weekend. Beutiful birds.

Nice, very variable for us year to year, had a coupleof dozen coming regular last year but been slow so far this year, garden always better for having them

Also, if anyone has any tips on a squirrel proof birdfeeder..........

Works for cats...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nerf-A9461EU8-Soaker-Microburst-Blaster/dp/B0787P42YP/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2H0MGZZZ4RSJI&keywords=nerf+water+gun&qid=1557931819&s=gateway&sprefix=nerf+%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-7

[butters]

This has been something I have pondered for a while. Many a morning has been spent looking at my neighbours peanut feeder with a squirrel draped down it and gorging itself on the contents. If it didn't also bring in the odd Jay then I would probably be slightly more annoyed as I have a few goldfinches but seemingly innumerable squirrels here and want to attract finches etc if I can (but not encourage squirrels)

I think Goldfinches (and all finches) like nyger seeds. There seems to be a few feeders for these have this purely this due to the excellent Safety Warning    which purport to be squirrel proof. Also seem to remember that squirrels don't particularly rate Nyger seeds or will go for something easier if available (see above) but i could be wrong

Other than that a quick search for "squirrel proof bird feeder" in a search engine of your choice will throw up all sorts of stuff. I know my mates wife has made a wonderful Heath Robinson surround for her bird feeder out of chicken wire so the "cage" feeders may well work.

 

[bigironhorse]

My Mum bought some cheap plastic mixing bowls, cut a tiny holes in the bottom and threaded the string connecting the feeders and branches through the hole. If you have a knot tied in the string ~6 inches to a foot above the feeder the squirell cant climb down the string and therefore cant get to the feeder.

Just googled it and apparently this is called a squirell baffle. Mixing bowls likely to be cheaper though.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Adjustable-Plastic-Squirrel-Baffle-Use-to-Prevent-Vermin-Stealing-Bird-Feed/566689943?iid=254119988157

[kelvin]

A fairly dark fox come pottering across the barn where I'm working today and casually stopped to look around - no more than a metre from me. It didn't even give me a moment's notice. It looked in find fettle.
We currently have a mallard sitting on nine eggs in the catch at the bow of our narrowboat - right by the front door and we're liveaboards, so it's not a quiet spot but she seems happy enough to trust us. We think around a week more and they'll be hatching.

It's been a pretty amazing 12 months or so for wildlife. I spotted a lynx, or rather it spotted me, in Sustenpass last July whilst bouldering. It stopped maybe 15m from me and watched a few moments before disappearing into some rocks.

😀

[galpinos]

Cheers for the tips. Our current attempts have failed. The girls love Stephen the cheeky squirrel but it's costing us a fortune in nuts! I'm liking the mixing bowl idea.

My mother in law spotted a jay yesterday as well so I think I might go down the route of a couple of different bird feeders.

Has anyone used a ground feeder? They look like the squirrels/pigeons would just demolish all the food on them.

[andy popp]

Had a lovely ringside seat watching a beautiful bright yellow chickadee for about ten minutes last night.

[Motown]

Two tawny owls on Saturday morning. The last stretch of a run and disturbed them hacking at the body of a young magpie. Father-in-law (keen twitcher) said this was almost unheard of - 1) They were feeding on the ground; and 2) at just before eight in the morning.

[webbo]

Came round a corner on my bike to see a stoat and a brown rat having a scrap at the side of the road. The stoat shot off when it heard me, the rat just sat there.

[Wood FT]

the rat just sat there.

Flick knife in hand

[webbo]

Given the stare it gave me, I didn’t hang around to check.

[Scouse D]

Right bird lovers. I think I saw a pair of hobbys today chasing each other about and making a right old racket. I was camping at glenbrook near hope. The noise was rapid chirping. They were kestrel sized but tails were all wrong for a kestrel. Does this sound like a reasonable identification? Pretty much just like this

[Johnny Brown]

Possibly. How did the tails look? My instinct from the behaviour would be recently fledged kestrels - the tails are a bit different when they're young.

[Scouse D]

Their tails were a kite shape as in https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiqqfGd3rbjAhVEyxoKHQY7AwcQjhx6BAgBEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKite_(geometry)&psig=AOvVaw2BmUYbYwv6SM0gwOOcjicY&ust=1563273581140914