Some pictures I took recently

Monkaa

Came across this guy during a hike up and around the Dublin mountains on Saturday, he had already lost his tail when we came across him...

joseph brand

My comfrey plants are buzzing with bees, so I took a few photos. In one photo the bee has clearly visible pollen baskets.

blackbird99

an unwelcome visitor to the garden today, first time i've seen one in it.
028 by blackbird1973, on Flickr

OpenYourEyes

blackbird99 wrote: »

an unwelcome visitor to the garden today, first time i've seen one in it.
028 by blackbird1973, on Flickr

Do you mind me asking what else you have in the garden that makes this guy unwelcome?

vandriver

Excuse the ignorance,but is this a stoat or a pine marten?

OpenYourEyes

vandriver wrote: »

Excuse the ignorance,but is this a stoat or a pine marten?

Stoat!

whyulittle

Nicely scaled by the sweet tin in the background. Does it have a tag in its left ear?

glaswegian

024 by glaswegian58, on Flickr

blackbird99

whyulittle wrote: »

Nicely scaled by the sweet tin in the background. Does it have a tag in its left ear?

no i think it's dirt from 2 water tanks he squeezed out from between,
i thought at first he was a mink, common enough around here as they were bred close by for fur, but having looked at images online i think ye're right about it being a stoat.
the reason he's not welcome is there's a couple of peasants close by nesting, they have enough problems besides this fellow, shooters and silage.

OpenYourEyes

blackbird99 wrote: »

no i think it's dirt from 2 water tanks he squeezed out from between,
i thought at first he was a mink, common enough around here as they were bred close by for fur, but having looked at images online i think ye're right about it being a stoat.
the reason he's not welcome is there's a couple of peasants close by nesting, they have enough problems besides this fellow, shooters and silage.

Its a Stoat alright, Mink look more black and don't have that white front! Stoats are a native mammal, an Irish subspecies in fact, and should be considered part of the natural cycle of things (in stark contrast to the invasive Mink!) I very much envy you getting such a good view of one, and in your garden too!

Tbh, Pheasants aren't great breeders anyway as far as I know - not here anyway - they're not a native species either, they're introduced from Asia by shooters to be hunted!

blackbird99

when i'am weeding or working in the garden i sometimes bring the camera with me,
when taking a break i mess away with it, that's how it happened.

Capercaille

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Its a Stoat alright, Mink look more black and don't have that white front! Stoats are a native mammal, an Irish subspecies in fact, and should be considered part of the natural cycle of things (in stark contrast to the invasive Mink!) I very much envy you getting such a good view of one, and in your garden too!

Tbh, Pheasants aren't great breeders anyway as far as I know - not here anyway - they're not a native species either, they're introduced from Asia by shooters to be hunted!

X2
I'd love a stoat in the Garden. Most pheasants are basically as "wild" as domestic chickens. I wouldn't be too bothered if I never saw another one in Ireland.

trebor28

Is there much of a variation in the colour of stoats?

any i have ever seen are a paler brown than the one in the above picture.

blackbird99

some info on stoats http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/stoat.html

Art Deko

nmop_apisdn

Bird Photographers Beware: Birdsong Apps May Seriously Disrupt Wildlife

glaswegian

bloom,zoo 077 by glaswegian58, on Flickr

GreyEagle

nmop_apisdn wrote: »

Bird Photographers Beware: Birdsong Apps May Seriously Disrupt Wildlife

Thanks for posting that. I deleted my Birdsong App after reading the link.

Capercaille

GreyEagle wrote: »

Thanks for posting that. I deleted my Birdsong App after reading the link.

Nothing wrong with the App itself. The problem is it's inappropiate use to lure birds.

soupdragon

Capercaille wrote: »

Nothing wrong with the App itself. The problem is it's inappropiate use to lure birds.

Inappropriate and ILLEGAL, during the breeding season!
Nothing wrong with the App, just use a healthy dollop of common sense when using it.

OpenYourEyes

Black-headed Gull (summer plumage)


Greylag Goose


Hen Harrier


Nap Time! (Drake Mallard & Black-tailed Godwit)


Swallow




...with lunch!

DellyBelly

A few from the grand canal this evening....

valo086

On a dank, philty looking morning, I had these guys to wake me from my morning after syndrome!





There were four Blue Tit fledgelings in total, helping to finish of the last of a fat ball.

thyme

This little Red was having a snack on the Beech hedge on one side of the house yesterday morning.


And outside another window, four Spotted flycatcher's.

valo086

I lied, there are seven Blue tit Fledgelings. Here's a few more pics of this evenings entertainment!













These guys have made my day today.

spookwoman

ahhhhhh

whyulittle

A few Siskins re-appeared in the back garden the other day


And a young Starling

spookwoman

Havent been out to get any bird shots, just in the garden

Small green orb spider


Nettle tap moth?


Spider

soupdragon

Currently in Mozambique so hopefully the link will work, a few birds, bugs, lizards and a crab from Africa. Only got the compact camera with me so don't expect miracles!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10201353715464912.1073741832.1234375808&type=1&l=d7f85c8346

MeteoritesEire

cool blue waxbills

glad that wasn't a dolphin steak ;-)