Some pictures I took recently

thyme

I was watching this red yesterday for an hour or more, all over the place picking up hazel nuts and looking for a place to bury them, they must have a good memory to remember where they put all the nuts.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Actually, grey squirrels bury nuts all over the place and don't remember where they all are. These nuts often then grown into trees. Red squirrels store nuts in piles, or middens, usually above ground, so don't need to remember where they all are.

V Bull

Solitary Sandpiper, Wexford last Tuesday...

keps

Today - Newcastle( Co Wicklow)

A late to leave....

Wheatear

splish

Two shieldbugs from today.

Gorse Shieldbug Piezodorus lituratus



Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens

keps

Newcastle today... not too sure what this one is?






Siskin

V Bull

keps wrote: »

Newcastle today... not too sure what this one is?

Stonechat...

Don't think that's a siskin Keps, looks more like a Reed Bunting but could be wrong mate...

V Bull

Some more from Wexford last week..

Raven.... anyone for golf, I wonder what it is????



Chough...



Buzzard...



Greenshank and Curlew...

thyme

Jazlyn Incalculable Yo-yo wrote: »

Actually, grey squirrels bury nuts all over the place and don't remember where they all are. These nuts often then grown into trees. Red squirrels store nuts in piles, or middens, usually above ground, so don't need to remember where they all are.

Well nobody told the Reds around here that there not supposed to bury the nuts, that's what it's just after doing in the first picture and it put a leaf on top just to be on the safe side. Yes they do store some up high, in the top of an ash tree is this ones store. But most of the time it put them in the ground and gave it a gentle pat.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

thyme wrote: »

Well nobody told the Reds around here that there not supposed to bury the nuts, that's what it's just after doing in the first picture and it put a leaf on top just to be on the safe side. Yes they do store some up high, in the top of an ash tree is this ones store. But most of the time it put them in the ground and gave it a gentle pat.

Research in 2008 showed that Red Squirrels who think they are being watched will "pretend" to bury nuts but will soon return to them and move them to their mitten. Whether on the ground or above it Red Squirrels keep nuts in piles and do not bury them underground or individually as a reserve for winter.

keps

Was that also grey squirrels?


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3322101/Cunning-squirrels-pretend-to-bury-their-food.html

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

keps wrote: »

Was that also grey squirrels?


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3322101/Cunning-squirrels-pretend-to-bury-their-food.html

I don't know, Keps. The hardcopy report I have here is a UK survey on Reds and is borne out by personal observation and that of my former collegues. Judging by the link, it seems to be greys as well but I have nothing to substantiate that.

keps

vistafinder

Heron

Heron by vistafind, on Flickr

Young Sika

Young Sika by vistafind, on Flickr

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel by vistafind, on Flickr

Heron


Heron by vistafind, on Flickr

Sika Stag by vistafind, on Flickr

Sika

Sika by vistafind, on Flickr

keps

one last one from Newcastle yesterday


Wheatear enjoying the 'long summer'

thyme

Jazlyn Incalculable Yo-yo wrote: »

Research in 2008 showed that Red Squirrels who think they are being watched will "pretend" to bury nuts but will soon return to them and move them to their mitten. Whether on the ground or above it Red Squirrels keep nuts in piles and do not bury them underground or individually as a reserve for winter.

The group of Reds that's here do bury the nuts in the ground and I have never seen them return to move them. I have spent many hours observing them over the years and they have always done this. I have a perfect hiding place so they don't know I'am there, unless I want them to. Next time I'll record them doing so, weather permitting that is.

vistafinder

The majestic Fia Rua


Stag by vistafind, on Flickr


Stag in the woods by vistafind, on Flickr


Stag by vistafind, on Flickr


Young Stag by vistafind, on Flickr


Stag by vistafind, on Flickr


Young stags by vistafind, on Flickr

keps

Today in Lucan Demesne - autumn vibe

V Bull

This little Dunnock bashed into my window this evening, shaken & stunned I expect so I sat with him in case a cat came along, keeping to a safe distance of course and I didn't want to lift him either so that I wouldn't add to his stress, happy to say he had a full recovery and hopped off into the hedge within 20 minutes...:):):)

keps

I was a bit surprised to see 2 baby ducklings this morning while out for a walk along the Liffey... a bit late or maybe early I thought??


Here is one of them

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

From that angle it looks like a little grebe rather than a duckling.

keps

Ooops another in a long line of mistaken identities by yours truly!

The reason I thought it was a duck was because it seemed to be with these ducks- but now that you mention it , it ( and the 2nd one)acted differently insofar as it submerged itself for lengthy enough periods before resurfacing!

keps

And the man beside me thought it was a duckling too- so there are two of us around:pac::pac:

keps

today -lucan

grey wagtail

keps

keps

A few from Lucan Demesne this morning..

OpenYourEyes

keps wrote: »

A few from Lucan Demesne this morning..

Nice selection Keps, I especially like the second Robin one and the first Squirrel one!

Rainbowsend

Nice to meet you Keps! One you missed...a little GoldcrestGoldcrest by Jenny dot com, on Flickr

keps

Nice to meet you too, Jenny


Last one from 2day

splish

A very obliging Dipper from outside Bagenalstown today.