Blather, Waffle and Poppycock!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

We ceratinly used to have Kestrels, although I haven't seen one for ages, used to nest on the tunnel vents.

[Steve J]

Buzzards, Sparrow Hawk (in the garden yesterday) and Kestrels common here on the Eastern outskirts of Bristol. Red Kites making their way towards us but not seen any yet, which is a shame.

Quite a few Crows around us, ditto Magpies and plenty of Jays in the woods, but absolutely loads of Jackdaws over the past few years, probably around 50+ come home to roost in trees near us. Boy do they make a racket, especially in the Summer when the windows are open.

[Leon]

Sadly all we get here are sparrowhawks on rare occasions.  When we lived in Cornwall we had a full family of buzzards that were always overhead and would sometimes land on the rear hedge to eat. 

Bears and wolves succumbed to human hunters several centuries ago.
There are some compelling arguments for their reintroduction, but nobody seems to have solved the "stopping them eating the ramblers" issue.

Well we've got the boars and beavers, with lynx next on the agenda!  I thought we had a small population of wolves in a confined area somewhere in Scotland but I can't find the article now.  I read the recent piece about putting European bison back in the south-east although my first thought was 'When did we have them in the first place?!'

[Scorpio_Rocks]

We ceratinly used to have Kestrels, although I haven't seen one for ages, used to nest on the tunnel vents.

There used to be Peregrines nesting on top of "Paddy's Wigwam" - they had their own webcam. Are they still there? (been a while since I lived in the Pool...)

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Wasn't aware of them , i am in the one eyed city. No bird life today but there are often rooks, crows, magpies, herring? (bloody big) gulls and of course pigeons on the rooves of Ridley St.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

There are wolves in Shropshire...

[Orcs]

There are some compelling arguments for their reintroduction, but nobody seems to have solved the "stopping them eating the ramblers" issue.

Anyway what's the odd rambler here or there? It would make their walk more exiting. Conversation would go from "is that a lesser spotted warbler" or "look at that wild orchid" to

"Blooming heck that's a very large bear / pack of wolves - I bet I can run faster than you! "   

Just make sure you have a suitably decrepit person as one of your fellow ramblers.

[steve_holmes_11]

Anyway what's the odd rambler here or there? It would make their walk more exiting. Conversation would go from "is that a lesser spotted warbler" or "look at that wild orchid" to

"Blooming heck that's a very large bear / pack of wolves - I bet I can run faster than you! "   

Just make sure you have a suitably decrepit person as one of your fellow ramblers.

It would certainly liven up my bicycle training.
Until now the main animal hazards have been loose livestock (ginger cows and ostrich).

Remember folks: You don't have to be faster than the predator, just faster than the slowest cyclist 


Great piece on the cascade benefits of reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone.
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem

Including a reduction of bears stealing pick-er-nick baskets.

It's worth nothing that Yellowstone's area is half that of Wales.

[hammurabi70]

There are wolves in Shropshire...

It is strange to go for a walk in the woods with your girl-friend and discuss what to do if a pack of wolves is encountered; also, to go blackberry picking and have to ensure that if a bear hoves into view, you can reach the car faster than the bear will.  I remain to be convinced that the reintroduction of some of this wildlife is 'a good thing'.

[Matt J]

The shropshire wolves are safely enclosed (I hope  ) in about 100 acres. Not sure the farmers around here would be too happy them tearing around the sheep farms!

[Techno II]

Been a few months since I noticed any Ravens, Red Kites or buzzards.

I expect they'll be about again soon.

Cheers - Phil.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Watched the BBC Stonehenge in the Preseli Mountains documentary last night Phil. Nice to see some of your early sculpts are still about.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000s5xm/stonehenge-the-lost-circle-revealed

[Orcs]

Watched the BBC Stonehenge in the Preseli Mountains documentary last night Phil. Nice to see some of your early sculpts are still about.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000s5xm/stonehenge-the-lost-circle-revealed

Personally I thought his Pyramid sculps in Egypt were better -  more precise

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

So it is Phil's signature on Tutankamans sarcohogous then ?

[Orcs]

So it is Phil's signature on Tutankamans sarcohogous then ?

I thought you knew that. that was at least his second, he got bored with the first so jazzed Tutankhamen's up a bit with all that gold. 

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I thought you knew that. that was at least his second, he got bored with the first so jazzed Tutankhamen's up a bit with all that gold. 

I wuz allus higreant

[Steve J]

By God it's windy here at present! The gale force winds are damaging my crocuses, which I'm not happy about .

[Heedless Horseman]

By God it's windy here at present! The gale force winds are damaging my crocuses, which I'm not happy about .

'When I was a Lad', our Crocus  would stand, strong and brave! Nowadays, they flop in the breeze or 'birds' mangle them... life's like that...! LOL! 

Probably because the thin soil cover of what used to be 'lawn' has reduced over the years and the grass has been replaced by moss... maybe sucking up any moisture in the soil.  What used to be good clumps of Daffodills /Narcissi, hardly flower    What does seem to be thriving, now, is Wood Sorrel. I love this plant... is just wasn't there until a few years ago, and attempts to introduce it failed! Now, it's everywhere!  Dog Violets are doing well, too.  I have always favoured Wild Flowers over Garden Flowers, so some things please in spring. Just wish I'd NEVER introduced Wild Garlic as a 'little patch' LOL! !

[Heedless Horseman]

As far as Avian Predators go, we have had an occasional pass through of a Sparrowhawk. Given the tree cover, it's flight skills are amazing! 
I am not really a bird watcher, but have been delighted at the variety of species which have appeared in the last 20 years or so. As well as the 'normal' Robins, various Tits, etc. we now have Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreepers, Goldcrests, Wrens, Bullfinch and occasional Goldfinch or Wagtail! And, sometimes, a 'rather lost' Duck!    (We have a small stream!).

Bird populations have varied, over the years. In regard to the 'nuisances', The Collared Doves seemed to be chased off by Big, Fat, Woodies... until 'The Cat' took up residence... so, now seem to be making a comeback!  There used to be a lot of Jackdaws, until Magpies appeared... nesting in next-door's chimney. Now,  one or two Crows have appeared... and the Jackdaws / Magpies are much fewer. At least we don't have Gulls!

Things change... 

[Heedless Horseman]

Re the reintroducton of 'Large Predators'.  MUCH as I would love to have 'wild' populations of Wolves and Bears... WE just do NOT have the 'wilderness'!     VERY LARGE, enclosed areas, fine by me... but people will live there, or next door, too... so WON'T be happy! As to possible predation on Humans... well, people get killed by cows! BUT, although 'livestock' kills could be'compensated... (Farmers ARE a hard-bitten lot... They Have to be... my family were!)... (But by whom?)... there WOULD be a loss of cats /foals, etc which would result in too much 'heartbreak'. 

Lynx are 'possible', and I would definitely love to see increased populations of Wildcat... (I MAY have seen one, once, near Allendale... but was probably just a VERY big Moggie! ).

It is a few years back, now, but I was ABSOLUTELY OVERJOYED to watch a pair of Otters 'messing about' in my local river, (The Pont), when on my way 'down the pub'! When I was a kid, they were on the way to extinction!

What REALLY DOES GET MY RAG UP, now, are the 'human' predators. 
On Facebook, a couple of friends post 'lost/found', 'stolen', 'watch out for this guy/van', stuff...mainly in regard to dogs/horses...but also cats, etc. I scroll through 20-30 of such every day... SOME, I may share... hoping it 'may' help. BUT 'Animal Theft! The UTTER SCUM who inflict such suffering to both the animals and their tortured owners...    'Bring back the Wolves and Bears... '!