Nature & Wildlife Thread

[Mmathis]

Here are a few from a recent short visit to Scotland

Loch Venachar in the Trossachs

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Bracklinn Falls, just east of Callander


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A rare native red squirrel. The numbers are declining, and there are very few places left where they thrive. The grey squirrel was introduced from North America back in the 19th Century, and they have driven the red squirrel out to the point where they can only be found in a locations, although they still thrive in Scotland. (75% of the total). Measures are being taken to reduce the threat in areas where reds still live.

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Beautiful and what a cute little squirrel! He's much cuter than the red squirrels I'm used to seeing, so are your reds the same as ours? Gray squirrels are a problem here, as well, and out compete with the more docile reds.

 

[CeeJayH]

Beautiful and what a cute little squirrel! He's much cuter than the red squirrels I'm used to seeing, so are your reds the same as ours? Gray squirrels are a problem here, as well, and out compete with the more docile reds.

The European Red is a different species to the North American Red, but both have similar problems due to the grey,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_squirrel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_red_squirrel

 

[Mmathis]

@CeeJayH Thanks for that! I think the European red is way cuter.

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I was at work early this morning, and all of a sudden, a pack of coyotes started verbally celebrating a kill, probably 100 yds away. It was an eerie sound. I'm not sure what the victim was. Probably a fawn or turkey.

 

[Gemma]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Mike in Vermont]

Just before dark, I walked around the lower pond, and watched a flock of turkeys eating in the woods.
.
I went out on the deck after dark, and heard a buck snort close by 3 or 4 times. It was a good evening for wildlife.

 

[CeeJayH]

I went to a local wetland reserve last week, and a Kingfisher landed on a fence post no more than 10m from the hide.

They are usually very shy creatures, and all one normally sees is a flash of brilliant colour as they fly away. This one was stationary for no more than a few seconds, and then was gone.

 

[Gemma]

Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Mmathis]

Oh, how lovely! Our Kingfishers, or at least the only one I've ever seen, doesn't look like that -- not anywhere near as colorful.

 

[addy1]

Beautiful and great shot!

 

[j.w]

What a beauty!

 

[Stephen T.]

Those are sure pretty kingfishers! Ours are very plain in comparison, pretty much blue/gray and white.

I went down to Agency lake this morning and the north end was covered with white birds, mostly pelicans and great egrets. I'd guess there were well over 1000 very large birds, not counting all the darker ducks and others, all in an area about 1/3 mile by 1/4 mile. My photo can't do justice to the huge numbers, just a small slice of the scene. A bit later, I watched 3 otters fishing, slashing, diving and playing, they sure are fun critters!

 

[CeeJayH]

Nice photo Stephen, and it's part of nature's rich pattern of diversity that what's common in one part of the world is rare in another.
Egrets are quite uncommon in the UK, with hardly any resident, just visitors from mainland Europe. Otters are also very rare, although numbers are slowly increasing. I've never seen an otter in the wild, but live in hope. They have been spotted on our local river so a stake-out of likely spots on a quiet evening might pay off.

 

[Mmathis]

This was posted on FB. That's one busy Momma!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1789271541314217

 

[Gemma]

Aww I love watching videos like that! Thank you!