Sally and I have always kept a record of our wildlife sightings. We have notebooks and computer records going back to about 1980. Several years ago we switched to online databases for our records – we use the BTO Birdtrack for birds and iRecord for everything else. Our records form a tiny tiny fraction of 1% of all the information about British wildlife. But this kind of data provides the basis for conservation.
One of the best things about these modern online databases is that you can add digital photographs of your sightings as “evidence”. Yesterday, at Conyer Creek, Sally took a cracking picture of 3 species of ladybird on a thistle head. So I could use the same photograph on iRecord as evidence for 7 spot ladybird (at the top), 14 spot ladybird (yellow and black) and Adonis ladybird (middle front). The Adonis is a fairly scarce ladybird. (I can’t identify the other beetle). So well done Sally! However her little camera is not really that good for very long distance shots so on occasion, if Terry is with us, I get him to take the picture for me – his camera lens is huge!
So here is Terry’s photograph that he took for me with “evidence” of a wildlife sighting. Now the question is – What did we see? Have a go at this competition. You can answer on the web, send an email to me, Sally or Irene or try phoning. Sadly there is no prize but, unlike my last competition, I do know the answer! Well, I know what he pointed the camera at anyway! So does Terry so he is not allowed to enter.
Have a go!
Malcolm
Smallish, darkish lurking mammal. A species of introduced deer? Wild guess at Chinese Water Deer!
A gall??
First out of the block at 7.47 am by email to webmaster was Sharon. Zooming in on her phone she could see a hare. She also wants to know if anyone is off to the Birdfair. Next up at 8.00 am by text was Julie. Julie is one of our most observant group naturalists – she went for a mink (sorry – no) then changed her mind to some other mustelid, either stoat or weasel. Perhaps it was after Sharon’s hare! Usually if Julie says its there I would agree – but. Next was Anne, the first reply on the web. No comment about her “wild” guess – yet.
Via email Hazel and Steve wrote “After careful consideration, using our imaginations and a lot of guesswork, we think the mystery wildlife is ….”
Hazel went for woodcock. One of my favourite birds. Steve went for juvenile green sandpiper. He must be joking though – Terry and I would not know a juvenile green sandpiper even if it sat on the end of the camera lens! Sue came in a 9.00 am – she knows me too well. A gall. I just wish I could identify galls on grasses, sedges etc. So, we have a small darkish mammal lurking in the grass watching a hare eating a grass gall and a stoat not sure whether to go for the juvenile green sandpiper, the woodcock or the hare. Nature watching is so much fun! Julie, Alan, Ethna and Alan E. all passed on their appreciation of Sally’s ladybird picture. So thanks everyone. More entries please.
Come on – add something to the story. There really is something there.
Margaret thinks she can see a toad. Should have gone to ….
Just received this email via webmaster
Hi Malcolm
Do I see the tips of the ears of a fox centre-frame?
Regards
Steve