Anything For Animals

posted by admin on Jun 15

There are many many birds that look a little bit like each other - and therefore not easy to tell apart.

Unless you are a birdwatching expert and can spot the little signs, you won’t know what they are before they have flown off and you’ll never be sure.

But there are 5 birds that you can definitely tell apart from all others in the quickest of flashes - there is no mistaking them.  Honest!

So, here is a description of each one and what makes them so easy to identify.

The Kestrel - (Falco tinnunculus) : Small raptor - seen hovering at the side of the road.

This bird is the only one in the UK that can hover in the exact same space for what seems like ages!  Some birds like buzzards and crows can ‘float’ in the sky on a breeze, but the kestrel is the only one that stays on the spot.

Now, you will normally see these birds at the side of the road as you drive by, but you can see them in fields and other rural areas if you know what you are looking for. 

The Swallow - (Hirundo rustica) : Small dark bird with long double tail - seen high in the sky in summer. 

This bird is one of several high soaring birds that catch insects in flight - the others being swifts and house martins.  But the swallow is the only one with really long, very noticeable ribbon feathers coming off the ends of it’s very forked tail. 

No need to worry about whether it’s got curved wings or a white rump - just look for the trailing feathers in the summer sky - and it’s a swallow! 2 syllables: 2 tails! Easy. 

The Kingfisher - (Alcedo atthis) : Very small bright blue bird - Very Blue - seen near rivers and streams.

This is virtually the only ‘flash of blue’ that you will see in the UK - especially if you are near a river, canal or flowing stream.  Other birds can be blue - but if it is an amazing flash of the brightest blue you have ever seen in nature - then it will be a kingfisher I’m sure!

If you are very lucky, you might see it sitting on a branch staring into the water - and very, very lucky to see it plunge headfirst into the water before emerging seconds later with a tiny fish in it’s over-sized bill.

Red Kite - (Milvus mivus) : Huge soaring raptor in cities and countryside - obvious forked tail.

This majestic large raptor has made a fantastic come back in the UK over the past decades, and can be seen in countryside and towns - I recently saw one scavenging in the car park of a huge industrial park in Reading - I was less than 50 metres away of it standing on the ground!

These huge birds can be told apart from other large soaring raptors (such as buzzards) very easily as they have a clearly forked tail.  They also glide quite low when searching for food and are common along roads and open fields.

Green Woodpecker - (Picus viridis) : Noisy ground feeding bright green bird - flies in an undulating pattern.

Often seen flying away after you approached them, they are a green bullet with flashes of red.  When flying off, they go up and down like they are on the top of a wave. 

Usually heard making a loud repetitive shrill noise as they depart into nearby trees - you can’t mistake them.  There are several black and white woodpeckers in the UK - but only one green one!

See if you can spot all 5 before the end of the month!

posted by admin on May 25

This article details all you need to know as a beginner about a year in the life of a bat in the UK: 

Animal Type: Mammalia - Chiroptera

Species Info: There are 2 main Orders of bats in the world: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera - but only the latter are found in the UK. 

UK Distribution:There are 17 species of Bat in the UK, with all these found in the South including the tiny Pipistrelle (only 5 grams) and the larger Daubenton’s and Noctule Bats, with only a few species found in the North.

Preferred Habitat: Around water (as this attracts their insect prey) and in quiet locations - although are quite happy to live in towns on canals or by lakes.  They need roosting sites nearby to where they feed - one for hibernating and another for summer roosting, so a variety of buildings, caves and holes in trees (or bat boxes) are essential.

In Spring:  Waking Up After Hibernation.
In early March, bats may still be hibernating but some will start to feed if necessary - however April is the month that you are most likely to start seeing many bats feeding at night in the UK.  By May there will be plenty of activity in the Bat world as the females are actively looking for communal nursery sites in which to have their young.

In Summer:  Giving Birth & Young Taking To The Skies.
The young are usually born in June (usually only 1 young per female per year).  These young stay in the nursery though most of July, building up strength until they start to leave the nest in August.  After the young have left, the females go off in search of males to mate with.

In Autumn:  Mating & Searching For A Hibernation Site.
The adult males and females spend most of September mating, as well as starting to build up fat reserves for the winter ahead by feasting on insects.  If the weather stays warm there could still be feeding into November, but when temperatures start to drop, the bats start to hibernate.

In Winter:  All UK Bats Are Hibernating.
You will rarely see a Bat through the cold winter as they will be be hibernating somewhere quiet and secure.  As the winter moves on they will stay in that place, gradually using up their fat reserves to stay alive.  Only when temperatures warm up nearing Spring will they naturally begin to stir and set out hunting again.

UK/World Events: 
May: UK National Moth & Bat Night
August: European Bat Weekend

Bat Groups:
UK - Bat Conservation Trust
US - Bat Conservation International
Other - South-East Asia Bat Conservation

Other Information:
Bats in the UK are protected by strict laws and you can be liable for a fine of up to £5000 and possible imprisonment per incident or ‘per bat’ if you deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat, destroy a roost - even if not in use, or intentionally block access to a bat roost.  So call an expert if in doubt!

posted by admin on Jan 10

Finally, the snow has all gone and the temperature is rising!

Outside of my window this morning there were 2 roe deer trekking across my garden, and out the side by the bird feeders, I saw a nice collection all feeding at the same time: 2 blue tits, 2 great tits, 2 robins, a blackbird and 4 pheasants!

It’s great to see everything still fighting their way into spring, and I am now living in a perfect rural location to witness the changes from winter.

I have already registered myself with many charities and wildlife surveys to make the most of my time here and to help with the monitoring of our native mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and plants!

And of course, it will give me the opportunity to learn a bit more about the world I live in! 

Identifying the calls of birds and the sounds of mammals will really improve my enjoyment of the natural world - and could even help on my CV when I apply for future employment, volunteer opportunities or further education!

Great New Years Resolution don’t you think!