Sïmon 〓〓
@euroscanner
I have trees. Lots of trees. #Kernow. Chartered IT Pro., write about Linux & radio regulatory matters. Run UK003K #archaeology #CIfA #trees #environment #bats #hamradio #ukmon #wülferhampton #linux #mageia #eurosky
It's a bit late, but maybe, just maybe, we finally have a pair of Swallows looking at the nest in the garage. There's been a single one roosting on a wire next to the nest all season, I assume waiting for its partner to turn up.
I'm still seeing Pips, Noctules and Long-eared bats on the bat detector. I know there's a good 24 or more of horseshoes roosting, and that's an all-time record for here. In this photo I can see 2-3 pups with their mum wrapping them up in her wings - maybe more. Quite encouraging!
I was always terrified the spoon would get dropped, so that always stayed in the desk drawer, and I used a stainless one. Also, quite a narrow base on the mug. I used it for coffee, but it's not for coffee. I eventually went over to this mug, and that takes us back to @tarquinfauntleroy.bsky.social
Up close with a #housemartin although not in a nice way. This dead youngster was found under our apple tree this morning. I don't know what happened, but it's obviously a fledgling from our nests here. Most likely a flying accident rather than predation.
But that's not one I've ever used. And certainly NOT TODAY, except maybe in a drink.
I came here to say that. Lost in translation, probably. We all know who created those ads.
Relaxation time. This is one minute of my big pond. You can only see about 1/3 of it from this camera. There's nothing actually happening, but it's still very, very, noisy!!!
It's hot. 44C down here out of the wind. The Tree Bumblebees (all very melanistic, with only the odd one wearing the usual light brown waistcoat) in the roof of the guest annex have the air-conditioning on full blast. They're using their most henchiest bees to do it, too. 🙃 #bees
Well, once the roof warmed up and they came out of their huddle: 19 Lesser Horseshoe #bats warming up in the garage roof, although those were only the ones I could see with the camera (two more behind it). I expect I missed a few! This is a pan/tilt camera installed specifically to count bats.
Yes, I know. I picked the wrong photo where the wire was in focus. Here's a better view from yesterday. As an aside, that cage was constructed out of scraps in about an hour directly on my workshop worksurface. Oh, only half the length is visible here. Camera: uk.store.tapo.com/products/sma...
A Whitebell!! Quite rare among the bluebell population. They do actually seem to maintain whiteness, as our house has a lot of them planted around it - for luck, etc. It's sometimes a way of finding the location of demolished old houses - look for white bluebells.
Some kind of bracket fungus growing on an Oak tree in the woods here. I have no idea what type, but I'm not planning on trying to eat it, so it makes little difference. Looks brighter than the photo shows.
Here we go again. Two rescue Pheasant chicks found sans-mum in a ditch, or drain, not sure exactly. They're getting used to their new enclosure, and have 'met' Phez, who sleeps in the next-door cage. They're cheeping and she's reacting, which is encouraging. More detail in the ALT text.
Bad sleep last night here as well. Not for the same reasons, unless Bulbo crows all night... 🙃
15 Lesser Horseshoe #bats in the garage today. Early days, but so long as the weather stays acceptable, let's hope we get plenty of pups this year. #myPoorMower
The Phez is broody. Egg on the way. Is NOT keen on going out to the run. Wants to stay in her roost on my workshop worksurface. Fun fact: Pheasants do the same slow blinky eyes thing that cats do, and it seems to mean the same thing.
I spent part of the afternoon sitting under one of my oaks watching three young squirrels practice their tree craft, and eating buds,.by the look of it!
Of 9 House Martin nests all in use plus two feeble attempts to make new mud ones. Phez is enjoying the greenhouse as usual, no Canada Goose hatchings yet. Not seen ducklings for a while and Swallows not nesting yet, but swing by now and then to check the nest.
Hmm. Old Mapping shows a building close to where I'm finding the pottery. It's long gone: early C19 census does mention a woodcutter living in a cottage that we've not identified, so I think we may have accidentally found it, or the rubbish tip (downhill of the likely platform - very convenient).