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Permalink Reply by David Channon on July 15, 2011 at 21:47

I tried to protect a wrens nest from two crows.

Only one survived to fly off.

Urban corvids are on the increase and the songbirds are getting hit

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Permalink Reply by David Bloomer on July 16, 2011 at 10:35

nice photo of the dragonfly!

 

haven't had any encounters this week unless you count the stupid pidgeon that flew so hard into our front window on the house it killed itself!!!

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Permalink Reply by Brigitt Stevenson on July 16, 2011 at 12:55

HelloJohn,

how many snake eggs did you find? and why not get rid of them some people do not like snakes, are they really big snakes???

 

The Dragonfly picture is great, amazing shot, is that taken with a phone camera...good clarity !!

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Permalink Reply by John on July 16, 2011 at 14:04

Yes Brigitt, grass snakes are fairly big and are the only native constrictor in the UK, they guard their eggs which are usually laid in compost heaps, and will attack as a group, so it is not a good idea to touch the eggs. ;))

 

 They are also protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside act. So if you don't like snakes - tough !!!

 

Thanks,

The Dragonfly photo' was taken with a mobile phone camera, A Sony Ericsson 903 which is a couple of years old and probably out of date now, I think it has 5 mp. I use it for all my garden photo's.      

Brigitt Stevenson said:

HelloJohn,

how many snake eggs did you find? and why not get rid of them some people do not like snakes, are they really big snakes???

 

The Dragonfly picture is great, amazing shot, is that taken with a phone camera...good clarity !!

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Permalink Reply by Sean Busby on July 16, 2011 at 16:29

Get rid of them because some people don't like snakes? Are you serious Brigitt?

Brigitt Stevenson said:

HelloJohn,

how many snake eggs did you find? and why not get rid of them some people do not like snakes, are they really big snakes???

 

The Dragonfly picture is great, amazing shot, is that taken with a phone camera...good clarity !!

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens on July 16, 2011 at 17:26

This week we've been worried about the swallows nesting in the ponies stable because there are sparrow hawks about. I shout at them and tell them to bugger off - it seems to work!

I've never seen a grass snakes eggs, how fascinating and the dragon fly picture is great. I must admit I'm scared of snakes but I'd never ever hurt one - in fact I've never deliberately hurt anything!

Slightly off topic but is everyone taking part in the butterfly watch? The Telegraph are promoting it today?

 

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Permalink Reply by John on July 16, 2011 at 19:31

Hi Jenny,

  I have seen swallows and swifts chasing away large buzzards from an area, so not sure if the sparrow hawks would cause much of a problem to these flight specialists. 

 Do you have the details about the butterfly watch ?   

Jenny@ A & J Owen Gardening said:

This week we've been worried about the swallows nesting in the ponies stable because there are sparrow hawks about. I shout at them and tell them to bugger off - it seems to work!

I've never seen a grass snakes eggs, how fascinating and the dragon fly picture is great. I must admit I'm scared of snakes but I'd never ever hurt one - in fact I've never deliberately hurt anything!

Slightly off topic but is everyone taking part in the butterfly watch? The Telegraph are promoting it today?

 

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Permalink Reply by Brigitt Stevenson on July 17, 2011 at 18:15

Hello Sean,

 

I'm not a big fan of snakes, but they are part of the 'Food Chain', and have their part to do in Nature...I think I would personally not like to find them in my compost, but then again I no longer live in the Country, they are great in keeping the rodent population down, I'm sure   :)

Horny Handed Ton of Soil said:

Get rid of them because some people don't like snakes? Are you serious Brigitt?

Brigitt Stevenson said:

HelloJohn,

how many snake eggs did you find? and why not get rid of them some people do not like snakes, are they really big snakes???

 

The Dragonfly picture is great, amazing shot, is that taken with a phone camera...good clarity !!

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on July 17, 2011 at 19:15

This week had to hide in the van as a Huge swarm of bees passed overhead... I'm allergic to the stings so I ran!
Then got back to my parents at about 8pm to see a hedgehog calmly walking around, unafraid of me, even let me film it on my phone from about 1ft away as it pushed empty pots and potting trays arround looking for food!

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens on July 17, 2011 at 19:30

Hi John, website is www.bigbutterflycount.org.uk. It's on till 30th July. I'm waiting for the next sunny day! Good news about the swallows, they are very busy today trying to feed their little ones on a cold damp day like this

John www.acegardenservices.co.uk said:

Hi Jenny,

  I have seen swallows and swifts chasing away large buzzards from an area, so not sure if the sparrow hawks would cause much of a problem to these flight specialists. 

 Do you have the details about the butterfly watch ?   

Jenny@ A & J Owen Gardening said:

This week we've been worried about the swallows nesting in the ponies stable because there are sparrow hawks about. I shout at them and tell them to bugger off - it seems to work!

I've never seen a grass snakes eggs, how fascinating and the dragon fly picture is great. I must admit I'm scared of snakes but I'd never ever hurt one - in fact I've never deliberately hurt anything!

Slightly off topic but is everyone taking part in the butterfly watch? The Telegraph are promoting it today?

 

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Permalink Reply by Mark & Yasmin Roworth on July 18, 2011 at 10:48

Great pictures of the snake eggs, its been breeding season so there will hopefully be lots of new babies about shortly.

I keep snakes as pets they are amazing!

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