Tick the Hedgehog

I just thought I would share some of these images with you.

The images were taken just over three years ago now and the last time I was this close to a hedgehog. Since then I have seen more killed than alive, which is a great shame.

The hedgehog didn't mind the old Westie (molly after having a drink from the dog bowl, the hedgehog was below having a nose what was in the bowl!).

Do you have any hedgehog photos? If so it would be nice to see them! Tweet to @WildWatcher_Eve

Its a Whale thing...

Sitka Sound

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Grey Whale - 2008

Humpback Whales - September 2012

Humpback having fun with a large piece of seaweed - September 2012

Video: Rats, birds feeding and birds scrapping!

A quiet day off work last month, I was mean't to be looking out for birds but I found the rats a lot more amusing to watch!

Video below recorded from iPhone: Rats, birds feeding and birds scrapping!

Waxwings again today!

On the way back from Wales I passed the place where I saw a group of 15/16 Waxwings early yesterday morning (Wirral area, close to Irby). 

A rather dull day, but I had my camera on me and I saw them again but instead there were easily 60+ sitting in the tree and more feeding below on a bush full of berries!

 

 

and before seeing the Waxwings, this flew straight across in front of me!

Waxwings!

Just had to do the early morning shop and on my way back (near Irby) I came across a group of Waxwings! A nice start to the day before I go out with the camera (shame I didn't have my SLR on me) photo taken from my phone, zoomed in so pretty rubbish!

Bird Treats

Just a quick post... Late last night, I decided to venture into the kitchen (a place I usually tend to avoid as much as possible) and made some treats for the birds in my garden and local area that didn't turn out to bad, as you can see below :)

 
If you want to have ago of making these or if your kids are driving you stir-crazy I have listed what's required below.

Here it goes...
To start off you will need the following items:

• Bird Seed (you can also use peanuts, raisins, cheese and any other suitable foods for your garden birds)
• Lard
• Microwavable container
• Cake/Muffin tins or you can use silicone cake moulds
• String 

First, you need to melt your lard. I used two packets of 250g of lard and then placed both blocks into a microwavable dish for about 2/4 minutes (until the lard had melted).

I then got my cake moulds and filled them all with bird seed and peanuts to about half way, followed by adding the lard into the mixture then mixing it together.

 

I was being watch by the greedy one of the two (Archie) I don't know why, the smell of the lard was not particularly nice! (excuse the fetching slipper & Christmas socks!)

Once completed filling up all the moulds, place them into the fridge for about 2 hours to set. I left them in for the rest of the night as it doesn't make any difference.

Once set, they are ready to be taken out and for your birds to enjoy! You can piece a hole then attach some string through them to be hanged, but the bird cakes need to be quite slim to do this otherwise they will fall apart.

I made mine rather chunky as they will be going onto my bird table and ground feeder.

 

The large Butterfly turned out rather well and didn't fall apart...

 

I wouldn't recommend the Bear - disaster!

If you have made any of these or going to Tweet a photo to @WildWatcher_Eve

Eve :)

RSPB Conwy and Burton Marshes

On Tuesday, with having a free day I decided to head off to Wales and visit Conwy's RSPB reserve. For most of the day it was raining on and off with constant heavy winds, which got worse towards the end of the day.

Oystercatchers x6
Little Egret x1
Shelduck 8+
Coot 30+
Canadian Geese x4
Cormorant x2
Buzzard x1 (on the way)
Seabirds (lost count!)
Willow Tit x2
Blue Tit 6+
Robin x1 pair x1 other
Wading birds
Heron x1
Ponies...

  

  

On the way back I decided to stop at Burton Marshes, which was pretty quiet but I did see:
Blue and Great Tit on feeders
x1 Nuthatch
Coot 10+
Kestrel x1
Redshank
Snipe x1
and other wading birds

Oh and this little caterpillar whilst walking back to the car.

Favourite photo taken: