Friday at the hide , 13th may 2022

A bonus day at the hide today , and i’m not here alone , today my co-pilot is none other than The Wiltshire Birdman , Mr Graham Stewart. It’s been over a week since my last visit to the hide , an boy has the meadow grown , in places it’s already 2ft tall ( 600mm)  Already its time for the strimmers first outing of the year.

Here are a few photos ……

REEVES MUNTJAC

The Reeves Muntjac (   Muntiacus reevesi )  is a small stocky deer , with a distinctive haunched appearance , with a rusty brown coat which turns  a dull shade of grey in winter. The Muntjac was named in 1812 after John Reeves of the East India Company. This non native species originated in south east Asia and was introduced to…

by phans66 May 26, 2023April 28, 2023

ROE DEER

Roe Deer , Capreolus capreolus The roe is one of the two species of truly native deer of the British Isles, the other being the red deer. Records of them date nearly 6,000 years.. They are strongly associated with woodlands and have increased in both population and distribution with the increase in woodland planting in…

by phans66 May 24, 2023May 6, 2023

THE HIDE , WATER

The Hide , Monday 22nd May 2023 Another busy day here at the Hide with the pool central to all the action. It seems that Monday is bath day.! The appearance of the Sparrowhawk last week seems to have scared off all the blackbirds . Normally there’s at least three or four hanging around the…

by phans66 May 23, 2023

IN CONVERSATION WITH….

In conversation with Gordon Buchanan Gordon Buchanan MBE , Scottish filmmaker, wildlife cameraman and presenter. After 31 years filming wildlife in remote areas of the planet, Gordon Buchanan has a reputation for relishing tough assignments. He has taken part in challenging expeditions and adventures around the globe including South America, Asia, Africa, Papua New Guinea,…

by phans66 May 22, 2023April 28, 2023

THE HOUSE SPARROW

Meet the Model – Hank the House Sparrow By Peter Hanscomb The house sparrow , Passer domesticus is still a common sight in most UK gardens and in 2016 , it was voted the most commonly observed garden bird in the UK according to the RSPB big garden watch The small bird is a member…

by phans66 May 19, 2023April 28, 2023

THE HIDE , FEATHERS

The Hide , Thursday 18th May 2023 Wow , what a difference a week makes , the meadow is now beginning to grow at an extraordinary rate. The new growth is now a couple of foot high ( 600mm ) in places and still growing strong. Just cutting the path to the hide is now…

by phans66 May 18, 2023May 18, 2023

THE WOOD MOUSE

Wood Mouse , Apodemus sylvaticus The Wood Mouse is one of Britain’s most abundant mammals. It’s mainly nocturnal with most activity peaking at dusk and dawn. Despite its name its spread isn’t confined to just woodlands , including homes , gardens , grass verges , and moorland. It’s a typical mouse shape with a long…

by phans66 May 17, 2023May 6, 2023

Location, Location, Location, Bushy Park

With over 1,100 acres of land, Bushy Park is the second largest of the Royal Parks in London and has an incredible range of wildlife and habitats within its walls making it a wildlife photographer’s dream. Bushy Park has a distinctive landscape, shaped in part by its history as a royal hunting ground but also…

by phans66 May 15, 2023April 28, 2023

THE DUNNOCK

Dunnock Prunella modularis Length          14 cm Wingspan    20 cm Weight.         25 g Population   2,000,000 pairs Dunnocks are native to the UK and large areas of Europe with their range spreading as far as Lebanon, northern Iran, and the Caucasus. The ground feeding dunnock’s favoured habitats…

by phans66 May 12, 2023April 28, 2023