Adge Cutler Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 I've seen many wonderful sights in the natural world over the years when I've been out and about. I saw a flock of pigeons in the 80,s that took 1/2 an hour to fly over the Forest of Dean A salmon caught in a Fish trap in the Coln at Bibury A few years ago 78 wrens counted into roost in a post box Even cut a Sparrow Hawk out of a blackthorn bush once when it foolishly chased a blackbird in to it. Today however topped the lot.. I was driving to work in Gloucester, and took a rural detour because of road works. A call came in on my mobile so I pulled into a gateway to take the call. In the adjacent a field a farmer had just started ploughing in what looked like a cut maize crop. There was Kestrel hovering overhead which I watched while chatting to the caller and in the top of a Oak tree opposite was a Buzzard, keeping an eye on the plough I would imagine. A rat ran out of the hedge, presumably it had been feeding in the field and hot on its tail was a weasel. The two got to the short verge the other side of the road and a fair old squabble broke out. The weasel had the upper hand when the Kestrel dropped out of the sky on to both of them, Quickly followed by the Buzzard.! The weasel presumably realising discretion was the better part of valour...hot tailed it back across the road. The rat escaped and the buzzard sadly made off with the kestrel. I was sat there gob smacked and speechless. " Mike Mike are you OK... Mike are you there " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 These got to be the best site you will ever see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herby Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 Aww never would have thought that would have happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) And they say Buzzards only eat dead carrion. Never knew about Wrens roosting together,to see 76 going into a post box. Edited October 14, 2016 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFC Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Must have been magical to see. I've witnessed Pigeons flapping about and swapping sides on either side of an Ash tree to distract a Buzzard until, eventually, the tree was empty of Pigeons. Regarding Kestrels, on a tiny country road I rounded a bend, in my trusty Reliant 21E van, to see what I thought was a Rabbit rolling injured in the road. As I got closer I realised it was two Kestrel locked claw to claw wrestling each other. They paid no attention to me as I got out and moved them to the verge with my boot. It wasn't til I got another 100ys on that I saw them separate in my rearview mirror and both take to the air. As you say Ain't nature wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Had a young rabbit about 8ft away from me and I slowing walked towards it just to see how close I get. As I got to about 6ft away a stoat flew out of the long grass, bowled rabbit it over and dragged it off. Getting on for a year ago I counted (four times) 12 buzzards soaring in I would say a 100- 150m radius above the north downs. My boss who's a bird man I could tell didn't believe me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Was it a weasel or a stoat? A rat is a bit big for a weasel to tackle. Quite a sight whichever. You will be keeping an eye on that cut maize field from now on I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 heard a peregrine screeching and went to investigate and found it in the water, it had killed a lapwing then was mobbed and knocked down by hoodie crows, i waded in and collected it, dried it off and noted a bto tag number, the bird was happy to take chopped up steak from my hand, after releasing it, it stayed around the croft for a few days, great to show the kids a close up bit of nature, it was tagged about 30mls away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 I've seen many wonderful sights in the natural world over the years when I've been out and about. I saw a flock of pigeons in the 80,s that took 1/2 an hour to fly over the Forest of Dean A salmon caught in a Fish trap in the Coln at Bibury A few years ago 78 wrens counted into roost in a post box Even cut a Sparrow Hawk out of a blackthorn bush once when it foolishly chased a blackbird in to it. Today however topped the lot.. I was driving to work in Gloucester, and took a rural detour because of road works. A call came in on my mobile so I pulled into a gateway to take the call. In the adjacent a field a farmer had just started ploughing in what looked like a cut maize crop. There was Kestrel hovering overhead which I watched while chatting to the caller and in the top of a Oak tree opposite was a Buzzard, keeping an eye on the plough I would imagine. A rat ran out of the hedge, presumably it had been feeding in the field and hot on its tail was a weasel. The two got to the short verge the other side of the road and a fair old squabble broke out. The weasel had the upper hand when the Kestrel dropped out of the sky on to both of them, Quickly followed by the Buzzard.! The weasel presumably realising discretion was the better part of valour...hot tailed it back across the road. The rat escaped and the buzzard sadly made off with the kestrel. I was sat there gob smacked and speechless. " Mike Mike are you OK... Mike are you there " Its things like that that you wish that you had a camera to film it but if you did now doubt you would forget to do it until it was over I have seen loads of things when I have had the camera in my pocket but did not think to use it until it was to late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 heard a peregrine screeching and went to investigate and found it in the water, it had killed a lapwing then was mobbed and knocked down by hoodie crows, i waded in and collected it, dried it off and noted a bto tag number, the bird was happy to take chopped up steak from my hand, after releasing it, it stayed around the croft for a few days, great to show the kids a close up bit of nature, it was tagged about 30mls away You have just got to love these crows who will take on birds much bigger and stronger than them to shoo them away from there patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 On something a bit different you was talking about the farmer cutting Maze I have seen near to where I live they have been cutting that bamboo type grass that they used for heating I do not understand why it is usually cut in spring when it is dead/dry why would they cut it when it is still green and growing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adge Cutler Posted October 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Was it a weasel or a stoat? A rat is a bit big for a weasel to tackle. Quite a sight whichever. You will be keeping an eye on that cut maize field from now on I guess. Yes definitely a weasel ....but it was a smallish rat. https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-903&p=weasel+v+rat#action=view&id=1&vid=4c0a93a28dc873576f64d5c279f2faeb Yes ..there seemed to be a lot of spoiled cob on it. Its things like that that you wish that you had a camera to film it but if you did now doubt you would forget to do it until it was over I have seen loads of things when I have had the camera in my pocket but did not think to use it until it was to late. I have dash cam on the car and I was fiddling around trying to get a view but nothing.. If I had thought I could have used the phone, trouble is it was all over in seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) Started typing but far too tired; will do it tomorrow! Edited October 14, 2016 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted October 15, 2016 Report Share Posted October 15, 2016 Many years ago I used to operate a lathe that faced a window, outside was just a brick wall and I could just about see the first foot or so of the roof. One day while staring out of the window I saw a Male sparrow holding a Female sparrow by the wing so that she could hang off the edge of the gutter and look underneath for insects - never seen anything like that before or since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted October 15, 2016 Report Share Posted October 15, 2016 Many years ago I used to operate a lathe that faced a window, outside was just a brick wall and I could just about see the first foot or so of the roof. One day while staring out of the window I saw a Male sparrow holding a Female sparrow by the wing so that she could hang off the edge of the gutter and look underneath for insects - never seen anything like that before or since. Hey i have heard of this fellow before, he goes around telling all the females that :-):-):-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted October 15, 2016 Report Share Posted October 15, 2016 Was it a weasel or a stoat? A rat is a bit big for a weasel to tackle It's easy - weasels are weasily recognised as stoats are stoatally different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.