Thanks Phil. Winter came back with snow covered hills and its the same field year after year that usually brings in Whooper Swans but yesterday none of those. Also whilst I had the camera, a friend with a very good pair of binos's search all the geese and then I was pointed to where the Baranacles were and took shots.@Shirleyr Well done on getting 2 Dippers together Shirley And a good record shot showing the difference between Canada and Barnacle Geese.
There were a couple of Barnacle in a flock of around 150 Canadas local to us recently but I couldn't pick them out
@PINNACLE The owl carrying the vole?? in its beak is a cracking shot Martin
I've only been watching owls a couple of years but seen them make a lot of kills, never seen one carry like that.
It's amongst the wild flocks at Slimbridge at the moment Jan ... it must be able to eat to have got to the stage as it looks like a birth defect (see the twisting) rather than a break or similar. It's a bit like the young Crane with the broken top bill, still manages to feed even though it doesn't seem to have the means.Is that a wild greylag, Roger? How's it staying alive?
because the bottom of the top mandible is still there Janny????? I'm stunned it's an out an out grazer.Is that a wild greylag, Roger? How's it staying alive?
because the bottom of the top mandible is still there Janny????? I'm stunned it's an out an out grazer.
Roger i'm not sure birth defect somehow looks caught to me something grabbed it from the top? Buddy although my main stream was domestics I've helped hatch a goodly few wild fowl too i'd feel ,(might be wrong mate) that this isn't a birth defect Upper mandible distortion i've seen ,sadly,but this one doesn't feel right when one hatches lots one sees lots I guess. . . Buddy could Cobra chime in could you alert him for me please...... could this be caused by a bird of prey? Mate I'm amazed that bird is alive and deeply curious as to cause.some birds will to live is simply incredible,some just seem hell bent on death from day one,fair play to that goose !!!
Fab images here, cheers guys, lovely to muse. Martin I got back tonight to have missed a barnie flying up and down in front of my house in gorgeous light by mins cause some guy wondered off and I needed a sig to be paid I could scream very loudly,first time in a year hey ho lovely images mate,so my sighting of the day will be via another,
Stu
could this be caused by a bird of prey?
I'll tag @Cobra for you
A good night again down the meadow and a few mates turned up for the three Barn Owls flying
A bit of a close up
Close up fly by by Martin Billard, on Flickr
Barn Owl by Martin Billard, on Flickr
Over the reeds by Martin Billard, on Flickr
One hour of action and I was knackered, the owls came so close it was so exciting and I also had a Roe buck 30 odd feet away from me and walking towards me, I got to 300mm and filled the frame, I could actually smell him. Brilliant evening.Bet you enjoyed that, I know I would have
TBH I'd say highly unlikely to be a BoP.
After all what do we have that's big enough to take on a Greylag?
And risk not getting damaged in the process, I'd guess hatching defect, or even maybe damaged as a youngster, fight with a fox maybe?
Even as a chick its still a massive handful for any predatory BoP, they go for the head, wrap their talons around it and bite through the neck., dead in seconds.
Either that, or stoop it, that is stun it in the air, knocking it out of the sky, pitch up, and then chase it to the ground, either way 99% of the time its dead.
As I've said before, BoP's don't kill indiscriminately, they risk access, food v feather damage ( or worse) before going in for the kill.
@Stuart Philpott if you are fairly convinced that its not a birth defect, ( I've only hatched quail, no experience of breeding wildfowl) my money would be on fox.
Even then its lucky to be alive.
Its no secret its out there, anyway its "Chris"Dude tell me your name cobra is cool but it's lovely to know first names
TBH I don't know either,I'm shattered for the life of me can't think if greylag migrate north sure they do ,
Gyr is a possibility if they do migrate, but even then a 7lb goose is a handful for a 3.5lb -ish female Gyr.But if so then gyr poss eagles spring to mind on size
Its no secret its out there, anyway its "Chris"
TBH I don't know either,
Gyr is a possibility if they do migrate, but even then a 7lb goose is a handful for a 3.5lb -ish female Gyr.
Goldies / steppes eagles tend to take fur lambs, small deer etc, But I'm not saying they may not have a crack at fur if they are hungry enough.
I'm shattered for the life of me can't think if greylag migrate north sure they do
TBH I don't know either.