WAA Autumn Watch 2010

Well we are officially into September now and it's Autumn by the calendar, so it's time to close our Summer watch thread and open our Autumn Watch thread
If anyone has any pictures they want to start it off with, please go ahead, Welcome to Autumn Watch guy's
littlewid-x-

OK, thought I would start off the WAA Autumn Watch thread. September 11th was my Birthday and one of my presents was to go on a Wildlife Experience at Cowdray Park. Cowdray Park is a 16,000 acre estate which has been in the same family since 1066 I believe. It has the most amazing Fauna and Flora and is home to some magical wildlife. We spent the evening with Barry, one of the Estates Rangers and what this guy didn't know wasn't worth knowing, he was amazing and we didn't stop talking and I found out about a new site for breeding Peregrine Falcons that has a web cam that we can watch next year. We got to see birds, leveretts, loads of deer and the twin deer they have, squirrels, the owlets had just flown the nest site in the barn, so I missed them. They have over 100 Badger sets on the estate and we went to one hide to sit and watch and wait, well we sat and waited and waited and waited and nothing, the nuts had been laid and we were very excited but the badgers weren't playing game. However, we were very lucky as barry offered to take us back another day so we didn't miss out and we went last night and hey presto, Badgers. We saw three badgers last night and boy what a sight they were, absolutely gorgeous and so huge, it was just the most magical experience and more than made up for missing them on my birthday. We also got to see a couple of Reeves Pheasant as well. I've got loads of badger pics but I will post a few and the reeves pheasant and later I will post the deer and the leveretts.

The Reeves Pheasant




My favourite Badger Pics


















Some Fly-Agaric Mushrooms - These remind me of Fairy Houses




littlewid-x-

oooooooooh what fantastic photos Littlewid and what an amazing experience.

Those badger photos are wonderful, i could look at them for hours. The Reeves pheasant is a very fine looking bird, i've not seen those before but they are lovely, and the mushrooms are beautiful, just like they should be in fairytales.

Thanks so much for posting, what a great way to start this rainy Sunday.

Lai

We've been talking about Greater Spotted Woodpeckers so here's a few photos of our visitor today









Apologies for the quality of the photos taken through the window and in the rain and the last one is too cropped but it's just to show the markings

Lai

Glad you liked the pics Lai, I have some more that I can post later, I will sort them out, Badgers are just so adorable, I have a real soft spot for them.

Love your woodpecker pics, he is a handsome fellow and I wished one would visit my garden, you are very lucky. He's having a good old feast there isn't he.

littlewid-x-

more badgers photos - yes please, they really are so special to see ...................

can't wait Littlewid

Lai

A few more Badgers for you Lai











Enjoy, I could look at these little guys for hours
littlewid-x-

Thanks Littlewid - they are such special animals, I think it's because I loved Wind in the Willows when I was young.

Lovely photos and a great memory for you.

Lai

Glad you had a really nice Birthday LW, and got to see the Badgers really great Pics. It must have been really special to see them so close. What a great Guy to take you back the next day so you did'nt miss them. Your right the mushrooms do look like Fairy Houses, perhaps thats where the little people that sit behind the Sat Nav screens live
Great Pics of the Woodpecker Lai, we have'nt seen ours for a couple of weeks now, perhaps as he was a young male he has moved off to find his own territory
WS

Glad you both liked the pics. Oh yes I think Wind in the Willows got me hooked on Badgers too Lai

Yep, those are definiatley Fairy Houses WS and im sure they do control the satnavs and if not, their houses are pretty amazing.

My bro-in-Law and I are organising to go on a Fungi walk with the National Trust in October, so hopefully I will have some more magical mushroom pictures to post.

littlewid-x-

That will be great LW, lots more snaps for Autumn Watch
WS

That was magical not magic wasnt it Littlewid ?

Lai

Brilliant photos everyone.

I have never heard of the Reeve Pheasant before LW. It has lovely colouration.
The badgers look like they were into everything. Having a good nosey around. Did the ranger put some nuts in the stump? Something definitely had the badgers attention.

Glad you had a nice evening on your birthday and the chance to go back and have another attempt to see the badger. Well worth going back for.

The mushrooms look very fairytale!

Lia, What is the difference in yours and the one PPH posted? They look very similar.

SM

I think WS and me have both posted Greater Spotted woodpeckers. When WS posted two photos showing the difference between the two the Greater didn't have a red head (just to confuse us, female perhaps or juvenile).

Generally the Lesser is smaller and doesn't have red underneath. I think on PPH's video the woodpecker was behind the nut feeder and we couldn't really see, so we guessed it was a Lesser.

I think we may need to recheck and see if PPH has any more photos.

Lai

Sorry Lai having a moment.

Yes PPH have you had any more photos of the woodpecker from your friend.

SM

The Greater Mature Male has a red coller at the back, and red underneath. The juvanile Male has a Red Crown and red underneath. The tell tale difference is the wing markings that I showed in the Pics under Lesser Woodpecker
WS

My first ever Butterfly pics, dont know wether these are late Summer visitors or Autumn






Right you insect experts What is it

WS

I need Pete's book

Will have to get back to you on that WS

Lai

A Butterfly!

SM

Lai

Those are some lovely photos WS of a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.

Great that you got it to keep still, or perhaps you were chasing round the garden.

Lai

What gorgeous Butterfly pictures WS, I really love Butterflys ( loved your quick witted answer to the question SM ) you did really well to capture them WS, I tried in the summer and failed.

Thought I would post one of the twin deer from Cowdary park, just as the picture was being taken the deer looked right at us, it was as if he wanted his picture taken.



littlewid-x-

Safari Maiden wrote:A Butterfly!

SM

Thats not funny SM Here's me trying to be a budding nature photographer, and thats all the help I get, and you can stop laughing as well Lai .

Whish I'd of thought of it nice one SM' it's worthy of one of mine
Thanks for the info Lai. Lovely pic of the Deer LW
WS

whitestarling wrote:...

Right you insect experts What is it

WS

You asked us insect experts what is it!!! And I told you a Butterfly! Question Answered

I thought it was a good one myself WS

SM

LW your deer photo is like a picture postcard. Very nice!

SM