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Lockdown and wildlife

Wilf Wolf said:
They’re spreading north quite rapidly. Been loads inside the M25 for a long time.
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While it would be exciting to see them, its a bit sad. Loads in London I believe, not sure of the effect on the local bird populations.
 
And nesting, the smaller hole nesting birds, blue tits, nuthatches are ok, it’s the larger hole nesters green and great spotted woodpeckers, little owls are getting out muscled and losing out.
Tbh I’d be culling the parakeets before they get as out of control as London , and Canada geese everywhere as they’ve definitely taken over and are a pain in the arse.
We did it about ten years ago with ruddy ducks over supposed hybridisation with white headed ducks in Spain , when ruddy ducks had never been seen in Spain, we managed a 98.2% eradication.
I’m not making the name up, they are called ruddy ducks and the looked like thisIMG_3587.jpeg
 
Keef said:
And nesting, the smaller hole nesting birds, blue tits, nuthatches are ok, it’s the larger hole nesters green and great spotted woodpeckers, little owls are getting out muscled and losing out.
Tbh I’d be culling the parakeets before they get as out of control as London , and Canada geese everywhere as they’ve definitely taken over and are a pain in the arse.
We did it about ten years ago with ruddy ducks over supposed hybridisation with white headed ducks in Spain , when ruddy ducks had never been seen in Spain, we managed a 98.2% eradication.
I’m not making the name up, they are called ruddy ducks and the looked like thisView attachment 15760
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The ruddy duck was the emblem of the West Midland Bird Club as they first established themselves in this area. Still got a China one from my Dad.
 
Haven't Canada Geese always been everywhere?
 
BillyDee said:
Haven't Canada Geese always been everywhere?
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Not as much. Climate change has meant the fucking things don’t migrate as they used to. They just meet up and shit everywhere instead. I’m not a fan.
 
I prefer them to swans. Tons of those evil fuckers my way. Get off the towpath and into the bloody river.
Canada geese are chill.
 
Swans usually keep out of the way and are not so numerous. There are millions of those Canadian wankers near me and they all just nest on the canal path.
 
Tredman said:
Swans usually keep out of the way and are not so numerous. There are millions of those Canadian wankers near me and they all just nest on the canal path.
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Its the opposite by us, Swans block the tow path, sometimes going for families, dogs, other water fowl.
 
Noticeable increase in geese this last year or so at the local pond by the green. Some right big buggers too. I assumed they were mostly Canadian geese but someone in the know said the majority are Egyptian geese apparently. I’ve no idea but they’re taking over blocking the paths and they shit everywhere, really have to be careful where you’re walking. A couple of swans have decided to join the party too.

Noticeable the parakeets are back in big numbers again too. Was really fairly quiet last year relative to previous ones. Foxes stroll about outnumbering cats and the deer are starting to get confident too.

Got a foxes den under the shed which gets used every year and it’s lovely to see the cubs venture out in the spring but you do wonder what to do for the best and what will happen with all the animals if they’re just left uncontrolled to do their own thing.
 
That’s the thing with geese, they take over pools, strip the grass bare making it look awful, and like you say shit everywhere, all good reasons for culling.
 
Keef said:
That’s the thing with geese, they take over pools, strip the grass bare making it look awful, and like you say shit everywhere, all good reasons for culling.
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On the subject of culling, you wonder if the geese problem, the urban foxes who are really out of control and everywhere, and deer needs to be addressed. I know they cull the deer in the London parks but I was looking for information on culling locally here but there is no specific published information.

I’m bloody paranoid about ticks and Lyme disease though and of course the deer spread them. Talking to people locally they’re even picking the bastard things up in their gardens now. I tend to get half a dozen or so each year on trail rides and there’s generally a peak tick season, but picked one up in December which is unusual but a sign of what might be happening with milder winters.

Normally only see them when they’re attached and engorged or sometimes might actually feel them burrowing, but have become hyper-vigilant and caught this little fucker early, crawling about trying to find a nice juicy spot before digging in.

Anyway, with climate change, humans and wildlife being squeeze together etc etc I suppose the spread of diseases is inevitable

IMG_3814.jpeg
 
On a separate note, didn’t even know U.K. spiders can bite but was given a right nip from one a couple of months back.

Never been bothered by them so just scooped one up that was on a door frame to chuck outside. Didn’t look anything special, wasn’t small, but certainly not huge either. Anyway, the bastard bit the palm of my hand painful enough to make me drop it. Was half expecting redness/swelling but nothing came of it fortunately.

Ok nothing compared to spiders abroad of course but I didn’t know they could do that here and it’s definitely the old glass and sheet of paper job from now on.
 
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