Category: Natural World
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Dog Fouling Statistics
Preface This post just brings to light matters which become obvious when calculations are made regarding the number of deposits dogs can make in their lifetimes. It doesn’t discuss dog fouling statistics regarding quantity as would be expected if weight measurements had been taken.
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I Found A Common Toad Hiding Behind My Shed
Introduction During the 39 years I’ve lived at this house I have seen several frogs and toads passing through the garden. I was never able to say any actually lived here. Well now (6th October 2017) I’ve found a Common Toad hiding behind my shed and living here. Note: This Common Toad1 is also known…
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Give Dog Tablets Wrapped In Pastrami
Introduction If you have ever tried to give medicine to an animal you’ll appreciate how hard it can be to give dog tablets to a dog. Our dog Leo (a Border Collie) is required to take two worming tablets every three months. These are large as tablets go. Large enough to be shaped like a bone.…
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Mushroom Collection of Autumn 2014
Disclaimer From Helpful Colin “I take no responsibility for anyone choosing to eat or use in any way Ceps, Toadstools or Mushrooms of any kind. Not being an authority on Ceps, Toadstools or Mushrooms I do not know if any Cep, Toadstool or Mushroom mentioned on this site is safe to eat or touch. I would…
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Can Trees Be Transferred To Other Formers?
Introduction At the end of my article entitled: Are Trees Ectoparasites That Grow On Wood? I asked this question: Can Trees Be Transferred To Other Formers?That article discusses how trees may or may not be parasites that grow on wood. Once a tree is established it is effectively a living entity growing on a wooden…
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Are Trees Parasites That Grow On Wood?
Introduction I have asked myself for some time, “Are trees parasites that grow on wood? i.e. ectoparasites.” (An ectoparasite lives on the outside of its host.) Mainly this is because only the outer layers of a tree are alive. The inner part of the tree – the wood or timber – is dead. It was alive…
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Pine Martens Are Saving The Red Squirrel
Introduction I found an article in The Telegraph entitled, “Red squirrels are fighting back against the greys, experts claim.” The article implies Pine Martens are saving the red squirrel as much as a grey squirrel trapping program is. The trapping program was introduced to reduce the grey population and give the reds a chance of survival. The…
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Are Goldfinches Eating Nyjer Seed? Yes!
Cleaning My Feeder Spring 2014 is on the way and I want to see goldfinches eating nyjer seed again. So after a wet winter I have cleaned my bird feeders. I’ve only had a Nyjer Seed feeder for two years and have kept it out during both winters. I might not do that next winter…
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Fieldfares Visited Alvaston Derby In January 2013
Fieldfare – Turdus pilaris – a member of the thrush family. When Fieldfares visited Alvaston Derby I was ready with my camera. On 22nd January 2013 Fieldfares visited Alvaston Derby where I saw them. First I saw them in my garden and later in a tree overhanging my friend’s garden across the road in the same street. Of course I…
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I Held a Young Goldfinch Today. It Was Stunning.
Introduction What a wonderful experience. I wish I had taken a photo. I looked out of my lounge window and a young goldfinch was resting on my patio within 0.5m of the window. It didn’t attempt to fly off so I went outside. I knelt down on the ground and got within 0.5m of it. It…
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My New Bird Bath
My Old Bird Bath For some while I have been using a white rectangular butcher’s meat tray as a bird bath during freezing winter months and dry summer months when birds need access to fresh water. It has rested either on the ground, or on a garden seat, or on top of a large Victorian…
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Northumberland Wildlife – Red Squirrel Included
Introduction There was plenty of Northumberland wildlife – Red Squirrel included – near Doxford Cottages this May (2012). I have seen the following within 6m of my living room: Brown Rat, Red Squirrel, male & female Great Spotted Woodpecker, male & female Chaffinch, male Robin, Blue tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Green-finch, Nuthatch, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Rook,…
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Goldfinches Feeding In My Garden
Introduction I can’t tell you how pleased I am to have goldfinches feeding in my garden regularly now I have erected a nyjer seed feeder. See this one in my feature image. A friend across the road has goldfinches feeding regularly but I never have. Why? They never had anything to feed on in my garden. So I…
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Visiting Market Bosworth
Introduction Most of the pictures here were taken on our first visit to Market Bosworth in 2012. We have retuned several times since and will continue to do so because it is such a charming English town in the county of Leicestershire. You can see its relative location on the maps below, surrounded by Loughborough,…
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Bonobo Chimp Lights Fire and Cooks On It
Bonobo Chimp Lights Fire! Kanzi a Bonobo chimp lights fire AND cooks on it! Isn’t it amazing what apes can do these days. I’d like to see a video. Click here to see still photos of Kanzi, the Bonobo chimp, on the Telegraph website. I particularly liked this comment on photo 10 “An old Congolese tribal legend…
