A Few Gulls!

Greetings, Folks!

Brian has sent in a couple of photos with the following note:-

Where do all the gulls suddenly arrive from when the farmer starts ploughing? We normally only see a handful in the field behind us but there were hundreds the other day as soon as the ploughing started they arrived.

Did you count them, Brian? I'm sure the County Recorder would like details of species and numbers!  ;-}

I wouldn't be at all surprised if these had come from the Gull Roost that is relatively close by at Albert Village.

Thank you, Brian, for these, which brought a smile to my face!

If any group members have any interesting wildlife information and/or photos to offer for the blog, I'd be delighted to receive them.

 

A quick note about Hedgehogs

It seems that Hedgehogs are emerging early this year. We have had sightings every night this week, with at least three on one one night and at least two a couple of nights later. You might like to consider putting food and water out for them if you think that you have Heedgehogs near you. We feed ours on Tesco Chicken Kitten dried food, which is favoured by  some professionals.

Hoping that we will all be able to meet up again soon. In the meantime, take good care and stay safe.

Richard

 

Colin's Garden Mustelid

I have received a message from Colin Carr with some photos - as follows:-

When you look out of the early morning window for some signs of Spring, and see something else entirely! #stoat or #weasel

Hard to be sure when you can't see the tail.   I would guess at the former based purely on its small but highly alert stature.

Sorry for the poor photography, but they move in spurts so very fast.

Only the second I have seen in the garden since moving to Blackfordby 5+ years ago.

 

Stoat (Mustela erminea) or Weasel (Mustela nivalis) - Colin Carr's garden in January, 2021

It can be difficult to see the difference between a Stoat and a Weasel but, as Colin mentions, the real clue is in the tail. A Stoat has a black tip to a tail that is approximately half the length of the body. The Weasel's tail is purely brown and rather short in comparison. A Stoat has a body length of 30-34cm, whereas the smaller Weasel is 20-27 cm. If that's a 4 inch pipe in Colin's second photo, it suggests to me that the animal has a body length of around 8 inches (20cm), challenging Colin's conclusion that it is probably a Stoat. Brian and I think that it is probably a Weasel. 

Note: due to me initially miss-reading an ID guide, I have changed the above paragraph! RP

 

There is an old addage that simplifies the situation:- "A Weasel is weasily recognised, but a Stoat is stotally different"!

Thank you, Colin, for sending in these delightful photos to brighten our day!

I hope that you are all managing to stay safe and well and that we'll have the opportunity to meet up in the not too distant future.

Best wishes - Richard