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London (Inner City) Wildlife

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  • I was reading today that there are two small colonies of the 6 foot long Aesculapian snake in the UK.  One is around the Welsh Mountain zoo in Colwyn Bay and the other is close to London Zoo.  Non venomous, they prey on rodents which they crush to death - no danger to humans - although they may borrow your loft.

     
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    I've searched Regents park and never seen them. I'm told that they like to coil themselves up around the centre of bushes, so they are not an easy spot.
  • Every Charlton fans fav bird.


  • Nicked from Senine magazine Facebook post, a peregrine falcon digesting a parakeet at Eltham Church.

  • iaitch
    iaitch Posts: 10,229
    I've got a big one!


    Think you should see your GP about your stools.
  • ... and that's a good day  :(
  • I was reading today that there are two small colonies of the 6 foot long Aesculapian snake in the UK.  One is around the Welsh Mountain zoo in Colwyn Bay and the other is close to London Zoo.  Non venomous, they prey on rodents which they crush to death - no danger to humans - although they may borrow your loft.

     
    Yes, they live along the Regent's Canal. Picking off pleasure boats, which they digest whole  :)

  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,974

    Absolutely beautiful birds. Used to get them on the lawn at my Dad’s. I think they were going for the ants.
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024

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  • ME14addick
    ME14addick Posts: 9,761
    It's the Big Garden Bird Watch this weekend which really helps to understand how our birds are doing:


    https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,846
    Walking out of the Brocklebank Retail Park off Bugsby's Way yesterday after the match I saw this...


  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,599
    Walking out of the Brocklebank Retail Park off Bugsby's Way yesterday after the match I saw this...


    You can’t park there Dave 
  • Hal1x
    Hal1x Posts: 4,265
    Walking out of the Brocklebank Retail Park off Bugsby's Way yesterday after the match I saw this...


    the programme didn't mention that Lyle Taylor was coming to the match!
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    I saw some Lime Seed Bugs (Oxycarenus lavaterae) last week - although I thought they were something else at the time. It turn's out that they are currently a real rarity. I've had it officially confirmed that mine is just the third known sighting in the UK and a county first for Essex. I also believe that it may be the first time anyone's seen a breeding colony here as opposed to a lone bug. It might not sound that exciting, but to an old bugger like me it was very pleasing.

    They are normally a Mediterranean/North African species, but with climate change they have been spreading north through Europe in recent years. I'll place my bets now, that it's only a matter of time before there are Daily Mail headlines about these 'foreigners' invading our country. Something to look out for folks (the bugs, not the headlines). 

       
  • cafcfan
    cafcfan Posts: 11,198
    Having trouble with the scale, @Stig. I guess those guys are quite small?
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    Yes, they're small. Adult body lengths range from 4.2mm (small male) to 5.4mm (large female), the nymphs are obviously smaller.
  • ME14addick
    ME14addick Posts: 9,761
    Last week someone posted a picture of these insects on the Kent Wildlife Trust Facebook forum. I have never seen these before. They must now be in quite large numbers in the south east.
  • ME14addick
    ME14addick Posts: 9,761
    Just checked and the bugs on the site were European Fire Bugs, Pyrrhocoris apparently. 
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    Ahh, that's the European Firebug. That's what I thought I'd seen at first.
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  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    Just seen a real live bat under the roof of the Covered End. It flew off over the East Stand. I guess if it's roosting in the roof, it didn't like all the noise. 
  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,647
    Stig said:
    Just seen a real live bat under the roof of the Covered End. It flew off over the East Stand. I guess if it's roosting in the roof, it didn't like all the noise. 
    Well done @Stig, that's the home leg play off cancelled due to a protected habitat found  o:):D
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,846
    Stig said:
    Just seen a real live bat under the roof of the Covered End. It flew off over the East Stand. I guess if it's roosting in the roof, it didn't like all the noise. 
    A step up from the usual pigeons we see at the game.
  • AddicksAddict
    AddicksAddict Posts: 15,791
    edited May 4
    Are they ring necked necked parakeets? Can't see the ring.

    Good resolution on that photo 👍

    It's pretty good for a phone.  Google 6 Pro.  Decent camera.

    Anyone any tips on food/feeders I could use to attract smaller birds and woodpeckers?  We get loads of parakeets, collared doves and magpies but only a handful of robins, starlings and blue tits.  Not seen a blackbird, chaffinch, sparrow, bullfinch, thrush, wren etc or woodpecker (used to get them a few years back when we last fed the birds) since we started putting the food out about 3 months back.

    Get a licence, shoot the parakeets and you’ll start getting other birds.
  • AddicksAddict
    AddicksAddict Posts: 15,791

    Newly hatched spiders. 
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,484
    Are they ring necked necked parakeets? Can't see the ring.

    Good resolution on that photo 👍

    It's pretty good for a phone.  Google 6 Pro.  Decent camera.

    Anyone any tips on food/feeders I could use to attract smaller birds and woodpeckers?  We get loads of parakeets, collared doves and magpies but only a handful of robins, starlings and blue tits.  Not seen a blackbird, chaffinch, sparrow, bullfinch, thrush, wren etc or woodpecker (used to get them a few years back when we last fed the birds) since we started putting the food out about 3 months back.

    Get a licence, shoot the parakeets and you’ll start getting other birds.
    You don't need a licence. Parakeets are on the "general licence" meaning they can be controlled if they're causing a nuisance and all other methods have been tried already. A decent sub-12ft/lb air rifle is sufficient which you don't need a licence for (in England). Just make sure your pellets don't leave the border of your property. Bosh
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,484

  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,647
    Bee swarms
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024

    A Brown Bear emerging from the water after a 30 minute swim between two islands. What's this got to do with inner cities?  Well, this is in Sitka which, with its population of 8,355, is the biggest city in the USA (by area).