Environment – Page 6 – Canned Wildlife

Day 20 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 20, 2015Jun 21, 2015Posted in Birds, LiteratureTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Bird Book, Birder, Birding, Birds, Birmingham, Encyclopedia, Environment, Hamlyn, My Wild Life, Random Acts of Wildness, The Wildlife Trust, Work1 Comment

Reading About Birds

Today I was sorting out the blog for yesterdays Random Act of Wildness – “Admire the setting Sun”, it was raining and I had work later. I wasn’t really left with many options, due to the constraints (time and weather). So, I chose to read a non-fiction book on the bus to work (wildlife related of course).

Refreshing my knowledge and filling in any gaps.

The bird on the front of the book is an American Goldfinch, it’s just a funky Siskin to us Brits 😛 I really like the first two paragraphs in the introduction for Section One of the book, so I’ve quoted them below:

Birds are not only one of the most successful groups in the animal kingdom but they hold a special position in our awareness of the natural world. They are often the most obvious living creatures in a landscape (their apparent confidence borne of an ability to fly to safety) and their bright colours and melodic songs have long been admired by man. Yet it is only recently that we have begun to fully appreciate just how intricate their lives are.
The 8000 or so species of birds have evolved over millions of years and have adapted to many different modes of life. If one was to take a single feature which places the birds apart from all other animals it would be the development of feathers. These complex and delicate structures not only make flight possible but also serve many other functions, notably providing insulation from cold or wet and furnishing attractive or eye-catching plumages for use in courtship and territorial rituals.

Such great facts! ❤ What a top way to introduce readers to a book all about birds.

I have to stop myself from quoting more paragraphs, so I’ll just quote one more. From the top of page 8:

Birds have lived on earth for far longer than man or any of the mammals. When giant dinosaurs roamed the world, there were already many kinds of birds inhabiting the forests, and wetlands and the marine environment. They included some types which we would recognise today, such as grebes, herons and waterfowl. In fact, it seems that birds are probably descended from small dinosaurs called coelurosaurs which ran standing up on their hind legs and balancing with their tails, much as birds do today. Compsognathus is a typical coelurosaur.

This book was published in 1989 by The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited. It has 3 sections in all; Biology of Birds, Bird Habitats of the World and Bird Families of the World – covering all aspects. It has a mixture of stills and illustrations, I think it’s a brilliant book.

Thanks for reading 🙂

Day 16 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 16, 2015Mar 17, 2016Posted in Birds, Challenge, Conservation, Encounters, Environmental, Nature Reserve, Plants, Reptiles, Walk, WoodlandTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Challenge, Conservation, Countryside, Environment, Meadow, Nature Reserve, Random Acts of Wildness, Reptiles, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Wolseley CentreLeave a comment

“Invite a friend into nature”

Today my friend Gary (mentioned in previous posts) and I visited the Wolseley Centre – Staffordshire Wildlife Trust HQ!

We’ve had great day, the weather was wonderful. We both hadn’t been before. I was impressed by the variety of habitats (grassland, lakes, rivers and woodland) and species.

Today’s challenge was “invite a friend into nature”, but it was also chance for Gary to brush up on his photography skills (I shall document what we saw below!) And in line with the challenge, I did my best to teach Gary about all the various creatures we came across and the bird songs we heard.

We saw Swallows and House Martins flying above the centre.

We saw this Bee and Bumble Bees on the Purple Wallflower at the entrance of the centre. — And this Bee and Bumble Bees on the Purple Wallflower at the entrance of the centre.

Not seen Honeysuckle in such a deep yellow before :) — Not seen Honeysuckle in such a deep yellow before 🙂

Gary and myself before our wild walk. Photobombed by a Mallard! ;) — Gary and myself before our wild walk. Photobombed by a Mallard! 😉

Whilst Gary looked through my binoculars, I told him about what he was observing. — Whilst Gary looked through my binoculars, I told him about what he was observing (nice shirt!)

A wild sculpture, I assume it's a bench? — A wild sculpture!

This time we were photobombed by a Canada Goose! ;) — This time we were photobombed by a Canada Goose! 😉

If you remember, I love Oak Trees! This individual has been adopted by Philip Rainsbury and Sue Haycock :) — If you remember, I love Oak Trees! This individual has been adopted by Philip Rainsbury and Sue Haycock 🙂

A cute baby Rat! — Can you spot the baby Rat?

Gary's first ever Chaffinch - to his knowledge. — Gary’s first ever Chaffinch – to his knowledge 😛

One of my favourites of Gary's snaps, a Great Tit in flight. — One of my favourites of Gary’s snaps, a Great Tit in flight.

Some grassland management. — Some grassland management (I have the camera now)

A disheveled Peacock Butterfly. — A disheveled Peacock Butterfly (by me)

A Common Blue Butterfly (Gary has his camera back)

But who too this one?! — But who took this one?!

A Terrapin?! I was shocked to see this. Taken with a lens kindly leant by a very friendly chap from Stoke (walking past) — A Terrapin?! I was surprised to see this. Taken by Gary with a lens kindly lent by a very friendly chap from Stoke (walking past)

A stunning sculpture - very talented work! — A stunning sculpture – very talented work!

There’s still a little bit more for us to explore, looking forward to the next visit! 😀

Thanks for reading 🙂

Day 15 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 15, 2015Mar 17, 2016Posted in Canal, Challenge, Encounters, Local, Plants, WalkTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Birmingham, Canal, Canal Walk, Challenge, Encounter, Environment, Flora, Random Acts of Wildness, Selly Oak, Semirural, Suburban, Walk1 Comment

Today I went a 30 minute walk along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from Selly Oak, heading south towards Bournville 🙂

I’m not against cyclists, at all, but it would have been a lot more peaceful – and easier to take photos – if I didn’t have to get out of the way of people on bikes every 2 minutes! 😛

A person on there bike in the distance. — A person on their bike in the distance.

Along the way I heard plops in the water, a couple times I hoped it was a Water Vole, but it turned out to be fish. I didn’t see much Wildlife, the odd Moorhen and Mallard – so I decided to focus on the flora I came across and just before I came to end of my walk I came across something I deem as special. Below is what I saw:

Urban art, with a crumbling wall and wildflowers - I think it looks beautiful. — Urban art, with a crumbling wall and wildflowers – I think it looks beautiful.

I love seeing plants growing out of walls, likes this Fern and Buddleja.

I also love seeing strips of Wildflower like this - Poppies, Horsetails and Daisies. — I also love seeing strips of Wildflower like this – Poppies, Plantains and Daises

I'm used to seeing this at Wetland Reserves, like Upton Warren - Yellow Flag Iris. — I’m used to seeing this at Wetland Reserves, such as Upton Warren – Yellow Flag Iris.

I had to pass under a couple of bridges.

Honeysuckle - one of my favourites, unusually growing out of the side of the bank. — Honeysuckle – one of my favourites, unusually growing out of the side of the bank.

And here it is again, this time growing somewhere more typical.

Forget-me-not (and Cleavers). — Forget-me-not (and Cleavers to left)

Just as my allocated 30 minutes was coming to an end, I came across this beauty below! 😀

A Marsh Orchid (I think). — A Purple Orchid (unsure as to specific species/variety).

Thanks for visiting 🙂

Day 14 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 14, 2015Mar 17, 2016Posted in Birds, Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Environmental, LocalTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Environment, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, Springwatch, The Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Trusts4 Comments

I got back from work (I don’t usually work on Sundays) and I didn’t have to wait long until I was eating a lovely Roast Dinner made by my Mum. Afterwards my Dad said a newspaper he read earlier had something about birds nesting on a roof – he kindly fetched it for me… I was appalled by what I read! So as of a few minutes ago, I did “send a letter to your local newspaper” – one of the suggestions in the 30 Days Wild booklet.

I e-mailed the newspaper, this is what I sent:

Dear Sunday Mercury/J Taylor,

Firstly, Peregrines are Falcons – not Hawks. They haven’t and won’t decimate Songbirds. Also, not all ringed birds are Pigeons and are ‘owned’ by people.

Secondly, they are ‘native’ and are protected due to the years of persecution on Raptors (Birds of Prey) from a minority of small minded people – with unfair unrealistic outdated views.

Thirdly, Peregrines have moved to where their food is, due to the affects us humans have on the natural world – they are originally Coastal Birds (mostly), like Rock Doves a.k.a Racing/City/Feral Pigeons.

Lastly, a Peregrine is only doing what is natural in nature – keeping and racing Pigeons is not. The RSPB conserve all nature equally.

Adam Canning

In reply to:

Thanks for reading 🙂

Day 12 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 12, 2015Jun 12, 2015Posted in Amphibians, Challenge, Conservation, Environmental, LocalTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Amphibians, Challenge, Conservation, Environment, Frogs, Random Acts of Wildness, RSPB, The Wildlife Trust1 Comment

For the RSPB, people have recently been sharing a few frog faces on social media, seen any? Well, it’s in aid of a new TV advert and campaign, starting today! Hopefully it will encourage those who have watched it; to get together where they live and give nature the home it needs – and rightfully deserves 🙂

I thought I would join in and do a Frog Face, for today’s 30 Days Wild! 😛

I stuffed my face with apple and widened my eyes

You may be happy to know it’s also a competition – to take these amusing selfies! 😀 To find out more and on how to take part, click here: #FrogFace

Thanks 🙂

Day 11 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 12, 2015Sep 16, 2015Posted in Challenge, Environmental, Insects, Local, NestTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Environment, Insects, Nest, Random Acts of Wildness, Suburban, The Wildlife Trust, Video, Wasps1 Comment

There’s the suggestion to “Follow a bee”, but to cut a long story short; I watched a few insects (no Bees today) after work. What first caught my eye was a wee blue flying one! A Ruby-tailed Wasp to be exact 🙂

Apologies for the poor images (phone snaps again).

The fly that caught my eye — Ruby-tailed Wasp – blue top and red bottom

Something larger caught my eye and disappeared down the back of the shed door, a Mason Wasp! Which I watched for a short while.

image-11-06-15-09-54 — Flies followed it back to the shed, and sat outside

Something landed on my hand and startled me! After all, I was Wasp-watching. I shook it off and it flew on to the shed door, which seems a popular place for flying insects.

image-11-06-15-09-54-2 — It was a Damselfly! It was brown in colour

A couple clips of the Mason Wasp:

Thanks 🙂

Day 10 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 10, 2015Jun 22, 2015Posted in Challenge, Environmental, Local, PlantsTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Environment, Flora, Semirural, Springwatch, SuburbanLeave a comment

“inhale the scent of a wildflower”

Kiss-me-quick, Fox’s Brush and Jupiter’s Beard – all very cool alternative names to the above plant, that I chose to stop and sniff after work today – Red Valerian!

It’s a pretty good source of nectar for bees, butterflies and moths – like the Hummingbird Hawk-moth! 😀

To me it has a delicate fragrance, but that may depend on how old the flowers are. I assumed it would have a similar smell to Buddleia, the popular purple Butterfly Bush.

Just a short one today, thanks for reading 🙂

Day 7 – 30 Days Wild

Jun 7, 2015Mar 17, 2016Posted in Challenge, Coast, Conservation, Environmental, Film, TV, West CountryTagged #30DaysWild, #MyWildLife, #WildTime, 30 Days Wild, Adam Canning, Beach, Coast, Conservation, Environment, Film, National Trust, Somerset, The Wildlife TrustLeave a comment

A more elaborate activity for today’s 30 Days Wild 🙂
What I like about the 30 Days Wild campaign is that we have the freedom to do anything wildlife related (preferably outdoors) that we can think of. You don’t have to stick with what is in the booklet, as it’s a guide/suggestion on what we could do – to make it easier for us to do all 30 days.

This morning I had an impromptu tour of some lovely gardens at a National Trust property in rural Wolverhampton – Moseley Old Hall! A modest but beautiful place, with a very homely feel – I highly recommend that you visit 😀 My friend Gary is the gardener there, and he kindly allowed me to borrow a few things from his shed to help with today’s Random Act of Wildness.

Today I’ve done something that isn’t in the booklet, it was inspired by a Springwatch Unsprung episode – the #2MinuteBeachClean! The beach I chose to do it on has a high footfall, plus it is the nearest one to where I live, the West Midlands – so it seemed right I did it there. My trusty friend Gary was at hand to assist me again in making the video!

My beach comb collection! — My rubbish beach comb collection! See video below.

Thanks for reading! 🙂