RSPB Communities Christmas Advent calendar

As for fave bird, fave RSPB reserve and fave mammal--tough to say, probably the one I'm looking at now, or the most recent one I've seen or the most recent new one, or the one I expect to see or go to next!  However, Cranes are very special, but then so are birds of prey and garden birds (who could not love Long Tailed Tits or Goldfinches or Bullfinches?) and all the other birds (Bearded Tits come to mind!), and I love waterbirds, especially ducks, and domesticated chickens, too.  Near the top of the mammal list would be deer and rabbits and otters, but domesticated horses and dogs and cats are great, too (despite the tendency of cats to kill birds--I have an ongoing job to deter the local cats from eating our garden birds!)  Reserves--love Minsmere, but also Titchwell, Dungeness, Pulborough Brooks, Leighton Moss, and Arne, which are all I've been to so far!  Add in Wildlife Trust, WWT and other reserves, and I could not possibly choose (have you seen the expansion work at Abberton reservoir in Essex?  We just missed the Glossy Ibis by a day--drat!)  You see the problem.  What bird would I most like to see?  Possibly a Golden Eagle in the wild, having seen them in captivity, or a Crowned Crane (also have seen them in captivity), or a Bee Eater or Hoopoo, or a Blue Footed Booby because they look so cute when alternately lifting and apparently admiring their large blue feet, but I doubt I have the energy to travel to the Galapagos Islands!  Ask us an easy one, Mrs. T!

Hazel C said:

I LOVE MOLES!!

Reading this brought an old memory back to me. Many years ago a spotty youth, I endulged in some trout fishing in the local burns(streams). I was fishing a small burn with very high and steep bankings at either side when something caught my eye rolling down the left hand banking from way up high. It gathered speed and meeting a small lip at the edge, spun up into the air and landed in a fast running part of the burn around 40 feet upstream of me. As it came rapidly towards me I realised that it was a mole and managed to pluck it from the water as it went to pass me. They are deceptively strong and sturdy wee creatures but I managed to wrestle him into my jacket and climb out and up the banking to release him into the undergrowth at the edge of a field. I know that it was his lucky day that day but can't help but feel that it was also mine. I also love Moles..!!

Paul

It's got to be the Australian Wombat for me   LOL    or if I have to stick to UK mammal then I would choose a wild Wabbit

Paul A said:

Reading this brought an old memory back to me. Many years ago a spotty youth, I endulged in some trout fishing in the local burns(streams). I was fishing a small burn with very high and steep bankings at either side when something caught my eye rolling down the left hand banking from way up high. It gathered speed and meeting a small lip at the edge, spun up into the air and landed in a fast running part of the burn around 40 feet upstream of me. As it came rapidly towards me I realised that it was a mole and managed to pluck it from the water as it went to pass me. They are deceptively strong and sturdy wee creatures but I managed to wrestle him into my jacket and climb out and up the banking to release him into the undergrowth at the edge of a field. I know that it was his lucky day that day but can't help but feel that it was also mine. I also love Moles..!!

Paul

Paul, thank goodness you were there!  Believe it or not I've never seen a mole.

Wonderful true story Paul,  that was one very lucky Mole :)

Excellent post Birdie. Very interesting and thank you for the great information.

Paul

Think I will go for the Hare,just love to watch them chase across the fields on the local reserve.

I'll go out of my way to see a Stoat in action.  True nature in action.

Day: 5
Favourite wildlife programme?