Blog - Page 60 of 109 - Farm Holiday Cottages - Fishing and Wildlife Holidays

Starting from number onethere are five new photographs on the Photo page from Lynne. There will be five from Lindsay tomorrow.

A FRIEND OF A FRIEND HAS A FARM WITH HORSES AND ALPACAS WE TOOK THESE WHEN WE VISITED LAST WEEK. LYNNE.

We have had to move the Bird feeders today to try to stop the Squirrels from using them. The amount of Squirrels using the feeders this year has got out of control. There has been as many as five Squirrels at a time on the feeders and the Birds are not getting a chance of feeding on them. Both feeders are now on poles with Squirrel guards on them, but a couple of the Squirrels have managed to get on to the feeders by climbing up one pole and jumping across on to the top of the guard on the other pole. Earlier this week one of our Holiday Guests had seen ten Squirrel at once along the track where the feeders are placed. That is to many. There are also Squirrels using the Bird feeders around the Lake. Soon after moving the feeders we noticed more species of Birds using them. We will put a Squirrel feeder in another place and show them on the webcams, it may even make me start the Squirrel obstacle course that I have been promising for ever. It will be some thing to see at the end of the Summer.

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo page from David. There will be five from Lynne tomorrow.

Baby camel that was born in march of this year at Cricket st Thomas wildlife park. David.

Barn owl taken at Cricket St Thomas during a falconry display. David.

Lady and her foal. David.

Emmi and sox. David.

Baby lemur being carried by its mum taken in lemur wood at Cricket St Thomas. David.

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo page. There will be five from Vicky tomorrow.

2 x Moth in the kitchen. Kev.

Here’s a picture with a difference, the eye of a fly. Kev.

Just remembered that I promised to send you this pic of one we caught at Denbury. Carol.

CHEEKY SQUIRRELS. THE ONE PEEKING OUT IS IN MY DRESSING GOWN POCKET. LYNNE.

Peter has moved the USA Osprey camera today. It is not in the best position that it could be and he will need to move it again in the next week or so. The house in the background belongs to his neighbour, I am not sure that they would be to happy. But at least we can now see the chicks.

I spoke to the person who looks after the Turtles on the US Virgin Islands this afternoon. Permission will be needed from US Fisheries and Wildlife Services who control the area, for the cameras to be installed. The person that I spoke to is keen about the idea, so we will have to wait and see. As you can see from the new paper report below that I got from the Internet, a camera at the location would be a good security measure, as well as letting the world see the Turtles in real life. When I spoke top Michael who we are doing the under water camera with, he told me that those involved below could well be looking at a 15 year prison sentence.

Six men charged with killing sea turtle on St. Croix
By CHRISTINE LETT
Saturday, May 24th 2008

ST. CROIX – Six Estate Whim men were arraigned in V.I. Superior Court on Friday for killing a hawksbill turtle on the south shore of the island late Thursday.

About 11:20 p.m. Thursday, police arrested; Joseph Cornelius, 37, Paul Aldrick, 24, William Dominic, 37, Ustus Harry, 35, Vibert George, 34, and Vibert George, 20. The men were each charged with harming, taking and possessing a federally protected marine sea turtle. Bail for each was set at $1,000.

According to Police Department and Planning and Natural Resources Department’s enforcement officers, the six men were driving along the south shore Thursday night when police officers spotted them. Officers initially suspected of them being immigrants entering the island illegally, according to DPNR spokesman Jamal Nielsen.

Nielsen said that when the officers approached the truck they saw the spiny lobster and 100-pound hawksbill turtle. The turtle had been speared through the head and neck and strangled with a rope.

Veterinarian Dr. Bethany Bradford and visiting students from the University of Georgia conducted an animal autopsy that determined the turtle was a healthy male close to 50 years old.

Police also spotted five lobsters – four of them juvenile lobsters – that also had been speared.

According to DPNR’s Environmental Enforcement Director Carlos Farchette the six men face a local fine of up to $400 for each juvenile spiny lobster that was speared. For the killing the hawksbill turtle, they each face up to $600 in fines and up to one year in prison.

The men likely will face federal charges for harming an endangered species. Farchette said a NOAA Fisheries representative is expected on island next week to assist with the investigation.

Federal crimes for harming endangered species carry stiffer penalties.

Claudia Lombard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist, said the men could each face up to $250,000 in fines and up to a year in prison.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife is one of the leading government agencies working to protect the endangered sea turtles that migrate and nest in the Virgin Islands. The goal is that someday the turtle population will grow to the point that they are no longer considered endangered.

Three of the seven species of turtles nest here – the hawksbill, green and leatherback turtle, Lombard said. Sea turtles are not only protected in the U.S. and its territories, through the federal Endangered Species Act, but globally as well, she said.

In the Virgin Islands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, DPNR, the National Park Service and several non-government agencies have established ongoing programs throughout the territory to protect adult turtles, turtle eggs and hatchlings from threats such as poaching and predation.

“In order for the Virgin Islands to do its part in protecting turtles, we have to abide by the law,” Lombard said.

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Lynne..

CARVED WOODEN SQUIRREL AT PICTON CASTLE. LYNNE.

BEE ON CRAB APPLE BLOSSOM. LYNNE.

FUNGI ON A TREE STUMP (THE BOTTOM ONE LOOKS LIKE A SNAKES HEAD). LYNNE.

ELLIE AFTER A SWIM. LYNNE.

CENARTH FALLS. LYNNE.

One of the two nesting Swallows that we have the cameras on must have hatched yesterday by the way that the parent birds are feeding them today. I shouldn’t think that the eggs in the other nest wont be long from hatching. As for the Robin she hardly sits on the nest at all. I cant imagine that her eggs will hatch. I hope that I am wrong.

I spoke to Peter in Delaware this afternoon, he hopes to move the USA Osprey camera higher tomorrow so the we can see into the nest. He told me that their are two chicks in the nest. If all goes to plan we shall be able to see inside the nest tomorrow. We are going to send Peter a pan tilt and zoom camera, the type we use on the Farm and other locations that you see the cameras move. With the camera he hopes to be able to show more of the wildlife that there is around Indian River Bay. The name Indian River Bay does get my mind working overtime. The new camera will be sent to him within the month.

I also managed to speak to Michael in the Virgin Islands this afternoon. A permit is needed to put a camera into the sea. The people who issue the permits are helping Michael in the application, and can see no objections to it. We are having a new camera fitted into the under water enclosure that will go into infra red mode as it get darker. It should prolong the time that we will be able to see the sea life as it gets darker.

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Vicky. There will be five from Lynne tomorrow.

Badger taken at Denbury. Vicky.

Peacock at Denbury. Vicky.

Badgers taken at Denbury. Vicky.

Willow and Gypsy at the horse field gate. Vicky.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Denbury. Vicky.

All the Horses are now in the main Horse field to run together, other than Breeze who has been put in an electric fenced area in the field until we believe that the Mares and Breeze will get on together. We know as Emmi is new to the herd, and has never run with all of the Horse, that when we let Breeze out of the fenced area there will be a bit of running around and bickering to sort out the pecking order. Those now running together have all settled down with each other. Emmi is making sure that Willow and Gypsy are keeping their distance from the Foals. In a short time Emmi will allow them to get nearer and the Foals will want to be with the younger Fillies.

As the weather has warmed up we have started to leave all of the Horses out of a night bringing them in for a short time in the mornings and evenings for their feed. Now that they are being left out they let us know when they are ready to go back out. They also know what time we are meant to bring them in as most times they are waiting at the gate. We would hope for them to be out until the Autumn, only bringing them in if the weather is continuously bad. With the Horses being out we don’t have to muck out the stables very often, that really does make a change.

The Robin nesting outside of our kitchen door doesn’t seem to be sitting on her eggs as much as she should. I don’t think that it is us going in and out of the Farm House that is disturbing her or she would not have chosen the place to nest in the first place.

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Lynne. There will be five from Vicky tomorrow.
Only two more days of photographs left.

SWAN LANDING ON THE LAKE AT THE WELSH WILDLIFE CENTRE. LYNNE

BABY STARLING IN MY WATERFALL. LYNNE

WOODPECKER IN THE CRAB APPLE TREE OUTSIDE OUR HOLIDAY COTTAGE IN PEMBROKESHIRE. LYNNE

BUZZARD SAT ON A FENCE IN PEMBROKESHIRE. LYNNE

FERRY ARRIVING AT FISHGUARD. LYNNE

The new nest that you can see belongs to a Robin. It is within inches from our heads when we are in and out of our kitchen. In previous years the nest has been used by a Wren. Until last year every nesting has been successful. The Wren nest was a ball shape with a tiny entrance hole. Last year a Magpie raided the nest and we found the nest on the floor. I stuffed the nest back hoping that a Wren would return. There is a Magpie close by this year, so there is a chance that it will raid the Robins nest. Yesterday a Magpie fledgling was under one of the cars out side, close to the kitchen door. Tass and Kye were looking under the car, I must confess I wasn’t that concerned that they may have got the fledgling.

The Goose returned to the Lake this morning, calling out as she arrived. She didn’t stay long, again calling as she left in the direction of the Valley. It was quite misty around the Farm and I don’t know why but she turned to fly back in the direction of the Lake, it may have been the mist but as she flew over the Farm she was calling a little louder, maybe the last call hoping for a reply from her lost Goslings.

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Elaine. There will be five from Lynne tomorrow.

A picture of the Jolly FIsherman water feature taken yesterday at Skegness. Elaine.

Some photos of the sea at Chapel St Leonards. My son took these for me as he was nearer the shoreline. Elaine.

I saw the Kingfisher today for the first time this year. I was showing one of our Holiday Guests who had come for the fishing, where to look for the Fish on the webcams. As by appointment the Kingfisher landed on the branch. Since then I have realised that some are fledglings and we have seen the parents feed them. I will have one of the Lake webcams on the branch some time during each day.

The Goose stayed overnight on the Lake, but why we were mucking out the Horses this morning we heard her calling as if she was about to fly off. I haven’t seen her this afternoon. She may well have gone for good, although other Geese have returned for a couple of days. I must admit it was a shock to loose the last two Gosling as we did.

The Griffon Vulture webcam will not be on this year. Technical problems with a wireless broadband connection that we were not aware of when we agreed to supply the equipment, made it a to unreliable to carry on with the project. If another nest site can be found near a normal broadband connection, we may well start to broadcast the bird.

Peter in the USA is going to try to raise the camera height on the USA Osprey nest this coming Monday. It is a shame that we have been unable to see the chicks, if just to see the difference in the growing rate.

I thought that you would like to see the email that I have received from US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean this morning. I have spoken to Michael who sent the email. We have made sure that the location and connections are a in place for a webcam, and we have agreed to send all the equipment that is needed to get an under water camera working, at the site. As the location crosses 250m of water it will need a wireless connection as Rye Harbour, with the transmitter being sited on a buoy. The email explains most about the site. What it does not tell is another site that we spoke about in our conversation. Next to the location is a beach that Turtles come ashore on and lay their eggs. Michael has already spoken to the people concerned and they are very keen and excited, so there is a very good chance that we may be able to site a webcam on the beach to watch the Turtles.

Greetings,

I came across your site this morning while looking for underwater web cams. I am blessed to live in Paradise, a few hundred yards from a SCUBA diving site. The diving on St. Croix is a large portion of the tourist draw and some of the best in the world. We are located on the largest living reef in the Caribbean and boost of a wall that drops 3,200 feet into the Abyss.

I was wondering if your group would be interested in setting up a camera at the wrecks dive site to not only open the undersea world to the land lovers of the planet, but to also monitor the incredible sea life associated with the fantastic artificial reefs that the sunken ships at Butler Bay have become. Since I dive the site frequently, I can personally tell you that the creatures that visit the site on a regular basis are quite amazing. Three types of protected or endangered turtles make St. Croix home, the Hawksbill, Leather back, and Green turtles are majestic. We also have rays, southerns rays and Moray Ells hanging about.

If you are interested, I would volunteer to assist in any manor. Installation, maintenance, whatever. Additionally, there is an Internet repeater on the roof of my house which provides true broad band connections. I would be willing to provider arrange for the signal from your unit to make it to the WWW if you can provide the rest.

Thank you for your time and please let me know your thoughts, opinions.

God Bless,

Michael

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Liz. North Yorkshire. There will be five from Elaine tomorrow.

The Goldfinch was taken on the feeder in the front garden.

The blackbird is one of an army of birds that come for their daily servings of sultanas.

Greenfinch on the feeder.

The remaining 2 shots are of the back garden, the plant on its own is a Dicentra spectablis (Bleeding Heart). I have planted a few fruit trees and bushes, but so far have not had any fruit from any as the birds always get there first!!! Oh well that’s life as they say lol Liz North Yorkshire.

As you may have noticed the Gosling disappeared last night. I spoke to soon in last nights Diary. They disappeared in such a small space of time I find it hard to believe that two of then went at the same time. I had fed them just before I had fed the Badgers and returned to the Lake at about 9.25 pm with a new battery for the electric fencer. The Battery had very little life in it so I would use the battery from our lawn mower. At about 10.20pm I went to change the battery over. I checked the Lake webcam, the Goose and Goslings were making their way to the fenced area but turned away. I went to the lawn mower to remove the battery that is on the way to the Lake. Whilst moving the Battery I heard the Goose start to call, it was no longer than 10 minutes after I had seen the three on the webcam probably less. When I got to the Lake a minute or so later the Goslings had gone.

Later I checked the recording device that I had put on to record the Badger Cubs if they had shown their selves. All camera record at once, so I was able to look back at the two lake cameras. The last that I saw of the Goslings was as they were making their way to the right hand side of the Lake, away from the fenced area. It was strange that the two disappeared. If they had got taken or were frightened and fell into the stream and got wash away I really don’t know. There are no sign around the Lake of any remains of the Goslings. I had hoped with the way that the Goslings were growing that this year we may have seen them fly off of the Lake. We tried all we could to keep them alive this year, but it has been a disaster for the Geese. Only the Goose has survived, all five Goslings gone and the Gander. I will stop any Geese from breding in future years. I should have this year. The Goose will stay on the Lake for a day or so and will fly off.

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Angela (Kent). There will be five from Liz tomorrow.

Yes I know you don’t show people but thought you would like to see one of the things they have around Formby point were the red squirrels are this kept my sister and I amused Angela.

What a beak this bird has photo at Southport lancashire. Angela (kent)

This Avocet looks like its walking on water Angela (kent)

This is a Avocet take at the R.S.P.B. In Southport Angela (kent)

Lets compare beaks, Angela.

I missed the Badger Cubs last night. Although they were due to show their selves any time now, that was of course if there were any Cubs, I didn’t expect it last night as it was raining quite hard.

Like most of the Country we have had our fair share of rain this week. The stream is very high and flooding over the bridges in the Valley. As last year it started to rain very shortly after we let the Fillies into the main Horse Field. The Gosling are permanently wet through but a least they are alive. Their colour is stating to change and you can see a little bit of grey coming through. It would be good for the remaining two to survive, but there is still a good chance that they may not make it. When I look at the webcam at night the Goose is always on the Lake with the Gosling tucked in very tightly into her side. I don’t know if this is what they do all night. In the electric fenced area they would be quite safe, but they choose not to using it at night when I look in on them.

We have a Bird nest just out side our kitchen door. In other years it has been used by a Wren. It is not a Wren this year, what ever it is we cant tell as it is so very quick coming and going. The nest has eggs in it, but they are very low in the bottom of the nest and it is very dark at the bottom. I am trying to fix a tiny camera and light to watch it. I will try to finish it tomorrow.

We have been experiencing our broadband connection on Denbury Farm Cam 1 & 2 going off intermittently, I will keep checking to make sure that they are on. If they do go off, they will be put back on very quickly.

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Anjela, Connecticut USA. There will be five from the other Angela tomorrow.

Squirrel.

House Finch.

Butterfly.

Woodpecker.

Baby Crow.

A number of you saw the large bird on the Lake and on the bank of the Lake yesterday. It was a Cormorant a Bird that you really don’t want on Lakes that have Fish. They tend to to be coastal birds, but are just as happy on inland waters where there are Fish. They are excellent divers and under water swimmers. And also very greedy. We tried for a long while to frighten the Bird off of the Lake, but it only went when it decided to. When it dived under water it came up as far as a 100 metre from were it went down. I was only saying to one of our Holiday guests the day before, that we have never seen a Cormorant on our Lakes. There are many Fishing Lake that are inundated with Cormorants a real nightmare. I should think that with the Gales that we had yesterday that it came inland. I hope so and hopes that it forgets its way to Denbury in future.

What some of you thought were rats on the webcam last night, were in fact Field Mice. As much as I hate to see them or Rats I do try to encourage the Field Mice, as they are the main food source for Owls. We let the small field that you see the badgers in to over grow and die back, It allows a thick base of dead grass under the growing grass, a good habitat for the Mice and Voles. We also do not let any livestock graze the field for the same reason. Also with the holes that the Badgers have dug it would be dangerous for animals to graze, as they could well break legs if there legs go down the holes.

Farm Holiday Cottages – Fishing and Wildlife Holidays

Starting from number onethere are five new photographs on the…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

We have been experiencing our broadband connection on Denbury Farm…