Outdoorsy Shite Top Trumps: March

[Slubberdegullion]

Flora or Fauna.

Extra points for a photo.

Handicap will apply to those in Forrin. Monthly win will not automatically go to, for example, a Cougar spot. The Cougar will need to be doing something awesome, like fighting a bear or doing sudoku.

I know, I know.

A bit like Chinese mitten crabs

Anyway, I've only been out to ASDA today so my only sighting has been suicidal pheasant (is there any other sort?) which thanks to my skillful driving (aka quick glance in mirror and slam on brake) failed in its attempt.

But another sure harbinger of spring - DH Mowing Lawn.

Saw a nuthatch again by the canal, singing its heart out.

And a chap had turned up at the cricket club and got out a silver bucket with wheels, which I think is for painting the white lines - so definitely spring.

Oh, that stuff! Yes, I've seen that.

No nature here today at all. It has been curiously dead.

Does a particularly beautiful sunrise count as a nature top trump? It's not flora or fauna, but it is, you know, natural.

Sunrise? Good God woman, it's a Saturday.

Sadly I am a hopeless early riser. Equally, you'll never get any pipistrelle bat spots from me, as I'll have conked out by 6pm.

Climb up one of those lovely hills near you, tick off some birds, run back down and be in the pub for 3pm. That's my suggestion for your day.

I saw a female Eider the other day - forgot to mention it. I was surprised at that, this far south.

I may well do that. Though the interesting ones never stay still long enough to be properly identified, so I will probably come back with 5 more sparrow spots. Meanwhile, you will go for a sail and come back with three dugongs or something.

I heard a Tawny Owl last night
[hear spot]

No. Too rough today and I can't be bothered to sail when I feel this cold. Maybe Monday.

Was it going Twit or Twoo?

I woke up to the gentle hoo-ing of a wood pigeon.

A bit of both Ariel, which made me wonder if it might be a pair conversing with each other.

Have you heard a barn owl before? I never have and I've I'm intrigued to know what they sound like after reading The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark.

Not sure. How do they go?

.

Of course I could have just searched on YouTube before asking you the original question couldn't I?

I hear owls every night. I thought one twitted and one twooed iyswim.

Dead thrush on the path outside the house this morning. Perfectly beautiful in every way, but dead. DH thinks it just dropped dead and fell from the sky . I am worried it flew into the conservatory and killed itself.

Pheasant in the road on way back from stables - had to stop and peep my horn to encourage it to get onto the verge.

Curlews.

I hear owls every night. I thought one twitted and one twooed iyswim.

I think so - the males being the twits IIRC we have a very vocal twooer within earshot.

Went hillwalking today and saw two ptarmigans, still with white winter coats, looking highly conspicuous because there was not a drop of snow on the ground. Plus a wee lizardy thing. No idea what it was, but it was browny red coloured. Also, lots of frog spawn in the puddles. Oh, and an eagle*.

(*Maybe. It was a long way away, but it was HUGE)

WOW!!! Where are you? In the Cairngorms?

Get you with your ptarmigans, eagles and frog spawny puddles.

As others might say, well jel!

Not quite the Cairngorms, Glenshee. Amazing views north to the Cairngorms though. No snow at all though, we could see over to Lochnagar and it was completely snow free from where we were. The Cairngorms had a few patches but not much.

PUFFIN I SAW A PUFFIN!