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The great outdoors

Here you can find advice on camping, outdoor activities and walking in the UK and abroad.

Original poster

Outdoorsy Shite - April Top Trumps

526 replies

GrimmaTheNome · 01/04/2012 19:01

Rules as before - nature 'spots' fauna and flora, points for rarity (absolute or relative to where seen), seasonality, eloquence of description. Please declare if you're in forrin parts or a mermaid.

Did I cover everything?

OP posts:
Original poster
GrimmaTheNome · 26/04/2012 23:57

I don't know what it was doing before I saw it - DD called me over to look. I don't think I've seen a bat doing laps before, usually much more random. Maybe its training for the Bat Olympics.

I forgot to mention on Sunday, in excitement at first campion and herb robert, a patch with bluebells in blue, white and a sort of pink. Anyone beat that? Grin

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littlebrownmouse · 27/04/2012 07:40

Hurrah! The woodpecker's back. He's head banging the bird feeder even as we speak. He really is gorgeous and his beak is massive. Aw, he's a bit like a family pet, he's around so often. Grin

violetwellies · 27/04/2012 10:35

Our swallows are in the stables, wasn't so much of as spot as feeling the air move by my face as they swoop past, plenty of mud for nest building

AIBUqatada · 27/04/2012 11:08

My dog is defending the house against the presence in the yard of a dozy orange-bottomed bumble bee, worn out by the cold.

Poor dog. It is a terrible mental strain for him having sole responsibility for avoiding the apocalypse of Bees Being Where They Want To Be.

LostInWales · 27/04/2012 14:18

AIBU Grin My dog is preventing my legs from the apocalypse of Getting Cold. Whippets used to be used as hot water bottles once and I think my boy would have been a champion one.

I have just been to the beach as I can't spot the same birds every day on the river and saw a mudflat filled with these lovely round looking birds sitting together, I thought 'ooh must get a closer look, this should be a great spot'. Reader, they were seagulls, all poofed up and sitting together out of the cold wind. There weren't even playing sudoku.

Original poster
GrimmaTheNome · 27/04/2012 14:46

Seagulls in disguise? You don't see that every day, you know!

My dog found Something Disgusting on the lawn to anoint himself with so is currently off somewhere having post-bath sulk. He'll be a particularly nice hotwater bottle for DD this evening - dachshunds really are best for the job.

The windsurfing course has been postponed because of the forecast for Sunday!!! DH and I are very relieved; DD will be mightily disappointed. Hopefully better luck with weather whenever they rearrange it for. Phew.

OP posts:
LostInWales · 27/04/2012 15:04

Such a shame about the windsurfing, you'll have to make out to DD that you are devastated though Grin DH really wants a dachshund, a miniature short haired one, but I have pointed out that to take one down the beach in the company of a whippet would be cruel!

I was really hoping for a whimbrel, just so I could use the name to someone in RL.

Slubberdegullion · 27/04/2012 15:20

I concur with Losty, that is a terrible shame about the windsurfing Grimma. [sad sad face]

Two herons, and various other smaller birds.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 27/04/2012 15:29

No windsurfing? Oh NO!!!

Arctic terns this morning, whimbrel (again - SO yesterday), and a very fleeting porpoise.

mrspnut · 27/04/2012 17:09

Nothing of note today, a chatter of house sparrows on the hedge on the corner. They always make me laugh because if you're still they all pop to the top of the hedge but make a move and they all drop out of sight.

They make a blooming din as well, glad it isn't my house.
Also Mr Starling is taunting the cat again, he is sitting on the telephone wire outside our bedroom window. He only sits there for any length of time if the cat is on the windowsill.

mrspnut · 27/04/2012 17:09

Jolly bad luck about the windsurfing Grimma.

Original poster
GrimmaTheNome · 27/04/2012 17:14

GrinGrin

LIW, my dachshunds go pretty well on sand. The whippet would just run in rings hurdling it - what's the problem? Your DH is obviously a man of excellent taste.

OP posts:
Original poster
GrimmaTheNome · 27/04/2012 17:18

(mis-edit- I only have one dachshund at a time, not a pack of them)

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violetwellies · 27/04/2012 19:38

Furious @ fisherpersons here. They have left yards of line with bait and sinker on the beach. Dp just collects it up and weighs in the lead every so often (£80 worth last time) but its so bloody dangerous - for everything.
Managed to see woodruff, campion, ramsoms and wood anemone on the way home once Id stopped chuntering.

chixinthestix · 27/04/2012 21:27

Swallows doing circuits round the garden and next door field this evening for the first time this year. Its finally stopped raining and blowing for long enough for some gnats to come out for them to eat I suppose. Feels far too chilly though poor little swallows.

After a single freakishly early sprig in flower last month, the cow parsley in the lane is all starting to come out now. Hen buzzard has been sat tight on her nest for ages now too...must google to see how long before we get a chick.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 28/04/2012 15:04

Lots of swallows flitting across the sea - I felt like shouting "Turn back, brave little birds! Go back to Africa! The weather here is SHIT!"

And a puffin.

chixinthestix · 28/04/2012 18:16

Ooh a puffin....they are so sweet, hoping we might see some this year.

nothing so glam here today, but did see a big flock of curlews on the beach. Then suddenly remembered they might have been whimbrels....(DH thought I was making it up!) Did sound very curlewey though.

En route saw an oak tree in full leaf, so its oak before ash in for a splash here....anyone else?

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 28/04/2012 19:06

I found out today that curlews sound as though they are laughing at you. One flew right overhead, laughing at me. Definitely.

RustyBear · 28/04/2012 19:26

This is a plant tub in the corner of the courtyard in the middle of the school where I work if you look very closely at about 3 o'clock just inside the rim you can see the open mouth of a pied wagtail chick. The poor mum must have made her nest and laid the eggs in what she thought was a nice quiet spot during the Easter holidays - she probably got a bit of a shock when 220 children suddenly returned.

Luckily she's only been noticed by adults so far and we're keeping it quiet, but if the children start to notice, we'll have to put a screen on the window.

mrspnut · 28/04/2012 20:22

I'm hoping to see some puffins next weekend at Bempton Cliffs.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 28/04/2012 20:36

You'll definitely see some gannets!

I've always wanted to go there Envy

LostInWales · 28/04/2012 21:00

I always saw puffins at Bempton mrspnut, give my love to the north Sea.

Grimma that could work, I have a wonderful image of whippets hurdling daschunds now, do you think we could get on Britain's got talent with that?

No spots of anything from me because it's been bloody freezing and I haven't even bothered to look . This time next week I will be camping Shock

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 28/04/2012 21:01

I'm sure it will be fine LostinWales

Northey · 28/04/2012 21:07

Oh yes. An, umm, extra pair of socks, maybe.

Slubberdegullion · 28/04/2012 21:19

Rusty, that is fab. And a photo too!
I'm saying YES!
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