May Top Trumps....wildlife geeks step this way and get your spots in here!

[ArielThePiraticalMermaid]

I'll start - I'm hoping that someone will do better than an infernal wood pigeon and obnoxious noisy herring gull. Before the morning is up, hopefully.

And remember, cast ne'er a clout til May be out.

I'm picturing the Hardcastle Craggs meet up!

Bats are wonderful. My Dad once caught one outside the house and brought it in to show us all.
Mum was in bed at the time. The bat was a bit disgruntled at being set free inside! (misguided, my Dad, when it came to Wildlife!).

I recently saw a woodpecker in the woods just opposite my house.

Oh yes - let's take a picnic, but do not try to get me across those stepping stones. If I remember there was one in the middle that was sort of sunken and I was always petrified of slipping.

Nothing much around here today, although I do notice how much more independent the lambs are getting, they are hanging around in groups now rather than sticking with mum.

I've had a great day, we went to Bempton cliffs and I saw gannets, razorbills, guillemots, puffins, kittiwakes and a yellowhammer and a brambling.

Had lots of fun chatting to people that take this sort of thing very seriously.

I'm off to Anglesey in three weeks and can already here the Oyster Catchers calling me.......

Well, we could organise a Hardcastle Craggs meet up........

I'm up for it if anyone else is!

of Bempton Cliffs.

I love the name Hardcastle Craggs. It sounds straight out of Wuthering Heights!

Whilst Dragging the dustbin up the hill, ds in sling,

I've been sitting here this afternoon with one eye on the FA Cup final and one on the feeders just outside the window - apart from the usual pigeons/magpies etc, there's been a coal tit on the kibbled peanuts, who just nips in and out too quickly for me to get a picture, but I did manage to get one of the Greater spotted woodpecker eyeing up the suet in the coconut shell and my favourite pair of goldfinches on the sunflower seeds. They take turns to peck, one each side and they look like one of those pecking bird wooden toys we used to have.

DUNKELD!!! I used to work up there! We used to sit in the pub and listen to Dougie Maclean fiddle! Oh those were the days.....

I'm from Burnley originally Exit

Dougie Maclean's fiddle nights at the pub are still going strong...

Ospreys at Loch of the Lowes (not that I have ever seen them)

The Hermitage

I love Dunkeld.

Oh!

The ricketty wooden bridge over the Tay at Pitlochry! The salmon jumping in September!

I jumped off the Hermitage you know nearly died of cold mind

Pitlochry - I've been there.

Once.

Full moon tonight, methinks.

oh the salmon ladder, what a brilliant thing that is; we went last year, I was gobsmacked at the size of the fish

(historic lunch in Hettie's tea room too)

sorry for random interjection

as you were

Love Pitlochry.

Just lots of garden birds today. Sat up last night watching the moon, very low and very bright yellow but not visible tonight.

I saw a Fish Eagle today! It was rather large!

Hawthorn in flower also speedwell as well as drifts of bluebells.

Went to Cleveland Bay horse show today, wish I'd stayed at home to shout at the muppet who left the gate open. At which point didn't they notice 45 highland and highland cross cows. Grrrrrrr
I'm totally in favour of access to the countryside and am a bit of a heavy tights of way user myself, but sometimes I think that there should be a intelligence test first -

Hawthorn in flower also speedwell as well as drifts of bluebells.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss I think you win!

sorry Violet, couldn't help a quick giggle at your heavy tights of way. Our hawthorn isn't out yet although must be way further south than you.

No exceptional wildlife today but a beautiful walk through bluebell woods with the sun streaming down through the new beech leaves.

It was a very lovely fish eagle. in the falconry display at Hedingham Castle I don't think that really counts!

I think it might just be cheating.

We saw a hare this morning in a field on our way up of Bridlington.
Other spots have been mundane, the usual garden birds and a dead deer by the side of the road.