Woodland Diaries

E

epickoala123

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Woodland diaries is about the wood close to my home, and seeing how the wood and the animals copes with issues such as deforestation, dogs, bad weather, red v grey squirrels, etc.

The main point of this thread is to see how an average piece of woodland copes with the issues named above, ergo wildlife and conservation forums.

I'll post updates about the wildlife in the wood, deforestation, and other news, aswell as giving other zoochatters a chance to talk about a wood near their home, or just wildlife they've seen.

I'm open to (try) to answer questions you may have about scottish wildlife, or other questions.

Hopefully you'll enjoy this thread and contribute yourself.

epickoala123
 
Post 1: First visit since the winter started

Sunday third of February, 2013.

After about four moths since my last visit, I was anxious to see what effect winter had done.

My main concern was to see how the roe deer family that lives in the wood (including one young), had done. My optimism was especially low, since I had not seen them for five months. Even then the were being chased by a dog let off it's lead. I was slightly irritated that the dog was chasing it, but was furious that the owner was just watching, not even attempting to stop it. Sometimes I think that pets are more intelligent then there owners.
anyway, back to the recent visit.

As usual, the first part of the walk was uneventful, apart from a few Unidentifiable LBJ's. I could at least Identify a starling, woodpiegon, rock dove, jackdaw, carrion crow, blue tit, and great tit.

Then a usual sight, two dogs off their leads, at least 20 meters from their owners. Total disobedience from the owners side.

Another major problem with the wood is campers. They show up, and leave cans, bottles, containers to a unimaginable extent. At some points they litter the forest floor, I usually pile them up into one specific are, but always forget to take a bin bag.

When admiring the view of my hometown, I spotted a ubiquitous site for the north east of Scotland, buzzards. They're basically everywhere around here, and the surrounding area of woods are no different. Today for once a got a decent view, seeing what I think was a male and a female flying just above my head.

Then, a breakthrough! I ventured of the path to try some of the fields not viewable from the main path. And it was worth it.
In a distant field I saw a satisfying sight, the roe deer family, all three of them. As good as it was to see them, I'm now concerned that they've left the wood for the adjoining fields. Perhaps someone who knows about deer behavior will have a better idea.

hope you enjoyed this, my next visit will be probably Friday 8th febuary

looking for your comments and your own stories.

epickoala123:)
 
Last edited:
Wednesday 6th of February

Essentially not in the wood, but saw a red kite on my way back to school!

One of my favorite birds of prey species
 
Can you post pics as well? This could be a sort of photoblog. It would help us to visualise your woodland. :)
 
Fallow and Red deer are species which like to feed in open country with forest nearby for cover. It depends on whether the forest is thick and what grows in it. Late winter the nearby paddocks will have better feed. In summer they may have enough feed and stay in the forest.
 
Nano boy- I will and post in the united kingdom wildlife gallery, which I have already

Monty- thanks for the info
 
I would talk about my walk in the wood, but I saw nothing. All I did was finally pick up some bottles and cans left by campers.
 
This is an excellent idea for a thread and study epickoala. I'm enjoying it. Keep up the good work.
 
Something else I didn't remember, I got a tip off from a dog-walker, who said that he found a deer carcass. I didn't see it myself, so I don't know how recently it died.
 
From looking outside, I don't think I'll be able tO get out today.

So has anyone else been out looking for wildlife or just seen something interesting recently?
 
epickoala123 said:
From looking outside, I don't think I'll be able tO get out today.

So has anyone else been out looking for wildlife or just seen something interesting recently?
Click to expand...

I was digging pipes out of a channel bank today. When I went to load them into the front end loader I rolled one and about 10 baby brown snakes shot out, and disappeared into the dug bank.

Just then while going around the rice 3 Brolgas flew over me very low. I was hoping they would land, but they kept going.

 
Weathers actually improved, going out now, hopefully more results as I'll be doing more conclusive search
 
Monty said:
I was digging pipes out of a channel bank today. When I went to load them into the front end loader I rolled one and about 10 baby brown snakes shot out, and disappeared into the dug bank.

Just then while going around the rice 3 Brolgas flew over me very low. I was hoping they would land, but they kept going.

Click to expand...

Looks interesting, always been jealous of australian wildlife.

(p.s.- have you ever seen a wild koala?)
 
epickoala123 said:
Looks interesting, always been jealous of australian wildlife.

(p.s.- have you ever seen a wild koala?)
Click to expand...

Along the Murray river about 50km south of where I am there are heaps. In an hour walking you would see 10 to 15.
 
Do you kill the snakes when you see them, or do you just leave them be? Those were Eastern Browns right? One of the most venomous snakes in the world?
 
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