Red Deer Antler.

In the garden of Rehabcare in Bantry is an antler from a Red Deer which lies on the ground near the carpark, usually. I tried taking photos of it before, but I always had the tarmac or cars in the background. On Wednesday I dragged it away and then lifted it on top of an empty raised planter.
Went back inside and fixed the macro lens on my Lumix. I haven't yet have any opportunity to get really get used to it, so I hoped that I had enough time before Michelle would call me. I had a lot less time it seemed, and these are the only images I was able to take.
Still, I love the texture of this 7 pointer And at the tips you could see how it has worn away. So I hope you enjoy the pictures.
I hope that next time I will have a little more time.
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Around me, signs of spring were popping up too.

Small Magpie Moth, Eurrhypara hortulata, a good omen perhaps?

On 30 January 2007, I saw my first Small Magpie Moth when I looked up from my laptop and stared straight onto the lovely black & white wings of the Small Magpie Moth, Eurrhypara hortulata. It greeted me from the rim of a little bookshelf above my kitchen/work table. I was mesmerised. And even now, the small magpie is still my favourite Moth.

The above image I took of a dead Moth, which I'd found sometime in 2008, despite my constant window & nook checks, evening and mornings. It does show off those beautiful wings well, I think.
It might be very small, but beautifully formed also.

I hope she is a good omen, because I can certainly use one at the moment.

My back is giving me a great deal of trouble at the moment, as something is causing me a great deal of pain.
I suffer chronic pain in my back, neck and leg, since 2005, (and in my knee since 1981) This means constant pain, day and night; keeping you awake most nights.

This, I do not know what it is, but I am just hardly able to move. As a result of overcompensating with my arm, I pulled a muscle under my arm too. I am already taking 5 painkillers for my pain (yes, and the pain is still there! so I doubt that my GP can do much for me, so there is not much reason to call him over here.


Yesterday on the ceiling


Then on another part of ceiling.

somewhere else, and taking up the Butterfly Pose


And in the meantime, a quick look out of the window:

Pied wagtail, Motacilla alba


Robin, Erithacus rubecula


Great Tit, Parus major


Song Thrsh, Turdus merula


Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus

A Sunday of gardenbirds in pictures

I have neglected Wildlife on Wheels a little; spending more time on Birding on Wheels, now that most of Wildlife on Wheels' subjects are hibernating in one way or another.
So, I thought to post some of the Gardenbirds' pictures here for a change, to keep the blog alive.
This afternoon we had snow, vergy unusual for us here in the "tropics of Ireland".

As it is winter, we are having an influx of Thrushes. I have not seen Fieldfares yet, and the only Redwing I've seen this winter was a dead one.

Redwing, Turdus pilaris
Weak as it was from the flight from the continent, it stood no chance to escape its predator.

The 3 Song Thrushes, Turdus pphilomelos, differ in size, but they all have this lovely face, of course.
Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos




at the moment we have 2 or three Song Thrushes, Turdus philomelostwo female Blackbirds and two male Blackbirds. These, together with the two Robins and three Dunnocks, all belong to the Thrush family, which are very territorial, making it difficult to feed at the same time; but it seems that they do manage this somehow. to make sure that they do all get access to food is by spreading food around the garden, and leaving it at different places about the garden.
There is also a large amount of empty snail shells about the planter. It seems that the Thrushes too are sourcing their natural food, just like those Great Tits. As reported on in Birding on Wheels

Here is just a few pictures of who has been coming in, at the planter and the coconut shells.
female Blackbird; Turdus merula

Another female Blackbird, Turdus merula, the first one who decided this garden was her home for the winter.
O

And female number 3. Blackbird, Turdus merula.
She really has a lovely colouring; a bit chestnut.



This is one of the two male Blackbirds, Turdus merula.

Sometimes this male looks more like a Black Grouse than a Blackbird.



Robin, Erathicus rubecula.




Without fighting, the Dunnocks still seems to shoo off one of the Robins. The Robin saw the Dunnock feeding in the planter and was gone in no time.
Dunnock, Prunella modularis.

Did the wind increase a bit, making this Dunnock jump a little. well with moderate-fresh winds, it is no wonder that it did get a little upset.

The Chaffinches are always around. No matter what the weather, season or time of day. They will always call in.
male Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs.



female Chaffinch. Fringilla coelebs.


Great Tit. Parus major.
Despite its name, I haven't seen its usual bossy behaviour over the other birds. Has the cold weather confused this specie?

My sweet Blue Tits. Somehow these, and the Coal Tits, to have happy faces. Despite the cold temperatures, and the weather, these two species keep on chasing each otherwithout a let-off. Or perhaps it should be the other way around; the fight for control over the availability of food is even more important when the temerature drops. It is vital to get to food in those conditions after all. Well, if you want to survive, that is!

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus





And those cute little Coal Tits.
Coal Tits, Parus ater




And two of my Corvids too: First of all, one of the Rooks. Corvus frugilega:



And the Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix