Topic ID 2737
Just wondered how varied the wildlife is round here, we get lots of birds as there is always plenty of food out for them and thankfully not too many cats large or small visit! Starlings, thrushes, blackbirds, blue-tits, great-tits, jays, woodpeckers, wrens, robins etc and as you may remember one day a sparrowhawk! We also get lots of squirrels of course and a pair of mallards land on the lawn but last night we didn't close the curtains as early as usual and a vixen came right up to the patio doors and looked at me, she disappeared and then the fox came to see what he could find, he also came and had a look through the window not sure if she told him what a funny sight it was! I am sure I have forgotten some but that is not a bad list for a garden in Bengeo, who can add to it in and around Hertford.
Reply ID 39380
plenty of muntjack (sp?) deer in the woods around hertford, and normal deer too!. Lots of badgers as well, altho i've only actually seen them alive a couple of times. And dont forget the panther :o) Oh and pheasants, millions of em :)
Reply ID 39381
I've occasionally seen a kingfisher rapidly taking a short cut through town using the River Beane. Also, there was a Heron on the river near the back of Dicker's Mill recently.
Reply ID 39382
Thankfully we dodn't get deer or rabbits, I have also seen some unfortunate deaths, did see a live badger early one morning on the way out of Hertford, never seen the panther though!. I was thinking more "garden visitors" though.
Reply ID 39384
quote:What's the difference between a Muntjack, and a normal deer? There were two standing on the corner of Church Road and Duncombe Road the other night. Gossiping, I guess, about fooling everyone with their recent successful Panther impersonation...
Originally posted by codek2
plenty of muntjack (sp?) deer in the woods around hertford, and normal deer too!. Lots of badgers as well, altho i've only actually seen them alive a couple of times. And dont forget the panther :o) Oh and pheasants, millions of em :)
Reply ID 39385
quote:Muntjack are the little ones, about the size of a large dog, probably what you saw, the others don't usually come this way, if they were in Church Road I had better watch out for them!
Originally posted by Artyquote:What's the difference between a Muntjack, and a normal deer? There were two standing on the corner of Church Road and Duncombe Road the other night. Gossiping, I guess, about fooling everyone with their recent successful Panther impersonation...
Originally posted by codek2
plenty of muntjack (sp?) deer in the woods around hertford, and normal deer too!. Lots of badgers as well, altho i've only actually seen them alive a couple of times. And dont forget the panther :o) Oh and pheasants, millions of em :)
Reply ID 39386
quote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntjac
Originally posted by Arty
What's the difference between a Muntjack, and a normal deer?
Reply ID 39391
Swans, geese, grass snakes, cats, rats, bats, morehens, pheasent, partridges, cows, foxes, owls, wood pigeons, hedgehogs, muntjac and newts....... all seen from the lawn by our house. Perhaps the best were the 12 ducklings hatched from the nest beneath a bush in our back garden on Saturday morning.
Reply ID 39417
Last winter in Bengeo we had about 12 red wings feeding in the garden, I think filling up before flying off to their winter retreat - after feeing they all sat in the apple trees in the garden for about 10-15 mins. then one flew off the others followed, that was the last I saw of them, quite a site. For the first time last winter we have had nut hatches in the garden. This spring we have had the noisest blackbird going, but he song is beautiful, not too many female blackbirds around this year. We have a cat belonging to the people at the bottom of our garden who is a HUNTER, he has killed so many birds, his last victim was a ring necked dove,Monday, then last week it was a finch, it's a killing machine, we have tried all sorts to stop it but its unstoppable. If anyone has a good remedy (humanly) to get rid of this cat, we have complainted to the neighbours, but no joy, also it's very messy on the lawn, will not go into deatils!!!!!!
Reply ID 39421
quote:There is nothing you can do about the cat except ask the neighbours to lock it in, which I would guess is unlikely to happen. I have four cats. At one stage I had five. Most were hunters. They're cats. Hunting is on their C.V's, it's what they do. Now they can't be bothered with the ducks who come to the door to feed. They haven't even troubled the ducklings. And the wild birds who come to feed on the bird food I put out are also left undisturbed.
Originally posted by furrybunny
Last winter in Bengeo we had about 12 red wings feeding in the garden, I think filling up before flying off to their winter retreat - after feeing they all sat in the apple trees in the garden for about 10-15 mins. then one flew off the others followed, that was the last I saw of them, quite a site. For the first time last winter we have had nut hatches in the garden. This spring we have had the noisest blackbird going, but he song is beautiful, not too many female blackbirds around this year. We have a cat belonging to the people at the bottom of our garden who is a HUNTER, he has killed so many birds, his last victim was a ring necked dove,Monday, then last week it was a finch, it's a killing machine, we have tried all sorts to stop it but its unstoppable. If anyone has a good remedy (humanly) to get rid of this cat, we have complainted to the neighbours, but no joy, also it's very messy on the lawn, will not go into deatils!!!!!!
Reply ID 39423
or ask your neighbours to put a bell round the cat's neck. that stops them hunting.
Reply ID 39425
Bengeobabe, we have asked them to do this, I even bought them a collar for the dam cat, but they said they would put it on, but they did'nt, we have even sent them a letter from us and our two direct neighbours, who's garden he c**ps in, but nothing. I personally don't think they like this cat either.
Reply ID 39431
One of my greatest pleasures in life these days is sitting in the back garden on an early summer's evening (with a nice cool glass of Spitfire Ale) watching the bats weave around feeding off the various moths(?) in the fruit trees next door. And I'm not even 50 yet. Is that sad? ;-)
Reply ID 39439
No, enjoying nature at it's best (also the beer!) we also watch the bats every evening and we are over fifty, but we are into wine! we have gently progressed. #0)
Reply ID 39443
hedgehogs too!
Reply ID 39449
And moles.
Reply ID 39451
and newts, even before the wine and beer
Reply ID 39475
Last year we had two young badgers in our garden in Bengeo Street they dug up our neighbours veggies and strawberry beds wrecked the wood fencing getting through to our garden, tore up the lawn and ended up in our wood shed, frightened to death, poor things, but they did leave on their own accord, they are a protected species, if they wanted to stay in our garden we could not do anything about it!!! so we breathed a sigh of relief, AND we had not been drinking, we might have seen the funny side of it then!
Reply ID 39479
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u96/deeday4414/10-04-07_1708.jpg Swans on Folly Island is that ok admin? Why did you delete my comment about Dogs on Hartham, when you allow others to talk about neighbours cats?
Reply ID 39480
Dogs aren't wildlife. Your comment was about uncontrolled dogs on Hartham Common and therefore off-topic. Neighbours cats came into the discussion in association with them killing wildlife - it was a brief connected aside. Posting pictures of rhinosauri is also off-topic. See also http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=2360 [:)]
Reply ID 39484
quote:You are assuming there are no Rhinosauri in Hertford. My cats caught one only last month.
Originally posted by Admin
Posting pictures of rhinosauri is also off-topic. [:)]
Reply ID 39489
quote:I'm concerned about that white plastic bag tangled up near the nest, especially when the little ones hatch. I however, am not offering to move it!
Originally posted by arkwright
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u96/deeday4414/10-04-07_1708.jpg Swans on Folly Island is that ok admin? Why did you delete my comment about Dogs on Hartham, when you allow others to talk about neighbours cats?
Reply ID 39491
Looks like we have a VERY varied wildlife population round and about, I think it is great and we are so lucky to live where we can see these things close by even if they are not always the most welcome visitors on some occasions! Forgot the magpies which seem to be evrywhere now.
Reply ID 39502
Don't forget the jays on Sele Farm
Reply ID 39506
Ewoowar - so it's you who keeps 'the Hertford beasts' then! Catflap the size of a garage door! Can you keep them on a leash please, as it's costing the local plod hundreds of man hours, could be a 4 page feature in the Smirkury though! Tigger - Soon after hatching the signets will be swimming and away from the bag, so if safe I will move it.
Reply ID 39511
quote:The Church Road Muntjacs are often seen around here. They seem to live in the wood surrounding Redwoods. I've seen them several times in broad daylight - midday last week - dashing across Church Road to Redwoods. They've even been seen in back gardens on Parkhurst Road. One morning a muntjac frightened the life out of me when I was taking the kids to school as it suddenly shot out from Pittaway Walk and up through the drive leading to The Grove. People say they are the size of dogs - but they are actually the size of big dogs such as Great Danes.
Originally posted by Arty What's the difference between a Muntjack, and a normal deer? There were two standing on the corner of Church Road and Duncombe Road the other night. Gossiping, I guess, about fooling everyone with their recent successful Panther impersonation...
Reply ID 39513
thats interesting, the muntjacks i've seen are definately average dog sized, i.e. a thin labrador absolutely maximum, certainly not great dane sized! maybe there's better food in the woods up that way :)
Reply ID 39516
like this... http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0geu5A7yDlGVyYBgBVXNyoA?p=muntjac&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&vc=&fp_ip=UK&fr2=tab-web I have often seen a pair on the A10 roundabout.
Reply ID 39518
I suppose it is just possible that the one I saw in Port Vale was not a Muntjac - it was definitely much bigger than a Labrador but was running so fast I couldn't identify it. The ones I've seen around Redwoods are smaller.
Reply ID 39521
quote:It could have been a gazelle.
Originally posted by nora batty
I suppose it is just possible that the one I saw in Port Vale was not a Muntjac - it was definitely much bigger than a Labrador but was running so fast I couldn't identify it. The ones I've seen around Redwoods are smaller.
Reply ID 39525
ha! from the hertford serengetti
Reply ID 39527
quote:And 17 mole hills in our garden!!
Originally posted by Ewoowar
And moles.
Reply ID 39529
quote:Have you tried one of those electronic/ultrasonic dissuaders that you stick in the ground? My brother-in-law found that they do seem to work when he had problems with moles.
Originally posted by Roosterquote:And 17 mole hills in our garden!!
Originally posted by Ewoowar
And moles.
Reply ID 39530
quote:yep we are all pretty well fed in Bengeo.............. I suspect they probably come from the woods round about Molewood, could easily live in them.
Originally posted by codek2
thats interesting, the muntjacks i've seen are definately average dog sized, i.e. a thin labrador absolutely maximum, certainly not great dane sized! maybe there's better food in the woods up that way :)
Reply ID 39531
quote:My cats kill moles. I'll hire them out for a fee...
Originally posted by Ray_by_the_Beane Have you tried one of those electronic/ultrasonic dissuaders that you stick in the ground? My brother-in-law found that they do seem to work when he had problems with moles.
Reply ID 39535
quote:We have a cat!! Obviously useless with moles. The squirrels 'shout' at him in the garden and he ignores them. He does like stalking the pigeons though, but when we had a couple of mallards in the garden a few weeks ago feeding and preening themselves, he just ignored them. Seriously though, someone has loaned us an electric mole scarer (no, not for electric moles before there are comments) but not had chance to use it yet. However, the trail of hills seems to have stopped at the brick wall so perhaps it/they have moved next door. Still on topic Admin!
Originally posted by nora battyquote:My cats kill moles. I'll hire them out for a fee...
Originally posted by Ray_by_the_Beane Have you tried one of those electronic/ultrasonic dissuaders that you stick in the ground? My brother-in-law found that they do seem to work when he had problems with moles.
Reply ID 39548
I know this has been mentioned before. 3 Beasts on Hartham Common. I encountered 3 wolf type dogs this morning walking along the river footpath to hertford, i believe they are owned by a couple living in one of the canal boats. Now i don;t mind dogs, i have ne myself. but one of these wolfs came up to me had a sniff and then started to nibble at my trouser bottoms, luckily the owner then shouted at the dog, Leave it! luckily he did. Anyone else had a close encounter with these almost wild looking dogs/wolfs???
Reply ID 39564
quote:There use to be a whole pack. My cats caught some of them last week.
Originally posted by M.O.G.
I know this has been mentioned before. 3 Beasts on Hartham Common. I encountered 3 wolf type dogs this morning walking along the river footpath to hertford, i believe they are owned by a couple living in one of the canal boats. Now i don;t mind dogs, i have ne myself. but one of these wolfs came up to me had a sniff and then started to nibble at my trouser bottoms, luckily the owner then shouted at the dog, Leave it! luckily he did. Anyone else had a close encounter with these almost wild looking dogs/wolfs???
Reply ID 39570
quote:I think they are Husky type dogs. Only ever seen them on the boat, seemed quite calm especially as being surrounded by people enjoying th sun on the river bank. I think they were quite enjoying the attention. There is also a pet cat that walks over them to get into the boat.
Originally posted by M.O.G.
I know this has been mentioned before. 3 Beasts on Hartham Common. I encountered 3 wolf type dogs this morning walking along the river footpath to hertford, i believe they are owned by a couple living in one of the canal boats. Now i don;t mind dogs, i have ne myself. but one of these wolfs came up to me had a sniff and then started to nibble at my trouser bottoms, luckily the owner then shouted at the dog, Leave it! luckily he did. Anyone else had a close encounter with these almost wild looking dogs/wolfs???
Reply ID 39602
We saw these dogs on the common last Sunday, very 'playful' creatures. There was a guy on a kite, wheeled, sled thing, maybe the huskies could be put to use by him on a calm day? [;)]
Reply ID 39786
Not strictly in Hertford but I am pretty sure I saw 2 grouse or at least something very similar this morning between Little Berkhamsted and Newgate St Village. We have now looked in the bird book and think they were partriges![:D]
Reply ID 39787
I have had the same two ducks come to my door every day for the last three years in Willowmead between April and August. I know it is the same mating pair and it is weird. They are so tame.
Reply ID 39791
My son lives in Willowmead and he said he has two mating ducks on his driveway, last year they followed him about the garden like domestic ducks, they are so trusting!!!
Reply ID 39793
We had over 20 ducks on the front lawn last year. This year the number has gone down to a regular 3, one of which nested in the back garden and now brings her ducklings up from the stream to the front lawn. My cats have grown to tolerate them.
Reply ID 39819
I have just helped a mallard duck across Church Road, with her 9 ducklings. I am worried for them - one cat could kill the lot. I herded them into a garden, but I wish I knew how I could get them to the river. On the same journey, I had to stop for a hare on Brickendon Lane. I havn't seen a hare for years and this one was dancing about in the middle of the road, completely ignoring the cars that had stopped both ways!
Reply ID 39856
quote:Bucket of cold water should do the trick........
Originally posted by furrybunny
My son lives in Willowmead and he said he has two mating ducks on his driveway,
Reply ID 39857
quote:F**k-a-duck [:0]
Originally posted by Capitalist pigletquote:Bucket of cold water should do the trick........
Originally posted by furrybunny
My son lives in Willowmead and he said he has two mating ducks on his driveway,
Reply ID 40075
Sitting on a bench outside the rear of Waitrose on Saturday morning I saw a Sparrowhawk chasing.....yes you guessed it, a sparrow across the river from The Barge side. Didn't see the end result. Fortunately!
Reply ID 40303
Found two slow worms under some paving that I was moving in my garden. So pretty, metallic goldy colour with dark copper bellies (if snakes have bellies???....and if that's the right spelling of the plural of belly!!!!) The blasted heron has pinched all seven of the fish in my pond - the pond has a log roll fence round it to keep my tortoise from an untimely watery death and I was told that this would prevent the herons from getting to the pond. Any suggestions? Please don't suggest a naff plastic heron - it would frighten the tortoise!
Reply ID 40310
quote:Try alligators, rather than fish.
Originally posted by Trisha
Found two slow worms under some paving that I was moving in my garden. So pretty, metallic goldy colour with dark copper bellies (if snakes have bellies???....and if that's the right spelling of the plural of belly!!!!) The blasted heron has pinched all seven of the fish in my pond - the pond has a log roll fence round it to keep my tortoise from an untimely watery death and I was told that this would prevent the herons from getting to the pond. Any suggestions? Please don't suggest a naff plastic heron - it would frighten the tortoise!
Reply ID 40311
Re-stocking the pond with Piranha should do the trick [:)]
Reply ID 40316
quote:Put netting over the pond.
Originally posted by Trisha
Found two slow worms under some paving that I was moving in my garden. So pretty, metallic goldy colour with dark copper bellies (if snakes have bellies???....and if that's the right spelling of the plural of belly!!!!) The blasted heron has pinched all seven of the fish in my pond - the pond has a log roll fence round it to keep my tortoise from an untimely watery death and I was told that this would prevent the herons from getting to the pond. Any suggestions? Please don't suggest a naff plastic heron - it would frighten the tortoise!
Reply ID 40335
quote:Slow worms are actually legless lizards and not snakes at all. They are a protected species, so look after those lovely creatures. You are lucky to have them [:)]
Originally posted by Trisha
Found two slow worms under some paving that I was moving in my garden. So pretty, metallic goldy colour with dark copper bellies (if snakes have bellies???....and if that's the right spelling of the plural of belly!!!!) The blasted heron has pinched all seven of the fish in my pond - the pond has a log roll fence round it to keep my tortoise from an untimely watery death and I was told that this would prevent the herons from getting to the pond. Any suggestions? Please don't suggest a naff plastic heron - it would frighten the tortoise!
Reply ID 40337
quote:Putting a low piece of garden wire around the edge of the pond stops them. Have it about 1-2ft high and they can't walk over it, and they don't like to land directly in the pond. We had a heron problem and it works for us. [8D]
Originally posted by Trisha
Any suggestions? Please don't suggest a naff plastic heron - it would frighten the tortoise!
Reply ID 40344
quote:I agree with DCI monkfish about the low wire. I've used this system for ages and now thankfully have no heron problem . I lost over a short period of time about 30 fish[:(] now I use green thin wire which they can't see (get it from a garden centre). Herons walk into ponds and as their legs bend from the knee joint forwards they can't lift them over the wire, simple, cheap and easy solution.[:)]
Originally posted by DCI monkfishquote:Putting a low piece of garden wire around the edge of the pond stops them. Have it about 1-2ft high and they can't walk over it, and they don't like to land directly in the pond. We had a heron problem and it works for us. [8D]
Originally posted by Trisha
Any suggestions? Please don't suggest a naff plastic heron - it would frighten the tortoise!
Reply ID 40971
I tried to bump an old Hertford Wildlife thread but it's been locked: http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=1526 The reason is, that some colleagues at work were talking about Hertfordshire Hunter spiders; Nora Batty scared the life out of me with posts about these horrors on the archived thread. My boss reckons that when she was a little girl some 40 years ago, she was photographed for the Guinness Book of Records with a dead specimen on her shoulder, her dad having found it in his watering can in Old Stevenage. Its leg span was about 9 inches. [:0] The picture was never published as it wasn't a record breaker but several of my colleagues are adamant that the Hertfordshire Hunter spider really exists and is unique to Herts! [:)] Quite how an arachnid with a brain the size of a full stop is able to observe county boundaries they were unable to explain! Anyway, there are several new and very knowledgeable members of these forums since we first discussed the terrifying prospect of huge biting spiders in the locality so I wonder if anyone can add anything further? [?] (On the subject of spiders biting - I thought no British spiders could bite but a member of staff at the Old Cross Tavern once showed me a bite on her leg which she sustained at home in Bengeo when she disturbed a large house spider and it ran up her trouser leg![:0][:(])
Reply ID 40975
quote:It may be just the name which is local to Hertfordshire. We used to call them wolf spiders when we lived in Essex. The spiders themselves looked just the same in both counties, though the Essex ones tended to wear heavier eye-shadow.
Originally posted by Rachel
I tried to bump an old Hertford Wildlife thread but it's been locked: http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=1526 The reason is, that some colleagues at work were talking about Hertfordshire Hunter spiders; Nora Batty scared the life out of me with posts about these horrors on the archived thread. My boss reckons that when she was a little girl some 40 years ago, she was photographed for the Guinness Book of Records with a dead specimen on her shoulder, her dad having found it in his watering can in Old Stevenage. Its leg span was about 9 inches. [:0] The picture was never published as it wasn't a record breaker but several of my colleagues are adamant that the Hertfordshire Hunter spider really exists and is unique to Herts! [:)] Quite how an arachnid with a brain the size of a full stop is able to observe county boundaries they were unable to explain! Anyway, there are several new and very knowledgeable members of these forums since we first discussed the terrifying prospect of huge biting spiders in the locality so I wonder if anyone can add anything further? [?] (On the subject of spiders biting - I thought no British spiders could bite but a member of staff at the Old Cross Tavern once showed me a bite on her leg which she sustained at home in Bengeo when she disturbed a large house spider and it ran up her trouser leg![:0][:(])
Reply ID 40979
All spiders can bite, but most can't puncture human skin. As an aside, anyone remember the Lee Evans sketch about the most venemous animal in the world being the common cranefly (Daddy long-legs to us)? Trouble is it has no teeth! Anyhoo - back to spiders, a pic of the European Wolf Spider. [img]http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u96/deeday4414/wolf.jpg[/img]
Reply ID 40980
quote:It's an urban myth, crane flies have no venom at all :)
Originally posted by arkwright
As an aside, anyone remember the Lee Evans sketch about the most venemous animal in the world being the common cranefly (Daddy long-legs to us)? Trouble is it has no teeth!
Reply ID 40981
Oh sorry, I thought Lee Evans was a botanist, not a comedian! [;)]
Reply ID 40986
quote:Thanks for the picture, Arkwright, although it made me feel quite queasy! [:)] So, just so I can be really clear about it - that mutha in the picture, the Wolf spider, is what some locals call a Hertfordshire Hunter? And is it one of the few spiders that can puncture human skin with a bite? [xx(] Has anyone reading this ever been bitten by a local spider? They surely don't bite very often, do they?
Originally posted by arkwright
All spiders can bite, but most can't puncture human skin. Anyhoo - back to spiders, a pic of the European Wolf Spider.
Reply ID 40987
The big spiders in my house don't look quite like this. Mine have darker, brown bodies and thinner legs. To take your mind off spiders Rachel, here's a little story to make you smile. I was driving along Church Road last weekend when I had to brake for a squirrel that had run out to inspect the body of a dead squirrel, obviously very recently killed. The squirrel seemed so upset by the body it completely ignored my tooting and I had to wait. I was telling this story to my younger son, who asked "Do you think it could have been his brother?" When I replied that I couldn't be sure he asked "Well, did they look alike?" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Reply ID 40990
quote:What amazes me is that, at the mere mention of the wolf spider, arkwrite just happened to have one instantly to hand.[:D] Relax Rachel. I've never known anyone be bitten by a spider in UK and I'm very, very old!
Originally posted by Rachelquote:Thanks for the picture, Arkwright, although it made me feel quite queasy! [:)] So, just so I can be really clear about it - that mutha in the picture, the Wolf spider, is what some locals call a Hertfordshire Hunter? And is it one of the few spiders that can puncture human skin with a bite? [xx(] Has anyone reading this ever been bitten by a local spider? They surely don't bite very often, do they?
Originally posted by arkwright
All spiders can bite, but most can't puncture human skin. Anyhoo - back to spiders, a pic of the European Wolf Spider.
Reply ID 40995
Probably this one Nora... http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u96/deeday4414/house-spider.jpg It's a European house spider. Rachel - don't fret, some people have an allergy to spider bites, but very, very rarely causes a reaction. [:D]
![http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u96/deeday4414/wolf.jpg[/img]](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u96/deeday4414/wolf.jpg[/img]){kind=link}
