RedKite

Seal Grey

Grey seals are rare worldwide but are quite common in the UK and Ireland.  They like sheltered rocky beaches and often mate on the same beaches for years.  They only have one pup that is creamy white it is weaned after about three weeks, sheds its fur and is ready to join the rest of the group in the sea.

Their main diet is fish, they like salmon and cod but also eat sea birds, squid and crabs.  The males mate with several females and can become quite possessive and territorial.  They have grey fur with some speckles, a thick layer of fat to protect them from the cold sea and an elongated face, almost horse like.  They have lovely dark brown eyes and long whiskers.  They are very inquisitive and look adorable. 

They are good swimmers and can stay under water for several minutes, they also stay perfectly still and upright in the water for a few mins to gain their bearing.  

 

Warblers

The broad-tailed warbler bird comes from Southern Africa, and is seen in abundance in this area.  It is about 17cm long  and gets its name because it has a lovely broad tail which is best seen in flight but can also be admired when they are perching on branches. 

They have small heads compared with the other birds that surround them, so that is one easy way to identify them. A creamy breast, brown  back  and a broad black tail that is tipped with light brown. 

They mainly eat insects and caterpillars which they find on the ground and in the trees.  They have few predators  and are not endangered .    They also spend a lot of their time in the grasses and this is a good place to find them, although you will need binoculars to see them.  

 

Honeyeater bird

The Honeyeater bird comes from Kebir Island in New Guinea .  It came by the name because it finds lots of flowers and takes their nectar.  It is quite adept and equipped to do this as it has an extra long thin tongue with bristles on the end that can be easily put into all the flowers nearby and collect their nectar.  And in the process of feeding itself the Honeyeaters pollinates most of the flowers so that they keep on reproducing for other years.

They can’t survive on nectar alone, so they also take insects that are in the trees and do like to eat the local fruit.

Surprisingly they do not live among the flowers and trees but prefer the cover and shelter of the jungle and this is where they build their nests and raise their young .

The Honeyeaters have black beaks, brown heads and body with a bright yellow speckled breast. They look quite sweet and their colourings blend in among the flowers and trees.

 

Peacocks

Peacocks are one of the most beautiful birds in the world.  They originate from Asia, the most famous one is the India Blue but there is also a fantastic green peacock.  They can be seen wondering around zoos and wildlife parks.  When they spread their tail feathers it is a sight to behold. 

If you have a large garden or live on a farm you can buy peacocks to keep as pets.  They make good pets because they rarely get ill and just need some shelter in the colder months.   Easy to feed and they usually stay within their territory.  You can find people who sell peacocks online. 

Peacocks have been prized pets and gifts for centuries, a pair were given to Rome and to Egypt as presents that symbolised goodwill between the nations.  It is definitely worth a trip to your local wildlife park to see these majestic birds.  

 

Bats and bat detector

Bats usually become active at night and like sheltered spaces like caves and roofs.  They eat flying insects such as moths that collect around a light.  Bats need to govern their way around in the dark.  The way they do this is to send out sounds that bounce back and then they can interpret the geography of the place they are in. 

They can be encouraged to live in bat boxes which can be bought from various places.  They need to be put quite high up on a tree. But it is a good way to give  bats confidence live your area.

Bats are intriguing curious creatures but are quite difficult to see at night.  Therefore, they have invented the bat detector which can be bought from Amazon and other stores.  What these devices do, that vary in price, is locate the bats for you and describe where they are.  It may then be possible to see one yourself.  The extra information the bat detector gives, make exploring for bats a fun occupation.