I used to climb at Symonds Yat a fair bit and loved a bit of peregrine spotting on the way back from the crags. 
Also; Kestrels are ace.

Bristol Zoo now has DINOSAURS.

Anyone watching Winterwatch, or is it just me? Chris Packham know his stuff and I quite like the chap. Have bumped into him a couple of times in the New Forest on early morning deer viewings - yes I'm that sad. Please bring back Kate Humble though as I cannot cope with Michaela Strachan.

I think they might be going for the male teenager audience this series, but I'm only basing this assumption on the number of comments like, "speaking of fur, have a look at our beavers."

owls seconded

I really like owls - my favourite animal if it's sensible for a 46 year old to have such a thing.

motherfuckin jimmy

aww yeaahhhh

She's gettin your respect and then some! I hope the wife and kids are doing grand

Jimmy The Lips wrote:

never gets old.

Don't have to go far from my house to find yourself in the country.  The other week I was heading down some back road when a buzzard flew out of the long grass at the side of the road with a small mammal in its grip.  Very cool.

I also had a moment with a badger while I was drunk.  It wandered out of a bush on the other side of the road, wandered in front of me then stopped to look me up and down.  I nodded, he nodded back (I may have imagined this bit) and he went about his business.  I think he was wearing a bowler hat.

Favourite moment though was when dropping a friend off at night.  While driving down a back road I looked round to speak to her and noticed a deer running alongside the car.  It was close enough to brush against us.  When I looked back to the road I saw a few running in front of us and another just outside my driver's side window.  I slowed down and let them get out the way.  Was very cool.

That's exceedingly awesome.

I like deer

g.man

There's been a lot of talk about seagulls in the north east of Scotland. We have a massive population here, and if you believe the reports, they're getting increasingly aggressive. People are calling for a cull. I have very mixed feelings about this.

My initial response is that things aren't as bad as people make out. On three or four occasions in the last few months one of my duties has been to stand outside the main McDonald's in Aberdeen, between three and four in the morning on Saturday and Sunday, as it gets busy after the clubs close. I've seen people squealing and shouting because a seagull came within ten feet of them to grab some food on the ground, claiming that the birds are a ridiculous pest, and aggressive. I don't know if it's part of the OTT culture of young people, jumping on a bandwagon, or if their perception of threat is that poorly coordinated. (I haven't taken many notes on the correlation between these people, and the ones who are spending so much time wondering why the Police might be here, they don't see the two guys squaring up over a perceived slight.)

My other thoughts are in conflict with each other. One side of me questions who we think we are to decide how large different species' populations should be. I saw someone complaining about gulls at a football match, and calling for a cull. So, an animal's need to eat slightly marred your entertainment? Tough. On the other hand, if a species has become more abundant than it would naturally, through our abuse and negligence, isn't it up to us to do something about it?

Aberdeen Football Club's statement on Friday highlighted what they were doing to minimise gull presence at matches, but put a fair share of responsibility back with the supporters; if you don't leave so much food lying around (and at those prices, I'd love to know who's throwing it away) then it's a less attractive proposition for the gulls.

In balance, while I agree with implementing deterrents, I don't think we have a right to cull any animal. We only have a responsibility if we caused an overpopulation, and that in turn is having a negative effect on any species other than us.

Indeed they do...

Particularly good when you remember he plays on the wing

It's true, he's pretty talonted.