I'm interested on folks' opinions on the weather and landscape when out tracking and watching wildlife.
I'll give 2 examples I have noticed.
In a field close to me I saw 4 roe deer feeding one morning on the new crop shoots. As I had the dogs with me, as usual, the deer saw us and ran off. I would have guessed, directly away into some woodland behind, but they actually headed into the field towards me, then veered right, with a minute they had disappeared from sight. I then realised that the field which looked flat was not but dropped away enough for them not to beseen from where I was standing. they then headed down the field, behind a hedge and out of sight for most of the time.
I thought this remarkable foresight by the deer as they knew the best direction to go to ensure safety.
the second I've noticed is when the cold wind is blowing animals will congregate where the warmth is. As with the deer above they were sheltered from a cold westerly, by the woods, and they will only feed in this field durring daylight when the wind is in the west.
small birds, prone to the cold, will seek out gullies and sunny spots to feed in this winter weather. so now if I want to observe long tail tits, the best time is late afternoon and if it's sunny but cold, down in a south facing copse of trees, that is sheltered for them.
anyway just 2 examples and I hope I made myself clear, of looking at the landscape and weather and trying to predict where wildlife maybe.
any more?
I'll give 2 examples I have noticed.
In a field close to me I saw 4 roe deer feeding one morning on the new crop shoots. As I had the dogs with me, as usual, the deer saw us and ran off. I would have guessed, directly away into some woodland behind, but they actually headed into the field towards me, then veered right, with a minute they had disappeared from sight. I then realised that the field which looked flat was not but dropped away enough for them not to beseen from where I was standing. they then headed down the field, behind a hedge and out of sight for most of the time.
I thought this remarkable foresight by the deer as they knew the best direction to go to ensure safety.
the second I've noticed is when the cold wind is blowing animals will congregate where the warmth is. As with the deer above they were sheltered from a cold westerly, by the woods, and they will only feed in this field durring daylight when the wind is in the west.
small birds, prone to the cold, will seek out gullies and sunny spots to feed in this winter weather. so now if I want to observe long tail tits, the best time is late afternoon and if it's sunny but cold, down in a south facing copse of trees, that is sheltered for them.
anyway just 2 examples and I hope I made myself clear, of looking at the landscape and weather and trying to predict where wildlife maybe.
any more?
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