Coventry Telegraph - Wild Thing Blog

Highland Wild Fling

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:43:36 +0000

The Irwin family took a wild holiday to Glenigan on the North West Coast of Scotland just a ferry trip away from the Isle Of Skye.
This time I'm handing over to Katie Irwin (14) on work placement here this week - to share her experience.
Over to you Katie....

Great Tits fledge

Thu, 29 May 2008 08:28:16 +0000

I've never seen such an industrious pair of dedicated parents up close like my experience of the Great Tits choosing to nest in my garden

The Birds & Bees (and Bats!)

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:05:44 +0000

What a joy it's been this weekend with the glorious weather. We've taken two trips up to Brandon Marsh and really enjoyed them both.

Great Tit nesting

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:56:24 +0000

We put a bird box up on the willow tree in our garden and a Great Tit is buiding a nest in it

Any newts out there?

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:27:01 +0000

Well our quest to find evidence of geat crested newts at Wyken Slough was a real adventure at the weekend. Steve managed sink into a pond over his wellies but he carried on squelching and I carried on giggling.

Wild Events & Activities in Warwickshire

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:35:59 +0000

Calling all groups who are wild about all things wild. We want you to recruit volunteers, share your experiences and let us all know what's going on by posting your wild life and conservation events on this blog
So I'll kick off by waving a 'walking and working' ST GEORGE'S DAY flag...

In search of newts

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:49:52 +0000

We've made a bit of a resolution this year - now that our little Tom is coming up to two years old and can stay with Nanny or Aunty Loz - that we are going to 'do our bit' for the Wildlife Trust and do some volunteering. Steve and I went along to a listed event at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre to learn about surveying amphibians in Warwickshire. So this weekend, armed with our new found knowledge, an identification guide and certificate as an accredited agent, we are going newt & frog hunting at our local pond.
Haven't times changed? - when I was a kid, I kept newts in a giant pickled onion jar - now they are a protected species , not to be handled.
I'll let you know how we get on, but in the meantime, visit the WWT or WART website (listed in the 'we read' panel), get some details and get involved. Share your volunteering experiences with us in the blog.

Monster on the loose

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:35:24 +0000

We had a bit of a fright yesterday afternoon when we spotted Bosky's door open in our hallway. Bosky is a 3 foot long Bosc monitor lizard - and she'd manage to escape in the house!

Thankfully she hadn't gone too far - she's not that quick and Steve found her behind the kitchen plinth - tongue flicking and bright eyed.

He grabbed hold of her and whisked her up to the bath where she had a swim for half an hour while we cleaned out her viv.

Cammy the Chameleon

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:53:25 +0000

Reptiles make great pets - honest! No white hairs on your clothes or carpets - no smell (providing you keep their vivariums nice and clean) and they can be real characters!
Anyone coming to the Irwin House may think they've stepped into 'club tropicana' - the chirruping sound of crickets that (unfortunately for them) are the staple diet of three of the lizards we keep.

Blanket of Bluebells

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:19:46 +0000

At last - don't you just love this time of year? There is no image more beautiful than the Warwickshire countryside about to yield it's spring time burst of colour.

Daffodils are dancing in the sharp winds, first green leaves are popping on barren branches - but in a couple of weeks time is the greatest springtime spectacle of them all - a carpet of bluebells in the Warwickshire woodlands.