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StephOC

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Everything posted by StephOC

  1. StephOC
    I've also seen rabbits, foxes and badgers come out of the same sett. If you look really closely at the entrances (and maybe rake around in the soil) there will be the odd hair, you may already know this, but you can tell if its badger even if its discoloured and old, by roling it between your fingers - badger hair isn't round, it's more like a triangle shape and you can feel this.
  2. StephOC
    Hi Kay, Cracking set of pictures again! first fly, not sure, then the green one is a sheild bug. I don't know my snails... Hoverfly of some sort And Bombus hortorum - the garden bumblebee. A lovely bumblebee! Really like that you can see it extending its tounge. Will try and look up the species of the other photos later on if I get time.
  3. StephOC
    All pretty, but I like the ones of your insects better - more up my street!
  4. StephOC
    Sorry Lurchergirl, there wasn't any cause to throw a wee rant in there ~ of course you already knew that, sounded like a tit eh? Doh!
  5. StephOC
    Your dogs look stunning, but in my opinion, if you going to take dogs anywhere wheres there's sheep at this time of year, they ought to be kept quiet and very close at heel.
  6. StephOC
    Hi Kay, Another fine set of photos! Your bumblebee is The Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) [its the one I'll be out catching tomorrow!] The spider is some sort of hunting spider, couldn't tell you species. Recognised the fly, but had to look it up. Its a St. Mark's-fly ~ "Named because it often appears close to St. Mark's Day, April 25th" Isn't that cool? - its the 26th Today! (Well thats one species thats been less effected by climate change.)
  7. StephOC
    Got bitten by a big red dog last summer - was taking the farm dog out for a stroll - in the fields belonging to the farm - and this big rhodesian ridgeback or similar comes up from nowhere growling - I saw the top of a woman's head in the field, shouted her to get her dog under control, she called him, he didn't listen and I ended up on the floor, holding onto farm dog, trying to kick S**T out of other one - one boot landed square on it and it finally went back to the woman - and get this - she didn't even ask if I was OK, just walked off. And I was proper shocked, took a few mins later for
  8. StephOC
    Welsh ponies like this beauty get my vote as best 1st kids ponies around, thats fantastic! (Wish I got ponies for working on the farm!)
  9. StephOC

    WORK

    StephOC replied to torchey's topic in General Talk

    I Research bumblebees... and I'm crazy busy ~ I'm setting up an experiment and probably won't be home till 4am, if at all!
  10. StephOC
    Lovely pictures Kay. The top one is a bumblebee - the Common Carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) rest are a hoverfly, but couldn't tell you species I'm not too hot on hoverfly ID.
  11. StephOC
    I let one of my jills sniff my nose last summer, and she nipped the bit right between my nostrills!!! (Stupid move!) And was also bitten by a rabbit last year. It bit the side of my hand - I screamed (And maybe might have uttered a few swear words?) but it sort of locked on, took the guy I was out with what felt like ages to get it off, but was prob only 20seconds! Hurt A LOT, but doesn't seem to have scared. Every one told me before I got them that that ferrets bite, but mine never have (well, she "did do the nose...") Even when my fingers are covered in blood, they just lick it off or
  12. StephOC
    This may not be much use, but I didn't know what air riffle I wanted for Christmas, and when I started seeing the different sorts and pricetags of £300+ it seemed like a lot of money for something I din't know anything about. So I asked around and got given 2 and a loan of one, from really unlikely people. I know thats a bit too jammy, but if you have any friends or family, (or maybe someone on here?) who'd lend you theirs to try out, or take you out with them when they go shooting stuff, you might get to know what suits you a bit better first and be able to make a slightly more informed ch
  13. StephOC
    I started ferretting last May. Didn't know any better, the guy who showed me the ropes said I'd get more in the winter, but I didn't know the summer was a taboo. But I will carry on throughout the year again, whenever I have time to get out. I think its ok to kill baby animals. I'm sure it'll have been said on here before, but is there a season for rats? As far as I'm concerned, rabbits are pests, I don't want to cause unnecessary suffering, but a dead pregnant doe is 8 dead pests as far as I'm concerned, a whole lot of wheat shoots saved, and not something to be guilty or sad about.
  14. StephOC
    My spaniel was trained by the MOD to sniff out bumblebee nests to help with my work. Thats a hard job it seems, the cover by mid summer prevents him being very much use. He's good company, but not much use for my hunting, likes going ferreting, will sit quietly while I set nets and loves watching the netted holes for bolting rabbits, but he marks 90% of all the burrows, even if there's no bunnies home. He's very gentle with the ferrets, and sometimes helps me find them if they've wandered away. Going back to the original post...I'm not sure if Springers are especially versitile. I think m
  15. StephOC
    Definately a longhorn beetle. Couldn't tell you species.
  16. StephOC
    That set up looks really cool! I like that its not a straight run... wondering if I can make something similar... highly doubt it!
  17. StephOC
    My landlady convinced me to race my ferrets at the village gala this May - (She is on the council and does have to put up with the ferrets in her barn and rabbit skins filling up the dustbin so its only fair I have loads of bits of pipe and things, which the ferrets are used to charging around. Not sure I can come up with anything as tidy as in some of the pictures I've seen on the internet, (and I might only aim for 2 racing lanes), but I do hope folk will like it and it'll make a few quid for the church roof or whatever their collecting for! If anyone lives near Stirling/Hillfoo
  18. StephOC
    I have 2 average jills which work ok, and one thats fat. She quite often pulls the nets down which is a pain. I've wondered about people who prefer hobs for working as surely they do this too? Will be very interesting to see what people say.
  19. StephOC
    I'm know nothing about lurchers, but can fully recommend the springer bike bar link thing. Its so cool how little effect your dog has over your speed/dirrection with this thing! Try this link http://www.springer-uk.com/general.html I have a English springer spaniel who has to be tired out, I took him out every day for 20 mins or so and after a few days checked his paws over - his claws were work right down to the quick! I felt terrible - he never showed any sign of being tired, limping, or unwilling to go out with the bike...So I rested him for a few days and then bought him little dogg
  20. StephOC
    I've only had ferrets for a year, so am no expert, but I don't think this behaviour is a problem. One of my jills, Penelope, always does this as soon as I walk into the barn and whistle for my dog. She runs laps round all the levels of the cage, and stores food in the dark places or bed. The other two polecats, Bridget and Anoria, will barely wake up, maybe wander around a bit, and never store food. I got them from different places, so could be a learnt behaviour. They all seem to be in good health, maybe a bit over weight, but glossy coats and alert when hunting. Even the fat one, A
  21. StephOC
    Would like to know more about them! Thinking of some particuarly nonchalant grey squirrels and bunnies!
  22. StephOC
    Can you kill a rabbit with one of these things? How close do you need to be?
  23. StephOC
    Hi, Never kept chickens quite like that, but think it may be a coachin or cochin or something that sounds similar..? Not sure though, am no expert!
  24. StephOC
    Hi everyone, thanks a lot for your replies. I've just bought a MK3 from IanB's contact. Sighthound - I have permission at Stirling Uni campus which is totally overrun... I have to be quiet about it - (no guns or dogs), must be away before 8am, (which means I'm into my 3rd coffee already today!) oh, and have to stay away from halls and any folk. How come you don't ferret it any more? I know other people do - (anyone else on here?) - I've seen where warrens have been dug up and replaced. I also have half of Dumyat, 2 farms >1000acres and some smaller fields and bits... can't wait t
  25. StephOC
    Thanks Stubby! It looks dead good - can't wait to get one!
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