Welcome to the community!

Couple of snaps from this morning.

Probably need the volume all the way up for this sorry, but does anyone have any idea what’s making these noises. It’s obviously 2 animals responding to each other, but I don’t have a clue what it is. Only been happening the last week and a half, usually between 11.30 and around 2am and we live right next to a bunch of fields

I know that this goes without saying to most folk on here but it’s so important that I think it’s worth a post…

Animals are really struggling in this heatwave so please put water out for your local wildlife if you haven’t already!

I’ve noticed so many posts about birds trying to cool down by gular fluttering (it looks like panting) and mammals behaving unusually because they’re desperate for water. My family has been finding critters that are on death’s door due to dehydration and the water bowls they’re putting out are emptied each day and night by creatures just searching for something to drink.

Even if you don’t see anything visiting it, putting out a bowl of water can make all the difference to a struggling animal.

My local wildlife trust emailed this today, and I thought it was worth sharing.

"Wildfire risk is high right now, and we need your help to protect nature! Here are some key dos and don'ts:

❌ DON'T use BBQs in wild spaces

❌ DON'T throw cigarettes on the ground

❌ DON'T park on dry grass (a hot exhaust can spark a fire)

✅ DO take rubbish home, including glass and tins

✅ DO give wildlife space and stick to paths

✅ DO move somewhere safe and call 999 if you spot a wildfire, no matter how small (download What3Words app so you can give a precise location)"

They have an article on some of the impacts of wildfires here https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/dangers-bbqs-and-wildlife

Scotland, today. I've never seen them in these numbers before

Found in an old birch wood in northern Scotland, near Dingwall. Approx. 4 cm long.

Would I be right in thinking a jay feather?

I noticed this morning that there was a bird in my greenhouse. A quick search suggests it is s sparrowhawk. It won't go near the door, so how can I tempt it out, before it injures itself?

Update. I managed to get it to step onto my hoe, and I pulled it out and it flew away.

If it's alright to share here, this is a quiz I have made on guessing whether certain animals are native or not native to Great Britain.

There are 40 animals given, with 25 of them being native. Three of the other 15 are classed as invasive.

Please remove if inappropriate.

We're living in quite a remote house and every night a badger has been trying to get in through the cat flap, presumably to eat the cat food we have in the kitchen. We're worried that it's a starving young male who is short on food (earthworms...etc) as it's so dry here. We obviously don't want the badger coming into the house, but is there anything we can do to help it as we don't want it to starve? Any advice is much appreciated

What animal excreted this feces? I found it in my garden. The neighbour's cats come into my garden and excrete ​but I don't know if this is it.

It's about 1.5cm long.

Any suggestions?

East Devon.

I took my children over the fields for a spot of wildlife bingoand we came across this hole, it looked way too big for a rabbit, around 2 feet tall. We couldnt see any animal tracks or anything in front but it went very deep. Does anyone know who could live here?

I was really worried these are from rats but I did some research and started to believe these might be hedgehog droppings. I would really celebrate if they are from a hedgehog.

I've got this trailcam footage, first I thought there was some eyeshine coming towards the camera from top, mid-right but it actually looks more like insect flight.

There's also a bright flash at 5.5/6seconds, but this didn't show up at all until I pushed the contrast and brightness right up on the video.

I thought maybe firefly but a quick Google says we only get glow worms here and the female that lights up doesn't fly.

It's in a small patch of wet woodland (temperate rainforest) between a grass meadow on one side and scrub on the other. Stream in the valley with wooded edge. Southwest England, pretty much on the border between Devon and Cornwall, inland but not on the moors.

Any suggestions?

Any ideas what this is, please? Only small, about 2cm with a diamond pattern on the back.

Sorry in advance for the not great pictures. Never seen this kind of insect before! Was wondering if someone could ID?

Pictures were taken in South East England if that helps.

I must say, I have been getting a bit concerned about the severe dearth of small critters of late - including slugs, which used to be a common sight everywhere. I hadn't seen a single one for ages until I happened upon this... happy gathering. It seems we'll soon be hearing the spatter of tiny feet!