Gladys Posted July 7, 2023 Share Posted July 7, 2023 2 hours ago, mollag said: From their habit of trailing the herring fleet to scavange ?, often mixed up with the Common or black backed Gull, they are not a diving/ fishing seabird, they are omnivorous scavengers. The food taken by gulls includes fish and marine and freshwater invertebrates, both alive and already dead; terrestrial arthropods and invertebrates such as insects and earthworms; rodents, eggs, carrion, offal, reptiles, amphibians, seeds, fruit, human refuse, and even other birds. The name query was meant to be ironic. I also understand that they are scavengers. The point I was making was that they switched to scavenging on land because man provided them with scaveninging opportunities and so have become a 'nuisance' on land. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollag Posted July 7, 2023 Author Share Posted July 7, 2023 7 hours ago, Gladys said: The name query was meant to be ironic. I also understand that they are scavengers. The point I was making was that they switched to scavenging on land because man provided them with scaveninging opportunities and so have become a 'nuisance' on land. But pre Man, the population level was a natural order, they would rarely venture inland, going back to those levels would suit me fine, I have never been harrased at my gate by a Gannet, Cormorant, Shag or Puffin, never see a Gulimot over Somerset Road and Shearwaters neither, all these species get along without the need to intimidate folk in town. I noticed some 2 "Dears" having a gossip in the lane at Somerset Square recently, they had to take shelter under the Telecom overhead wires due to gull attacks, not right IMHO 😒 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Some good news? https://gef.im/news/environment/whale-spottings-a-good-sign-for-sea-life-44358/ So it seems we have a resident Humpback whale now. A few sightings since the summer and a (slightly worryingly close to the coast) sighting up at Cranstal (between Ramsey and the Pt of Ayre) at the weekend. Nobody has got a clear shot of it's tail flukes yet, so can't say for certain it's the same one, but it would probably make sense. As noted in this thread earlier, it's probably chasing the re-invigorated Herring stocks that spawn up the East coast. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 14 minutes ago, The Phantom said: Some good news? https://gef.im/news/environment/whale-spottings-a-good-sign-for-sea-life-44358/ So it seems we have a resident Humpback whale now. A few sightings since the summer and a (slightly worryingly close to the coast) sighting up at Cranstal (between Ramsey and the Pt of Ayre) at the weekend. Nobody has got a clear shot of it's tail flukes yet, so can't say for certain it's the same one, but it would probably make sense. As noted in this thread earlier, it's probably chasing the re-invigorated Herring stocks that spawn up the East coast. It'll be a Ramsey lass engaging in some invigorating swimming exercise. Probably got lost during the New Year Dip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Mainwaring Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 6 minutes ago, Non-Believer said: It'll be a Ramsey lass engaging in some invigorating swimming exercise. Probably got lost during the New Year Dip. Should be able to confirm if you get get a good look at the size and shape of her blowhole. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 On 7/7/2023 at 5:29 PM, mollag said: I have never been harrased at my gate by a Gannet, Cormorant, Shag or Puffin, never see a Gulimot over Somerset Road and Shearwaters neither, all these species get along without the need to intimidate folk in town. I've been harassed at my gate for a shag. You like whales? Wanna Humpback at my place? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two-lane Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Has anyone made any audio recordings - the Humpbacks, not Ramsey lasses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 7 minutes ago, Two-lane said: Has anyone made any audio recordings - the Humpbacks, not Ramsey lasses. Nah, no one has got close to them (on a boat). All the sightings thus far that I'm aware of, have been from the shore and usually quite far away. Plus they don't sing all the time and I doubt if anyone has a hydrophone to hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolley Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Probably just the Blue Tits on tour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTeapot Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago On 7/5/2023 at 9:38 PM, TheTeapot said: Excited for a real manx kipper. FUCK YES!! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auntie Depressant Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 24 minutes ago, TheTeapot said: FUCK YES!! They look extremely good. We need a review when you’ve eaten them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omobono Posted 49 minutes ago Share Posted 49 minutes ago Local herring being caught this week thanks to a £150k subsidy from government are too small for kippering they are in the fish shops for £8 a kilo but after they are cleaned very little flesh on them mostly bones , they look more like sprats , my fishing expert says they will be frozen and used for Lobster pot bait as there really is no viable market for them , you have to ask yourself is this the best way to spend taxpayers money probably catching immature herring that should really be left to get big enough to breed and reproduce , 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted 24 minutes ago Share Posted 24 minutes ago 24 minutes ago, Omobono said: ...you have to ask yourself is this the best way to spend taxpayers money probably catching immature herring that should really be left to get big enough to breed and reproduce , Thought it was an offence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted 16 minutes ago Share Posted 16 minutes ago (edited) 7 minutes ago, Albert Tatlock said: Thought it was an offence? Isn't there a net gauge applied? Seems mad to reward taking the young fish when trying to restore the stock. Would add that really fresh herring is the best fish, matched only by fresh mackerel. There was a clip on FB of sprats washing up alive in the tide at the Point of Ayre. Is that normal? Edited 14 minutes ago by Gladys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
germann Posted 11 minutes ago Share Posted 11 minutes ago Any local herring caught now will be spent. Very little meat or oil. Not suitable for kippering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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