Country File

[Leon]

I love the buzzards, we used to get a family of them overhead almost daily when we lived in Cornwall but we don't see many up here in the north-east.  A few kites here and there and sparrow hawks are quite common when we get out into the countryside. 

We've had butterflies in the garden this summer but I've not kept a proper tally list sadly.  Cabbage whites, peacocks and a few red admirals I think.  We had a couple of dragonflies as well which was nice, not had those before.

[sultanbev]

Any suggestions.  I have thought of Claymores already but nothing, even on Ebay:D   

At out community garden we have CDs hanging on strings from plastic tubing hoops at the end of the raised beds. Apparently the CD twirling in the wind scares the cat off enough to stop them pooping in the raised bed, or that the see their reflection in the disc and thinks it's another cat and scarper. Seems to work!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

There's at least three owls,bats, wrens, kingfisher, heron, deer red kites and kestrel on my local dog walk.
Someone near me saw an otter recently too.

[Heedless Horseman]

There's at least three owls,bats, wrens, kingfisher, heron, deer red kites and kestrel on my local dog walk.
Someone near me saw an otter recently too.

Owls / Bats around. Wrens nest in garden. Have seen Kingfisher and Otters in local river. Herons... or maybe Dragonfly larvae... did for Pond Goldfish long ago! Herons... suddenly this B****y BIG THING takes off nearby! Wump! Wump! Wump! LOL.

Sadness about people, myself inc. Clearing out Ma's stuff... saved some small china bird statuettes. Thought I would gift to local bloke into collecting such.... really into small birds. Chatting, thereafter, he proudly recounted that Sparrowhawk had flown into window and was lying stunned... so he raced out... and stomped on it's head.
I cannot fathom some people. 

[Heedless Horseman]

Berries in 2022. Just wondering what UK berry supply like around UK this year?
Not all that much around locally... S Northumberland.
Brambles / Blackberries were not up to some years. Rosehips vary... some smallish. Not much on Hawthorns but Rowans plentiful. Some on Hollys.
In garden Cotoneasters have loads but not a lot on Berberis.

[Elliesdad]

A caterpillar crawling across the pavement whilst I was walking the dogs a couple of days ago. I'd have thought it waaaayyy too cold. Ah well....

[Heedless Horseman]

A caterpillar crawling across the pavement whilst I was walking the dogs a couple of days ago. I'd have thought it waaaayyy too cold. Ah well....

Memory from long ago. Newly built 'Middle' school had areas of tall weeds. Not sure whether weeds scythed... but think weed killered. Many Hundreds of green Caterpillars trying to cross tarmac 'courts' to find refuge. Sad. 

[Heedless Horseman]

Curious? Are Your Hedgehogs still active? Have not seen for a while... but 'Poo'! Think a bit early for hibernation... will still want food... something clears bowls... but probably Foxes, Cats or Rats!

[Gwydion]

They are here - massive one ran past the side door the other night just as I was letting the cat out, scared the living daylights out of the moggy! Hoping it's the young one I saved from a drain about eighteen months ago all grown up. We have several though, kept them in water during the summer when the normal sources were drying up. Nice to see them thriving (no slug pellets or any noxious chemicals in our garden and lots of undergrowth - neighbours hate me! )

[John Cook]

Curious? Are Your Hedgehogs still active? Have not seen for a while... but 'Poo'! Think a bit early for hibernation... will still want food... something clears bowls... but probably Foxes, Cats or Rats!

We had five hedgehogs a few years ago, and three boxes that were all occupied during the winter.  The population has slowly decreased such that we saw none this summer, no food was taken and there were no tell-tale droppings, and none of the boxes were occupied over winter.  I've left the boxes out but I'm not hopeful.

[Steve J]

I saw some poo last week, but nothing since. At least the Red Admirals are still active, which is good to see.

[Big Insect]

Berries in 2022. Just wondering what UK berry supply like around UK this year?
Not all that much around locally... S Northumberland.
Brambles / Blackberries were not up to some years. Rosehips vary... some smallish. Not much on Hawthorns but Rowans plentiful. Some on Hollys.
In garden Cotoneasters have loads but not a lot on Berberis.

Massive crop of Slow berries around us in the countryside around Bristol & Bath.
Daughter no1 picked a load and put them in the freezer ahead of making Slow Gin. As it looks to be unlikely we will be getting frost any time soon.
I have fox on the allotment - young(ish) one - who sits about 10 feet away from me as I dig. He then moves in and eats the worms and slugs. I just wish he'd up his game and eat the rat that is living under my shed, that ate 1/3rd of my broad bean crop this year   

[Gwydion]

Borrow a terrier - no more rats. Probably no more allotment either, but you know, eggs, omelettes.

[Heedless Horseman]

Used to be Guy at work who Stank of Ferrets! Useful, maybe? LOL! 

[Techno 3]

Rats ?...I just give them lead poisoning, through the cranium. They don't seem to like that.