Country File

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I aim at em   

[Steve J]

A few signs of the hedgehog in the garden, but no sightings as yet. Thank God we've got some dry weather forecast for the next week or two, as we've had over double our normal rainfall for March here in Bristol. Lot's of stuff raring to start growing and hopefully the forcest sun will really get them going...

[Gwydion]

I stopped for one on the road round the corner from home on Thursday night. Daft thing did the usual and froze in the  middle of the road in the lights. Turned them off and it uncurled and legged it across to nearby gardens, safe and sound. Might be one of ours - we have a family in the bushes at the bottom of the garden.

[Heedless Horseman]

Long ago, staggering back from pub, saw  H'hog curled up in road. Thought I'd help it to roadside... then it's guts fell out!   
In 43 yrs driving, have only once hit anything. Rabbit ran from hedge... straight under wheel. Bye, Hazel. 

[John Cook]

Checked my hedgehog boxes this weekend.  No evidence that they'd been used over the winter.  None last year either and I haven't seen a sign of hedgehog for three years now.  We had up to five coming for a feed at one time and all the boxes were always occupied.  All a bit sad really.

[Heedless Horseman]

Last year, at least 2 'pairs' or 'parent with young'. Plus 'singles, who might have been same critters. Big... and medium or little. Roadkill was a Big.
I managed to site 3 main boxes under bushes which are rather difficult to access... Getting OLD!...and then covered with brush/branches... 'might' check and cleanout... sometime!
At least 1 Fox feeding. Have not seen Red Squirrels for several years... but tree felling has prob destroyed 'route'... and 'Pox' now in locality.
Once knew someome who hit a Badger. Did NOT do car much good... but, not Badger, either!

[Heedless Horseman]

Laugh Out F Loud! Late last night and V tired, only enough 'ready use' kibble for two of four bowls usually out for Foxes / H'Hogs. Morning... empty, of course... but the unused bowls had both been crapped in by different critters! Who says critters do not have an evil sense of humour? 

[Heedless Horseman]

Oh God. Nice day... so Venture across bridge into 'back' first time this Year! Some surviving Oxlips and some Wood Anemonies, Fritillaries and leaves for a few Bluebells.. but all getting swamped by Damn Wild Garlic! Place used to be covered in Celandines! DO NOT import Wild Garlic! Still... been across, to have a look.

[Gwydion]

Take revenge! Eat them!
Very nice in a pesto with those pine nuts from a few weeks ago.
(Just make sure they aren't Lily of the Valley - poisonous - a quick crush of a leaf and the smell should confirm what you've got!)
Rainy/windy here.  

[Steve J]

Well the tulips are looking lovely and have somehow survived the horrible gale force wind and rain we are having here. It certainly doesn't feel Spring like at all. To make things worse SWMBO is watching the tennis from Monte Carlo and the weather looks fantastic!

[Orcs]

No Hedgehogs near us, we have a badger sett over the road 

[Heedless Horseman]

No evidence of Badgers in immediate locality. Did think that I may have seen back end of one disappearing round corner of house, long ago and seen crossing road in distance about 1/2 mile away. When younger, patrolled some Nature Reserves, one of which had a 'secret' Sett... but I left before going on a 'watch'.

[Steve J]

Saw the first Swallow whilst out on a walk near to Westonbirt Arboretum, then another Red Kite on the Cotswold Edge by Bristol .

[John Cook]

Saw the first Swallow whilst out on a walk near to Westonbirt Arboretum, then another Red Kite on the Cotswold Edge by Bristol .

Made friends with a Robin today while doing a bit of weeding.  Musy have chicks nearby as he flew away with a beakful of worms. Close enough to reach out and touch him (on reflection I have no idea of its sex or if there was a pair taking turns toing and froing).  Sat in the conserservatory later with a cuppa and watched a couple of Red Kites circling overhead - they have really made a come back over the past few years.

[Steve J]

I saw a Red Kite over Downham Market a few years ago, which surprised me, but in a nice way. Great to see them making a come back in the same way Buzzards did round here in Bristol some 20 years ago.

[Heedless Horseman]

Woken by Chaffinch repeatedly bashing itself against window. One or more used to do this several years ago. Probably battered itself to death as Chaffinches have been absent since. I think they see reflection as a rival and attack. None of the other birds seem to do this.
Warmish, sunny day today... Saturday was wet.

[Elliesdad]

On Friday I saw a heron land on the hedge at the side of our garden - presumably deciding which of the local fishponds it needed to "visit". My wife saw it again yesterday.
I recall that 30+ years ago my father eventually had to cover the top of his pond with mesh, as the heron kept turning up to take the fish. Whether the current heron(s) is part of the same f"family" I don't know.

Cheers,

Geoff

[Leon]

On Friday I saw a heron land on the hedge at the side of our garden - presumably deciding which of the local fishponds it needed to "visit". My wife saw it again yesterday.
I recall that 30+ years ago my father eventually had to cover the top of his pond with mesh, as the heron kept turning up to take the fish. Whether the current heron(s) is part of the same f"family" I don't know.

We used to have one come to our pond in Cornwall and take the fish.  The pond was right outside the dining room window so if you were careful you could 'sneak' up and have a look at the bird close-up.  They're surprisingly big things and don't half panic when they suddenly spot you in the window!

We had an old metal gate over the top of the pond to try and thwart his attempts but he still grabbed the fish through the bars of it.

[Techno 3]

Heard them flying over loads of times..But for the first time, I've noticed, we had a couple of Canada Geese ambling around in one of our fields.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Get lots of geese overflying, also some winter in Birkenhead Park.