out for a stroll

fox crossing

near the zebra?

meal times

breakfast

 

lunch

wild life

On Penny's Piece this morning

on the mend

Our hedgehog is definitely on the mend, eating and drinking and doing a bit of stomping about (and increasingly ignoring us). Still not quite sure it is 100%, but we will release it late tonight if all seems OK.
But sadly not on the mend enough. He gradually became more withdrawn and listless. He was taken to our nearest vet this morning where he was found to be very anaemic and emaciated. The state of his teeth suggested he was an elderly hedgehog. He died under an anaesthetic  while being examined with a view to treatment with antibiotics and steroids.

hedgehog day 2

I think we are going to be OK. We have moved out of the box, had something to eat and drink, and used the toilet facilities. If all is well he can be released tomorrow.

hedgehog day

We have seen plenty of hedgehogs in the grounds recently but never during the day. This hedgehog was found curled up out in the open at midday, and that usually means something is wrong. There were no external signs of injury fortunately. After checking with St Tiggywinkles (see link), we placed it in a cardboard box with some hedgehog food (which of course we have to hand), and some water. In the absence of a local wildlife hospital, the emergency vet recommended keeping it safe for 24 hours and then releasing it back into the garden. We shall see. These situations are strangely disarming.

two is a surprise

Spot often finds one hedgehog in the garden, and has learnt to leave them alone, but this is the first time we have seen two at the same time. Our garden has become very hedgehog friendly (apart from the occasional unwanted move to another location by Spot) probably because we do not use slug pellets, and there are plenty of wood piles to provide shelter.

out with the clouts

The hawthorn is out!

and nothing goes to waste around here, exotic fallen Camelia flower tea

morning prayers

rabbit at prayers this morning, and this afternoon a visitation by a small flock of goldfinches. Goldfinches form flocks in the winter but are meant to be fiercely competitive  in the breeding season, so it is surprising to see so many at the same time now.

bit of a stretch

Even by our standards this was a bit of a crowd. The squirrel (who looks very brown for a grey) is the new kid on the block, and the two jackdaws were most displeased and tried to drive him away, whilst the rook and the pigeon looked on.

reindeer

 

some wild life on the road around the island of Kvaløya

 

the white tailed sea eagle (see link)

just missed

It was extremely wet and windy yesterday!

still shell shocked, and hanging on for dear life, or like grim death. (It is interesting that these two similes have the same meaning).

cool as a rabbit

a fox trying to look innocent stalking rabbits, and a young blackbird unflustered by the camera

guest appearance

It seems that everyone is keen to appear on Spot's blog, including this visiting prince looking for his princess. This was a large and vigorous common frog (identified by the black mark around the eye extending to the ear behind) enjoying the warmth.

in the elephant grass

Good to see that something can eat miscanthus other than power stations. A female roe deer who didn't sense us as we approached.

Pest (or pet), the lack of growth in the grass is driving the local warren inhabitants back into our gardens.

oh deer

in the woods today

a snake in the grass cuttings

I can't tell you how much pleasure it gives me to discover a grass snake in our garden and to be able to photograph it basking in the sun (the first sun for two weeks I am told). It is lying on a compost heap where apparently they often lay their eggs. It is a sign that our garden is supporting the sort of wildlife diversity that we have long hoped for. The bulge towards the tail is either an unfortunate amphibian, or perhaps some eggs. Long but not venomous, and sometimes called ringed because of the yellow collar around its neck.

Close inspection of the photos shows two, possibly three orange/red blobs on the back of the snake's head. These are snake mites (see link). What a strange rich world we live in.

frog aid

a frog in the hand is worth .... ? For some reason we have had an invasion of frogs indoors, so we gently escort them out.

the things we see

a fox ambling across the skyline

a holly blue taking a break

and Harriet with Spring in her step, behind a tattered pheasants eye