Wildlife -January 2010

[Lesley Cox]

I know they're pests or vermin. I know they eat people's chickens and raid rubbish bins in the towns but it cannot be said that they are not beautiful. A fine winter coat and on the whole, he does look very well fed for the current conditions.

Maggi, I just noticed that you have slipped over the 12,000 barrier. Bill in Tauranga will be gnashing his teeth in frustration.

[Maggi Young]

Maggi, I just noticed that you have slipped over the 12,000 barrier.

Goodness, so I have.... I wondered what the bump was.... thought I was just slipping on the snow.

I haven't seen our local Reynard recently and I don't think any of the tracks in the snow are his, though Lily examines them all carefully.
As pests go, they are very lovely in their red fur coats.

[Lvandelft]

Luit do you feed it?

What do you think Mark?

[mark smyth]

Feed it? If I had one visiting I would feed it. All I see are c?t prints in the snow

[Anthony Darby]

That's an amazing command of language for a dog. I suppose his accent is that of his owner?

Most likely "dog" Latin, Lesley?

Not doggerel?

[Susan Band]

I don't count foxes as pests in my field, they work hard at getting the mice and occasional rabbit. I have banned the farmer that rents my hill from shooting them. I was following the foxes footprints following a rabbits prints then he suddenly appeared, Heather then started chasing him!
Yesterday I saw some blood and rabbit fur in the snow, the footprints belonged to a stoat or weasel though.
Susan

[Ragged Robin]

Saw a fabulous red coated young fox this morning which visited our chalet, jumping the gate to look for food and ate a bowl of sausage meat stuffing put out for the birds!

[Gwenblack]

One good thing about the snow cover.... it helps one to track the rabbits points of entry and exit around the garden     unmistakable 1 2 Flop footprints.  we have the dachshunds on the case.  OK  they never catch the bunnies but sure give them a fright.   

[Paddy Tobin]

An amazing sight this evening. A robin has taken to lodging in our garage, also our dog's residence. I went in to the garage this evening to find the robin perched on the side of the dog's bowl, picking away at his food. He wandered over and began eating but paid no attention to the robin, a casual  look and no more. The robin did no more than hop off the bowl and continue eating the bits on the floor so the two ate away beside each other.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Obviously not a bird dog, Paddy.


Gwen, yes, the tracking  capacity provided by the snow is very useful..... mice in my case!

I saw mini dachshund pups advertised in the P&J yesterday......... thought of you, of course! I have had a notion for a mini wire haired dachshund pet for forty years..... one of these days! These pups were in Wick.... how the blue blazes I would get up there at the moment I don't know... Ian heaving sigh of relief!

[angie]

This is one of my ponds I think our stray cat thought there was a free meal, you can see his paw marks going around the bird.
Sorry the picture isn't very good, my snow pictures always seem to come out blue.
Angie

[daveyp1970]

Angie thats a lovely bit of walling round your pond,i'm a landscape gardener and i can't help but notice these things.

[mark smyth]

Angie snow photos always come out blue. I'm sure someone can explain why and how to stop it

[Maggi Young]

Angie thats a lovely bit of walling round your pond,i'm a landscape gardener and i can't help but notice these things.

I must look to see if we have photos of some rockwork Angie's husband did on a rock garden the Aberdeen Group of the SRGC did in the garden at the Craibstone College.... the man's an artist.

[Gerdk]

Ice-breakers!

Gerd