Land /Water Wildlife

Adders basking in the sun this morning.

 

It was Adders the other day and now Grass Snakes, three intertwined together in the stone gabons by the canal bridge at Ham Wall RSPB.

 

Wall lizards (again!) out sunning themselves including a young one and a large adult.

 

I like the expression on the skunk's face, like what's up doc?

 

Perhaps he doesn't like the camera hydrogardener.

 

Well @Sheal, he should be used to it by now, he stops by every night for dinner. Perhaps he has other things on his mind, it is mating season for skunks.

 

I hope he doesn't bite the hand that feeds him - or worse!

 

They are really misunderstood little creatures, very timid. It actually takes a lot to get them "mad."

 

This vixen was in the garden early yesterday morning. I believe it's the same one I had last year who brought her cubs and has continued visiting at night throughout the winter. She's clearly feeding cubs again now.

She was eating the calci worms I put out for the birds. She was very alert and regularly took a good look all around her.

Last week she dug a big hole under the fence at the back (neighbour's fence) and in doing so buried my new Cephalaria plant. I managed to find it again under all the dirt and it's looking OK now. The neighbours filled in the hole with rocks the next day.

Yesterday I found a repeat performance a little further down the fence. This time it was newly emerging Veronicastrums that got buried. Another rescue needed.

 

She looks in good condition.
I have holes appearing in fences as well as lots of digging overnight also.
They can fairly easily scale a 6ft fence but appear to prefer going under if they can.

 

Yes, she's looking good. Last year she got an injury and was limping very badly whilst feeding the cubs, and looking very skinny and sorry for herself. I worried about her getting enough to eat and started buying dried dog food. I use an insect-based one called Grub Club and just put out a small scoop at night to supplement her. Last year I was putting it out during the day and the magpies took a liking to it; they were stashing in my plant pots, and then of course the foxes smelt it in there and dug them all up!

I think the neighbours would be much more sensible to just cut a hole in the bottom of the fence, but they seem determined on trying to exclude the wildlife.

 

I've been having problems with neighbours dogs getting through the holes they make.
Found a black spaniel running around my garden the other morning but apparently this one used a trampoline to get over a 6ft fence.

 

I hadn't thought of that; luckily the neighbours on that side don't seem to have a dog.

 

Beautiful fox, @Escarpment. Is there an easy way to tell from a distance whether a fox is s/he? I see foxes near me, but they are always walking, and rarely still. I know they have eaten snacks that I left for them.

 

Probably searching for its Easter Basket.