Blog 13

Spring Comings and Goings

Comings and Goings - first day of Spring gone by, daffodils pushing through (regardless of obstructions like dead leaves... cut right through them!). Primrose carpets bloom. Cherry blossom hums with Honeybees

and full-blown spring is coming! 


Meanwhile winter sights are going... last year’s stored apples are finally running out and the wildlife that creep and feast and argue over them will now find their expectations elsewhere. Their activities caught on the remote night camera have been a winter entertainment full of unexpected animal interactions and regular recognisable visitors.

 


Quick dash through by a Roe Deer – white rump a bit blurred but visible! 


- A photo from previously shows better view of high held head and erect ears and the diagnostic features of elegant long legs and white warning flash on rump.


 Female Muntjac – Smaller compared to Roe, bulkier body and hunched look due to longer hind legs compared to front legs. No projecting canine teeth ‘fangs’ and no small back projecting antlers (which there are in the males).


A Badger struggles to stop the chosen apple from falling down the hill – note prominent long claws. 


 It rolled down so now it’s paws on + strong grasp with wide open mouth - note flexible nose. 


 Smaller badger enters upstage, they then rapidly passed without obvious interaction, so presumably know each other!


A Fox has similar problem of a rolling apple... picks it up by the stalk and runs off with it...usual habit for this one! 


Often there are two.

Wildlife Tip: Time to check your bee hotel is ok after wintering in shed/porch. Put it in place so bees can emerge now days warming up... create more spaces for this excited newly emerged generation... 


possibly add a new hotel or create more ‘cubicles’ from bought cardboard tubes (available online) placed inside the protection of a cut down plastic bottle! If removing old canes or tubes with this year’s

bees still inside store them under cover, such as an upturned flower pot so they can emerge safely.

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