Wildlife in the garden - Indian summer?

Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
After reading Rob's recent post about the hibernation of "his" hedgehogs I decided to seek advice from those who deal with HHs on a regular basis. I rang St. TiggyWinkles in Haddenham... the response to my questions about feeding HHs at this time of year:-

* continue putting food out as long as the HHs are eating all that is put out;

* 80 to 100 gms per HH is a reasonable amount;

* some HHs did not hibernate over the 2021-22 winter because (a) there was adequate food and (b) the climate was mild.

Good enough pointers that I shall not be too worried if the food keeps being eaten by the HHs.

regards, Graham
 
I

Ian N

Active Member
A couple of years ago, unknown to us, we had a family under the garden shed. One Sunday morning, the kids came out to forage for about half an hour. They were quite unperturbed about me being close to them. It explained why the dogs were so restless And wanted through the gate into the garden. It was the only time we saw them in the day, but they were noisy in the evenings and rummaging under the deckingB207DC96-F721-4041-8146-62719745C9DF.jpeg
 
O

ovener

Active Member
We are blessed down here in the semi-rural Dart valley with all kinds of wildlife (badgers, bats) and birds, even a rare cirl bunting.
We have a small pond and the waterfall attracts loads of creatures to drink and bathe.
Today was a first. I was just about to throw a handful of birdfood down on the ground there and a robin came and ate from my hand unprompted.
I've never had that happen before but a lovely experience. Anyone else have that happen?

I did wash my hands thoroughly afterwards as I know wild birds can carry some horrible diseases and I'd rather not be responsible for the next covid style disaster!

Richard
 
michael mott

michael mott

Western Thunderer
Richard what a great experience! When Judy and I lived out at the lake our 20 acres had a lovely ravine with a small waterfall at the end it was only about 75 feet deep at head of the ravine and the water had cut down the sandstone to a few gentle steps, I was standing below the fall with a decent sized sketchbook looking at the falls when a Black capped Chickadee landed on the top edge of the pad looked up at me as if to say don't let me stop you, keep on doing what you are doing. It made me smile and gave me an assurance that what I was doing; gently recording my surroundings was OK by the local flock. It probably only lasted a few moments but it is a memory I shall never forget.

Michael
 
steve50

steve50

Western Thunderer
There's a Robin that takes food from your hand over our local nature reserve and I've fed a few in various other places, but the one in my garden is way too skittish even though he follows me around when I'm gardening!
My partner works in a garden nursery and has 3 or 4 that wait for her in various places in the gardens there!
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Two weeks back I wrote, here, about my conversation with St. Tiggywinkles animal rescue in regard to Hedgehog hibernation. Since then I have been continuing to leave HH food out each night since the hogs seemed to be active. Last Thursday the temperature was below zero in the daytime and -5 degrees through the night, the temperature has not risen above zero since then and there was snow for a short while on Sunday.

The last day that HHs came for food was Wednesday of last week. I have continued to leave food in the same place, none has been taken since the temperature went below zero. Guess that the HHs have gone into hibernation (although the squiggles are still active in the trees behind our garden.

regards, Graham
 
Osgood

Osgood

Western Thunderer
My neighbouring farmer's dad worked in his youth on a relative's farm in your State (edit: Province), Michael.
They had Standard Fordsons and in winter not only emptied the water out each night but the engine oil too.
The oil sat in buckets by the kitchen stove.
Each morning it was a desperately slow job refilling the engines but at least with warm oil they were able to turn them over to start!
 
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michael mott

michael mott

Western Thunderer
Osgood said:
My neighbouring farmer's dad worked in his youth on a relative's farm in your State, Michael.
Click to expand...
I'm in Canada Tony, we don't have States, here they are called Provinces, perhaps a French influence from the past before Confederation. Yes i have heard many similar stories of this sort of activity to overcome the cold. Once I had to drive in first gear for about 3 miles before I could change gears, in my old 1970 GMC pickup truck. that would have been in 1973.

Michael
 
Peter Insole

Peter Insole

Western Thunderer
Although this post is wildlife related, it might also fit perfectly with "What's on your wife's workbench":

Our recent close shave with the criminal fraternity had prompted us to review our security arrangements, and high on the agenda was the long overdue replacement of the back door and all the windows at the rear of our property!

As is the way with these things, the fitters finally turned up to do the job just two days before the Christmas break. They started ripping out the old wooden stuff - and then discovered that the largest (and indeed the most important) item was the wrong size, and wouldn't fit in the hole! While we wait for a new door to be made-up, the big opening has been battened and screwed tight, leaving us unable to gain access to the garden for cleaning and replenishing the bird feeders. We were faced with the prospect of some rather forlorn feathered friends, unfed for the full festive season!

Determined not to be defeated by the dire circumstances, my dear wifey took decisive action, and found a large cup hook, a length of bamboo pea stick and a mop handle, tied them all together - and bingo!

bfSAM_7978.JPGbfSAM_7979.JPGbfSAM_7982.JPG

This brand new window does make the job a little bit awkward, but thanks to great care, and a degree of dexterity, there have been no losses so far!

Perhaps rather strangely, our regular customers are quite unfazed by my wife going outside in person, and it is always amusing to watch them excitedly shouting and flitting around her hat (yes, that is what I said!) - but they are clearly not at all sure about a wobbly pole with a hook on the end emerging from an aperture in the wall!

She is not only the wonderful mother of my sons, but of necessity, invention! We are all very lucky boys, girls and birdies too!

Pete.
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
In spite of the topic title (trouble with BR classes 24 and 25), this post has nothing to do with prototype engines and hence there have been no withdrawals because of what I have written here! On the other hand, our garden has become a feeding station for rats.

In the last two weeks we have seen a rat in the garden on four separate occasions - always in the same place and always exiting towards the Lower Bank Shed which is adjacent to the field boundary. I appreciate that I cannot stop rats coming into the garden - we have a public space to the rear of the garden and the boundary is trees and scrub - what is giving cause for concern is that the rat has latched onto the existance of food on our "feeder" for those birds that feed normally on the ground. So birds like Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Sparrow, Blackbird - all of which are regular visitors for food.


I do not wish to encourage the rat(s) and I do not want to stop feeding the "ground feeding birds", suggestions to overcome this dilema?

regards, Graham
 
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Jordan

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
Dog Star said:
In spite of the topic title (trouble with BR classes 24 to 27), this post has nothing to do with prototype engines and hence there have been no withdrawals because of what I have written here!
Click to expand...
Point of order, Sir!! Classes 26 & 27 were "McRats". How do you know if any of your garden rats are Scottish?
So 26s & 27s should be exempt from the implied character assasination!!. :)
Unless the rats in your garden look like this, of course.....
images.jpeg
 
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