The Jay and The Fox

Tonight as usual we put the fox food out while it was still light but perhaps a little early, because immediately four pigeons; two magpies and one blackbird flew down to feast. When the fox arrived all the birds flew swiftly into nearby trees and bushes, a moment later I was surprised to see a jay fly down and feed with the fox, he showed no fear and the fox ignored him.

I was a little surprised at this behaviour, firstly because I wouldn't have expected a bird to join a fox, this was a first in our garden and secondly I would have expected the fox to chase the bird away.

I have often watched cats wander into the garden and join the fox in eating the food but this was the first time I have seen a bird do so.

Fox Cub and Mother

Each evening we are pleased to watch a tiny fox cub feeding in the garden. Sometimes his mother turns up --- usually after his arrival and the two of them together are a delight to watch.

As one notices the other the food is forgotten, their bodies are lowered and appear shortened and sway from from side to side as they hurry toward each other. On meeting they nuzzle each other around the nose and mouth area and then push their muzzles right into each others face and neck, each one clearly very pleased to see the other.

Sometimes they feed side by side, faces together and eating from the same pile of food. I have never seen foxes do this before.

Birthday Treat

Biggest treat by far was still being alive today! The average life span of someone with adenocarcinoma is ten and a half months from diagnosis, since I was diagnosed a year ago last May I feel elated. I realise that this figure is an average, but I feel so well and am so very joyful about it. Long may it last.

Anyway, a big treat today was putting out the fox food ---left over cheese and ham sandwiches chopped up small and special fried rice all of which was mixed together and spread across the lawn--- sitting by the patio doors, with a delicious feeling of anticipation and waiting for the fox.

I didn't have long to wait as within minutes a tiny baby fox appeared from the bushes and started tucking into the food, which having been scattered over a large area meant that he had much wandering about to do looking for the food, so I was able to enjoy him for longer than I expected.

Our two young granddaughters watched with us and thoroughly enjoyed it.

A10 in Hertfordshire

We are on our way to Grantham for an almost half way meet with our daughter, in order to collect our two granddaughters and bring them home with us to attend  a family wedding and christening.

We are travelling along the A10 in Hertfordshire, it is a pretty drive, the rose bay willow herbs are in full bloom, great tall groups of them, eye catchingly deep pink they look from the car window as we pass, although in reality they are two different shades.

Cow parsley now grown as tall as the hedges with its large almost flat heads of creamy white flowers much beloved of insects. We see a field of brightest red poppies, before us, by us and then in a blurring flash gone.Still an amazing sight.

Young Cyrils

Cyril obviously brought us a present when he returned because we are pleased to share the garden with two of the tiniest squirrels we have ever seen. Since their presence coincided with the return of Cyril I can only presume they are his.  He is still whisper thin and I feel worried for him. Where he was all that time and what was happening to him I have no idea, but I am pleased to see him back and hope he soon looks better.

It is a rainy day today. The patio looks very bright and pretty though due to the poppies that have seeded themselves between the cracks. They have grown and are now in full bloom and are so beautiful.

The Magpie and the Worm

The magpies and their young were on the lawn again this morning, pecking and poking about. Suddenly one of the youngsters pulled up a worm. The magpie tugged and the worm lengthened, as the worm stretched so the magpie lifted his head higher and higher, then as if he could reach up no more he took two steps back, lost his balance, flapped his wings. Letting go of the worm he took a few more steps back before flying off,  leaving the worm stretched on the lawn and living to see another day!

Magpies and Ants

The young magpies are here every day. They are almost the same size as their parents, just fractionally smaller, and a little slimmer. The female magpie looks very much the worse for wear; her brood patch is still bald and her side and back feathers look very disheveled. Around her neck she looks almost bare and decidedly scraggy. Gone is the sleek, glossy, well-fed bird of such a short while ago.

After they had cleared the food put out for them this morning, along with the jackdaws and pigeons, the magpies stayed on the lawn, poking about. Eventually all left save one, I can only think he had found an ants nest, he spent several minutes pecking away before he also flew away.

As I moved from the side kitchen window to the end window and looked out I saw another magpie: the tatty looking female. She was at the pond's edge and pecking at the ground by a stone. I watched her for several minutes and I can only assume that like her youngster she was filling up on the ants from an ant's nest.

Suddenly she stopped pecking and started jumping up and down while shaking herself, still doing this she suddenly began frantically flapping her wings and scratching herself, while turning her head from side to side and ruffling her few remaining neck feathers. I can only assume this was the ant's revenge for her dining on their colony!

This afternoon I spotted a young great spotted woodpecker on the bird table. This is the first time I have seen this.

Cyril Squirrel

Cyril is back!

He is whisper thin, he came to the patio doors  and didn't just bang with his little fists as usual, instead he threw his whole body against the glass. On hearing the sound I looked and was just in time to see him do it again. Where he has been I don't know, but he seems as glad to see me as I am to see him.

By the time I reached the kitchen window, he was there waiting and it was a pleasure to feed the poor hungry creature. He is so emaciated that at first I didn't recognise him, it was only when he was standing on the top of the bird table, waiting to be fed and as he turned his head I saw his ear and realised it was him.

I should have known it was him, because of the way he sought me out in the lounge, however it didn't alert me because Cyril always banged on the glass with his hands, to draw my attention, but this squirrel had thrown his whole body against the window, so although I thought he was familiar with me, I still didn't make the connection that this was my favourite squirrel.

I am so pleased to see him.