Missing redwings and fieldfares, but a new fox to watch

We are delighted most evenings to watch not one but two foxes, they are very relaxed with each other and I have yet to see any squabbling over food.

The new fox is slightly darker, the fur which borders the outer edge of the inner ear is dark, whereas on the female regular fox this is white and adds to her attractive facial appearance. Although "he" is very comfortable with the vixen, "he" is distinctly disturbed by us and when "he" notices us watching him he rushes away, not even stopping to grab a mouthful of food. Meanwhile the vixen is as always laying down slowly and deliberately eating her way through the scatter of food until the very last morsel has disappeared.

The badger still comes through the garden, but usually too late for any food. The muntjac deer however is enjoying the overgrown herbage on the bank and the windfall apples are being enjoyed by blackbirds and thrushes.

Have been looking out for the annual sightings in the garden of redwings and fieldfares, sadly just one redwing so far. The numbers have been dropping year on year, I looked forward to these attractive birds each autumn and am sad not to have flocks of them in the garden as we used to.

Recovering Fox

The fox is again visiting nightly on a regular basis and is almost recovered, she now walks on all four legs although she still limps.

Within minutes of her food being put out she is there, taking a piece of food in her mouth and then laying down to eat it. The movement of the curtains as I open them, causes her to look up and our eyes meet briefly before her head is down again and her mind food focused once more.

I feel it is a privilege to share our garden with this beautiful creature.

November Birds, Flowers and Insects

Awoke this morning to a misty morning, such a change from yesterday when we woke to a bright frosty morning, a carpet of white grass, crisp to walk on and sparkling like diamonds in the morning sunlight.

Today was milder and from the shelter of the garden when the sun was shining it was warm even without a coat. The trees and bushes have been full of birds; blue and great tits, chaffinches, robins, wrens and even a song thrush. Blackbirds have been lining up at the pond all morning waiting to bathe and drink.

No bees have been seen today but the air has been thick with ladybirds, they are resting on all the bushes and trees, and the white walls of the bungalow. I have been surprised to see many ladybirds lavae on the gooseberry bushes this morning, unsure whether they would survive the winter, I collected them and some gooseberry leaves and put them into the conservatory.

The garden still has many beautiful flowers blooming, roses, michaelmas daisies, fuschias, wild geraniums, the wonderfully perfumed viburnum bodnantense and many ivy flowers. Branches are also hanging low under the weight of autumn berries of various colours, shapes and sizes waiting to catch our eyes and delight us.

Ladybirds, Shield Bugs, Bees and Autumn Flowers

November has arrived, with it has come gusty winds and racing clouds, the air feels so fresh it is wonderful to be out in the garden. The temperature is still in double figures and the garden has hundreds of ladybirds, many shield bugs and quite a few bees still buzzing around.

One of the wonderful smelling viburnum bodnantense is covered in flowers, fuschias planted the year before last are making a very pretty show and the michaelmas daisies otherwise known as autumn flowering asters, are clumping up very well, pretty wild flower pink campion is also still flowering among the fuschias and michaelmas daisies. Not only do they all make a pretty border but also provide food for the bees.

Last weekend we had gale force winds and along the lane trees were uprooted, branches torn off and the ground was covered in a spectacular carpet of autumn leaves.