Category: Wildlife

Danger in Numbers


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-4-2033/content.html

I’m baffled.

I love wild animals when they are in their own environment or failing that, in a well run zoo especially when they are working to protect endangered species.

What I don’t understand is why private individuals feel the need to keep dangerous animals as pets !!

And I find the stats published in my local paper somewhat troubling.

Among the creatures kept in the Portsmouth area are Suphan Cobras, White Lipped Vipers, and a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

In Havant, there are, apparently, 37 Chinese Alligators !!!

And these are only the ones that are being kept legally with the proper Dangerous Wild Animal licenses.

How many illegals are there ?

Sky Park Farm


Today, we spent a glorious few hours with our granddaughter and great grandson at Sky Park Farm

Sikka Deer

While it is a working deer farm, it is also a great place to visit to keep the kids entertained.

Grubs Up

Providing easy walks and opportunities to feed the various species of deer.

Red Deer

Also on site is a farm shop and restaurant along with a huge play area for kids.

Flying Goggles ???

We did the obligatory walk and fed the deer before heading inside for a spot of lunch.

A Fine Set Of Antlers

Finally, once our tummys had been satisfied, we headed to the play area so that my great grandson could run off what energy he had left.

Fallow Deer

Such was the effects of all that walking, playing, and fresh air on arrival at home, Junior took himself off to his bed.

Who’s A Proud Fella !!!

Sky Park Farm is a lovely place to visit, and we will return.

Togetherness

Get Your Ducks In A Row


It’s all about ducks:

Induction – Adding a duck
Deduction – Removing a duck
Reduction – Replacing a worn out duck
Production – Supporting ducks
Conductor – The duck in charge
Abduction – Sit-ups for ducks
Subduction – An underwater duck
Introduction – When ducks meet
Conduction – Moving a duck
Seduction – Ducks in love
Reproduction – Making copies of ducks
Ducting – What ducks do
Deductible – Offset your duck against tax
Duct tape – to record the duck, as there is no echo

I See Wild Animals


Do you ever see wild animals?

Do I ever see wild animals ? Yes, I do !

Living in a semi rural location means that on occasions, we are visited by various types of wildlife.

Focussing on our garden, we are regularly visited by foxes, hedgehogs, and squirrels.

Grey Squirrel

Just today, maybe an hour ago, we were visited by this albino squirrel.

Albino Squirrel

You would think that albino squirrels are rare, but we have had several visit us over the 30-plus years that we have lived here.

Hedgehog
Hedgehogs – Courting Couple

Other visitors to our garden, over and above the usual garden birds, we have had the occasional sparrow hawk and even a couple of pheasants.

Outside of our garden, I have seen badgers, foxes, and regularly see deer.

And last, but not least, here is a slow worm that came out from under our new deck last year.

Sickening Act Of Vandalism


BBC News – Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall ‘felled overnight’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-66947040

I can not even begin to imagine what thought processes were in play when cutting down this beautiful tree seemed like a good idea.

Photo: Paul Flannigan Photography

Det Ch Insp Rebecca Fenney-Menzies said: “The senseless destruction of what is undoubtedly a world-renowned landmark – and a local treasure – has quite rightly resulted in an outpouring of shock, horror and anger throughout the North East and further afield.

So far, a sixteen year old youth and a sixty year old man have been arrested.

I’ll leave the final words on this senseless act to Paul Tavernor Art ….

From: Paul Tavernor Art

Home Invasion


Angle Shades Moth (Phlogophora meticulosa)

Tis the season ….

We seem to be getting loads of these little fellas invading our house and I keep finding them lurking in all sorts of places.

This one was just chillin’ on a kitchen roll, but I have found them on door frames, kettle handles, or playing dead on the floor. It takes something to get them to fly away.

If you touch them, they just seem to roll over and stay still. If you persist, they will just move a few inches and lay still again.

View From The Conservatory


Our Hazel Tree is laden with clusters of nuts. It is productive every year, but we never get to reap the benefits. Every year, the squirrels move in and pillage the crop.

Hazelnut Thief

They do this before the nuts have a chance to ripen, and this year is no exception. I don’t begrudge them the feed, but it would be nice if they waited a bit so we could share.

View From The Conservatory


Or rather, within the conservatory.

Aglais io – European Peacock Butterfly

This beautiful butterfly decided to pay me a visit.