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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2008 16:13:42 GMT
I live in a rural village and get used to odd things ending up in the house. Last year I had a swallow and a wren in the kitchen, Ive also had the usual mice and the occasional baby rabbit in there as well. Ive even had a frog sat on the side of the bath. But todays visitors take the biscuit. I heard a kerfuffle at the back door, the cat flew in past me, unsual in itself, not only does he never exert himself more than he has to he normally howls to be let in even though there is a cat flap, and took refuge on the printer. Going to investigate, I find a lamb stood in the back hall!! Easing the door wider to get it out, there with its foot inside the door, its mum and two other lambs. I dont know which of us was more surprised  I did my best little bo peep impression and chased them out and down the path, heading them back to whence they came. The cat has finally come down off the printer, but is being strangely loyal and refusing to leave my side. I may have to consider counselling for him, PTSS and all that. |
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Post by andy on May 9, 2008 17:06:25 GMT
Isn't the nature wonderful.
I got into work at 5.30am on tuesday and was greeted by 5 fox cubs....each the size of a small cat. Sat and watched them playing for a while...bought a tear to my eye
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Post by Shrubrose on May 9, 2008 17:18:51 GMT
Oh Andy, you big softie  They are lovely to watch though aren't they - very kitten-like in their behaviour. MM, would love to have seen you chasing them off! Whenever, I've had to do it, they scarper in different directions  |
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Post by Weeterrier on May 9, 2008 18:09:55 GMT
MM and Andy, you lucky people. Lambs in the house would be magic, and I have only ever seen dead foxes.
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Post by farmersboy on May 9, 2008 19:12:23 GMT
Is there not many foxes around your way then,Wee,in the winter they are always trotting through my garden,and its quite built up here.
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Post by andy on May 9, 2008 19:30:27 GMT
Us too FB....i'll quite often get up in the night and have a look out the front window for 10 minutes. Usually loads of foxes around.
I used to work nights and come home at 3am and some of the creatures you'd see were amaizing...with Barn Owls topping them all.
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Post by Ruthie on May 9, 2008 19:41:36 GMT
We are quite rural and tend to hear foxes barking, particularly in winter, but hardly ever see them! We see loads of deer tho'.
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Post by andy on May 9, 2008 19:46:04 GMT
But none of that can surpass the thrill i had when fishing a few years ago.
We (A few mates and myself) went on our annual fishing weekend. When we got there, the lake we usually use was closed. We'd prepared all our baits etc so was extremely p'eed off to say the least.
But...as we'd got to know the owner very well over the years, he let us have the lake all to ourselves.
In one corner of the bank...in the total peace and quiet was a Kingfishers nest. Anyone who hasn't seen one of these electric blue flashes zoom through the air is really missing out on something. I sat for about 4 hours about 12 feet from the hole in the bank whilst the parents buzzed back and forth with bugs and small fish for the noisy babies.
It was 4 hours that i wouldn't trade for anything in this world (apart from my family)
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Post by Jasmine on May 9, 2008 19:53:22 GMT
What a fantastic sight the kingfishers must have been! I'd love to see a kingfisher and the other thing I would like to see is a badger (but not on the side of the road  ) |
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Post by andy on May 10, 2008 7:16:37 GMT
And another for this week. High up in the garden at work, there's a bench to sit on. It's surrounded by trees and shrubs and looks out over the park opposite.
Now the park is full of woodpeckers...greater spotted ones usually although there is a few greens. They occasionally venture into my garden but not often.
So imagine my surprise when i saw one on an old dead silver birch trunk (left there in the hope that woodys may come over). All of a sudden, a second appears and they start mating. As they finnish, one of the birds flew off (with a big smile on its beak !!!) and the other popped into a small hole in the birch. Fantastic.
Also got greenfinches nesting for the first time in the garden and i saw my first great tit in there too yesterday.
Isn't spring fabulous ?
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Post by Shrubrose on May 10, 2008 18:20:05 GMT
Your timing was spot on Andy! Lucky you I've never seen any woodpeckers around here. Speaking of unusual visitors, we've had some goldfinches flitting about today - not seen them around for a couple of years so lovely to have them visit again |
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Post by thecleaninglady on May 10, 2008 20:01:48 GMT
I have had a couple of goldfinches visiting this year Shrub. Have never seen them in my garden before, but they have been a couple of times recently
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Post by Shrubrose on May 10, 2008 22:07:20 GMT
Lovely little birds aren't they TCL. Quite stunning really |
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Post by andy on May 11, 2008 7:19:41 GMT
Oh...and several years ago, i had a little egret (white heron) come and vist the garden. It was there for all of 30 seconds before the resident crows chased it off.
Among the other gems we have are long tailed tits (furry ping pong balls on lolly sticks !!!), grey wagtails around the pond and a largish colony of Jays.
Never seen a goldfinch TCL and shrubrose...supposed to be Britains smallest bird. We have loads of wrens (the next smallest) though.
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Post by farmersboy on May 11, 2008 7:24:13 GMT
I have had a couple of goldfinches visiting this year Shrub. Have never seen them in my garden before, but they have been a couple of times recently I had a pair in the garden last year,a few times,havent seen any this year yet |
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Post by thecleaninglady on May 11, 2008 8:03:11 GMT
Probably come up here to experience our northern hospitality FB ;D
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Post by Plocket on May 11, 2008 9:37:26 GMT
What a hoot having lambs in the house! I'm not a great fan of foxes but would never harm them. But I have to agree with Andy that kingfishers are fantastic. We regularly go for walks along the nearby canals and often see the wonderful flashes of blue as they patrol their patch of water. It's spectacular!
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Post by Ruthie on May 11, 2008 20:49:25 GMT
Never seen a goldfinch TCL and shrubrose...supposed to be Britains smallest bird. We have loads of wrens (the next smallest) though.[/quote]
Andy, I think the accolade of britains smallest bird goes to the Goldcrest, not Goldfinch. We have a pair of Goldfinches around here at the moment, first time for a few years. We have also seen Goldcrests, VERY occasionally. They apparantly like conifers and we have a couple..........not enough to keep them around though!!
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Post by Plocket on May 11, 2008 20:51:57 GMT
Goldfinches are very noisy - you'd know if you've got them nearby!! We've got a little flock near us and they are constantly chattering |
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I did my best little bo peep impression and chased them out and down the path, heading them back to whence they came.
They are lovely to watch though aren't they - very kitten-like in their behaviour. 
) 
