GARDEN LIFE
When sitting in my garden I notice several different species of birds and insects - this year I have seen different seven species of butterfly. Whilst gardening, I come across a variety of beetles and other invertebrates. Once I saw a fox.
Occasionally I find a frog sheltering under plants in a shady area, but this week I noticed two different frogs sitting in a water-filled tray I put in the garden for birds to wash in and drink from.
It was a hot day so, presumably, the frog needed to cool down in the water or at least keep its skin moist.
At about 23:00hrs I looked to see if the frogs were in the water, they were not, but a hedgehog was on the lawn. I had noticed hedgehog excrement in the garden occasionally but now think at least one hedgehog has made its home in a small (2m x 4m) wild area of my garden.
European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).
The hedgehog is becoming scarce in England; often they are seen dead at the sides of roads. Although still a familiar animal in urban gardens, this was the first live example I have seen for a few years.
My last encounter with a species of hedgehog was while camping beside the river Ili, Altyn Emel desert, Kazakhstan. This was a much cuter animal:
Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus)
This little chap was out at night with a female, undoubtedly his mate. When he saw me he walked backwards to get in front of his "wife" as if protecting her.
Occasionally I find a frog sheltering under plants in a shady area, but this week I noticed two different frogs sitting in a water-filled tray I put in the garden for birds to wash in and drink from.
It was a hot day so, presumably, the frog needed to cool down in the water or at least keep its skin moist.
At about 23:00hrs I looked to see if the frogs were in the water, they were not, but a hedgehog was on the lawn. I had noticed hedgehog excrement in the garden occasionally but now think at least one hedgehog has made its home in a small (2m x 4m) wild area of my garden.
European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).
The hedgehog is becoming scarce in England; often they are seen dead at the sides of roads. Although still a familiar animal in urban gardens, this was the first live example I have seen for a few years.
My last encounter with a species of hedgehog was while camping beside the river Ili, Altyn Emel desert, Kazakhstan. This was a much cuter animal:
Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus)
This little chap was out at night with a female, undoubtedly his mate. When he saw me he walked backwards to get in front of his "wife" as if protecting her.