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Wednesday 6 November 2019

Comming alive again

Most of this year has been devoid of garden wildlife. Hedgehogs were driven off after several were killed by a neighbour, foxes by local building works and the birds ?????
Yesterday it all changed with an invasion of birds. The blue tit which hadn't been seen for several months appeared on the feeders.
The blackbird was after the berries on the tree we planted a couple of years ago. He brought along a couple of friends.
The first coal tit of the year joined in and fed very well.
And the robin came to see what was going on. First time since last Christmas. I am at a puzzle as to what is going on. Now I must get to work on the animals and get that badger calling again. I have noticed that the RSPB at Pulborough have stopped feeding the birds again. I wonder what the pathetic excuse is this time.
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12 comments:

  1. Marc Heath6 November 2019 at 19:06

    Nice to see your camera getting a run out.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood7 November 2019 at 20:17

      Sure thing Marc, got to keep the old trigger finger active.

      Delete
  2. Ana Mínguez Corella8 November 2019 at 18:51

    Hi Mike.. Lovely set of pics.. Happy weekend

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood8 November 2019 at 22:46

      Thankyou Ana, I hope your weather is better than ours. Take care.

      Delete
  3. Richard Pegler12 November 2019 at 19:54

    I am very sorry to hear of your woes, Mike, with your own health and the wildlife in your garden. I hope that both continue to improve.

    I was particularly horrified to hear that a neighbour had killed the Hedgehogs - was it intentional, or just thoughtless behaviour? I'm currently worried about a couple of the hedgehogs visiting us at the moment. One has a badly injured rear leg, but is starting to get about better, so I'm not interfering with it as it is nest-building busily in our garden. To save it too much travel, I've put a pile of leaves beside its nest and it is now taking full advantage of it! The second appeared on camera last night, and seems a bit small to survive the winter - I shall keep an eye on it but, at my age, I'm not up to staying outside on a cold night in the hope of catching it to check it out!

    My best wishes - take good care - - - Richard

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood13 November 2019 at 00:23

      Thankyou for your thoughts Richard. A neighbour decided after a couple of years of neglect to clean up the garden in doing so he killed one and badly injured others. The small hog of yours if you make sure you leave food where it is hibernating it will wake if hungry and will look for food. I have fed them over the Xmas period and with snow on the ground and they survive. They are clever little creatures and they soon learn where they are welcome.
      Good luck, Mike.

      Delete
    2. Richard Pegler14 November 2019 at 13:09

      The small hog, Mike, seems very active, and sniffs round the feeding stations, but doesn't enter them.

      I've got two Hedgehog feeding stations - food and water checked daily - and three hog houses (one of which may be being used at the moment - must put a 'tell-tale' in the opening).

      Thankfully, the injured hog seems to be slowly improving, and is still building up its 'nest' with the pile of leaves I placed next to it. I'm monitoring all this with four trail cams.

      Delete
    3. Mike Attwood15 November 2019 at 00:12

      Thats interesting Richard, must be getting food from somewhere. You can't beat cams for monitoring. Good luck Mike.

      Delete
  4. Phil Slade15 November 2019 at 19:48

    There are very few birds in my garden this autumn and winter. There are fewer in the countryside and towns so not enough to go around.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood16 November 2019 at 00:03

      Hi Phil,
      I have one or two idea's as to what is going on but nothing definate, but it has been going on for about two years. I think the birds that we have now are all migrants and will leave us in the spring.

      Delete
  5. Ana Mínguez Corella28 November 2019 at 12:55

    Hi Mike!!!.. beautiful series of images .. Congrats

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  6. Mike Attwood29 November 2019 at 00:19

    Hi Ana, Life in my garden is beginning to pick up again after a couple of bad years, so I have my fingers crossed for the future,
    Regards Mike.

    ReplyDelete

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Mike Attwood - Photographer

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About Me

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Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.