I missed several days of fox cubs, they run the battery down on the camera in only a few days. One night the fox cubs spent the whole of darkness playing! The Infrared light soon depleted the battery! The batteries changed and, on the 4th and 5th of May the Fox cubs are still around. A little bigger, now steady on their feet and much more active.
Category Archives: Buckinghamshire
Trip to Waddesdon to see the Snowdrops
Visited Waddesdon to see the Snowdrops. Many had been planted. There were some near to the aviary, and others on Baron’s walk. The Snow drops were not that impressive, the Baron’s walk the better ones. It is sometime since we visited, the temporary path from the car park has now been made permanent. A small ticket checking office was being erected on this route. This is replacing the small cabins which have been used in the past.
Kingswood Firework Party
Kingswood Firework Party
The annual Kingswood firework party was held on the 6th November 2021. It was well attended. Usual brilliant display of fireworks (thank you, Ian) and a large bonfire.
Expertly cooked burgers, onions & sausages.
As you can see, it was a breezy evening.
Kingswood Wind
On the 31st of October a strong wind blew through Aylesbury Vale. It was an exceptionally strong one which drew my immediate attention to the outside world. The poplar trees in the garden were being whipped around by the gusts. Luckily they did not succumb to the wind, but they did blow around, losing leaves and a few small dead branches. We lost a few larger branches from our willow trees. The large willows near the field pond were flattened even more. They were already going over, being supported by their neighbours and the hedge. Outside our home the A41 was covered by the last of the autumnal leaves.
I walked out to investigate the road block down the road, but soon stopped. There was this weird hissing sound, and then the smell of gas. A tree in Kingswood had lost a branch and broken a link pipe between two bulk Calor gas cylinders supplying the local eatery. The sound of the escaping gas could be heard throughout the village.
We were worried the gas could ignite and cause a serious problem, so called 999 to asked for the fire brigade. But it took so long that we hung up and tried again. Finally, we were put through to the fire brigade which answered immediately. They said they would come out. In the meantime a neighbour had sorted out the gas and was able to turn off the taps. Called the fire brigade again. They were already en route but said they would still come so they could check as a precautionary measure. They took some time to arrive from Aylesbury, because they had to negotiate several blockages on the A41 due to fallen trees.
The wind soon abated.
The Secret Life of the Compost Heap XX
A video of our Red-legged Partridges. When we first saw the partridges there were 7 chicks. Every day we checked and counted the chicks, she managed to hang on to seven for several days. We were concerned the Crows, Magpies and Kestrels would feed on the chicks. The partridges were in our garden every day, though for only part of the day. They would be missing for long periods and then suddenly show up.
After a few days, the number of chicks started to decrease, first to 4 chicks. Then a few days later there were only 2 and finally, a couple of days later, all the chicks were missing. We thought maybe they had been predated by the Crows or Magpies. Interestingly our neighbour across the road also had a Red-legged partridge which also lost its chicks over the same days. It does seem this dim bird was taking the chicks across the A41 where the traffic is high with large numbers of trucks feeding the building spree going on in Aylesbury Vale. I am sure Darwin would have some comments about the survival of Ref-legged Partridges
A video of the partridges in better times as they walked about our garden.
Montgolfier Balloon in Kingswood
On Sunday 18th July, just before I left for my Sunday Clay Shoot, a hot air balloon hove into sight from the North. The wind was extremely light, and it was drifting very slowly towards us. At one time I thought the dirigible would land in our field. Then the zephyrs shifted and blew her towards the East. It spent an inordinate time tracing the hedge between two fields, edging closers and closer to a row of houses on the main road. She did land at the edge of the field. The pilot kept the canopy inflated, waiting for the recovery vehicle. Without help, the canopy could have been damaged by falling over the nearby house and fence. I suspect the house & fence could also have been damaged, but luckily no harm.
784 Alvis 12-60 TL Beetle Back
Back in the day, 16th July, while we were having a lockdown drink with friends. One of our number, George, arrived in his newly purchased 1932 784 Alvis 12-60 TL Beetle Back. Even for me, an electric head, this was a fabulous looking car.
The Secret Life of the Compost Heap XIIII
We had a pair of Moorhens nesting on the pond, and then a brood of cute black Moorhenlings (Moorhen chicks). The pond was unusually full for the time of year, so the Moorhenlings were there for quite a while. One of the very few benefits of the incessant rain this year. Before the arrival of the Moorhenlings, the Moorhens actually coexisted with three Mallard ducks for several weeks. The Mallards could be spotted on the pond day and night. They appeared never to sleep, steaming around the pond at any time of the day or night, unlike the Moorhens. The Moorhens disappear back to their nest during the night. For many days we had only one Moorhen, presumably the other was hatching the eggs. At this time the ducks vanished, I presume forced off by the Moothens. We now had a set of baby Moorhen chicks (Moorhenlings).
The Moorhens chicks soon increased in size. You can see them searching the margins of the pond for food, and being offered morsels by their parents. A Heron paid a brief visit. Did any of the Moorhenligs fall prey to its avaricious appetite?
The Moorhen chicks also spent a considerable amount of energy hiking across the fields in search of food. Sometimes we would see them in the garden. Recently I was surprised to find the adults and chicks investigating the badger sett in our Compost Heap. This is a considerable distance from the pond with long grass in between. (We are limiting the grass mowing this year, with a no-mow Summer.)
BBOWT Rushbeds Wood
Rushbeds Wood
On the 7th of July, R and I went for a nearby walk at the BBOWT Rushbeds Wood. Rather muddy underfoot on some of the paths, so we forgo our normal route. The flower meadows were spectacular with the colour and insects. We met a couple of other people in the woods and fields. So quiet, except for the occasional London to Birmingham train.
There has been quite a bit of tree felling in the woods, the Ash trees are dying. There is replanting going on, which requires barriers against the deer. who appear partial to young trees.
The Secret Life of the Compost Heap XIII
The camera is moved around different garden sites, trying to spot the most interesting animal movements, and discovering their preferred routes. We had much activity in the Compost Heap in early June. There were two badgers who had taken up temporary residence, one even showing itself during daylight hours. Kindly one badger moved the camera during the night, pointing it more directly down the badger sett. They appeared to move off, and only come back to visit the sett on later days. A large male fox also came visiting. Amazingly not many rabbits appeared in the footage.
The last scene from the video is a badger walking along the bank of the pond, turning around and rushing off.