The recent weeks have felt noticeably quieter on the animal front, which is why the video updates have been on hold.
However, the grey squirrel still provides some entertainment with its acrobatic dashes up and down the tree, culminating in a daring branch-assisted crossing of the pond.
Our regular visitor, the Grey Heron, continues its foraging trips between our pond and the neighbours’. While I’ve only observed it catching frogs, I did hear a report of one elsewhere preying on the protected Great Crested Newt.
Adding a much-missed face to the local wildlife, a badger made an appearance, initially by the pond and then on the lawn a few days later.
Finally, the Moorhens are still active on the pond and seem to have successfully displaced the ducks, a change from their peaceful coexistence in the previous video.
A couple of mallard ducks came to visit. They did not stay long, probably chased off by the moorhens.
The moorhens were around for most of the week, swimming and walking across the grass.
A fox paid us several visits during the week. Looking for a mate?
There was a fabulous display by the grey heron, who also caught a frog and devoured it in front of the camera.
A jay came around one day, and worked its way through the leaves looking for food.
A couple of male pheasants walked past the pond. One behind the other, escapees from a shoot, perhaps.
Rabbits were much in evidence, dashing from one side of the pond to the other.
Some crows took the opportunity of a frozen pond to practise their ice skating.
One grey squirrel was seen in the trees, fat after feeding on our bird feeders.
The starlings have been in evidence on the field, and did appear for a short while in front of the cameras.
Unfortunately one of the cameras had the incorrect date set. Time, Month and Day were correct, but the year was 2024, whereas it should have been 2025.
Our field pond continues to be a hub of activity, offering fascinating insights into the local wildlife. Fox sightings remain infrequent, but we were fortunate to capture a glimpse of a young fox near by. Interestingly, the moorhens, usually quite skittish, seemed completely unconcerned by its presence. This suggests they may be becoming accustomed to foxes, or perhaps the young fox was not displaying predatory behavior. Foxes, afterall, while often perceived as a threat, play a vital role in controlling rodent populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.
A heron also graced us with its presence. While it wasn’t observed fishing this time, it did wade along the pond’s edge before taking flight. Herons are opportunistic feeders, consuming fish, amphibians, and even small mammals. Their presence is a good indicator of a healthy pond ecosystem.
The moorhens were actively swimming, a behaviour often observed as nesting season approaches. Moorhens, members of the rail family, are known to build nests amongst reeds or in dense vegetation near water. Their frequent treks across the field to the neighbor’s pond likely indicate they are exploring different territories or resources.
A male and female pheasant also made several appearances. These ground-dwelling birds are common in many gardens and are often attracted to areas with seeds and insects.
As always, pigeons and rabbits were abundant. The rabbits, our most frequently observed mammal, were captured in a short video clip. Rabbits are herbivores and can be a significant food source for predators like foxes, but seemingly not ours, and birds of prey. The pigeons, some rather plump, were also spotted.
A flock of starlings descended upon the pond, some to feed and others to bathe. Starlings are highly social birds, often forming large flocks, and are known for their impressive mimicry skills. Seeing them enjoying the water on a sunny day was a delight.
Finally, a grey squirrel, another common garden resident, was spotted and photographed. Grey squirrels are opportunistic feeders, consuming nuts, seeds, fruits, and even insects. They are known for their caching behaviour, which helps disperse seeds and contributes to forest regeneration.
The relentless drizzle had transformed our field into a patchwork of glistening puddles. Few green blades of grass, just grey puddles reflecting the leaden sky. A new habitat perhaps?
Drawn by the waters, flocks of starlings arrived, their speckled plumage gleaming against the grey backdrop. They alighted with a flurry of wings onto the makeshift islands, their chatter livening up the drabness. Their beady eyes darted, scanning the water’s surface for morsels, their movements a blur of avian industry.
But the stars of this soggy symphony were the Egrets and Grey Herons. Tall and elegant, they stalked the flooded fields with an air of regal entitlement. Their long, sinuous necks dipped and probed, their sharp beaks spearing unsuspecting invertebrates from the murky depths. Each successful strike elicited a guttural croak, a triumphant fanfare echoing through the wet air.
Their movements were almost balletic. The Egrets, poised and delicate, walked across the water, their snowy plumage a stark contrast to the muddy green canvas. The Grey Herons, larger and more imposing, waded with measured steps, their piercing yellow eyes missing nothing.
This soggy interlude, born from the whims of the weather, has transformed our familiar field into a vibrant wetland teeming with life. It was a reminder that even the most mundane corners have the potential for unexpected beauty.
It has been a long while since I posted a video about our fox cubs. This five-minute video shows the fox cubs still with the Vixen down at our waterhole. The timeline is from mid-end June.
On the waterhole (pond) you can see a pair of moorhens racing around the pond, and preening. In one shot at about 32 seconds in you can see a fox cub on the bank, and the moorhens in the pond.
At 45 seconds in, a Muntjac (?) deer makes an appearance, after which we see a Vixen and her two cubs walking along the bank in the darkness.
During daylight hours, a grey heron comes fishing and catches a small unidentified morsal of food from the pond.
More fox cubs and their mother appear during daylight and darkness, often to come for a drink from the pond.
A Greater Spotted Woodpecker appears at 3.15. It hangs around entertaining us for a few seconds.
Rosemary spotted a Grey Heron near the field pond. I rushed out to take a photograph. I was far from it, and it was standing down the slope to the pond, so little of the Heron was in sight. I grabbed a few frames from about100 meters away, and then walked towards it. Of course, it flew off.
I looked at the frames I took, not technically good, but you could see it was eating a frog or toad. So worth keeping them. I think it was a Toad, and so does Rosemary.
