Garden Creatures

[Champ]

I am sure there’s a similar thread but I can’t find it…

…it’s a bit of a Springwatch survey

…there’s a family of foxes living at the bottom of our garden but there’s only one cub which I thought I was quite unusual and then I heard from someone else that they don’t have any foxes this year. Is it coincidence or maybe the effects of a cold prolonged winter?

[Bjornebye]

When I lived in Southsea, foxes were the norm. They'd rip fuck out of peoples bin's once a week but by and large were no hassle to anyone. Never see them in West Derby. Foxy women? Yes. Foxes? Nah. 

 

Before covid we used to always get snails in our garden but since lockdowns and the rats looking for food we hardly ever get any anymore. Rats having French starters in the back while I'm stuck inside asking what the hell vegan duck's made of. 

[Champ]

1 hour ago, Bjornebye said:

When I lived in Southsea, foxes were the norm. They'd rip fuck out of peoples bin's once a week but by and large were no hassle to anyone. Never see them in West Derby. Foxy women? Yes. Foxes? Nah. 

 

Before covid we used to always get snails in our garden but since lockdowns and the rats looking for food we hardly ever get any anymore. Rats having French starters in the back while I'm stuck inside asking what the hell vegan duck's made of. 

You’re welcome to any of the snails from my garden

[Strontium]

I've seen urban foxes in L7 where my mum and dad live although it's quite near Newsham Park.

 

I'd have thought they have small litter sizes these days because they've adapted so well and their survival rate is so high. As a general rule animals tend towards larger litters when most of the young will die.

 

We get hedgehogs occasionally in our back yard. Not sure how they get in, the only way I can see is under the back gate from the entry.

 

NB mock duck is usually made from seitan (wheat gluten)

[Bjornebye]

19 minutes ago, Champ said:

You’re welcome to any of the snails from my garden

 

 

 

 

As long as they come with some cookies Champ x 

[Bjornebye]

3 minutes ago, Strontium said:

I've seen urban foxes in L7 where my mum and dad live although it's quite near Newsham Park.

 

I'd have thought they have small litter sizes these days because they've adapted so well and their survival rate is so high. As a general rule animals tend towards larger litters when most of the young will die.

 

We get hedgehogs occasionally in our back yard. Not sure how they get in, the only way I can see is under the back gate from the entry.

 

NB mock duck is usually made from seitan (wheat gluten)

 

We've got Crocky Park near us but it's probably not as "Urban" a park as Newsham, whatever that means. I'm sure there's some around I just never see them, even walking the dog through the woods in the park. Squirrels however......

 

 

Nice one RE: Mock Duck. No wonder it tasted like wet shredded cardboard. 

[polymerpunkah]

Every year the tree swallows come back to my neighbourhood.

 

They're supposed to nest in trees (obviously), of which there are millions within easy flying distance everywhere around me, but they've adapted to nesting under the eaves of houses.

 

They're great, not just as a bit of nature getting close, but that they feed on insects, including mosquitoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[VladimirIlyich]

2 hours ago, Bjornebye said:

 

We've got Crocky Park near us but it's probably not as "Urban" a park as Newsham, whatever that means. I'm sure there's some around I just never see them, even walking the dog through the woods in the park. Squirrels however......

 

 

Nice one RE: Mock Duck. No wonder it tasted like wet shredded cardboard. 

It doesn't quack,it simmers.

[Captain Willard]

We get bats in the summer evening. Don’t know where they live but it’s a nice way to end the day.

[Section_31]

Doves in the tree and a couple of squirrels who're dumb as fuck. We've got a squirrel feeder which they hardly ever touch, instead they use the bird feeder.

[VladimirIlyich]

10 minutes ago, Section_31 said:

Doves in the tree and a couple of squirrels who're dumb as fuck. We've got a squirrel feeder which they hardly ever touch, instead they use the bird feeder.

It always tastes better when somebody else should have it.

[Rushies tash]

In the eight years we've been in our place, we've had a frog in the back garden, a hedgehog and currently, foxes (the den isn't in the garden, but they visit sure enough given the noise they make). Had a sparrowhawk chasing birds through our trees last year as well. Plus the usual robins, tits etc.

[Anubis]

This was crawling around court a week ago. A quick bit of research revealed it’s the larvae of the harlequin ladybird. Big aphid munchers so good for your garden.

 

[Champ]

1 hour ago, Anubis said:

This was crawling around court a week ago. A quick bit of research revealed it’s the larvae of the harlequin ladybird. Big aphid munchers so good for your garden.

 

It’s weird that they look so sinister and then turn into cute looking ladybirds 

[Champ]

1 hour ago, Rushies tash said:

In the eight years we've been in our place, we've had a frog in the back garden, a hedgehog and currently, foxes (the den isn't in the garden, but they visit sure enough given the noise they make). Had a sparrowhawk chasing birds through our trees last year as well. Plus the usual robins, tits etc.

How many fox cubs have you got?

[Strontium]

5 hours ago, Bjornebye said:

We've got Crocky Park near us but it's probably not as "Urban" a park as Newsham, whatever that means. I'm sure there's some around I just never see them, even walking the dog through the woods in the park. Squirrels however......

 

[Rushies tash]

8 hours ago, Champ said:

How many fox cubs have you got?

 

Not sure, I'd have to get out of bed in the early hours for that and, as much as I enjoy the wildlife in my garden, I prefer my sleep! Definitely sounds like more than one though.

[Paulie Dangerously]

Frog in my garden. Plays a dangerous game of tag with the dog 

[YorkshireRed]

We regularly have foxes in the garden. If the den isn’t actually there, it’s fairly close.

 

They make a right racket at night on occasion.

 

A rabbit used to show up most days as well. Just sat in the garden, but you couldn’t get near it. No idea where it came from, or how it came to be roaming free. Haven’t seen it for a few years now though. 
 

Frogs, bats, squirrels etc. all think they own the place. 

[Bjornebye]

1 hour ago, YorkshireRed said:

We regularly have foxes in the garden. If the den isn’t actually there, it’s fairly close.

 

They make a right racket at night on occasion.

 

A rabbit used to show up most days as well. Just sat in the garden, but you couldn’t get near it. No idea where it came from, or how it came to be roaming free. Haven’t seen it for a few years now though. 
 

Frogs, bats, squirrels etc. all think they own the place. 

The noise foxes make when they shag is enough to put you off sex. Sex with a Fox anyway 

[Champ]

2 hours ago, Rushies tash said:

 

Not sure, I'd have to get out of bed in the early hours for that and, as much as I enjoy the wildlife in my garden, I prefer my sleep! Definitely sounds like more than one though.

There’s no effort involved with ours; they’re just lying out in the sun on the neighbour’s grass in the mornings…with what we suspect is the male, keeping a bit of a distance, looking after himself and leaving all the child care to the female 

[Champ]

Over the last few weeks I’ve seen seen my first Red Admiral and Speckled Wood butterflies in the garden…and today, the best of the lot, a hummingbird moth

[Babb'sBurstNad]

Found my first stag beetle of the year the other day.

 

I say "found", my dog tried eating it as it flew past and I rescued it. Always amazes me how those little barbed feet hold on.

[neko]

Saw this on reddit earlier. It's quite brilliant.

 

 

[neko]

...and the follow-up story for the possum.