GARDEN TALES

Being round the house a lot at this time of they year one is much more aware of what the animals are up to. Unfortunately two sad tales follow.

Whilst we were away earlier this year a pair of robins decided to set up home in a flower box under the porch. However, our toings and froings disturbed them and they abandoned the two eggs that the female had laid. Soon after another, or perhaps the same, pair decided to do the same but on a shelf in the loggia (a covered area, open on one side) at the back of the house. We saw them frequently flying in with moss or dry grass to make a nest and not long after mother robin laid a pair of eggs. They too abandoned them, presumably because it is also an area that we often pass by. Barbara decided to take the nest out so that they would get the message that the shelf was not a good choice for a nest. Unfortunately, another two eggs were then laid in the spot where the nest had been and the robins did not stay. We think that mother robin just had to lay the eggs and did so in the spot she knew. Here is the end result but in the nest they built earlier (and outside the loggia).

The eggs are about the size of my thumbnail.



The second story is more of a mystery. We have a bird box for blue tits with a special steep roof to discourage squirrels from looking in. Quite early on in the egg laying season some tits appeared to be nesting there but than a squirrel thought it would be fun to enlarge the entrance and climb in. So no blue tits this year. And the squirrel moved on to other high jinks.
The box is a tight squeeze for a squirrel but to our surprise a few weeks later one was perched uncomfortably on the top next to the trunk whilst another was moving around inside the box. It appeared that the one outside was on a vigil because it was there for some hours and that the other one might be giving birth. Over the next few days the squirrel inside seemed to be doing a lot of wriggling around and at one stage both her(?) head and tail were sticking out of the port hole! There was no sign of the other one.



A few days later and it was clear that she had left the box. I peered inside and there is a scattering of leaves on the floor but nothing else.

Presumably mum squirrel thought better of the accommodation, and dad has done a runner.

WILMINGTON MAN (?)

Long time no blog. We have just been a tad busy.

We recently had a walk around the famous man (click on the picture for a bigger image). Apparently for many years he was marked out in the form of depressed lines so that he was only visible when sidelit or it had been snowing.

And then tourism person or similar thought - Aaaah! - and had his outline made in bricks and painted white. Job done, ancient legacy violated but lots of visitors can come to see him all year round. But wait a minute, where are his masculine credentials?? And isn't he holding the sticks in a rather twee fashion?

Nevertheless it is a very pleasant walk on the South Downs and along the Cuckmere River.