There was a buzzard soaring above us while we worked today; lovely to see them, as we usually only hear them because of the tree cover in the woods. Son thought he saw a rabbit on the track as we went back into the woods; unusual as we haven't seen any for ages. Sadly they all got various nasty rabbit diseases some time ago. Plenty of hares though.
On the way into the place we were cutting birch, the stalker stopped us to find out where we were working. He was culling the fallow deer. The estate culls about 300 a year and that keeps the populations stable, so there are a lot of deer on the estate. Glad to say we only have roe and muntjac which at least don't herd like fallow deer. A herd of fallow will strip and area bare overnight if they get into young growth.
Saw a couple of hares chasing each other in the woods yesterday. They ran down a track, then disappeared behind our log store, so no idea where they went then.
The hares seem to be very active at the moment. We saw several of them today. One was loping along virtually parallel with the van and didn't seem the least bit bothered about us.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9659 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 26 8:39 am Post subject:
walking down to the gallery from the bus stop at Culzean on Thursday the woodpeckers were busy drumming
Found a new badger hole in the woods today, and some sign that there was the start of a new tunnel at an existing site. Think the male badgers leave the main sett when the young are in there; whether they get thrown out or prefer peace and quiet rather than a lot of noisy youngsters I don't know.
Went dormouse surveying today. No dormice or nests found, but the boxes seem to have been appropriated by birds. Some are definitely bluetits as we found some on eggs in them. The one I found was mildly disgruntled; spread its wings, so I put the lid back on quick. One flew out at the woman opening the box. Also found a bumble bee setting up home in another one. One possibly either long tailed tit or dormouse with opinion favouring long tailed tit.
A young roe deer, possibly a last years fawn has taken to walking through our 'yard'. I don't mind at about midday on Sunday, but 6.30 am on Saturday is a bit much. I triggered our security camera, so had a sudden awakening yesterday morning.
Had to go to the woods to pick up more charcoal for delivery, and a hare ran along the track in front of us, stopping every so often, and did the same the other way on the way back. Wonder if she has leverets hidden near there and was trying to lead us away.
Went to a coppice group meeting yesterday evening and lots of birds. Think they were swifts; loads of them both high and low after the insects. Certainly plenty of them around as we retreated from the mossies late in the evening. Also saw a red kite and a couple of buzzards. In the woods we have heard blackcap, thrush, blackbird and wren lately, but no owls at present.
Did a dormouse survey today and found one torpid female in the same box that one was found in last month. She was really lovely, but didn't want to move her tail or back paws so we could sex her. Sadly there were a few bluetit nests that had dead chicks, but several more that were empty so assume the chicks fledged. Other boxes had enclosed birds nests in, so need to find out what they are, and a few more had signs of woodmice.
Lots of birds around; heard several thrushes, and lots of smaller birds flying around. There seems to be some bird nesting in the log store as I saw adult birds flying in there to feed chicks. Also saw a robin going the other way with food in its beak, so assume that has a nest too.
On the way out we saw a rabbit by the gate disappearing into the undergrowth where we have seen it before.
The two surveyers though not, as one had eggs and they were too large for a wren. It appears long tailed tits also build enclosed nests. and they are a bit bigger than a wren. We do have them in the woods, so quite possibly them.
Today I saw a small, very dark animal skittering along the ground. Didn't get a good look as it disappeared very fast, but it was too dark for a wood mouse, so may have been a shrew.
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