in a very non hunting way we used to use the two spaniels and 2 of my home bred stealth hell hounds to follow the black tails across derbyshire , it made for a fun 15 mile walk and no critter was harmed in the process.
deer are fun and delightful and some are dangeroos up close, most are fairly tasty so long as they are cooked or dried fresh rather than hung to rot
game does not need to be rancid, nor should it be
ps muntjak are the best for jerky, mature red bones are the best for tools
ps reindeer are charming but quite happy to avalanche you so as to walk down the recently cleared slope
never traverse a mountain under the reindeer herd
if i was faster or they were slower that morning i might not have been able to report that
reds can be more than a bit grumpy in the rutting season and when they have calfs
Two trees taken down in the back garden of an empty social housing unit over the road has evicted the pigeons that used to live there. They are taking their time settling elsewhere and causing some irritation. Think they may have been nesting in the canopy.
I think they are white tails, but I didn't know there were two sorts. When they run they do show a white rump anyway as it shows up better in woodland.
We heard a muntjac buck calling yesterday evening; not good news as they are very destructive, but so far no major damage from them.
There was also a hare sitting on a grassy bit just inside the wood which ducked its ears as we came in, but otherwise ignored us. Sitting upright in plain sight for once. In leaves they can 'disappear' so you can be within a couple of yards of one and can't see it.
Saw another hare today as we were leaving the woods in mid-afternoon. Think it was quite young as it was smaller than a normal hare and also not the least bit afraid of us driving past.
An unidentified animal has been seen locally again; either a big cat or possibly a wild boar. Seen by two boys who thought in the dusk it was a hay bale until it moved. They didn't stop to find out but just ran.
boar is my guess, lay out some pig food and wait with a night sight or set a few PIR trailcams
you have white tails, the other team have the same bum tuft but in black, iirc the derbyshire black ended were imported for a "posh house park" and some decided to escape rather than be park peasants about 200 yrs ago
if you have muntjac, the night sight and/or volvo solution reduces their numbers and makes very good stew or jerky
muntjac is the best deer meat i have ever eaten, i have tried quite a few spp
the "tusks" are rather nice as well
We are a very long way from Derbyshire, so not likely that they would be here.
Perhaps we should get someone in to look into the deer situation. As we are part of a large woodland complex, it might be a bit tricky, as only about 7 acres that we own that are private, but getting some idea of muntjac numbers would be a good idea perhaps. The roe aren't a problem; we live with them, and know how to protect the coppice, so we get on reasonably well.
Your mouse and birds sound rather nice. We seem to have a robin with part of its tail missing around the garden. It might have been nesting in the hedge, as it seems to go in there and I know we had a nest there earlier in the year.
We went for a walk on a local estate yesterday. Had to take a detour as the Highland cattle used for conservation management decided they were going to sit on the path we were on, but got onto another path with no trouble. It was grass with bracken either side and there were loads of butterflies. Couldn't get a clear view of most of them, but they seemed to be rather small meadow browns. Flying up as we passed and almost invisible when settled.
Two trees have been removed from a local garden over road. Homeless pigeon population. One has been determined to nest in the climbing rose by front door and failing - spectacular fashion- for weeks.
be nice to them, they were made homeless with a sudden no fault eviction, water is polite, food is good, care and counseling is ok, you might get some hand feeders
new landlord is a bit different, it can work out ok
talk to and with it , they are similar to chooks but a bit less savage, well the table fight snaps might indicate different
Nice to see the butterfly. There are still a few about here, but weather hasn't been too good for them.
Husband and son put up a wildlife camera near an occupied dormouse nest box yesterday. We are hoping to see the young leaving the nest and whether they return to it at any time. Although dormice are a well known and well loved species, surprisingly little is known about them, so anything we can find out about them will be useful.
a hunting wasp in mid September, she was small but efficient
by this time they are usually delinquent pensioners (like me)
very wet, the birds are less dependent than they were, i usually wean them about this time of year
every other day for seeds and worms teaches them to be "wild"
they will have "at all times" over winter, spring and summer
or set a few PIR trailcams 
View Latest Posts