An expert I know said to me it takes time for invertebrates to recover from things like the great dessication of August 2022. Like years...

https://imgur.com/a/jRr8U3g 

https://imgur.com/a/WWCcvFQ 

They have now moved and found a new home. Hope it's not my loft.

"A swarm in May is worth a load of hay. A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon.

A swarm in July isn't worth a fly..."

This morning all pellets gone. Five or so Tetra bits I placed but proof enough for me. The hedgehog seems to drink the water from one of my slug/snail control hosta 'moated castles' I'm trying this year. 

Sort of reminds me of the Tiger who came to tea, drinkling all the water from the tap. Well sort of.

Pots with plants set in large dishes of water. One drunk dry the other still filled.  Could be one hosta is thirstier than the other of course.

Not a lot of slugs or snails this year visible, though they were there a few weeks ago after the last rain. The hedgehog should assist me of course in a mollusc pogrom.

"Walled Garden Baumber is an innovative and beautiful 4 acre walled garden, full of hidden surprises and vastly different from the traditional kitchen garden that it once was. It is owned by designer and photographer, Sonia and David Elton."

I see they have a Steampunk weekend coming up - May 10th/11th (Sat/Sun) – Steampunk Weekend (10am-4pm). We have [rashly] decided to give it a try. 🤣🤣🤣

If you are ever driving on the A158 Lincoln - Skegness Road it is worth a visit.

https://www.walledgardenbaumber.co.uk/ 

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 

Nice webpage:

Baby Starlings: All You Need To Know

https://birdfact.com/birds/starling/baby-starlings 

https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/fiskerton-fen 

You need to get your balls out, Beast !

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rentokil-Moth-Balls-Clear-10-3x14-5x4-3/dp/B01HZ7LLYE/ref=asc_df_B01HZ7LLYE?mcid=31c548c3a11334c39138a6f6d96e0ebe&hvocijid=4444977789815594233-B01HZ7LLYE-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4444977789815594233&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045906&hvtargid=pla-2281435178058&psc=1&gad_source=1 

Addition: Heard signals 45/55kHz at approx 9.30pm, 10pm, 12pm and 3am. 

DEW will understand why. 😬

I've signed and will forward to my wife who is responsible for the hedgehog and food. 😀 We are pleased that it has last become occupied after years without seeing it. But not the one in the shrubbery but the one on the patio! Also our first ever Robin's nest in the box which successfully fledged although not seen them back in the garden. Blue tit seems to have been feeding forever but not fledged yet which is much later than usual. Sparrows nested in my Swift box but not seen a Swift yet in the air or any hirundines really, just the odd swallow when I've been out. Pleased to see the pied flycatchers on my trip to the Forest of Dean though.

'My' Hedgehog still seems to be around. Woken last night by the small security light coming on and off at the bottom of the garden.

Couldn't see what was setting it off so I assume the wee spikey was looking for more pond pellets. Creature of habit? Not rats because if they are present they leave copious poo. Plenty of sparrows this year. Could do with rain for the sparrows... (and garden which is quite dry).

Dust  baths though good for mite reduction are not perhaps the same as a good communal water bath. You know share water with a friend and all that. The generally dry easterly has morphed into a generally dry westerly around here. Even the BBC are coming round to that. Yesterday heavy showers from midday they predicted. Today This morning will be dry and partly cloudy. In the afternoon, cloud will become more widespread, and the odd light shower cannot be ruled out. Moderate winds.

Tuesday is the next last chance saloon for rain here perhaps before it drys sic up again?

Tuesday

Tomorrow morning, early sunshine will be replaced by cloudy skies and outbreaks of rain later in the morning. In the afternoon, the rain will continue and be heavy at times. Strengthening winds.

I'm aware of the ongoing dearth over recent years, which saddens me greatly, and this might just be an anomalous spike year due to growing conditions etc, but I do feel pleased.

Incredible moment injured monkey walks into clinic in India and shows wound to vet

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/incredible-moment-injured-monkey-walks-102254340.html 

Wasn't there a video of a monkey trying to revive another in a railway station that seemed to show more than it actually did? I see accounts of animals going to vets for help too - but exclusively on SM....

All I know is when my grandmother dog was lost down a drain for two weeks (and survived...) her daughter and granddaughter must have known where she was as she was in a drain (the only drain, I forgot to look in) they passed many times every day. Well, they certainly didn't ever try to lead me there, or bark by it or even pause.  But I think dogs are quite good at looking intelligent 😂 , that or it was me.......

I've still got a hedgehog here IMBY coming around looking for snacks each night. Safer living here than going out on the road.

But yes it's invariably SM where you see these things. The ubiquitousness of phone/cameras.

Meant to add - my other half jotted down the details of the date and time. "Fox 1.51am". I misread 1.51am as "Islam"! What a twonk! 🙄😁😁😁

Fox through garden again at 11.05hrs on 2nd. [Trailcam] 🦊

My hedgehog enjoys halibut pellets more than Tetra floaters. I tried the other night and it left the Tetra ones. 

The tench prefer them too when I feed them. The goldfish are not fussy.

But a habitual hedgehog it's becoming in its nocturnal wanderings around the garden. 

I enjoyed watching Springwatch. I always notice the stark contrast between the 'mindfull moments' section where we just see the beautiful images of nature, with much of the rest of the show which is packed with the absolute brutality of nature. Infanticide, cannibalism, horror, death and murder is the everyday reality for many creatures.