Wildlife photos please

[Gillykat]

Wow! That's pretty awesome Looks like some sort of Harvestman but I don't ever remember seeing one with 'pincers'

Something easier to identify - Mr Pheasant is back! Clever chap has a territory in the overgrown back gardens behind where I live - where none of the Duke's mates can blast away at him

[PyreneesPlot]

It has hit 23 degrees this afternoon, far too warm, and it has brought out the insects.

Carpenter bee and a shy bumble bee on the winter flowering honeysuckle.

[Gillykat]

First proper session on the allotment today and as I tidied stuff in the polytunnel I just happened to move the cut-down wellies I made into 'clogs' and found one full of pebbles, dry leaves and seeds!

One of the resident Wood Mice has obviously decided to store seeds in it....but pebbles?

[Verinda]

How odd, would a mouse bother with stones, how would they lift them I wonder?!

There's nothing bright and shiny there so it's unlikely to be a magpie either.

[Jungle Jane]

First proper session on the allotment today and as I tidied stuff in the polytunnel I just happened to move the cut-down wellies I made into 'clogs' and found one full of pebbles, dry leaves and seeds!

One of the resident Wood Mice has obviously decided to store seeds in it....but pebbles?

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There was a programme the other day showing a bird putting different sized stones by the entrance of his nest to lure the female. Big stones on the outside getting smaller like a path leading up to the bird. To make himself seem bigger next to small stones,whereas the female would just assume all the stones were the same size. I think it was 'inside the animal mind'.

[Gillykat]

When I told hubby Neil he said that as I have a few alpines and rockery plants overwintering in the tunnel then perhaps the mouse is making his own rockery

I was quite shocked! Not at the mouse but at my non-gardener husband actually knowing I had some alpines!!! Perhaps he does occasionally take in what I'm waffling on about?

[Gillykat]

How odd, would a mouse bother with stones, how would they lift them I wonder?!

There's nothing bright and shiny there so it's unlikely to be a magpie either.

It really IS a mystery I've found the occasional seed store on the plot from where I cut down the spent sunflower heads....but stones? Very bizarre. I only found them because I was moving things in the tunnel and I always check inside shoes in case a spider has made a home there (I'd hate to squish one!!!) and was completely baffled until I saw the tiny seeds and came to the conclusion it can only have been a mouse

Lifting them wouldn't be a problem I don't think - I used to have pet mice years ago and would often see them lifting nuts and treats as big as themselves and take them away to a safe spot....but stones? Perhaps I should post the pic and question on a wildlife forum and see what they say

[Verinda]

Let us know what they say if you do

[Gillykat]

Today in the polytunnel, quite close to my cut off wellies I found a couple of large beans I know my neighbour had some climbing beans last summer so perhaps my mystery mouse is traipsing all the way to his plot....ok, it's only approx 22ft away but that's quite a distance to a wee mouse.....getting a few and bringing them back, probably one by one, to my tunnel

Ain't wildlife great! Perhaps I should get hubby to set up a small camera like they have on Spring/Autumn/WinterWatch.....he loves anything techy

[dogsbody]

First picture of the two visitors together.

The second photo was after I asked when the cubs are due....

[Gillykat]

Gorgeous sunny morning on the allotment today (26c in the greenhouse, 12c outside!) and quite a few bulbs were opening their flowers. A few flies buzzing around and, my first of the year, a Honey Bee

[Gillykat]

After four days straight of rearranging beds, digging, weeding and potting up on the allotment I took a day off yesterday, Friday 26th, and went birdwatching

Saw some nice birds (Redpoll, Little Egret, Slavonian Grebe) and whilst at East Chevington Nature Reserve I was walking along to the feeder hide when two Roe Deer appeared about 40ft in front of me! I stood still and they peered at me for a good 40 seconds or so before deciding I was harmless and bounding off Continued on my way to the hide (which was just behind where the deer had been) and no sooner had I looked out of the first window than a WEASEL popped up in front of me! Unfortunately he was just too far away for my basic cheapo camera to capture him.

One pic of the deer, Reed Bunting & Blue Tit and a nest from last year that was beside the path

[bearded bloke]

Perched in a cherry tree 'out back' .......

[meteor]

I set up a "trail camera" in the bush beside my bird feeding station to see what is visiting, first up was Cyril the red squirrel, then chaffinches, yellow hammers, green finches and the usual suspects. I'll post some more later tonight. I have 5000+ pictures to wade through

[meteor]

A few more; Blackbird, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Greenfinch and my old companion Robbie