Harrassed Buzzard

It is not unusual to see a buzzard beng persued by crows. In most instances, a shift of the tail and the buzzard easily leaves the crows behind. The other day I observed two crows chasing a buzzard which then released a small mammal from its talons. In an instant, one of the crows swooped down and caught the prey in its beak well before it hit the ground.

I was left pondering why the bizzard should have so easily given in to the piratical crows.

Badger Cub Rescue

Down in Ryarsh Wood this morning with Dylan (the dog). He was suddenly very interested in a patch of brambles. Thinking it was probably a pheasant either a cock hiding or a hen on a nest, I went to investigate and was surprised to see a badger. Clearly a young cub, no larger than a cat, it was not pleased to be disturbed, snarling at the dog in an uncompromising manner.

I removed Dylan from the immediate vicinity and tied him to a tree. Then with a stout stick I tried to see whether or not the cub was enatngled in the brambles, or even caught in a snare. Neither seemed to be the case but it was unwilling to move. Without protective gloves or anything, a rescue at that time was not possible. I went home and called Folly Wildlife Rescue and several hours later, they were were able to send someone out.

The cub was still there but now immobile and covered in flies. At first sight I thought it was dead. However it had emerged from the brambles and so it was a relatively easy matter to catch it up in a net and place it in a cat crate. It soon became clear

that the cub was far from being dead and was not happy to be restrained in this manner. Its fighting attitude bodes well for it and I trust it will be released to the wild once it is healthy and independent.

Visitor

Found this little feller in the kitchen this morning! Nearly one inch long!

Two Tiny Predators

Driving along today near Beachey Head when a weasel ran across in front of me. It was carrying what was probably a dead mouse or vole, although it could have been one of its young which it was transferring to a new nest.  What was amazing was the speed that the weasel could achieve when it was carrying such a large burden relative to its own size and weight.
This evening, a little owl landed on the roof garden of the tree house in the garden.

Raven at Wedge Wood

Was at Wedge Wood today. Three of the nest boxes have chicks being fed: two great tit and one blue tit. A buzzard flew over calling, followed shortly after by a raven. The wood is twenty miiles from the coast  and, although raven numbers are apparently quickly expanding, it was a surprise to have one in this area especially during the breeding season.

First Swift

On yet another cold and windy day, saw my first swift yesterday. There can be few flying insects around and so am not sure how these ariel hunters are managing to survive.

A pair of pied wagtails are building a nest in my wood store. It is not unusual for them to select such sites, but this one is particularly open and vulnerable to attack from magpies,  It is a surprisingly large nest for a relatively small bird. Building appears to take place mostly in the early morning and for the rest of the day they are busy feeding. It will also cause serious issues for me and I shall not be able to use the side entrance as I customarily do.

Plenty of Breeding Birds

Every stretch of hedgerow locally has a pair of whitethroats in residence. Every copse has a pair of blackcaps. Swallows are swooping across Fields that have several paris of skylarks nesting. A small flock of yellow hammers was a surprise as most are now occupying their breeding territories. A pair of pied wagtails have taken up residence in my wood shed, whilst bluetits are feeding young in a nest box outside the kitchen window. Goldfinches, greenfinches and linnets are all nesting.