Land /Water Wildlife 2024

Our naughty fox caught with its pants down, contaminating the birds' water dish.

 

The best news I've heard in ages
Rare sighting of red squirrel in Scotland's central belt

 

@fairygirl , if you have access to iPlayer, I can recommend Cumbrian Red, it's a documentary film about Red Squirrels in Cumbria. Lots of useful info and great photography.

 

I might take a look at that @Scroggin
It's very encouraging because the central belt will always be a difficult habitat, but hopefully there might be a bit of spread around various sites. We have loads of suitable habitat here for example, but it's getting them established and getting rid of the greys that will always be the problem.

They're getting very established in all the reds' strongholds further north, especially Perthshire, which is really depressing. The measures taken there [ encouraging pinemartens etc ] haven't worked

 

but it has got pretty markings!

 

Fabulous @wiseowl

 

Wall Lizard.


Bush Cricket.


Large White's last flight.

 

I was just digging out the compost heap and a toad came rolling down to my feet. So I picked it up with my bare hands to take a photo. It did give off some liquid!

It was rather fidgety and wouldn't sit still. I was pleased that it was healthy as some years ago we had several come onto the lawn. On looking at them I could see they were being eaten alive in their nostrils by maggots. It was awful. Since then I had not seen one until today.

I popped it back into the hedge where it can slip through to the stream beyond. Happy toad.

 

Deer love rotting apples. Muntjac visiting today to enjoy the feast.