Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Two Garden Visitors
by admin - 22:29 on 18 October 2012
You never know what will be seen next through That Bloody Window, as a jealous Squirrel James has dubbed it.
I was working on the Mac in The Kittenry, alongside two well fed, snoozing kittens, when I became aware of a familiar sound: the susurration of anxious birds. The volume and quality didn't suggest a pine marten, but something had them all a-twitter.
The culprit, who strolled around the garden as though he owned it, was a huge surprise – a heron. I've seen them before in the vicinity; never in the garden. Maybe he'd found a fish here during the recent flooding and was back for more.
I darted towards the Pentax but either I startled him or he realised his mistake and took off with a few lazy beats of his wings. When you see a heron in a familiar place you realise that they're ENORMOUS.
As I was too slow to get proof you'll have to take my word for it and settle for a snap from a couple of years ago, taken in a nearby field.
There was more action after dark. Mrs Marten is still seen now and then but tonight's visitor was Mystery Moggy, who has the same fondness for peanut butter and Nutella. He was shooed away but proved stubborn. Martens might go hungry tonight.
Another reason for Mystery Moggy's persistence may be Maia's occasional solo jaunts around the garden. Perhaps he'd seen her in her bonnet and come a-courting.
Much of my day was spent preparing for the craft fair at Strathpeffer Spa tomorrow (noon-7pm) and Saturday (10am-5pm). Come and say hello – it's not too early to start your Christmas shopping.
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