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.
Drama in the Garden
by admin - 18:01 on 30 June 2011
Another Great Wildlife Rescue was was performed in The Rural Retreat's Garden this morning when Bess forgot she's a sensible middle-aged moggy and got carried away by the sound of rustling in the bushes.
Matchgirl and I had noticed her through the window, watching something with great intensity, when she disappeared into the greenery to emerge a moment later with her victim in her mouth.
The last bird I rescued (unharmed) from a predator was a female pheasant, captured by Romeo. He's young enough not to care about size; Bess, as befits her age, was less adventurous, or perhaps an inexperienced young tree sparrow is all she can manage nowadays, apart from the odd vole or shrew. Or common lizard – it's very suspicious that the Clan Prescott never colonised their gatepost this year.
The sparrow, I'm pleased to say, was shocked but unharmed and fluttered away at the first opportunity.
By then, something bigger had caught the small game hunter's eye – something Bess had no intention of taking on.
Speedy emerged on to the lawn with a mouthful of moss and leaves and the air of a creature taking care of business. Bess watched for a short while then strolled off, feigning indifference. Not long after that, Speedy did the same, except much faster.
Maybe we'll hear the pitter-patter of little hoglet feet sometime soon.
Woodpeckers continue to guzzle free peanuts, although junior is usually pushed off when dad, or perhaps an unrelated male, is hungry. They're still too distant for ace snappery but make great subjects.
Unlike pine martens, who remain elusive.
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