More fox courtship

Yesterday, a fox was yelping in our back garden. I turned on the light and saw a large fox run across our garden, leapt up onto the flint wall and disappeared into the darkness. I did not see the fox again that evening but the eerie calls of foxes could be heard on and off all evening.

This evening I was again alerted by the sound of a fox and upon looking out of the sun lounger window I could see a large fox silhouetted on our back garden wall. After about 30 seconds it ran along the wall and leapt onto the shed roof. I went up stairs just in time to see the fox jump down onto the flint wall that runs alongside the house and watched it disappear around the front of the house. As I came down stairs a fox (maybe the same one) ran back along our back wall and disappeared down into the gardens behind.

As with the previous evening, the sound of foxes could be heard on and off during the evening.

Fox courtship

The foxes have started calling as winter is the time for courtship. I spotted one of the foxes in the light of the moon up the track next to our house at 10.00pm.

Fungi

I noticed one of the bird feeders ha been blown down in the stormy weather. When I went to fix it I noticed this largish fungi growing underneath the lilac bush where the bird feeder was hanging.

I have not been able to identify it yet, does anyone have any ideas.

Red Admiral Butterfly

I noticed a Red Admiral butterfly flying around the garden several times during the day. It was quite sunny, no bees but several hoverflies were also active.

Sparrowhawk mobbed by herring gull.

While checking the garden after the stormy weather, I head a commotion in the sky. A few seconds later a sparrowhawk appeared over the roof top, pursued by a very noisy herring gull.

Luckily I had my camera with me as it all happened very fast.

As the sparrowhawk swerved and changed direction the herring gull followed but making a wider turn being less manoeuvrable.

The herring gull continued to chase the sparrowhawk and they disappeared behind the house behind our garden.

Long-tailed tits

A very noisy flock of about 8 long-tailed tits passed through my front garden. They first appeared in the lilac tree but by the time I got my camera they had flown across to our neighbours garden opposite the track.

They foraged for a while before slowly moving on up the track (heading north away from our house and eventually disappeared down into the lower gardens.

About 20 minutes later, a noise flock (probably the same long-tailed tits) headed back south along the gardens behind ours, sending a few minutes in the apple tree before flying off.

I have seen them in the local park and it is possible where these birds and come from and returning to.

Bees and goldfinches

Along with the fuscia, lavender and nastursium the hebe continues to attract and provide food for white-tailed bumble bees.

The recent cold snap sadly finished off the remaining morning glory flowers.

A small flock of gold finches has been travelling back and forth along the gardens.