Wild West Yorkshire nature diary, Sunday 27th June 1999
MY MUM IS UPSET. Yesterday morning there was some kind of disturbance at the Wren's nest, built into the top of the frame of the wash-house door. There was a sound of birds alarming and a strand of ivy is now hanging loose by the empty nest. She didn't see what happened but suspects 'Tiger', the tomcat, who has claimed the back garden as his hunting ground.
The five chicks were well grown, their beaks clearly visible at the entrance hole to the domed nest. There is no sign of feathers, so hopefully all the fledglings just burst from the nest and escaped. One of the adults has been back hopping around the nest.
'Tiger's' territory is also claimed by a Grey Squirrel which is quite willing to take him on, once he has enticed the cat up the Horse Chestnut tree. The squirrel spends much of his time digging holes in the back lawn. It does seem to have stowed away a great many chestnuts there. A talking to from my mother produces no change in the squirrels behaviour.
We've had a long spell of fine weather but today it rains most of the day. As we come back across the valley we watch a downpour progress towards us from the Pennines to the west. The true depth of a side valley opposite becomes more apparent as the veil of rain approaches. A line of pylons marches up the valley into the misty distance.
MY MUM IS UPSET. Yesterday morning there was some kind of disturbance at the Wren's nest, built into the top of the frame of the wash-house door. There was a sound of birds alarming and a strand of ivy is now hanging loose by the empty nest. She didn't see what happened but suspects 'Tiger', the tomcat, who has claimed the back garden as his hunting ground.
The five chicks were well grown, their beaks clearly visible at the entrance hole to the domed nest. There is no sign of feathers, so hopefully all the fledglings just burst from the nest and escaped. One of the adults has been back hopping around the nest.
'Tiger's' territory is also claimed by a Grey Squirrel which is quite willing to take him on, once he has enticed the cat up the Horse Chestnut tree. The squirrel spends much of his time digging holes in the back lawn. It does seem to have stowed away a great many chestnuts there. A talking to from my mother produces no change in the squirrels behaviour.
We've had a long spell of fine weather but today it rains most of the day. As we come back across the valley we watch a downpour progress towards us from the Pennines to the west. The true depth of a side valley opposite becomes more apparent as the veil of rain approaches. A line of pylons marches up the valley into the misty distance.