Thursday 10 October 2019

A Welcome visitor.



It's still pitch black when I get up in the mornings, so I have to rely on Billy to let me know if any creatures are around outside.

Yesterday morning he let out a couple of very quiet barks, so I went back indoors and fetched both my torch, and my camera.

This was the first fully grown Hedgehog I've seen for years. He (or she) was rolled into a ball, and didn't move. I expect Billy frightened him. I don't suppose he liked my camera flash either.

I consider it a sign that Mother Nature is doing a good job, when I see Hedgehogs; all is well in the countryside.



33 comments:

  1. I haven't seen a hedgehog for years. I suppose they are not as plentiful in the town.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We hardly ever see them these days, which is why I was so pleased that Billy found this one.

      Delete
  2. I saw my first ever red squirrel this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We only have red ones here; no greys.

      Delete
    2. We have reds and blacks. No greys. Haven't seen a live hedgehog for a long time. I think they've all been pancaked trying to cross the roads.

      Delete
    3. Our Red Squirrels tend to be very dark; almost black. I've also seen several jet black male Pheasants around.

      Delete
  3. good to see these little fellows, we have a few but sadly nothing like the numbers from years gone by.

    But we do have a thriving population of red squirrels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They seem to be in decline here. Maybe they are just better at camouflage.

      Delete
  4. Here is a new generation of small hedgehogs coming every evening to eat the food the cats have left.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They always say that if you wish to attract Hedgehogs, you should put out cat food. It sounds like you're doing just that.

      Delete
  5. We get hedgehogs in our garden, there are 2 spots where sometimes they sleep the day away. We love them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think ours probably live beneath our wood pile, my wife once picked one up by mistake. Lovely creatures.

      Delete
  6. Good to see, although I have never seen one. We don't really have an equivalent here, although our Echidna does burrow down into the ground.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hedgehogs don't burrow; in the winter they hibernate beneath piles of leaves, logs, etc.

      Delete
  7. We had one baby hedgehog in the garden a few years ago, but not seen one since. We're on the edge of woodland, so plenty of places for them to hide.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We found an abandoned baby a couple of years ago. We fed it regularly, but it eventually died. Quite upsetting.

      Delete
  8. We don't see as many hedgehogs here as we used to, apart from too many flat ones on the roads.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose that even that is a sign that there are still plenty around; as sad as it is.

      Delete
  9. I wish we had more hedgehogs. THe only ones I've seen here are dead ones on the road. It does prove that they are around, at least.
    Yesterdays photo of Lady M and Booboo was delightful. Reminded me of Winnie the Pooh with Piglet hanging on to his big paw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We find a lot of wildlife dead on the roads, everything from Deer to Badgers etc. It's very wooded here, so plenty of animals around.

      Delete
  10. I saw a woman with a hedgehog on her head. They'd make a great toilet brush I've always thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like Arthur Scargill. I'm sure he wore one!

      Delete
  11. Ellie on our walk the other evening found a hedgehog in the Ludlow College grounds which is just two doors down from us. To say I was happy was the understatement! We live in a very quiet part of town, the countryside living cheek by jowl with the ‘great’ metropolis that is Ludlow. So the sighting of a hedgehog was a great milestone.

    LX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My people's place in N Shropshire was filled with Hedgehogs and Pheasants. I think they like it there.

      Delete
  12. We see some hedgehogs here but nothing like as many as we used to see sadly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure their numbers are in decline. Sad.

      Delete
  13. We have seen one in our garden here recently but I don't ever recall seeing one in France.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We once (a long time ago) returned home quite late, and saw about 10 of them all together on the lawn. It was if they were holding a meeting! I doubt if we'll ever see that again.

      Delete
  14. I would love to see a Hedgehog your are so lucky. I love Billy's small bark what a good boy. Will you put out some cat food in winter ?
    parsnip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, his very quiet barks were quite amusing; almost as if he didn't want to upset the Hedgehog. We don't put food out for them, I think they should be hibernating anyway.

      Delete
  15. When I used to be out in the wee hours, I stood a good chance of encountering a skunk. All that stood between them and me was my sense of smell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've always wanted to smell a skunk. It is spoken about so often, that I would like to know if it's true!

      Delete
    2. It is true, every word. It will knock you down. It is not removable; it lasts days, weeks.

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...