Got the lot

nightshade · #1 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 08:22 AM

Proper springday yesterday,Bats in the morning,pipistrelles,and coming home late afternoon/early evening, swifts, swallows, martins a sparrowhawk being mobbed by crows,
mallards walking along the road into the village, a tree full of jackdaws ,about a dozen,
heron being chased by an assortment of birds and a Fox asleep on a pile of telegraph poles
oh and Hedgehog pooh on the lawn Perfick

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 11:39 AM

Couldn't agree more. Just popped home for lunch but while I was at school this morning(work) I caught sight of swifts swooping through the air over the playground. For a while I stood there transfixed watching them until a pupil tapped me on the arm and said,'Miss what are you looking at?' I replied a small miracle really. I then had to go on to explain about bird migration. Do you know that not one child knew anything about migration. I think that's awfully sad. Sign of the times I think. Got them thinking though. ww

jennyb · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

oh and Hedgehog pooh on the lawn

How does one recognise Hedgehog pooh? I get all sorts of pooh on the lawn (Rabbits, deer, pheasants) but would not recognise most types.

I have often wondered if we have Hedgehogs but have not seen any around here for about 15 years. I am sure there must be some. Any ideas how to attract them?

Jenny

Tinkerbell · #4 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 01:56 PM

Good afternoon all!

You ask how to attract Hedgehogs to your garden Jenny so click on
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/br...to_your_garden and you get some idea. Good luck.

Tink

P.S. Maybe one of our members has a photo of the said 'poo'.

Gill Catton · #5 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 02:31 PM

Yes I think I have most of my summer migrants seen now, had my nostrels filled with the scent of wild garlic, my eyes blurred with the blue carpet of blubells, my eyes caught by the flash of yellow Brimstone amonst the saplings.... Just the orange tip, Turtle Dove and Nightjar to go on my list!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Couldn't agree more. Just popped home for lunch but while I was at school this morning(work) I caught sight of swifts swooping through the air over the playground. For a while I stood there transfixed watching them until a pupil tapped me on the arm and said,'Miss what are you looking at?' I replied a small miracle really. I then had to go on to explain about bird migration. Do you know that not one child knew anything about migration. I think that's awfully sad. Sign of the times I think. Got them thinking though. ww

I was taking a break during survey of a canal, summer before last and was sitting in the sunshine on some moorings with my welly booted legs floating in the water (bliss) a troop of schoolchildren passed by, they were seven or eightish I think and a group of tearaway boys and the end stopped to ask questions, they really didn't understand what I was doing and they didn't know what wellys were (how come your feet aren't getting wet?). but they were so excited when I mentioned that I'd just seen a Grass Snake swim by, full of questions I almost wanted to kidnap them from the group and encourage the natural enthusiasm pouring out!!

I also another time was working in woodland behind Dudley zoo and discovered two little boys playing swordfights with japanese knotweed (we used to use cowparsely

) and once they saw me they were so full of questions and followed me around, I told them all about the dreaded knotweed and roughly how to age trees what the birds were flitting about and they absolutely loved it, I told them I was beng paid to walk around the woods in the daytime, that this was my job and they were amazed I hope I planted a seed of thought with them, maybe they'll be on this forum in ten years maybe.....
the point I'm making I think is that so many children love this stuff they love to learn about migration and wildlife and bugs and beasties if only they come into contact with someone happy to point these things out!