1620/29th March 2024 It was nice to see the weather come good late yesterday afternoon. Snow melt had caused dense mist and a soggy mess. . It also revealed the ruin of our driveway. Most of the gravel had been scooped up by the snow p…
It was nice to see the weather come good late yesterday afternoon.
Snow melt had caused dense mist and a soggy mess.
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It also revealed the ruin of our driveway.
Most of the gravel had been scooped up by the snow plow.
It has never happened before but the new company has superior equipment.
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The groundhogs found a way through, so that's alright.
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This one appeared to be in a big hurry.
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Carrots are back on the shopping list!
We watched these two at lunchtime.
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Not long after, our special friend Scooter put in an appearance.
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She was sitting in the sun, determinedly grooming.
It's very difficult when your back end doesn't work.
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But she just gets on with it.
We have yet to see how other groundhogs will react to her. Last Fall they ignored her, but then they were busy eating everything in sight, preparing for their long sleep.
It remains to be seen what will happen when frisky males come around.
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We noticed yesterday that Scooter can move almost as fast as an able-bodied groundhog.
She moves around a lot.
Which means distributing carrots here and there, and over there...etc.
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When I was first here at the end of September 2018, I was at the kitchen window one evening and had the strangest sensation of being watched.
A groundhog was staring at me:
"Are you the new lady, then?"
We've been friends ever since.
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Last year was different though.
For one thing, the little darlings didn't eat my wallflowers!
There seemed to be far fewer and there was only a single baby where previously there had been several.
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Was there an illness that reduced their numbers?
Our neighbour just down the hill had groundhogs running all over his property, so who knows?
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Afternoon sun lit up a single band of remaining snow.
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Sparrows congregated in their hedge for a late day natter.
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Such a peaceful time.
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While I'm very partial to dawn, I think the hour before sunset may be my favourite time of day.
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Having been thoroughly scrutinised, I went out to take a photograph.
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What other creatures will visit this summer?
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We've had to accept that Ghost will not be back.
Not that he is necessarily deceased. He and all the other squirrels disappeared in one fell swoop last year.
So I think they set up shop elsewhere.
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Little Red is often absent for long periods but then pops up on the patio.
We know she had babies last year.
This may actually be one of them.
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Little Red
Not Little Red
You can see the difference in the tails.
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Little Red no longer climbs the porch railing to swing in the bird feeder.
Maybe she made an agreement with the birds.
Maybe she's too senior now.
"Not dignified, you know."
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I was most displeased yesterday to see Willow, my dearly beloved but very wicked cat, chase Little Red off the patio and up into a tree.
This is one of the reasons I prefer to have indoor cats and I understand perfectly why some people dislike them so much.
A stern lecture was imparted.
As if a cat ever listens!
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A little dove walked down the garden path.
Then hesitated.
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"I've forgotten where I was going!"
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I am very fond of doves.
They have their moments in mating season, but they are mostly very mild-mannered birds. They strike me as vulnerable.
Maybe because it is generally doves that get taken by hawks.
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Yesterday we noticed a dove that was listing.
As we watched we saw that its left wing was not folded in properly.
It was one of those situations where attempting to help, one was more likely to cause serious injury.
The dove had been pecking at seed and seemed mostly fine. If I had gone out if would undoubtedly have fluttered off in a panic.
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We hoped that after a rest the wing would come good.
There was no sign of the dove later.
Also no sad little pile of feathers marking a crime scene.
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