This year's cubs

'Our' vixen no longer comes visiting. Maybe she's been driven off by a younger fox, or perhaps she's dead. She was at least five. I so miss the way she used to sit gazing at us through the patio doors as if waiting for a welcome in. I miss the way she used to introduce her litter of cubs to us each year, sitting proudly in the centre of the lawn while they played around her.

But there is a new fox family this year. The mother is much wilder and more nervous and the cubs have so far not ventured far out of the bushes. But it's nice to know there are some not far away. Apologies for the poor quality of these snaps but they were taken from a distance of about 100 feet!

Swifts!

Saw my first swift of 2014 today. Looking back, I can see that the period between May 6 and 15 is when they tend to arrive in my area. Earlier when the weather is good, like now, and later when it's bad. But there was only one. Was is a scout? Will the rest of the group arrive soon? A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to look up into the sky just as they were arriving in a wheeling, shrieking crowd of two dozen or more. I saw them last year as they were preparing to leave. I love the way their calls graze and scratch the air like beaks on a blackboard. I thrill to the miraculous dart and wheel and flick and turn and speed of their flight. They truly are the acrobats of the air.

Pigeon and squirrel

The pigeons are at it big time. Look at this puffed up pouter, while his mate sunbathes (or prepares herself?) on the grass. As to who the third party is, well, I have no knowledge of the sexual preferences of pigeons!

Then a squirrel appeared on the scene and the group broke up. The female pigeon ignored the squirrel's foraging antics at first...

... but this was getting too close for comfort, and she flew away to join the others.

Record your butterflies!

Butterfly Conservation have launched a phone app so you can record butterfly sitings as you go, wherever you may be. It's available for both iPhones and Android phones and even though I am hopeless with my smart phone, I am going to have a go at downloading and using it.

Here's the link:

http://butterfly-conservation-news.org/DGT-2BXO8-51BLQEJH27/cr.aspx

Spring Butterflies

Today's glorious sunshine woke the hibernating butterflies and lured them out to warm themselves up. The first one I spotted was a Peacock that lingered for a while on my purple pansies, but didn't stay long enough for me to fetch the camera. Then a Brimstone flew swiftly over the hedge into next door's garden.

Two Commas appeared next and were much more obliging, allowing me to take this shot.

More cubs on the way!

I can't believe that 'our' five-year-old vixen is pregnant again and is in such brilliant condition. Here she is up the side of the house, finishing off Charlie's food. We feed him outside to stop him scrapping with Flad at mealtimes. Whatever is leftover is taken by robins, blackbirds, magpies and the fox! Nothing goes to waste in this house. I've just thrown out a heap of boiled rice and tomorrow, the pigeons will be in for a treat. The squirrels prefer pasta!

Lots of visitors

With the colder weather coming, we've seen an influx of interesting creatures into the garden. A green woodpecker yesterday and last week, the muntjac deer again.

The vixen, who we felt sure must be dead by now, as she's at least five years old and has reared four sets of cubs, suddenly appeared on the deck, sitting like a dog with her muzzle close to the patio doors, wagging her head this way and that as she followed the movements of my fork to my mouth. Of course, I soon carved a piece off my chicken fillet and threw it out for her. Now, we've laid in a stock of dog food as she is coming every day. She's in prime breeding condition with a beautiful, thick brush and we're sure we'll meet a new family of cubs next Spring.