Black squirrel

Wandering around The Wildlife Trust's nature reserve at Cambourne the other morning I spotted a black squirrel. It was hunting through the leaves for nuts alongside the more common greys. On posting the photos on a wildlife group later that day it appears many people didn't know black squirrels were even a thing! I know they are seen fairly often in Cambridgeshire, my friend had one in her garden a few years ago and one village has more blacks than greys.  They are actually the same species but with a mutant gene in their coat pigmentation.

Wicken Fen

We have taken a couple of walks at our nearby nature reserve Wicken Fen over the winter. It is the National Trust's oldest reserve and arguably one of the most important with over 9000 species. One of its winter visitors is the Short Eared Owl and they bring in lots of bird watchers and photographers as they hunt during the day across the fens. So far we have yet to see one but there is always something to spot at Wicken from the wild Konik ponies that graze there to kestrels and other birds of prey, deer are often spotted and on our last visit a barn owl in the distance.

Wild Konik ponies at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Wild Konik ponies at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Roe deer at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Fieldfare at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Barn owl at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Barn owl at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Barn owl at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Kestrel at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Vole re-visited

We did go back to see if the vole was there (still forgot the Nikon!) and so pleased to see it out and about around the hole. It posed quite nicely for us! The hole still looks like it's being used but so far this has been the last sighting.

Vole

I always carry my compact camera when I walk but often in the woods, for wildlife close up, it struggles to focus on the thing I want it to. If there is even a blade of grass between me and the subject it will want to focus on that! Today was one of those days when I wished I had my 'big camera' with me. To be able to manually expose and focus on the little vole that we spotted peaking out of its hole would have taken this photo to a whole new level.

As it is though I was chuffed when my husband saw it dart down the hole and even more elated when we watched it gently inch closer to the entrance again, sniff the air, hesitate, sniff, and eventually poke it's head right out. I had to slowly manoeuvre myself to one side to get a clear view and I'm happy with the shot.  Note to self - take the Nikon next time!

The hunt for the fairy toadstool

I think I have written here before about my interest in photographing fungi. They do fascinate me the way they just appear, mysterious and surrounded by tales of goblins, poisons and fairies. The obvious 'fairy toadstool' - the one of Brownie promises - is the Fly Agaric. Easily recognisable with its red and white cap starting bulbous and scarlet and eventually opening out flat in a faded orange. It screams danger and rightly so!

As the autumn gets a full hold we start to check out known areas for these very photogenic mushrooms. Sometimes we are lucky, other years we may be too early or too late. Sometimes we are rewarded with a newly emerged. It is a complete thrill to find them and even better if they are in an easily accessible spot.

This year we found a couple early on and then a few weeks later, thinking they were probably over, we almost missed the third one.

The Fly Agaric, forever my fairy toadstool.

Update from the hedgehog hospital

I gave the hedgehog hospital a quick call the other day to check up on 'Roger'. He had gained about 100g since going in which was great. He didn't appear to have any other health issues and will overwinter with them and hopefully be released in the spring.

A waif and stray

We were driving out with our granddaughter the other afternoon and passed the village green when something moving in the leaves caught my eye. It looked like a tiny hedgehog so I made my husband drive round the green and pull up and it was! I knew it shouldn't be out in the sunshine, and also that it looked too small to be able to make it through hibernation should the weather turn soon. The only thing I had in the car was an old towel so I caught it in that and we returned home to find a box which we filled with straw and some food and water. As it was a Sunday, and the local hedgehog hospital was closed, we left in the shed overnight. The next morning I popped it on my kitchen scales and was surprised to see it came in at over the recommended hibernation weight of 600g but, as it had been out in the daylight, we ran it over to the hospital anyway to be checked.

Our local hedgehog hospital were at bursting point! There were hedgehogs in boxes everywhere but the woman took mine and weighed it again - 149g!! Well no wonder my cakes never rise! I realised after that I had reset the scales as I was walking to the shed and it hadn't registered the bowl.

The hedgehog was found a box and a warming pad and I signed the relevant forms. I have a reference number and I will give them a call next week to see how it's doing. I passed the village green yesterday and I was so thankful we noticed the little thing as the groundsman was out on his ride on mower!