Life on the back doorstep has improved a little lately; not just because we have a Moorhen living in & around the garden or the 2 female Blackcaps & 1 male Blackcap; the visit from 12 (yes 12!) Long Tailed Tits & 1 Greenfinch, which are scarce in our little area this year; the 21 Blackbirds I counted one morning & 56 Starlings, all waiting to be fed, but also because mother gave me some new slippers, which have enabled me to sit on the doorstep again with a little relief from the cold! They are 3 sizes too big (I’m a size 3 & the slippers are a 6!). I can wear enough layers to fend off a Shark attack, let alone frost bite. I just need some mittens to match now (in the right size of course); oh & a nose protector & the sores will be a thing of the past (I wish)!
Having said that I’m a little sad to say that I saw one of the young Rats this morning & it wasn’t looking too bright. I suspect someone local has put poison out. Its body was deformed; it moved very slowly & looked at me as though it was willing me not to hurt it. I just let it feed & kept very still so as not to alarm it & cause it to scurry off in pain, in the cold when food & warmth is hard to find for all wildlife. Finding food must be even harder in that condition. I can’t bear to see any animal suffer. There must be better ways to deal with "the problem" (not that it is a problem for me). For this one, I just hope the end comes soon.
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Happy Starling... Waiting for the food.
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.I saw few Greenfinches in the garden this last summer & not looking good. I am quite sure they perished so I'm pleased to see this one.
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