One of our neighbours is as nutty over hedgehogs as I am - we are concerned for them crossing the road from one property to the other every night - the hogs do well out of us, and yes it does look like Percy is holding his paw up after poking the poor hedgehog. The hogs like clearing up the dropped bird food in the early evening.
I believe apples aren't good for them on a regular basis Sheps - like mealworms. It's a bit like giving kids chocolate instead of proper food! Although - slugs and snails apparently give them lungworm, so perhaps it's better to remove them by hand and dispatch them ourselves after all
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I love this thread, always cheers me up! No photo but was just out picking today's meal and heard an obvious bird of prey call from above. Looked up and there were 3 Red Kites (parents and their offspring?), flying quite high and heading roughly south west from me (so lookout if you are on a line between Leicester and Bristol.) Not uncommon these days but first time I've seen and heard them - the call is unmistakable (not my video):
Bees robbing runner bean flowers. I had read that bumble bees had learned to bite through the base of runner bean flowers to get at the nectar without pollinating the flower. It seems that all the other bees have learned this trick now.
Re: apples and hedgehogs. We give the birds half an apple each day,fixing it to a high up branch for the blackbirds to enjoy. Sometimes the apples fall off their position onto the ground - hence the hog found it and was obviously enjoying the treat. I didn't know that apples weren't good for hogs, but as this is the first time that we have noticed a hog has eaten it rather than the noisy crows or magpies I am not too worried.
I didn't know that the bees are enjoying the runner bean flowers, I will have to check on our beans, thanks for the tip steephill.
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I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Is the Hoggy eating an apple? and if so are they fond of them?
Although - slugs and snails apparently give them lungworm, so perhaps it's better to remove them by hand and dispatch them ourselves after all
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...