Sunday, 13 February 2011

Walk on the wild side...........

This is what it looks like from my window today. Fortunately for me it's not my turn to take Bella out this afternoon! But it was my shift this morning and luckily it was a mere drizzle so avoided a drenching.
At the end of our garden, on the other side of the house below us, is a large area which has turned into a woodland.  It reaches down into Charlcombe valley and is home to all sorts......deer (two of which we saw this morning), foxes, owls, badgers, squirrels, numerous birds and the odd bicycle tyre.  A much appreciated rich haven........
We also enjoy an unusual annual event in this area - for about 6 weeks, in the Spring, frogs migrate from the top to the bottom of Charlcombe hill to their breeding grounds in the local lake. They're not interested in whether there are houses, roads etc. in their way. (There are many). Off they go in their thousands and every year the local authority posts an order in the paper that the road at the top of the hill shall be closed for the duration. There's even a signpost up warning of frogs crossing the road!  Residents go out after dark with their buckets to scoop them up from roads and pavements to help them on their way. The cacophony of mating frogs resounds throughout the valley but only at night when the traffic stops!
Randall (ginger cat) also likes to join in by inviting frogs into the house.  We've found two so far - one took up residence for a day or two in the kitchen. How did we know? It was using the animals water bowl for it's daily dip!

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