It’s all been a bit wild around here. Although, before you start thinking we’ve been living it up and sipping champagne before 10, I best reassure you that I’m talking wildlife and being out in the wild. I can’t actually remember the last time I had champagne.
Fields
The farmers were busy bringing in the silage, last week, before the forecast rain. When the children were younger, we’d be out there watching the tractors. I’ve discovered, that one advantage of having teens, rather than toddlers, is that they no longer want to spend hours observing a farm vehicle (insert weary voice) going up and down the same field.
I honestly think the almost-adults were unaware of the activity apart from the continuous hum of the vehicles.
Instead, Mr TTC and I were out there watching the birds of prey scooting over the field, hunting the poor disturbed voles and frogs trying to escape. The birds were out in force. I counted nine buzzards, four red kites and a couple of kestrels over the field in front. It was a fabulous sight. Every now and again they’d check us out too.
We love birds of prey. Most of our dogs have been named after them.
Kestrel
We’ve had an increase in the number of rats recently. I’m happy to rub shoulders and live alongside most of the wildlife in the garden, but the rats have crossed the line. I caught one brazenly sitting in my new strawberry bed, munching on my first crop of berries. Another was gnawing its way through my rocket salad leaves. Also they’ve become regulars on our squirrel proof bird feeder, scaring away the birds.
Enough is enough. I’ve put three layers of chicken wire over the strawberries, which in retrospect, now I’ve written it down, seems a bit over the top, but I was cross at the time. Mr TTC had improved the bird feeder defences, although they’ve figured a way round that already. Clever blighters.
Mother Nature has a way of sorting out the balance. The rats have been absolutely brazen and reckless as they strut around the garden and it couldn’t go unnoticed for long. One evening, through a window, we were treated to a wildlife show unfolding as we sat down to eat. A kestrel took matters into her own beak and devoured a rat before our eyes.
Who needs TV?
She returns every day and I’ve noticed a few less rats around, so I hope she’s getting lucky.
Out in the wild
We’ve had a couple of good walks recently. Last Sunday, we headed up to Crook Peak. It’s only a five mile walk, but hilly which makes it feel a lot longer, I can assure you. Middle Teen is off for her Duke of Edinburgh expedition soon, so it was a chance to check her boots still fit and get some practice in.
Once we reached the peak, we celebrated Father’s Day, the Solstice and our 23rd wedding anniversary. We did contemplate whether we’d be able to make it up there in another 23 years. Who knows?
On Saturday, Mr TTC and I went on a local walk to see the buttercups in the fields, he’d found. Lots of wild flowers and buzzing pollinators. Very pretty, even on an overcast day.
It was a circular route, that goes through Pensford. A pretty village which most people miss as they hurtle through the main road that splits it in half. Tucked behind is a lovely village with a viaduct, that is a disused railway track. You can just see the top of it in the photo. It’s 95 feet tall and 995 feet long. Quite a sight in a small village.
If you’re into jazz, you may well have heard of Acker Bilk. This was his home village. Born and bred. His bench is next to the 19th century village gaol. I’m sure there must be some chuckling going on.
Happy moments:
🙂 I bought myself two new dresses, which is most unusual for me and made me smile. Usually, I can’t justify buying dresses as I make my own. I still can’t really justify it, but as I was updating Middle and Youngest Teens’ wardrobes because they’ve grown out of everything, I threw something for me into the basket at the same time. It makes me happy.
(I’ll never make an influencer. The only photo I have of the dress is Hero snuggled up to me wearing one of them. You’ll have to take my word for it that they are pretty and lovely to wear.)
🙂 My parents visited. We’ve not seen them since Christmas on the doorstep and it was lovely to hug them. I loved showing them round the garden and sending them home with cuttings.
🙂 The garden is full of flowers. The veg plants are growing, the fruit is swelling and our meadow area is brimming with wild flowers and life, so I’m happy.
🙂 I’m running further each day. I go with Mr TTC and Hero the hound and we combine it with our morning walk. First section is walking and totally for Hero to sniff and leave his mark. After that he is happy to run. I call it running, but in reality, I jog, while the boys sniff and run to catch me up. (For the record and to make it absolutely clear, Mr TTC doesn’t join in the sniffing part, but he’s more of a runner than me and also he’s holding Hero’s lead.) I often look round to see a very happy hound bounding after me. He loves to run.
🙂 We watched Sweet Tooth on Netflix as a family. No mean feat getting everyone to watch a series together. Slow to start with, but definitely glad we persevered. It is slightly dark, but cute. It draws you in and I can’t wait for the next series.
The weekend at last. It looks another busy one for us.
Joining in with Anne’s word of the week linky. My word is wild. What’s yours?
Amazing photos of the kestrel with the rat and I’d have been fascinated (and probably a little grossed out) watching too. Mother Nature certainly does have her ways of keeping the balance. I’d have reacted in a similar way with the strawberries though! You have some beautiful places to visit where you live and I love the photo of Hero in amongst the buttercups. Lovely that you got to see your parents and treated yourself to a couple of dresses. Sounds like you’ve had a lovely wild week. #WotW
It was intriguing to watch close up and after the strawberry incident, I had less sympathy for the rat. There are no supermarkets in nature. Very little left of the rat by the end of the kestrel’s feasting.
We watched the first episode of Sweet Tooth yesterday, 3 of us…now I will be wanting to watch more but having to wait for the rest to be in the mood. My husband loves birds of prey, he’d be really enjoying your show. And my Mom was a big fan of Acker Bilk. I’m glad you got to spend time with your parents and that you bought yourself some new dresses. It looks like you get Hero’s approval 🙂
I hope you can persuade them to watch again. One of mine took longer to get into it, but she’s glad she persevered. Your husband would love it round here. Most days we see one type of bird of prey, or another, in or over the garden. Lots of meowing from the buzzards at the moment.
The photo of the kestrel is amazing, all the drama in your own back garden! and I can’t thinking it serves the rats right for getting too cocky. I do know who Acker Bilk is! My Nan liked his music. So do I on occasion. It’s always nice to treat yourself 🙂
Thank you! It’s all go here. Honestly, they are not shrinking violets, so it was just a a matter of time. I’m glad you like his music.
You’ve got some stories to share with the wild nature that surrounds you. I can imagine the happy feeling of having your parents around for a bit too. I don’t like rates so good for that bird. Looking forward to seeing what your week is like next week.
I love how Mother Nature finds the balance. All part of the food chain.
Oh god such a nice article and those pictures are just amazing. Keep up the good work!
Thank you. Always something going on in the garden.
Happy 23rd anniversary! I’m so happy you had so much fun hiking up that peak. I also definitely understand your love for birds of prey! Oh and LOL to your comment about not remembering when you last had champagne. #WotW
Ah. Thank you. The years seem to slip by. I do love birds of prey, but then again, there’s not many birds I don’t love. (desperately tries to think of one and fails) As for the champagne, I really can’t remember, but when ever it was, I doubt it was before 10! 😆
Ahh! My youngest still loves watching the tractors. We have a big field behind us which the farmers will be cutting soon.
I am happy about most of the wildlife here but I am not a fan of the rats either. A few years ago one made it’s way in our house upstairs, under the floorboards. I’m glad the kestral has scared your rats off.
It sounds like a good week. Fab photos x
Hope she’s there when the tractors arrive. I’m glad we’ve not had rats in our house. That must have been a nightmare.
You really do see nature and its critters living in the country. Amazing photos BTW #MMBC
Thanks. It’s easy to ignore them, but I love seeing what’s going on around me.
Glad you have seen your parents. It’s now been 1.5 years since I saw my dad 🙁
Beautiful bird photos. Pensford looks so very English and very pretty. #MMBC
Yes. It’s a hidden gem.
Rats would creep me out, I think. I would have guessed they were city folk, anyway. Love the bird’s golden feet. When we were small, we had followed a neighbor’s cat and watched him catch a mouse and eat it; he left what looked like a kidney under a bush. Something never to be forgotten!
I’ve noticed cats always leave one or two of the internal organs. Must have been fascinating to watch the cat.
The kestrels are gorgeous, it must be wonderful to see them hunt in the wild. I would have felt sorry for the rat, as I had hamsters as a child, so I’m biased when it comes to them. Although I wouldn’t say that I would like one or two in the garden. 🙂
Well done for getting two dresses, I hope you’ll love wearing them.
It is wonderful to see them in the wild, doing what comes naturally.
What a wild week. I’m glad you’re getting some help with your rat problem. Your walks sound lovely. I’m glad you got the chance to see your parents again #WotW
It was good to see them again.