A first in 55 years

[70007]

I heard what I can only describe as animal 'chattering' noises at 4 a.m., so I ventured downstairs to see what was in the back garden.

It turned out to be a badger rooting around under the bird table, no doubt for bits and pieces that the starlings have been throwing everywhere recently.

55 years it has taken me to see my first live wild badger in the flesh, (mind you - I have not made any effort to see them) but here was one only 5 yards from my living room window. Wow, 1st June 2008 will go down in my memory as an historic day.

My only concern is how he/she gained access to the garden, as we have reasonably new fences down either side, the house at one end, and a four foot stone wall at the other. I hope they have not tunneled under the wall, or it may begin to collapse. Maybe they have opened out a (hopefully ex-) rat hole somewhere.

[chilternbirder]

More likely you put up the new fence over an existing track. Look for wires pushed upwards and grass or plants flattened as if a small sack had been dragged across them.

I have never seen badgers in my garden but there was an obvious track when I moved in and I get a bit of damage from time to time.

[70007]

Possibly, although the fence was put up about 5 years ago and this is the first time we have had any signs of badgers.

However, on Thursday night one tried to climb on the table and knocked the metal birdseed hopper onto the floor. Since then there has been no obvious disturbance.

I wonder if the poor badger knocked the heavy metal object onto its head, and has thought better of coming back.

[70007]

At last mr badger has posed for his photo.

1023

[Maisie]

Cool! Until volunteering for a wildlife hospital, I'd never seen a live one either. Still haven't outside the hospital environment.

[Jandy]

What a great photo, 70007! Your badger rather looks as if he's trying to eat a screwdriver or something.

[JohnB]

If you want to give him/her a treat remember that they :) love peanut butter sandwiches. Cheapest supermarket bread and cheapest quality peanut butter.

JohnB

[70007]

What a great photo, 70007! Your badger rather looks as if he's trying to eat a screwdriver or something.

yes, it does appear that way. i had used the screwdriver to scrape old seed from the inside of a small feeder, and left it on the table but the badger used to stand on its back legs and tip the table so everything fell on the ground - screwdriver included.

[70007]

The badger is long gone, but another wild mammal has discovered the bird food this morning and posed for the camera.

[Hevva]

Super photo - he/she looks very fit too. I have a regular fox in the garden but it is a real scrawny one, despite my best efforts with all the left-overs.

[Hazelnuts]

Hi 70007

Wow you have had a few visitors in your garden, and what great pictures to remind you of their visits. :)

First Mr Badger and then Mr Fox. Any more signs of the Badger returning, and have you found the mystery point where the Badger is managing to get into your garden area yet?

I have to admit I could hear odd sounds about 4-ish this morning. I guessed it was a fox as it is the time of the year when they will mate. What a racket she made! :o

[70007]

No, I never did figure out where the badgers (there were two in mid-June) came in. I think they were juveniles and were squeezing through a gap between the side fence and the back wall.

I put a large piece of old kitchen worktop where I originally thought they were getting through, but it made no difference at all - so it wasnt there.

They suddenly did not turn up on day in late June and to the best of my knowledge have not been seen again.

The fox was a one morning only phenomenon, as far as I know, and just came and went by jumping on and over the 4ft back wall.

They were great to see, and made a rather dismal year for wildlife in general into a memorable one.

[chilternbirder]

I seldom see foxes at home although I have been hearing vixens both here (rural Bucks) and in London. I see them quite regularly in friends' London gardens.

[70007]

The fox is back during this snowy weather, and in broad daylight.

My son is home for a few days and has a much better camera than I do.

He took this photo of the fox on the garage roof.

[sarahwarren]

Wow thats a great picture. I have heard them here but not seen any yet.

[Hevva]

We have a regular fox who visits early evening and he/she get all the remains of the evening meal. He dislikes baked beans and onions, so is obviously the fussy sort. The food is put in the same place (on the ground - he took container as well the last time I put one out!) and we could see his footprints in the snow - he obviously came back twice or else there's two. I would love to know what's in the garden at night. I let the dog out during the early hours one morning and when she came back on the patio there was the most enormous growl/grunt. I don't know who was more scared - her or me. I'm assuming a badger as it was too loud and angry for a fox.

[Jandy]

We have had workmen in the last couple of days putting in new windows (at last I shall be able to see the back garden without the peasouper effect!) and apparently, while I was out this morning, one of them saw a fox in the back garden which he said caught a bird. He couldn't tell me what sort of bird, so am hoping it wasn't the young moorhen, which I had seen in the garden first thing this morning. Maybe it was one of the many pigeons which help to eat us out of house and home! Will report if I see the moorhen again safe and sound.

[Hazelnuts]

We have had workmen in the last couple of days putting in new windows (at last I shall be able to see the back garden without the peasouper effect!) and apparently, while I was out this morning, one of them saw a fox in the back garden which he said caught a bird. He couldn't tell me what sort of bird, so am hoping it wasn't the young moorhen, which I had seen in the garden first thing this morning. Maybe it was one of the many pigeons which help to eat us out of house and home! Will report if I see the moorhen again safe and sound.

hi Jandy

Hope that the Moorhen is alright - he is a bt of character in your life now.

Let us know how he is? ;)

[Kerry L]

Nice photos 70007, lovely badger.

[Jandy]

Hi, Hazelnuts! Moorhen spotted yesterday morning, and he looks fine. What a relief! Am able to see him and the rest so much better through the new windows, and he looks so smart, not a feather out of place. He reminds me of a City gent - all he needs is a rolled up brolly!

This morning saw Mr Blackcap on the sunflower seeds, and shortly after he had flown off, two Mrs Blackcaps, one on the seeds and one on a nearby twig!

[Hazelnuts]

Hi, Hazelnuts! Moorhen spotted yesterday morning, and he looks fine. What a relief! Am able to see him and the rest so much better through the new windows, and he looks so smart, not a feather out of place. He reminds me of a City gent - all he needs is a rolled up brolly!

This morning saw Mr Blackcap on the sunflower seeds, and shortly after he had flown off, two Mrs Blackcaps, one on the seeds and one on a nearby twig!

Hi Jandy

Great news about your Moorhen and that he/she is alright. good news all round. Wonder when the breeding season comes around what your Moorhen will do. You may be lucky to see a Moorhen family yet? :)

Another good sighting with the Blackcaps. They seem to like seeds - Sunflower Hearts seen to be their favourites from what I know from other people's experiences of them. :)

Tell us any more sightings of your Moorhen, and your Blackcaps. :)