Eclipse Fail

I did stay up for the total lunar eclipse last night, hoping that in the end the clouds would part an allow me a glimpse of the moon turning that potent crimson colour - everyone else says "blood red" and I  refuse to succumb to that cliche! - as it passes through the shadow of mother earth.

Of course the clouds never did part, so all I got for my troubles was very cold, very tired, and thus stressed for the visit of my landlord and a valuer to my flat. On a bright clear day good for photography, I  then had to stay home waiting for a plumber to show up to fix my kitchen tap.

The only wildlife I saw all day were these two.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.01.18

Go to Bed Hoggy!

Having a little look around while doing a bit of late night naked eye astronomy, when across the road I noticed a dark snuffling shape over on the little park across the road where during the day the first redwing had arrived to have a crack at the cotoneaster.

Of course I knew what it was, but what was Tiggywinkles doing out on a January night?

It was reasonably mild, and wet ground probably meant it was a good night for hunting. But hoggies should be in their beds this time of year!

It wasn't a small hedgehog, and it appeared healthy and I have absolutely no means of doing a rescue, so I left it where it was. Apparently I perhaps should have contacted a rescue, but I will keep an eye out. It's a favourite spot for hedgehogs, that little park.

I hope my prickly friend is well and can get to sleep.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 09.01.19

A Running Guest

Came across this little character about 2km into my run tonight, 6km of fairly easy paced trotting on a mild evening, heavy cloud obscuring the moon, which is just as well as it hasn't risen yet, thinking about it.

I don't know if it is underweight or not, but it was certainly moving OK!

I've had a flu jab and thus have a sore arm, and a slightly off nose and throat. Didn't seem to affect my running as much as the fact as I'm rather bloated at the moment for some reason.

Need a winter jacket, the Decathlon website is calling...

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.10.18

I Bought the Guy a Drink

I, like many people, have been  worried about our wildlife i this hot weather, and I was walking home last night thinking that I hadn't seen a hedgehog for a while.

The South Parade Park is looking very brown and scorched at the moment, and not exactly looking like it is alive with juicy slugs and worms. In my own garden area I've heard a lot  of snuffling and rustling in the undergrowth  lately, but not actually seen anything prickly until last night.

This young character was scuttling alongthe drive.

I immediately got a bowl of water and left it out for him, hoping he'd find some solid food as well.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.07.18

Another Nighttime Friend

I've had a really blank day today - late night and the bad weather has decided to knock me out today and I spent it having a short walk,a bath, and a session on the shredder I've bought to help me declutter.

The wind was blowing, it was cool and there wasn't a lot to see.

Last night, however, there was. South Parade Gardens has already produced one hedgehog for me and last night I came across another young hoglet - smaller than the other one - snuffling along in the damp grass.

I took a very quick photograph and then left it to its slug hunting.

Two in a week, I hope that's a good sign.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.04.18

A Night and Day of Firsts

So, mooching along last night, one guess as to where I was going, I came across my first tiggywinkle of the year on South Parade gardens. Very happy to see it, looked a young sort of hedgehog to me, and although it was keeping very still, it didn't curl up into a ball.

If I were a hedgehog, and was looked at by someone twenty times my height, curling up into a ball would not be the only thing I'd be doing.

Today was another nice day, although it did cloud over and give a few splashes of rain for a short time, and during my mooches around I came across my first speckled wood on some wild garlic. As they say it was fresh out of the packet and in beautiful condition.

It looked quite a pale variation, almost thought it was a wall brown at first.

Lots of other pretties to see of course, and despite not having run anywhere I've walked around 10 miles today, which is pleasing.

Si

All text  and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.04.18

The Runner's Friend

Found myself out running late last night; it was deep twilight as I ran along the cycle track with a following wind, making a decent pace for a change; I ended up doing about 25.30 for the 5km.

What may have helped was having a pacemaker. As I approached the railway station, I noticed that I was being raced by a small, low slung entity about 10 metres ahead of me.

I've never seen a hedgehog run so fast - it took me a few seconds to catch up with it! Specimen in good nick too.

Always pleased to see them about, safe away from roads.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.08.17

Late Night Hoggie!

Came across this little fellow as I walked home last night, just crossing the busy road after leaving my drive.

It went over the kerb like a hovercraft, and trotted down the bank onto South Parade Park, where I just gave a quick excuse me and took the one snap.

It was a hoglet again, seen a few this year, perhaps it's the same one each time. I'm just glad to see one, although as with any animal my heart goes in my mouth when I see one on the road.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.05.17

Another Hedgehog Friend

Found on the same little park I'd seen those hoglets on a few weeks ago. I don't know how territorial hedgehogs are so I've no idea if this is one of those hoglets.

I hope that it is.

I also had an interesting encounter while out running the other night. A bat, larger than a pipistrelle, and with a very different, slower flight was circling around a flower planter by a pub in town, much more visible than bats normally are.

I imagine it was taking the insects attracted to the flowers, taking advantage of any chance it had to get food before winter, as are the blackbirds squabbling on my driveway in the dawn...

More Friends by Night

Walking out, I came across this frog, well I think it's a frog! Very green and smooth looking for a toad, and the eyes don't seem very toad like either.

Pretty dry for a frog to be on the wander last night.

On the way home, as plain as day even in the night, this young hoglet was out snaffling a worm, the young ones really have been busy in my part of the world. I closed in for a quick shot, then let it be. As I walked off, it shot off like a rocket across the damp grass. Never seen one move so fast!

Oh what the hey, have a bonus picture! Newark's most cluttered bike shop has a feline resident, who obligingly came and sat in the window for some photographs.

Not a bit self conscious at all!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.09.16

Hoglet's in the House!

Was just taking myself and my bike and my bed to bed last night when silhouetted against the sodium streetlit entrance to my drive, a small dark shape scuttle across the orange glow.

Obviously I knew what it was, but not how little it was. It was a half size hedgehog, a hoglet, out for an evening snuffle amid the leaves, only it was heading towards the road, pumped up on its little suspension like an old Citroen.

I headed it off, and it shot off surprisingly quickly to the shelter of the wall by the old Church next door. It was a shy little hoglet, and it decided to keep its face hidden while I took a couple of quick shots before leaving it be.

There was no casualty on the road this morning, so I'm hoping it was OK.

Si

A Late Night Companion

Arrived home late last night for a gentle rum and coke and a stargaze, as I love to do in the dead of night, when I heard a tremendous commotion in the hedge down the side of the drive.

At first I thought it was one of next door's dogs, but the absence of endless barking ruled that out. The scuffling sound continued, so I turned on my mobile phone light to reveal a hedgehog on a slug hunt - or perhaps Pokemon - in the leaf litter.

I let it be for a bit, then when walking down the drive for a last look around, I found it out in the open.

After a long absence, suddenly hedgehogs are everywhere. Someone I know has a family of four living in the back garden, and has made sure they have access in and out through the fences, as this hedgehog does round our way. But in general they are struggling, and hopefully folk are letting them have little holes in the fencing so they can get around.

Was very happy to see this large and vigorous specimen!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.07.16