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It has been an extraordinary week in my garden, just thought I'd share this and maybe get some info.
We live in a semi rural location with a farm, woods and the hills of Lansdown overlooking our houses. We are the forth house down the row and all the gardens are surrounded by 6 ft fences and mature conifers.
Monday morning I ventured out to find the magpies and crows making a huge fuss in the apple tree and a saw something dark in the shadows launching itself at the fence. Suspecting a cat I edged a little closer and a beautiful fox with black/grey markings on it's legs ran infront of the playhouse and stared at me before launching itself over the 6ft fence!
I've heard tale of them scaling such heights but always treated it with scepticism. I was aware of them living in the woods above by the unholy racket they make but wonder whether they visit the gardens regularly or this is a one off
Then on Wednesday I let the little white Jack Russell out into the garden for a wee, she promptly ran into the undergrowth before being chased out and attacked by a lady sparrowhawk
Being a brave little thing she chased the sparrowhawk who rather than fly away perched itself on a low branch of the tamarisk tree and waited patiently.
The dog went back to sniff at the "something" interesting in the undergrowth and Miss Sparrowhawk glared at me disdainfully as I was stood about 3ft away from her (somewhat) shocked!
20 minutes she waited until I called the dog in as it was getting dark and the SH clearly wasn't going to leave without her "something".
The minute I called the dog in she flew back into the undergrowth.
Later by torchlight she allowed me to watch her as she plucked and feasted on a ....woodpigeon. I didn't stay for long as she was obviously ravenous and had waited long enough.
She even returned the next day to finish off her quarry despite the interruptions of the previous day. She wasn't atall afraid of me Is this normal?
My quandary is, I'm keen to attract wildlife to the garden and after many false starts I'm acquiring my hens next weekend. The free-ranging idea would seem a particularly dangerous idea due to my recent "guests".
Could a sparrowhawk kill a chicken??
Whats going on in the woods that the fox and hawk are visiting me?
Could they have always have been coming to my garden but I haven't noticed?
We live in a semi rural location with a farm, woods and the hills of Lansdown overlooking our houses. We are the forth house down the row and all the gardens are surrounded by 6 ft fences and mature conifers.
Monday morning I ventured out to find the magpies and crows making a huge fuss in the apple tree and a saw something dark in the shadows launching itself at the fence. Suspecting a cat I edged a little closer and a beautiful fox with black/grey markings on it's legs ran infront of the playhouse and stared at me before launching itself over the 6ft fence!
I've heard tale of them scaling such heights but always treated it with scepticism. I was aware of them living in the woods above by the unholy racket they make but wonder whether they visit the gardens regularly or this is a one off
Then on Wednesday I let the little white Jack Russell out into the garden for a wee, she promptly ran into the undergrowth before being chased out and attacked by a lady sparrowhawk
Being a brave little thing she chased the sparrowhawk who rather than fly away perched itself on a low branch of the tamarisk tree and waited patiently.
The dog went back to sniff at the "something" interesting in the undergrowth and Miss Sparrowhawk glared at me disdainfully as I was stood about 3ft away from her (somewhat) shocked!
20 minutes she waited until I called the dog in as it was getting dark and the SH clearly wasn't going to leave without her "something".
The minute I called the dog in she flew back into the undergrowth.
Later by torchlight she allowed me to watch her as she plucked and feasted on a ....woodpigeon. I didn't stay for long as she was obviously ravenous and had waited long enough.
She even returned the next day to finish off her quarry despite the interruptions of the previous day. She wasn't atall afraid of me
Is this normal?My quandary is, I'm keen to attract wildlife to the garden and after many false starts I'm acquiring my hens next weekend. The free-ranging idea would seem a particularly dangerous idea due to my recent "guests".
Could a sparrowhawk kill a chicken
??Whats going on in the woods that the fox and hawk are visiting me?
Could they have always have been coming to my garden but I haven't noticed?
..yes- wood is edible- and they will dig under fencing
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