A few days ago I spotted a few hedgehogs in the garden so put my wildlife camera out. There were lots of pictures featuring two hedgehogs at a time, all different sizes and ages, which is excellent news as it looks like at least six are visiting the biscuit and water bowls. Judging by the droppings I clear each day I’d say there may be more, which is marvelous as these creatures are now seriously endangered.
Their closest relative is the pig. My header pic demonstrates that!
Talking of hedgehogs, I have a new broken one to care for. This is Hope, she is now living in Herbie’s state of the art, outdoor enclosure. This poor creature has skin cancer and no teeth. There is nothing more that can be done for her so it’s about making the rest of her life as pleasant and comfortable as possible. I was astonished how quickly she settled into her new accommodation, all the grass was flattened so she must have had a real good potter, and she scoffed every morsel of food!
So, now I have three hedgehogs, special needs Hettie and Hope living outdoors, and Heidi, the African pygmy hog, living indoors. I will have to convert a room for them all to over-winter in.
I enjoyed my first release of the year.
The staff in wildlife catching a pair of doves. This is when you see how well they fly!
Aren’t they lovely? They took off like bullets together and I haven’t seen sight nor sound of them since. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them back at the rescue!
One of these doves was rescued while being dragged into a pond by a rat intent on drowning it, lucky bird getting a second chance.
I’ve got into the habit of watching Peanut roost each evening, as I like to know she’s settled and safe for the night. A few days ago she didn’t show up, leaving me wondering what fate had befallen her, as she’s roosted on the same branch each night for over three months.Cars, cats, dogs foxes?
Peanut, on the fence on the right…
The following day she materialized from the roof of our garage. She seemed extremely frenetic and vocal! She flew straight at me, hooting for food, which she devoured at speed. Then she stalked, at a fair pace for her, across the road, where she had a sand bath in a neighbours garden, returning for another quick nibble, then it was straight back on the garage roof again.
Peanut is spending 23 hours a day/night up there and I have NO doubt she’s sitting on eggs which had me frantically googling nesting peahens.
Now…..did you know….
Peahens lay between 4-12 eggs, usually one each day, or every other day. They don’t sit on them until the last egg is laid. That astonished me, I thought cold eggs couldn’t be brooded!!!
The eggs are then brooded for 27-30 days and the peachicks hatch fully feathered and able to walk. When they are about two weeks old they fly into the roosting tree with their mother and remain with her for at least three months.
Peacocks live between 10-25 years.
Peahens have been known to sit on unfertilized eggs, SO, the big question for me is are these eggs fertilized?
Saw this guy a few days ago while walking the dogs, a five minute walk away, across the dual carriageway!
Dear Lord! How on earth is this all going to play out, peachicks pottering about, Buddy??? I’m still managing him with rodents, he’s winning btw!
In other news….
Lil’uns are arriving at the rescue. I was impressed with the mobile phone camera that took this picture through thick plastic….
this one too, plover chicks, utterly adorable!
More paintings for the rescue Christmas cards, this time domestic animals. Good to have those sorted. Couldn’t resist painting Curly cat and Buddy….
And Finally….
I got to see my fabulously talented cousin performing twice in a week. David Flynn raising money for charity here…
and accompanying his beautiful daughter Danielle Flynn at the Central Library in Liverpool for Lightnight. Lovely , just LOVELY, catching up with family.
I’ll be on their case for the next open day at the rescue….
I was glad you tucked your family members into the entry, too. I’m presently visiting some of mine in the midwest, and am wishing all over again that we lived closer. At least we have opportunity to viisit, and now a cousin’s coming home with me for a couple of weeks — great fun.
I always enjoy reading about the hedgehogs, but I must say the saga of Peanut has me entranced. The way animals adapt to our human world is amazing. Yesterday, I watched two pair of wild geese and a gaggle of their youngsters cross 8 lanes of traffic — and all of that traffic came to a dead stop for them!
I often wished I lived closer to family, but always wonderful when we get to catch up. Lovely that you are visiting yours, sounds like you are in for a fun couple of weeks, look forward to hearing about it. Enjoy! Oh, watching birds with chicks crossing roads always has my heart in my mouth…..glad to hear the geese and goslings made it. I shall know in the next couple of weeks if Peanut hatches those eggs….then all hell will break loose! If only there was more countryside for wildlife…Thanks Linda.xxx
How lovely to see the talent in your family!
You know, it didn’t even occur to me that Peanut should be nesting. But now that you’ve laid out all the details…. I wonder if you’ll be seeing any Peanut Juniors in the next few weeks.
Thanks Anne, music is a thing in my family, the talent is unbelievable! Oh….a couple of weeks to go then I’ll know how the land lays re peachicks!xxx
What an absorbing read, Dina! I love catching up with all your stories and now I’ll be waiting for the next instalment as you’ve left us with a cliffhanger! – will there be peachicks, I wonder? It’s all very exciting! Also wondering what will happen to those adorable plover chicks? And sending lots of love to Hope for her potterings. xxx
Thanks Caro, it will be another few weeks before I find out whether those eggs hatch or not…. The plover chicks are wading birds so will be released in that kind of environment. Ahhhh…here’s to Hope having a longer life than expected!xxx
The plover chicks really are cute! But – a RAT was trying to drown a dove??? That sounds like something out of a scary children’s story.
Those chicks are lovely, my first! Yes, rats drowning birds is rather horrible, so many creatures do it though, moorhens, coots even birds of prey! Thanks Jason.xxx
Most interesting, the chicks that go out to see the world, and then come back to the nest after two weeks. They probably learned from the present generation of young human beings… I’ll bet that a few generations earlier, they would head out and never be seen again. Amazing to me, your devotion to the animals. I hope you get your return in joy with them. xxx
Ah, I misled you my friend, the chicks hatch fully feathered and able to walk but stay with their mother, when two weeks old they manage to fly into the brooding tree with her. They stay with mum for about three months. I am fast becoming a peacock expert, I knew little of these birds before Peanut’s arrival. I do enjoy being around animals, sometimes it’s far preferable to being around people. Always good to hear from you.xxxx
How willl you cope with a garden full mod peacocks? Your maiden name isn’t Durrell is it?
You have me laughing! I cannot imagine a shedload of peacocks strutting around the garden, one is quite enough! Thanks Sue.xxx
You must be very busy with all your rescue animals.. The poor little hedgehog with no teeth & skin cancer… Luckily he found a home with you… & Hope is the perfect name for him/ her. I love the plovers chicks.. So cute! In Canberra a peahen called Henry made his home in an inner city suburb… He found a mate & now there are 30 ( over a number of years)… Although much loved they are being re-homed in the country !
Yes, where’s there’s hope there’s life! Oh my, Henry’s story hit the spot!!! I can see why they moved them on!!! I do hope I don’t end up in the same situation, my neighbours would go crackers! Thanks Gerrie.xxx
PS. I forgot… is it possible to receive 10 Xmas cards of yours? These are so beautiful, Dina, you are so talented!!!
I order them in good advance, fantastic if you paint animals. These fit into my heart!!!
🙂 I want to contribute to the rescue…
Please, let me know! :-)c
Of course! As soon as they are printed I shall post them on, soooo glad you like them.xxx
Ah ha ha ha I already book now for a pair of peacocks: a male and a female… certainly, the “gentleman” that you saw furtively wandering has fertilized the eggs! Mamma mia, Dina, what an adventure!
How much sadness for Hope, and who knows how many other sick animals who have no chance to find a little love, and die in solitude and pain!
Because of anthropocentrism, as a rule, humans do not want to understand that they too (those we call animals) suffer and have feelings…
A big and strong hug to you and all the sweet creatures that you protect!
:-)claudine
I’m afraid you might be right re chicks!!! Goodness, how will that all work out? I have my fingers crossed for Hope, she is doing so well at the moment, it’s lovely seeing her out and about at night and she has a good appetite! Yes, sad to think of so many creatures suffering in the wild, although they wouldn’t last long with such ailments which is a good thing. Love and hugs to you and yours.xxxx
Hedggies, and peahens, and pigeons, oh my! You sustain so much life, Dina!
It sounds like you’re also now providing a hedggie hospice. Sending love and light to all your beloveds, and to you, Mother Nature. 💖
So happy the doves were saved and have flown off, for now. Very interested in following Peanut’s story, and hope poor Buddy won’t feel anxious or displaced. Or obligated to torment any chicks!
Your cousin sounds gifted and talented; that surely runs in your family!!! Just look at those amazing Christmas cards ♥️.
Sweet joys in your new week, Dina!
Ahh, thanks Kitty, it’s lovely being able to give Hope a good outdoor life, she has adapted so well so I’m hopeful that she has lots of time left. The thought of Buddy and chicks flitting around does have me a little worried, still, what will be will be! I’ll just have to get on with it….Isn’t it lovely catching up with family, those two certainly have talent, it was a pleasure seeing them perform. Love and hugs to you and yours…..you’re as bad as me re numbers of animals! What are we like gal????Crazy for sure!xxxx
Where to start….there is so much, so active here. Your night shots are very interesting.
Peanut with unferttilised eggs with luvva boy close by…. hope springs eternal in both directions!
The Doves are so virginal, It’s good to hear their independant spirits are well formed and that they’’re off into the big wide world. Your aviaries are well used at the rescue.
You’re getting together a very sweet portfolio of pictures. And why shouldn’t you include Buddy and Curly Cat. Have you any thoughts about using Peanut , possibly glaring her ininmitable glare, or, her curious peering into your windows?
The terminally ill hedgehog is a sad story, yet also a warm one, because of you being able to offer him/her some super TLC. Until it is highlighted, I hadn’t thought about the serious ailments that we humans can have, being extant in the small animal world of hedgehogs, for example.
Xxxx
I certainly do ramble!!! Hope is only springing in one direction re those peachicks, I still hope she’s sitting on unfertilized eggs! Oh…I shall definitely use Peanut next year, in a typical stalky walk mode. It’s strange to think animals suffer the same ailments as use, we’ve even had epileptic birds at the rescue. Thanks Menhir.xxx
How fascinating about peahens and peachicks! It really would be something if the eggs were fertilised and some of them hatched… meanwhile I bet you’re frantically putting out loads of food for her so she doesn’t have to leave the eggs for long. xx
Peanut has me well trained, I leave her food out and when she comes down from the garage she goes straight to it. She doesn’t spend much time eating and is losing weight fast, poor thing. I live in trepidation re those eggs hatching, chaos will ensue! Thanks Gill.xxx
I’m sure like me your fellow blog readers think, I wonder what your post will bring this time? You never seem to have a dull or quiet moment, and I love reading about it.
This post did not disappoint!
Your Christmas cards look good …
Enjoy the week
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, quiet and dull moments are very appealing at the moment! Glad you like the cards. xxx
Those plover chicks really are adorable. But, oh dear, peachicks… what do they eat? With my luck it would be everything in the garden. And not the pests either.
These are the first plover chicks I’ve seen in the rescue, they are surprisingly tame. I honestly don’t know what peachicks eat…..practically everything in my garden I suspect. Thanks Jess.xxx
Lovely post and pictures. Lucky you with the hedgehogs as, sadly, I’ve not seen any in the wild for years. I smiled when I read about Peanut and the possible future even if only a few eggs hatch.
I like the paintings. xx
Such a shame that there are no hogs around your parts, so many areas of the UK seem to have lost them. I wait with baited breath re those peachick eggs, I do hope they’re not fertilized. Pleased to hear you like the paintings. Thanks Flighty.xxx
Oh my I do not know where to start so much going on in your world.
Hope has my heart. It is wonderful knowing you are taking such care of her.
Can you imagine pea chicks, you will have your work cut out. But what a lovely experience.
I love reading all you do and your outlook on life.
Have a good week.
There does always seem to be something going on around here! I simply can’t get my head around peachicks….so many cats around here, not to mention three dogs. Here’s to Hope having a good life. Thanks Cheryl.xxx
Lots of Life around…..great joy perusing your posts. Always has a delightful touch of humour even among the little creatures. Lovely! Hugs.💕🎶
Thanks Bushka, yes, far too much life around. Hugs.xxx
A lovely post, I’m learning so much about the private life of peacocks. And I envy you having so many hedgegogs. They are scarce here. We do a lot of cycling, in 2 years and over 2000 miles in East Anglia we have only seen 2 squashed and one live hedgehog. The latest addition to our wildlife is a badger latrine amongst my hostas. I love the idea of badgers snuffllng about the garden but the latrine is revolting, I fill it in each day and they remake it each night.
I love your cards, you have such a talent but I can’t imagine how you find the time for painting in your hectic life.
You and me both re learning more about peacocks, who would have thought it though? Goodness, that’s a lot of cycling, you must be as fit as a butchers dog! Shame about the hog population, I wonder what’s happened to them all.
I laughed out loud re the badgers latrine!!! Wildlife eh????? There’s no stopping them, there we are trying to have orderly gardens and the critters come in and wreak havoc!!! Glad you like the cards, thanks Chloris!xxx
It’s not as impressive as it sounds, we have a little assistance, they are electric bikes, don’t tell anyone. You still have to pedal though. I get a bit sick of total strangers shouting ‘Cheat!’ We did 31 miles today and I’m pooped.
It is still as impressive, my friend has an electric bike, great for hills, I want one. Ohhhhhhhh…there’s always someone holier than thou isn’t there….Can’t get over the people shouting cheat!!! This is what’s wrong with the world….won’t rant!!!!xxxx
Oh, the penny has just dropped!!! Of course, you have badgers, the only predator of the hedgehog!!!! xxx
Good news about those hedgehogs coming into your garden. It’s sad about Hope and I’m glad she’s being cared for and made comfortable when the outcome for her life is not good as are all the poorly creatures. The dove had a fortunate escape. The pair are lovely. I expect you constantly keep a watch on all the creatures that settle for a time around your house and want them to be safe; for example, the lively peahen who’s probably nesting. The Christmas cards are fab. Nice to get to see your cousin and his daughter at an event and also when raising money for a very good cause. Take care and have a good week. I know you are busy so all the best.
Always good to see a thriving population of hogs! I am hoping Hope has a few years to enjoy being in the garden, I have everything crossed. Peachicks wandering around will be something….god knows how that will work out. Good to know you like the cards, thanks Linda, it’s always good catching up with family as you know well.xxx
There’s never a dull moment round your place, is there? Goodness me, whatever next, peachicks? And they live so long…they could be with you for some time. Awww, poor Hope, she’s such a cutie and I know she’ll be very well cared for now, it’s so sad that she’s in such a bad way. It’s good news that there’s so many hedgehogs about though, we see quite a few around here, which I know is quite a rarity these days. I love the Christmas cards and nice to see Curly and Buddy featuring.
The thought of peachicks does have me worrying, I have no idea how that little scenario will play out. It’s a shame to see Hope with such an ailment, I’m just hoping she has as good a life as possible, she is doing well at the moment, touch wood!!! Good to know you have lots of hogs too, glad you like the cards. Thanks Jo.xxx
Poor Hope – I’m so glad that she has you to look after her and keep her comfortable. That dove had a very lucky escape; I didn’t know that rats did that. Fingers crossed for photos of some peacock chicks, and your cards are excellent – Hamish approves of the rabbit! xx
Hope is doing really well, so far so good, she has a great appetite and wanders at night. It’s surprising how many animals drown other creatures, moorhens and coots are the worst offenders although some small birds of prey do too. Glad to know Hamish approves! Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx
It is always fun to read all those funny, interesting and lovely animal stories. You really have a very kind thought for them all. That pair of doves are indeed lovely. It is amazing that peacocks can live that long. Last time our hens used to sit on unfertilized eggs too as we never had any rooster in our yard. So they never get any chicks. Your Christmas card paintings are very beautiful – all of them!
Thanks Jade. I knew virtually nothing about peacocks, I’m learning fast though! Needs must when the devil drives! Glad you like the cards. xxx