1st March 2011

The beginning of the month, which is supposed to come in like a lion, and its doing just that.  It snowed on the last day of February.  The previous day we saw our first "wild Cat" who was stalking along the canal at the bottom of the garden.  He was very well fed and looked well groomed and was probably looking for a mate.  Winds and rain have kept the cats spending most of their time indoors just sleeping.  The kitten is however, the exception.  She runs up and down the three flights of stairs and jumps on the other two who growl and spit making their disapproval loudly known.  I notice in the Daily Telegraph an article by Rosa Prince regarding "Larry" the number ten Downing street cat.  He has been sleeping a lot and has failed to reach his potential in erradicating the local vermin.  Well, he is a male cat, and they do tend to sleep during the winter and in the summer.  If they wanted a real "mouser" then they should have got a female who has natural hunting skills.  It is hardly surprising really that those at number ten have obtained the wrong character for the post as most of the imcumbants there are faltering in their careers and have already failed to reach their potential.  But it is sunny and dry here and although the mountains have snow on their tops, the temprature is twelve degrees.

February 21st

The end of February is nigh and spring is just around the corner.  The rains have been gentle and the frosts are now much less severe especially at 1500 feet above sea level.  The crocuses are out and soon the daffodils will appear from their green shoots. Blue Tits, Marsh Tits and Great Tits are still raiding the bird table together with the Goldfinches and Chaffinches.  The Robin is a regular visitor as are the Yellowhammers and Greenfinches.  The Green Woodpecker is still searching for grubs and ants at the bottom of the garden near the dried up brook and the Magpies chatter trying to chase off the Jays which are having no truck with them.  At this rate the Swallows, Martins and Swifts will soon be back from Africa.

February 1st

Well it’s already the 1st of February and we cannot remember where all January went.  Doesn’t time fly when one is enjoying oneself?  We’ve had snow; temperatures of minus nine degrees centigrade at night and up to thirty one degrees during the sunny afternoons.  The bird table has had as much traffic as the airport at Heathrow with more variety of wildlife than usual.  However, a 'Goldfinch' and a 'Greenfinch' were taken as lunchtime snacks!  Its basically Tipsy teaching Fiflea how to hunt.  Fiflea has plenty of stamina  but lacks any stalking skill at the present.  But she does try.  The longnosed shrews appear to have kept well underground after a couple of their number were taken as trophies.  Hopefully, Spring will be here soon raising the outdoor tempratures and we look forward to the return of the swallows, swifts and martins.