News & Updates from Clare Walker-BoundingSquirrel · Page 9
Finsbury Park has been in the news for its sad anniversary this week. But what a lot of people don`t realise is that there really is still a huge park there (which isnt always the case with areas of London named Park).
And better yet, theres a gorgeous lake in that park as well.It was at the quieter end of this lake that we spotted an adult swan (whose partner was busy patrolling the lake for danger) and these five gorgeously cute cygnets.
Usually theyd be grown and flown by now: it must be the very late spring that`s led them still to be there.
Am also pleased to report that the green stuff in the picture is neither algae nor sludge, but a kind of pond weed, which the cygnets appeared to be nibbling.
Maybe even cygnets get encouraged to eat their greens...
Wandering around the whimsical and flower-filled Fulham Palace gardens last weekend, we stumbled (almost literally) across this cute sculpture of a cat sitting on a pile of books.
He`s one of a number of wooden sculptures behind the palace, all carved out of an old tree stump, and apparently-after a bit of internet research- the work of tree artist, Andrew Frost.
Thought you might enjoy seeing this little chap, stretched out at his full length down a tree trunk in Holland Park last Saturday.
Yes, that`s a hazelnut in his paws. And yes, the hazelnut came from us.
What was strange though, was that with every single nut we fed him (and there were many) this squirrel assumed exactly the same position on the tree trunk, whereas all the other sat up eating theirs in a kind of classic, Squirrel Nutkin, pose.
Maybe this one was feeling extra gymnastic. Or more likely he was hot, and stretching out let him cool off, whilst keeping an eye out for predators.
Either way, am sharing this picture because, strange dining habits or not, this is and was one very, very cute squirrel.
About six weeks ago, hubby and I heard a real frog chorus for the first time, at a local pond.
It was surprisingly loud, and, we were assured by another observer, a sure sign that the frogs were mating.
It was fascinating experience, but much harder to photograph than to hear,Happily, the offspring have now made their appearance, and they were there in their easy-to-photograph hundreds (and possibly, without exaggeration thousands) last weekend.
If you`ve ever seen more tadpoles in one small pond (about three times the size of an average living room) then please let me know.
Either way, on this evidence, the frogs of North London are definitely set to be safe and thriving for another year.
Which is a very happy thought.
Hi everyone...Thought would post this picture I took on an idyllic walk in a Dartmoor valley the other week. I`d said could we enjoy `woods and a river,` to our in-laws...And gosh, did Steps Bridge deliver.
As am not the best with lots of steps, the name gave me pause...But it turns out that it`s a peaceful and flat river path, that feels as if it`s from another time and another world.
Took this shot whilst looking (to no avail, sadly) for kingfishers. Ah well...We`ll just have to go again to see if they can spot them...