Feathered friends

Since moving in to my little country cottage is South Yorkshire I have been making the acquaintance of the local wildlife. I put up bird feeders on my front room window, literally on the glass, to get the closest views I could. I now get regular daily visits from Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits and Chaffinch. The food dropped by the latter is taken up by Blackbird, Dunnock, Pigeon, and most recently, Pheasant. I have also had recent visits from Voles. Despite my Cat sitting in the window watching with baited breath, the birds keep coming. I think they know that the Cat cannot get them. At night I have had a visit from a Barn Owl, and a Tawny Owl is a regular. I'm hoping that the Deer from the woods will one day wander up, but I somehow doubt it. I may be lucky to get a Fox, Badger or a Hedgehog. My next plan is to install a night vision camera so I can monitor night time visitors. (Of the wildlife kind I may add).

I have been working on some birds at my place of work too. So far I have had a Robin cast a shady eye on a handful of food but my best feathered buddy so far is actually a Pied Wagtail who follows me for a scrap of food in our South American exhibit. No mean feat when you have to compete against seven feisty Squirrel Monkeys. 

A sighting of a Leucistic Crow is common just of late, especially in the Polar Bear enclosure. A Kestrel is seen daily taking scraps from the Polar Bear leftovers. I have even seen it eating fish. Ever the opportunist. The wetlands area behind the Tiger enclosure is teaming with Lapwings, various Ducks and Geese a plenty. In the Summer a pair of Oystercatcher live and nest in our African enclosure. Goldcrest are plentiful as are Long Tailed Tit. 

Locally is Potteric Carr nature reserve with Bittern and Egret as regulars. As is the stunning Starling murmuration. I have a lot of bird watching to catch up on. New county, new wildlife. Nature is just the best and can lighten any dark heart. Get out and take a look around you. The countryside is a wonderful place. (Be quick before that Trump bloke ruins it all!) 

Here are my Pheasant friends outside my house. Crap pic from my phone but hey, I'm not a photographer! 

Love life. Love nature.

Return of the blog

So. I have been requested to resurrect my blog by popular demand. Okay, a demand of one, but hey, someone likes it so who am I to argue.

Lots have happened since my last blog. Far too much to write about in one go so I will condense it a bit so i don't bore you too much.

I now live in South Yorkshire. Ironically next door to the birth place and childhood home of William Bradford who was one of the Pilgrim Fathers and Governor of the Plymouth Colony who set sail on the Mayflower from Plymouth. Not only is there a geographical co-incidence but I have a family connection also. A close family member is a direct descendant of his. Small world eh.

I am now working at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and loving every minute. After eight years of ............ I won't go in to that. It is so nice to be working with a forward thinking progressive zoo that actually delivers. One of the fastest growing zoo's in the country. The staff are highly professional and generally great people to be around. Love it.


My home is situated in the country and I have set up some bird feeders which is frequented daily. Even have Tawny Owl at night and Pheasant in the day. Just feet from my door is open countryside and a small woodland that Roe Deer live in. On the other side of the road is a nature reserve and a study center with two large astronomical telescopes. I have yet to visit but will do one day. I have joined the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and found an excellent nature reserve nearby. Potteric Carr. Large waterways and reed beds with Bittern and Egrets and a large Starling murmuration most evenings. A few miles up the road is the Humberhead Peat Marsh which is a site of international importance and has Nightjars among it's wildlife visitors. 

I will be posting more blogs as and when I see some cool stuff. I will post pictures and video too if i can work it out. Please feel free to comment so i at least know people are reading this. Don't be rude though eh. If you don't like it, don't read it. 

Watch for wildlife, exotic animals, interesting trips and astronomy. 

Thanks to my fan.... You know you are :-) 

Here's an amusing Polar Bear picture to keep you going.