Does it start on Sunday or Monday, the working week is on Monday but I am retired so I will go with Sunday.

We went up to the wood on Sunday as we usually do, but it was raining by the time we got there and the sky looked quite threatening so we just topped up the bird feeders and then did a short walk round our section of the wood, using the newly opened up path which grandson Fred had brush cut back the previous week. Thankyou Fred.

Tuesday I decided to have a long quiet day in the hide with camera and a sandwich. Nothing much about to start with, just the normal suspects until 12.15pm and then a fox turned up. It is remarkable how often a fox comes along around mid day time. This was not the Fox which had been visiting back in April and May, that one was a female and an average size. Also on its left ear the black rim had two noticeable back dots making the edging slightly wider so I could ID it, without too much problem. This was smaller and I think it was a young male.

Also the Raven was back, just the female, I prefer the male because of their massive beak, although I would not wish to tangle with the female, its beak looks as if it could also pack quite a punch.

I also went up there on Wednesday but more to do work. I have or did have a large pile of branches close to the entrance and I wanted to cut off the smaller side branches and then bring the main central branch back home for fire wood ( kindling/what they call morning wood really). This took some time and whilst I was busy the Buzzards were almost continually yelling at me. Whether it is because they do not like my presence or want me to feed them I don’t really know, I suspect it is the latter. After clearing the branches I put some petrol in the brushcutter ( about half a tank which is about 40 minutes worth) and then cut back the bracken in the vicinity of my hide. I had cut it back earlier in the year but it was making a come back. When I had finished my labours I did set out some food for the Buzzards/foxes and I retired to the hide for an hours well earned rest.

Not long before the fox turned up, a bit cautious at first, no doubt because of all the cut bracken, but it soon plucked up courage and started to remove some of the goodies on offer. There were lots of Magpies about and every time the fox came back for more they kicked up quite a din chattering out their warning cries. This time two Buzzards came down before the fox had removed everything, I suspect they were the young ones from Half eyes nest

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So quite a good week, I also saw some Fallow deer but they stayed well hidden, I did take a few photos but nothing worth showing here. Whilst I was sawing up the branches I also saw an unusual Ladybird, I should have stopped and photographed it but it was an Orange ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata ( that is its actual name, Orange Ladybird not my description). This is another new species for the wood, not the most impressive but hey ho.

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