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[Taz2]

I am not panicking but having spoken to three farmer friends over the weekend they have confirmed that all their burrows on their respective farms are empty. They themselves have not seen a rabbit on their farms for over a year and no longer have to hire anyone to shoot them. This time of year the verges are usually full of them and, of course, lots flattened on the roads but there are none. I know that they will eventually recover but certain types of land such as heathland for example need a healthy rabbit population to keep things in order.

Our daffodils are nowhere near out yet Hurdity.

Taz x

[CLKD]

Hellebores hanging their heads in the frosty air this morning and the ponds and bird water was frozen - again  .  Woke to a brilliant blue sky and light snow really pretty.

However, Norfolk suffered a month's fall of rain in 24 hours  followed by snow ...........

[Taz2]

HART Wildlife's latest arrival https://www.facebook.com/pages/HART-Wildlife-Rescue/116648618390823

Taz x

[CLKD]

Put him down the front of the jumper to keep him warm?  He should be hibernating!

On Sunday near Holkham Hall we saw a harrier, possibly a marsh but need to look up more details 

[Taz2]

He was warmed up in an incubator CLKD. Long eared bats don't always hibernate - they continue to be active throughout a lot of the winter http://www.bats.org.uk/data/files/Species_Info_sheets/brownlongeared_11.02.13.pdf

Taz x

[CLKD]

He might nip if down the bra ;-)

Will he survive?

[Taz2]

Yes he should be ok. He was a little undernourished and this was probably what led to him being unable to return to the roost to warm up. He is being fed mealworms at the moment, has been given a good check up and appears to be healthy. He will hopefully be released over the weekend if the weather is ok.

Taz x

[Hurdity]

Just driving back very slowly along the lanes after failed MOT (marked dangerous!) and was treated to the sight of three buzzards together just above the hedge - one of them being mobbed by a crow. I often see one while I am driving but not usually three. Buzzards are quite widespread in this part of the country.

Hurdity x

[Taz2]

Sorry about the car Hurdity! Buzzards are now in every county in the UK (apparently) and we have loads here which mix with the red-tailed kites to give stunning displays and acrobatics. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/buzzard/population_trends.aspx   

Taz x

[Hurdity]

Wow red kites! I don't think I've ever seen one. How amazing! Last thing I knew they were only really in Wales. Considering I worked in conservation once (in a previous life!!) I am now woefully ignorant about all of this, but now children have (sort of) flown the nest I am beginning to rekindle my interest - the last 28 years went by in a bit of a blur - never seemed to have enough time for everything.....
I have seen 5 buzzards at a time over the house/village - in the summer - after breeding but never more than that. I love hearing their mewing sound high in the blue sky of a summer's day. When we first moved here (almost 28 years ago) there used to be curlews breeding in the fields but they are long gone.

Hurdity x

[Taz2]

The breeding and release programme has been really effective. http://gigrin.co.uk/red_kites_in_the_united_kingdom_breeding_pairs_1989-2007.html  We have one that circles the school playing field each break time. The younger ones are convinced they are going to be carried off!

Taz x

[CLKD]

Red kites are certainly spreading their wings, from Wales in the 1980s into the Chilterns and even across Northants  .  Only occasionally seen with buzzards and very often both are mobbed by crows ........

Frogs are a courting going  - 2 weeks later than usual  and the collard doves are wooing ........

Hurdity - new thread maybe?

[Hurdity]

I presume they are in your parts of the country because they have spread following the re-introduction programmes? Considering they are in S Wales and in a big chunk of middle England - it would seem as if the habitat here is suitable as we are pretty well wooded and hilly, but they don't seem to have got to SW England yet but perhaps in years to come?
?New thread - I was talking about wild birds and nature.....

[Taz2]

I didn't understand the new thread comment either   

They were spreading into south west England apparently - wondered what happened to them? http://gigrin.co.uk/w/red_kites_were_endangered.html  (last paragraph)

Taz x

[Hurdity]

Maybe they are here but I haven't seen one in Devon, I just looked at the distribution map. Next time I see a bird of prey that's high in the sky, I will definitely look out my bins (usually in a drawer)! Husband  calls me when he thinks there's a peregrine but by the time I get outside it's gone!

Hurdity x