Jackdaw
It’s been a strange week for wildlife this week. Long-tailed tits have appeared nearly every day and we had a Jackdaw at the start of the week too. They are very occasional visitors to the garden, even though we frequently see them overhead. We have also had a Brimstone flutter across the garden twice this week (it may be the same one twice, of course) and today a Peacock woke up from some cranny in the conservatory and began to flutter round. Julia ushered it out and I hope it found some early nectar. There’s going to be a steady decline in temperatures over the next week so I hope it doesn’t regret its decision to wake up. Julia bought some wallflowers in pots from a roadside stall while she was out today, so at least we have some nectar to offer.
Then we had a visit from my least favourite garden visitor – the brown rat came back. We will try more peppermint and see what happens. It’s weeks since we last saw it, so we aren’t doing too badly.
The rat came back but the rabbit did not return
I’m now looking for suitable trees for the conservatory – once I get a couple of small citrus in there I will definitely begin to call it the Orangery. At the moment it doesn’t even rate the title of Conservatory, as it is really just a glass lean-to where we are storing junk. Yes, It’s building up, despite our good intentions, but we are just about keeping up.
Though I have bought a few books they are all on Kindle, so they aren’t clutter and two of them were actually free. I had to pay 99p each for the other two, but I don’t mind that. It’s when you see Kindle books advertised for the same sort of price as a physical book that I have reservations. Kindle books are all very well but after the nuclear winter settles in the wake of the Third World War books will still be good for making fires and using as makeshift bedsheets. A Kindle will only be useful as long as the charge lasts. After that, it is just a very poor substitute for a plate. I’m just wondering whether to name the new axis of evil Trutin or Puump. Any thoughts?
I dream of attracting four birds at a time
Your rat visitor is an interesting fellow. I hope the peppermint works. Where there is one there are many more you don’t see.
Yes, the one we see is just the tip of the iceberg. Fortunately it is quite a neat garden and there are few spots to attract rats. I’m hoping the population is low and that they won’t do any damage. The main seed store is a metal bin standing on bricks in the garage, so we are quite well set up.
Untrutin?
For once I can’t think of a suitable name
Suitable, or printable?
I nearly wrote printable – but even then could not think of one
🙂 Tricky isn’t it? I think I exhausted the comic possibilities of “Trump” when I was about 12 years old.
Good luck with that rat! Not sure about the two names, but I think I would go with Trutin. What an odious pair.
Two of a kind Laurie. To be fair, Trump has never concealed his ambition, it’s just that we didn’t think he was serious and we all put our faith in democracy.
Alas. Still hard to believe that the Orange Cheeto won so many votes. What in the heck is wrong with people?
I don’t know. However, I may have once mentioned that I think the American electoral system could be boiled down to a simple auction and my thoughts have been given shape.
Why peppermint?
Rats don’t like the smell of peppermint. Eventually we will fill the garden with strong smelling plants like mints and rosemary and this will hopefully help keep some rats and squirrels away from us.
What about traps?
I packed the rat trap when we moved, but seem to have lost track of it. However, they are a bit tricky in the presence of other wildlife so we went for repellant rather than the trap.