I wasn't sure if this survey was going to take place because the forecast was so awful, cool and rather damp - as in heavy rain. However, when we met in the car park for Thorncombe Wood, just up from Hardy's Cottage (Thomas Hardy's birthplace), the rain had eased off to virtually nothing. The decision was we'd give it a go. A bit of a walk later we went on to the survey site, which was new to me and checked the boxes and tubes for dormice.
We had mostly empty boxes and tubes but in two boxes, blue tits were nesting and in another were some angry bees. Several had collections of moss which can be the start of bird's nests and in the last group we checked, yours truly, discovered a torpid dormouse with a slug crawling over its head. For a moment we wondered if it was dead, but the little female was alive, so we cleaned her up and popped her back into an otherwise bare nestbox. So I got to handle another dormouse and my interest in them wains not one iota. I still think they're wonderful.
Of course my reasons for going is purely background research for Bike (coughs). Sorry no pics, couldn't carry it and take photos.
Comments
Cool
Nice day for sure.
Portia
think
You sent the crappy weather up here!
Cute critters - but I couldn't eat a whole one!
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Are you working towards your
Are you working towards your certification yet? (Wrong title) This would allow you, like Cathy, to handle dormeece on your own, yes?
Karen
The handling licence is part of the plan
but I just enjoy seeing and handling dormice - they are just so gorgeous. I also hope my and the efforts of others will help to ensure future generations continue to enjoy this precious creature, which I suspect is suffering under the effects of climate change.
Angharad
Episode 2950!
Even when you write something like this, it's wonderful to read - you take us there with you 'into the woods'. Long may the dormice survive - we can't afford to lose another species.
Is there going to be a cake when you reach the big 3000? I love this wonderful story but I'm still in catch-up mode. If I was a mathematician I suppose I could work out: if I read so many episodes per day, how long it will take me to get up to the present, taking into account that the finish line keeps getting further and further away! Naw - I'll just keep reading when I can and enjoying it. Perhaps I'll never catch up, after all I'm writing a story too. Many thanks for your wonderful writing Angharad, must be something about the Welsh blood that makes us want to write.
Bronwen
I thought that was sing?
Don't worry, I won't (my singing is worse than my writing and that's bad enough). I also have lots of porridge (or haggis) in my veins too. You should catch up because I don't always have time to post every night and the episodes are short and mostly easy reading. No one should be put off by the length as several story arcs intermingle so just jump in and read a few chapters wherever you feel like it and see if you do like it.
Angharad