Endless walks, an update on wildlife at the rescue and yet another random note

Walking the canals has always been a favourite pastime of mine, especially at this time of the year when the swifts and house martins are frantically skimming and dive-bombing the water, chasing the low-flying insects. What aerial acrobats they are. It’s such a pleasure to be in the midst of them. I can never get a decent photo though, they fly just like bats.

 Can you spot the heron on the bank in front of the bridge on the left?

Hubs is going through another photo-bombing phase…..sighs

Another pleasant day was spent walking in the pinewoods and on the beach.

How tall Buddy looks here, it looks like his legs have grown by three inches!

Balmy, early autumn days are just perfect for beach combing, you never know what you’ll find, I always fill my pockets with shells, my garden is now full of them.

We struck lucky on this walk as innumerable other aerial acrobats were buzzing around. This time it was the planes from the Southport air show. We had a birdseye view of all those second world war planes. Seeing people out on the wings on these planes gave me the heebie-geebies! Rather them than me.

It was lovely seeing the old Lancasters that my father flew during in WW2, I can’t believe they are still air worthy.

On the rescue front….

everyone thought summer was over until a grebe chick arrived, it was found alone at the roadside.

Then, in rapid succession, three tiny woodpigeons, all from different broods arrived along with several tiny hedgehogs.

Yet another hedgehog has been admitted with strimmer wounds. We see this far too often, how I wish people would check the long grass before mowing.

Look away if you’re squeamish!

That wound is writhing with maggots.

How I loathe flies, fly strike kills so many animals. It’s astonishing how many maggots can be found in a wound.

Happily, this guy made a full recovery and is now due to be released.

And Finally…

Yet another note has been pushed through my door. I have no idea who left this but did find the hog. Sadly it died overnight. I wish people would add a little more information to give me something to go on.

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

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34 Comments

  1. Sadly hedgehogs have so much going against them. Laughing re your photobomber!!! Oh, I do like the sound of those house martins, it must have been just lovely and relaxing watching them zipping around. Looking forward to hearing all about your hols! ThanksVeggiemummy.xxx

  2. Oh that poor hedgehog – they do have a tough time what with strimmers and bonfires. Just returned from holiday and am catching up with my favourite blogs. I have many photos like the one of hubs photo bombing! One of the hotels we stayed in had a pool on the 33rd floor – it was just level with some house martin’s nests and we spent hours one evening watching them swooping round and listening to their calls – magical. Love the photos – especially doggy long legs! xx

  3. Thanks Peter.xxx

  4. Great post and images. Great places for walking too.

  5. I’m so glad the injured hedgehog made it! It is frustrating that the baby hog died but at least people have a place to go with their animals instead of letting them just die, even if it means imposing on you. You’re an angel to all those creatures that need you!

  6. lowcarbdiabeticJan

    Lovely seeing your photographs, it’s great to get out and about and enjoy a walk.

    I do wish people would be more careful and think hedgehog!
    Pleased that the one photographed made a good recovery, although obviously such a shame that the one left in the enclosure didn’t.
    Keep up the good work you do 🙂

    All the best Jan

  7. The poor grebe chick, she doesn’t look so good and healthy… About the hedgehogs: for Christ’s sake, WHY people act so feelingless about the many little creatures hidden in the grass! I guess is enough to first check with care and then start cutting the grass. Isn’t there anything you can do when flies leave eggs inside the wounds? I thought it can be cleaned out with betadine or something strong and disinfectant. Poor little babies hedgehogs…
    It’s so wonderful to live not too far from the sea. I always miss the salty air and water 🙂 But you can’t have everything at the same time, do we?
    Hugs and kisses :-)claudine and family
    PS: Still you didn’t plan to visit us?

    • I wish people would check long grass before mowing and strimming! We always clean all wounds, and remove all eggs and maggots. Flies are probably the only creature I don’t like, seeing the damage they do is horrendous. Hubs always says he couldn’t live inland as he’d miss the sea. Oh….I do hope to visit you all, our dog sitter is unable to sit at the moment so we’re back to square one. Love and hugs to all!xxx

  8. Those views, Dina. They are marvelous. It’s so lovely that you are so close to the canals as to make them a part of your walks. With canines, of course, and photobombers 🙂

  9. Nice post. I also enjoy collecting shells on the beach, though all the nearby beaches are on Lake Michigan, so there are few shells to collect.

  10. Good morning dear Dina.

    I loved this post. Your canal walks remind me of the daily walks enjoyed when living in Crickhowell…along with the magical swifts, herons and so much more. I also really like the look of the pinewoods…excellent sketching material.
    Your beaches look fantastic and yes, Buddy’s legs definitely look like they have grown by six inches:)

    Keep up all the good work at the shelter and home…you are amazing.
    Janet xxxx

    • Thanks Janet, Crickhowell does sound heavenly. You would love those woods, the trees are windswept and most artistic. Hope you are mending!xxx

  11. Now that we’ve visited your area I can picture your dog walking times on the beach. The canal walk looks interesting too with those birds skimming about catching insects. You’re always busy at the rescue and I can see why. Poor creatures that come in with wounds and infestations of maggots. You must be known in your neighbourhood for taking in needy creatures. It’s sad that the little hedgehog didn’t survive, but good that many do thanks to you and the team’s care. Wishing you a good weekend 🙂

    • The pinewoods and beach here are just beautiful, we’re lucky to have them on our doorstep. I have a variety of names around here, the Bird Lady, the Hedgehog woman to name a few! Yes, shame that little guy couldn’t have been saved. Thanks Linda.xxx

  12. Yes spotted the heron. Is the pinewood the one near you with red squirrels? How can people dare to wing walk , it would be bad enough sitting inside one of those things,

    • Yes, the pinewoods are on our doorstep. I simply couldn’t wing walk, I’d have a heart attack for sure! Thanks Sue.xxx

  13. Lovely to see the pinewoods and beach, walked my dog there lots many years ago.
    So glad hedgehog recovered, shame about the one who didn’t though. We have a hedgehog regularly in the garden here, I don’t often see it, but find messages left on the lawn each morning!
    The grebe chick is beautiful, I think they are gorgeous birds, a real treat when I see one, hope your little one recovers well.

    • The pinewoods and beach are gorgeous aren’t they? I never tire of them and the endless different forest walks. How lovely that you have a hedgehog, so many never see sight nor sound of them these days. Grebe’s are wonderful birds, I love how low they swim in the water.xxx

  14. You are lucky living near the canals …I love walking along waterways… so much incidental wildlife. The injured hedgehog looks great with the care from you and your wildlife centre. Here the Carers are always looking after joeys whose mothers have been killed on roads … awful. But we owe Carers so much ..😀

    • Thanks Gerrie, walking the waterways is always wonderful, as you say these areas are teeming with wildlife. That little hog has made a fantastic recovery! Oh….those poor little joeys, I seen a few programmes on them, how sad. xxx

  15. Dear One, It looks so grand along the beach; glad you’ve had such days this time of year, and how fun to see the old planes!

    Hooray for the lives you save and try to save. So sorry about the little one who died. I love your reminder about mowing and be careful, for goodness’ sake!

    Buddy really does look taller! Is that Annie rolling on the ground so happily behind your handsome husband’s merry photo-bomb? I bet the pups love walking with you in this fine weather!

    Enjoy the sunshine and warmth and keep giving yourself those lovely breaks.

    • We are lucky to have so many beautiful walks on our doorstep, I especially enjoy walking in autumn, lovely seeing all the leaves changing colour. Oh…it’s awful how many hogs come in carved up, as you say, it takes a few seconds to check the long grass. Yes, that’s Annie, hubs photo-bombing startled her mid roll in the grass!!! Hope all is well and Latte is not settling in TOO well. Love and hugs to all.xxxx

  16. Lovely walks! And caring for God’s creatures – he must be smiling down at you, Dina.

    • Thanks Gill, we do have some lovely walks around here. Shame that little hog died though….I do wish I could have done more.xxx

  17. What a variation of activities. Looks like Buddy was following in hubby’s footsteps.

    Got to see the Heron when I enlarged the pcture. It doesn’t seem phased by bipeds and the four-leggéd varieties.

    It was really good to see the hedgehog get well with lots of special TLC. Sorry to hear about the other one. Someone cared enough to try and get help for the little hedgehog.

    Some good pictures.
    xxxx

    • Thanks Menhir, that picture of Buddy made me laugh, how odd he looks with longer legs! That heron was pretty tame. Yes, it’s good that people do care about local wildlife in trouble, I do have to play a guessing game re what the problem is, out in the day or attacked by a dog/hit by a car would be really helpful. Maybe I should put a notice on my door. Hoping you are on the mend!!!xxx

  18. Lovely post and pictures. Sadly I can’t remember the last time I saw a hedgehog in the wild. xx

  19. Oh, that poor little hedgehog, but at least he made a good recovery, so sad the one left in the enclosure didn’t. It looks like you’ve been doing the same as us, getting out and about whilst the weather lasts. We’re so lucky to have so many lovely places to walk our dogs.

    • Thanks Jo, yes, shame about the little hog that didn’t make it, especially as they are so endangered now. It’s always lovely getting out in autumn, the changing seasons are wonderful. Hopefully we still have some good weather to come.xxx

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