We ’sika-m’ here…

 

So Autumn has truly arrived – now the first show has aired – and there are absolutely no excuses not to get involved, wherever you are.  It was with eager anticipation we gathered around the telly, keen to see which parts – and characters - of Brownsea would be shared with over four million viewers.

For me, the show continues as, this morning, I wake to a jay outside my window – the first I’ve seen in over a week – and yet more red squirrels bounding around.   I’m starting to recognise some of the characters here – as you will start to over the next two weeks, I’m sure.  All seem to have different personalities and one, in particular, is a grumpy little soul.  He’s on a mission to eat and store his nuts and if he thinks you’re in his way, he wags his tail, stamps his feet and gives you a little bark!

 

The bird feeders outside the Villa have been a hive of activity this morning – not just with birds – members of the Autumnwatch team have been filming them and so we should see some spectacular images as part of tonight’s show.  Apologies for the distinct lack of birds in these next photographs – I’m afraid I’m just not quick enough yet…

I do what I can to watch and encourage birds into my small garden and will be ensuring a good supply of food for them over the winter when I return home.  But, of course, the birds I don’t get to see every day and which are just as amazing to sit and watch are on the lagoon.  It doesn’t matter that I don’t yet know the names of them all – looking, listening and learning in the hide is all part of the fun.

On Sunday, my sister and I were able to get within 20 feet of a young sika deer – she saw us but wasn’t spooked by our dropped jaws and ridiculous ear-to-ear grins…

 We also saw a couple of stags, who stood their ground.

This was particularly exciting until we reminded ourselves this is rutting season.  Luckily, they weren’t fired up so we quietly side-stepped on our way, bizarrely followed by a lone and rather beautiful cockerel.  Perhaps he was the reason we could get so close - we were considered to be a bunch of chickens!

I’m sure we are set to see much more of these deer over the next couple of weeks…