Many thanks to John who started writing this in a note to his sister. I've just added a few bits.
We are working inside today as it is windy and showery. I am doing garden records and John is writing a review that is overdue. For the last few days I've been trying to do a bit of gardening, but have had to dodge persistent showers. At least it's warmer now - hovering around 10C or 50F.
We went on a fantastic badger watch last night. It was organized by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and there were only us two signed up so we went in the leader's car rather than the bus they usually use.
Follow this link to see a badger watch web cam along with movies and other information. This is NOT the badger watch we went on, but it will give you an idea of what we saw.
The hide was about 10 minutes over wet muddy fields but it was good, with padded seats (good as you are watching for 2 hours). We saw a total of 7 badgers above ground at once and they were playing and eating the peanuts that had been put out for them. We watched badgers for at least 90 minutes, I think, before they dispersed to forage for the night.
It got dark after about half an hour but we were lent night-vision binoculars that enabled one to see them very well. It really was a fantastic experience and the chap who led it was very pleasant and knowledgeable. I think we may go again and take visitors when they come to stay. Our leader recommends the May sessions as the young should be seen then. Right now they are still living underground, having been born during the last couple of months.
We've also learned a few things that may help us to watch our local badgers. They are very shy and don't like to come near humans. Since they have keen senses of smell and hearing you have to be totally silent and stay downwind of them. Their eyesight is not terrific, but they can be spooked by new shapes and outlines, so you should sit/stand in a way to prevent them seeing your silhouette.
Joy and John came over for the day with Uncle Wilf and Janice on Thursday. In the evening Joy and I went out with our big torch and shone it up the bank towards the sett. We were rewarded with the sight of two little black and white heads peering down at us for a few moments. Now we have to encourage them to come down at predictable times so we can see them properly. I think peanuts will be the answer!
As well as the badgers, we had a good day with the family. We went for a ride around in the hills, ending up at the Dingle Nursery and gardens. It was a blustery day and we were quite late arriving there, so we didn't go into the gardens, but just looked around the sale area. They have lovely plants and I think we'll be going back there when the weather's nice and we can spend some time browsing.
The lovely thing about our drive was seeing all the daffodils. There are swathes of them along the sides of the roads. I suppose someone planted them originally, but they're spreading all over the place. It was gorgeous.
Our standard large-sized daffs are just coming out now. We have a good show and I've brought in some that were lying down so we have a cheerful bunch in the kitchen too!
