Winter sun

Squirrel Surprise

Was absolutely astonished to see this little guy hop up onto the wall.

I have never seen one around here before.

He bolted over the wall onto a hedge,

then gone!

Meet Stumpy

Stumpy

                                                                     

I call him Stumpy because the talon on his second toe (The middle toe in front) is a stump; either broken or deformed.

Stumpy has learned that when I walk out the side of the house he can get food if he flies over my head a couple of times and caws at me.

Baby Hedgehog

Woke this little guy up.

This Rook watched us for a while,

decided it was safe to approach

and sauntered up

bold as brass.

He checked us out one more time,

took what he wanted

and returned to his post.

Lough Neagh, evening, early Spring.

Mallard Ducks on Lough Neagh.

He's keeping a close eye on me.

Scarlet elf cup: Sarcoscypha coccinea

Took this in early Spring; this bright red little fungus was dried and powdered and used by the North American Oneida and the Iroquois as a styptic - a sort of haemostatic agent. In England it was used as a table decoration.