Sunday 28 March 2010

Eat your hearts out Chris and Kate

There are certain advantages to finishing work at three o'clock in the morning, not least the fact that there is no traffic on the way home but this morning I discovered  a whole new one. When I arrived home I started  to watch a programme that I had recorded, while trying to decide whether to go to bed or stay up and watch the Grand Prix. I was about thirty minutes into the programme when the cat started to behave oddly so I looked out of the window thinking that there might be another cat lurking and upsetting him. It wasn't a cat that I saw but two badgers, munching their way through the bird food that was still on the lawn! These creatures are supposed to be easily startled, but not these two. They ignored the fact that there was a very excited female standing peering through the patio door, fully lit, and were completely unfazed when I rushed upstairs to get my camera and opened the bedroom window to take a couple of photos, complete with flash. Unfortunately the quality of the photos is not good and the battery died after the second one but I feel very privileged to have had the company of these nocturnal visitors.




I think that maybe a decent camera should be next on my wish list!

For anyone who is wondering about the title, over here in England we have a regular series of programmes called Autumnwatch and Springwatch during which, amongst other things, they try desperately to present glimpses of  badgers with carefully concealed cameras, often to no avail. The presenters are Chris Packham and Kate Humble. 

Apologies too to any farmers reading this as I do appreciate that they are not your favourite animals but this was an event that I really wanted to share.

Nothing creative to show at the moment as I have been working on my show quilt and so can't reveal that just yet.

Until next time enjoy whatever you are doing at whatever time of the day or night.

Maggi

22 comments:

  1. How fantastic.
    When the boys were little, we went on holiday and they had badgers come most nights, but do you think we could wake the boys up enough for them to see the badgers? Very frustrating as this was one of the reasons we had gone there

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  2. Great early morning adventure!

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  3. Well caught Maggi!! Very exciting, they're only tarmac fodder around here.

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  4. Well done you, what an unusual thing to see!

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  5. great Maggie, I dont think I ever seen them anywhere but in the zoo.

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  6. What a wonderful moment, Maggi,
    I know just how you felt. We have them round here too, I've followed them down our lane twice this year, but I haven't seen them in our garden, although I know they visit as I've found their hair caught on our fence.

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  7. I remember the first time I saw badgers. It was in someones garden in Devizes, Wilts and we where watching them from the window. I was surprised that they were so big.

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  8. Maggi,
    I am not sure I have ever seen pictures of badgers- Have read about them as characters in childrens' stories but had not checked them out for real. It must have been quite the exciting experience for you.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Regards,
    Anna

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  9. What a thrill Maggi, and thankyou for sharing your photos with us. Definitely worth being awake at such an ungodly hour!

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  10. How wonderful for you - definitely worth being up at that awful hour! Of course, we have only read about them and seen them on nature programmes on the TV ( possibly the same ones you were talking about), and Badger was almost my favourite character in Wind in the Willows. cheers, Robin

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  11. What a wonderful experience! We have badgers close by but not as good as this - great pics!

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  12. Wow! Lucky you , what a privilege! I would have been delighted too. I think badgers get a bad press.

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  13. I would love to see a badger, don't know that we even have any around here in Oregon, USA. Raccoons we have aplenty!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, I am very pleased to meet you and I totally love what I am seeing on your blog. Such gorgeous work and lovely colors. Those silk tops about make me swoon! And your felted bag is beautiful, I don't blame you for wanting to keep it. Love your hawk header too, did you capture that image yourself? Beautiful.

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  14. How cool... reminds me of Narnia Chronicles. Of course I seem to remember that Kew Gardens was having a badger infestation a few years ago!!

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  15. I don't think I've ever seen a badger, Maggie. They must have been a delightful surprise.

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  16. I once had a similar experience with a fox on the lawn, maggi - makes being up in the early hours worth it, doesn't it? Thanks for the visit and also for the good wishes while my back was bad.

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  17. Maggi...in your night a wonderful emotional moment.
    Thanks for the pics that even if they are not perfect they represent an important testimony.
    ciao ciao

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  18. Wow..badgers! We've had foxes but never a badger...I've never actually seen a wild one...how wonderful :o)

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  19. How fabulous Maggi, lucky you as you say. Well done on capturing them on camera, not to worry about the quality but yes, why not a new camera. Treat yourself you deserve it.

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  20. Oh lucky you Maggi...you must live in a great part of Derbyshire!
    We just get squirrels, who have recently planted all the birds peanuts in our tubs of bulbs.
    Bless them...... :-(

    Hope the quilt is going well!

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  21. Great photos Maggi! It is amazing that you caught them as you did!
    Micki

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  22. Hello Maggi was hard but I did win there!

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