AUTUMN WATCH

Please try and watch Autumn Watch on BB2 with Bill Odie and Kate Humble it is the highlight of my day.

During the past 6 months Mick and I have been aware of a nocturnal visitor in our garden. We had reason to believe that it likes our overgrown shed roof that backs on to the cemetery wall and shelters there. Merlot goes completely ape about this 'phantom' lurking there because she cannot reach the roof. Well, yesterday I made a discovery. I just happened to be in the office and looking out of the window at the butterflies, when I noticed a movement, slinky and subtle the creature emerged from the roof undegrowth and slid over the wall into our neighbours garden. It was a beautiful young fox, a vixen I think. She moved with delicacy along the back of my neighbour garden pausing under the trees near the pond and looking intently at a plump woodpigeon. She carried on to the out house turned and returned sliping back over the fence to our shed, where she sat an gave me perfect look at her sweet little face. She was totally alert but comfortable sunning herself briefly, her muzzel was shiny white and her eyes bright. she then slipped without effort down between wall and shed. I have no doubt she is our resident. I was really eager to tell Mick, he said perhaps we will have cubs soon. Later that evening the noise from the cemetery was of fox calls, and I believe he will be proved correct. The place is ideal for her, good cover, ready water and food on the wing. Today there are tell tale feathers on the shed! Sadly I did not have my camera nearby to snap a picture. I hope to see her again. I think I will call her 'Wisp' it seems appropriate since she has been 'A will'o the wisp'.

Today the sun is out and the Red Admirals are back basking on one of our bushes. The berries are begining to colour up, some red and some shiny black.

I have noticed while sitting here these past months is that because the window is under the eaves, when the huge Woodpigeons decide to land on our gutter it is as if they are going to land belly up on the window. I get a perfect undercarriage view. I never cease to be amazed by nature and although there is an increasing chill in the air, I have two months of heavenly colour to enjoy.

Love Granny XXXX