Mammal day

Another cool but sunny morning for my daily walk today and I never met another soul on foot in the hour or so I was out, until I popped into the village shop. How lucky we are to have such a wonderful local service especially in such difficult times!

I decided to concentrate on mammals today as I was lucky enough to see a pair of roe deer resting in the sunshine. I was upwind of them so I spent some time watching them looking very relaxed. They only looked up when a lorry went passed but just ignored me watching them from the roadside. Sorry if they look a bit washed out but I was looking into the sun!

Nearby there was one very big rabbit, which was much more twitchy, though that may have been because it is a spot where a fox often patrols, although I didn't see it today.

I've not seen as many rabbits in the fields recently, but the spring sunshine seems to be to their liking and no doubt there will be more about soon.

The last mammal of the walk that I saw was a grey squirrel, busily digging up some food from a winter stash. He was well camouflaged and quite a way off but I think you can spot him here with a very bushy tail.

Whilst I didn't see any badgers, a largely nocturnal mammal, there is plenty of evidence of their presence as can be seen from this newly excavated access point to a local sett!