Twas a dark and stormy night

Like I think everywhere in the UK, it was a terribly dark and stormy night last night. It was dark at least half an hour earlier than the previous night, but as I noted in my previous post, it seems that hedgehogs don't like rain, as it was nearly 9pm before our first visitor arrived and the rain had almost stopped at this stage. The night before it was 8:30 when the first arrived, and based on the light levels we would have expected one about 8pm last night.

The first visitor was Nightshift. She seemed to be stocking up on the food in the dry, because she spent 12 minutes in 9e (the plastic box feeding station). She then made a quick sortie to the "water feeder" - an open plate near the drinking water - then disappeared. Next sighting - on the patio, in front of 9c/9d. A quick moment of indecision, then into 9c and bed. She was probably a bit surprised as we have redecorated since she was in last - new newspaper on the floor (we felt she had read all of the old one) and different straw and a little pet blanket, but after a quick sniff round she settled down for a snooze.

15 minutes later we checked the camera - gone! Then we found her - on the steps leading to 9c with her snout in the mealworm bowl. We have a large plastic sheet overhanging the entrance to 9c/9d, so she kept dry, although the rain had just about stopped by this time.

Then she popped into 9d - just in, sniff and out to check all was OK - then back into 9c for another 15 minute nap. Then up and out for a snack, followed by the most amazing thing we have ever seen Nightshift do... but I'll save that for another post when we have sorted out the video clips.

Meanwhile, at 21:01 a baby hedgehog - Tina, we think - came in through the ATM. At 21:03 she dived into the straw in 9a, where she visited the previous night. She didn't really settle, as four minutes later she had her head out of the tunnel, munching on a conveniently placed handful of mealies. A few minutes later she was back in bed. Half an hour later she was out for another snack and back to bed. Looking through the overnight captures it seems she was in until just after 3:00 am.

After the rain stopped the hedgehogs came out, and the rest of the night looked quite busy.

There may or may not be a little one in 9a. We can't see anything, but then we couldn't when she definitely was in - we will just have to watch for triggers during the day.

So, that will be it for now on the hedgie front. We have motion sensors on the cameras which create a small snapshot each time there is movement. As it was blowing a gale last night there was a lot of movement of trees, leaves, birdtables etc, so there are an awful lot of false triggers to wade through. At the moment it seems that Nightshift did not return to 9c or 9d, although she did come back to the garden.

On the garden front, we have lost a couple of our giant sunflowers to the wind. We still have four over 10 feet tall swaying violently in the wind, but another is leaning forlornly against another bush.

The final is a disaster - two heads broken completely. This plant lost its top some weeks ago, when it was about four feet tall, before it had set a flower. It was actually good news, as it grew two shoots instead, each of which were about four feet tall and produced wonderful flowers. Both have gone, at the place where the stalk was divided, so I suppose it was a weak point. The flowers heads were complete, indeed one already has several bald spots where the seeds have been removed, so they were coming to the end of their allotted time. We will leave them on the lawn for the birds, although we will save a few seeds for next year.

We also have two nice clumps in the middle of the lawn(!), self-set from the discarded bird seed. These aren't giant ones, only being about 6 feet tall, but there are quite a few different varieties, with different flowers, so they are rather nice. Most of them also have multiple flowers. We are rather pleased we left them to grow. So - recommended gardening tip - buy sunflower hearts bird seed instead of the expensive ones from the garden centre. You will not get giant ones, but the normal ones are just as nice. At least our low ones face the house - the giant ones are all looking over the fence into next door.

We also had an accident with one of the bird tables. It is free standing and we moved it last week as it was obscuring the view of the hedgies. I was warned it was too close to 9e... Anyway, no damage done, no hedgie present at the time. So I went out this morning and stood it up. It is a beautiful sunny morning, but still very windy. Two minutes later, it fell over again, and this time it broke the lid of 9e.

So, the bird table is still lying down and the lid is patched up with duck tape until we get a new one.