Badger Sett Disturbance

This was an active badger sett until agricultural contractors set to work. This sett was badly damaged last March. It has taken this long to get them into court. Sadly the case was dismissed this week after a 2 day trial.

The magistrated decided that as the contractors didn't know it was a sett then they were not guilty for recklessly destroying it.

By more good luck than judgement one entrance was left open, so any remaining live badgers could get out.

Within a day or two the entrance was enlarged by the badgers and lots of footprints were visible.

This badger sett is still in active use with 5 active badger sett entrances.

Very disappointing to get a not guilty but hopefully an experience not to be repeated.

The weather has warmed up and a Mute Swan,3 Mallard ducklings,5 Tawny Owls, a Little Owl and a Barn Owl ate well here and were safe in avairies during the very hard weather. All are out now , back to where they should be.

The hedgehogs do well and some have continued to eat through the winter.

Winter Wonderland.

Thin Barn Owls are coming in. This female lived only a few hours after coming in from Thornton Le Dale.Local farmers are finding them weak and downed. An adult Barn Owl weighs approximately 300g this bird was only 211g . To loose a third of its body weight meant it would not survive, I tried with warm rehyration fluid, heat lamps etc.

The birds in the garden are eating all before them and we've had this covey of Red Legged Partridge.

They are normally quite shy but must be finding the conditions difficult too.

The rehabbed female Sparrowhawk is still calling for food now and again. She seems to like posing on the washing line.

The 3 Mallard ducklings are well gown with flight feathers coming through.  They don't seem to mind the snow, paddling about on water once I've cracked the ice. They can go once the weather yields a bit.

I've a Barn Owl in from Sledmere she had a broken wing. She's recovered , is flying and eating well and can go out once it warms up a bit.

A rta Tawny came in from Wigginton Road , York who is also ready for the off once the ground warms up a bit.

I've hedgehogs large and small snuggled up in deep straw, they'll be here till spring.

Looks like its going to be a long winter.

Mallard Ducklings in October ?!

These 3 little beauties arrived this week from York, a bit late in the year but they should do well.

I've 4 Tawny Owls in, all found near roads , all doing well. One has a broken wing but in the right place so should heal ok.

A Sparrowhawk from Wiggington Road, York is nearly ready to go.

An adult Mallard arrived from Hull with a split bill , top and bottom, has been stitched and is healing well.

A Moorhen came in at 9pm last night with fishing line entwined tightly round a leg. We carefully picked at the fine fishing line and removed all before leaving the bird to rest. He's stood this morning and has eaten some cat food and mealworms so can go back tomorrow.

There are 8 hedgehogs in , mostly eating well and looking good.

I lost a swan this week that had flown into overhead power cables, such a big fine adult too.

He never recovered.

I've moved cygnets from gardens and road sides. The young birds of this year are being seen off by thier parents , which is normal for Mute swans.The cygnets hang about feeling confused and get into all sorts of scrapes. The key is to get them in with other non breeding swans and then all is well.  

The rehabbed female Sparrowhawk is still calling and looking much warier and wilder.

She is a big fine bird and flashes in and out sometimes taking the food I put out for her.



Badgers

Shot Buzzard Release

 

Here is the shot gun shot Buzzard on release.
She was released at Skipworth Common.
She was ringed and examined by Craig Ralston of Natural England
and Dave Tate, both experienced birders.
Her shot through flight feathers were a concern for me.
Both Craig and Dave thought the feathers were not too short and she should be a strong flyer.They i.d.'d her as a last years breeding female She was so keen to go and flew well across plough.

It's always good to get any injured bird rehabilitated.To return a deliberately shot bird of prey back to the wild is quite something.
My thanks to Craig and Dave for thier help.




Update.
I heard from Craig the day after release.
He had been on the reserve and saw 5 Buzzards doing thier familiar flying, circling and calling over Skipworth. Among them was the shot female her short flight feathers obvious to see,mega !

Shot Buzzard update.

The shot Buzzard from Nidderdale was sat high up this morning in her confined shed. She has been here 22 days. Her shotgun shot wounds to the leg are healed and clean. She has eaten well and remained as calm as a wild bird can be in close confinement.

I moved her over this morning to bigger quarters and hopefully she will not bat about making her damaged flight feathers any worse.
She is perched high up this afternoon and is flying from perch to perch. So things are looking good for her.
I'm searching for a good , safe and suitable habitat to release her in. She can't go back to Nidderdale , I'm told its bandit country for birds of prey up there.
Hopefully she will go on to lead the wild life she was intended for.

I've rescued cynets off the A64 and the main Pickering road, picked up hedgehogs from drains and released
a Tawny ,  Heron and a Sparrowhawk.  
I looked after a domestic pet pet rabbit that was found wandering on the main Beverley Road , some girls came looking for him and Mr. Snuggles went safely home , I like a happy ending !

Weasel Release.

Here's the little female weasel on release. She was brought here after a cat brought her through a cat flap. She was very small and needed careful feeding and rearing. She remained a little wild fierce thing and was never a concern. Good Luck to her.

The Shot Buzzard is stood this morning and has eaten over night,
long way to go yet.