Yes, we're still here ...

... and have been very busy indeed, feeding all manner of wildlife, day and night ... the big freeze, which has been with us down in Torbay for over a week has brought hardship for animals and birds alike. Both birdtables are primed last thing at night with peanuts and seed plus 'bird pud' - a kilo of margarine melted in a large saucepan, two packets of digestive biscuits are crushed into the liquid and several cups full of seed are stirred in ... next morning, both tables are scraped clean and birds and several grey squirrels are impatiently waiting for another serving. Just as important, is to ensure that drinking water is available as all ponds are frozen hard.

Mange struck several of my foxes down about a month ago . Several of my regulars have been missing recently and all 'routines' have stopped, though I can still recognise a few of them.

A time of great activity as the mating season has passed and as the gestation period of the fox is about 50 days, cubs may start to appear anytime in February or early March ... once the vixen takes to her earth, she will be reliant on her partner to bring food parcels to her ... so far, I haven't noticed that much evidence of food being carried away ...