Rats!

I read with interest a report in last weeks Sunday Times (see how long it takes me!) about Richard Dawkins' 'prediction' in his book, The Ancestor's Tale, that rats would become the predominant species after man becomes extinct.

Hmmm - prediction or memory?

In 1981 Harrow House Editions published a book, After Man - A Zoology of the Future, (ISBN 0 246 11577 7) by the author and palaeontologist Dougal Dixon who extrapolated on Darwins Theory of Evolution to predict evolving species.
One of these was was the Falanx (Amphimorphodus cynomorphus), a descendant of the common rat grown to the size of a wolf, who replaced the dogs and cats as the main predator and illustrated here by Diz Wallis.

Sorry Professor Dawkins - Dougal beat you!

My favourite though has to be the Night Stalker (Manambulus Perhorridus). A five foot high blind predator descended from Bats which hunt in packs at night, screaming and using echo location to find their prey.
It led to a very interesting conversation when, carrying an excellent model made by Dougal, I was stopped at US Customs who asked "What's in the bag?"

Meat Head

This appeared in a San Francisco paper.

Only in America!

I challenge you not to stroke them!

I enjoyed Michael Coopers' Exhibition of bronze and stone sculpture at Pangolin London last week.

It is on until 21st August at Kings Place, York Way, N1 9AG

I first came across Michaels' work at the Sir Charles Napier restaurant, run by his wife Julie, close to Princess Risborough. He then invited us down to his workshop which was a treat - this is very physical work!

Those London Foxes are getting very bold!

The score so far.

Rooks 3 - Woodpecker 1

. . . and they think it's all over!

Hunger, Life, Death and Woodpeckers.

Following the funeral of an old and dear friend, I was sitting in quiet contemplation in my garden at about 7pm with a large scotch watching a Green Woodpecker flying to and fro feeding her young in the old Copper Beech that we left for wildlife. The chicks were constantly screeching for more. Suddenly, with a squark, a chick fell from the nest hole. What to do? I wondered of the mother would find it and continue to feed it but no, she carried on filling the remaining 3 beaks at the entrance to the nest so I went to investigate.

I found the poor chick cowering in the undergrowth from which, 20 minutes earlier, I had seen a large cat emerge.

I got my ladder and tried to return the chick to the nest hole but the other chicks, one particularly large, were having none of it. Obviously it was the runt of the litter and lost the battle.

OK, so where do worms go at 9pm? I found some insects but the chick was obviously not old enough to take food except from it's mum.

I am now panic stricken as the foster parent of another juvenile when our own have only recently flown the nest. I tried again to put it back but once again the gang of 3 defeated me. I tried putting it on the grass so that Mum could see and hear it, but she ignored it and when I walked back the chick climbed into my hands. I thought 'love' but suspect 'warmth'.
There are other abandoned nest holes from previous years. I thought Mum may just find and feed it so, back up the ladder.

It was now 10pm and I managed to get the chick into the nest hole and left a pile of mealy worms (don't ask why I have mealy worms!) in the hope that either the chick would eat or they would attract the mother.

I rushed out this morning to check if the chick was still alive but it was gone. Nothing in the hole, nothing in the undergrowth. It's a mystery!
Bloody Magpies! Must get my air-rifle out.

If only it had been in focus!

A young Heron taking flight
as I walked along the Thames towards Richmond last Sunday.