KeithM
July 13th, 2005, 01:55 AM
We call him Spiney Norman, but he may be a she, in which case Norma.
Norma(n) has been around for sometime, but recently started making more regular dusk appearances plus a couple of surprise daytime walks around the garden and even onto the patio where we were sitting, following the "Camera ready, no Norma(n) - no camera, Norma(n) appears" rule !!
Norma(n) has obviously already met Tigger the Cat - (s)he has nonchalantly walked right past Tigger a couple of times and Tigger did the "Oh it's you" look and carried on catnapping/cleaning/etc, so we think Tigger may have learned to respect Norma(n) at their first meeting.
Norma(n) has a regular path round the garden inside the flower beds. We watch his progress by spotting which plant is quivering.
For any Python fans, we haven't heard a faint "Dinsdale!" yet :)
There is yet another UK wildlife survey - this time for hedgehog numbers. Members of the public are asked to spot roadkill hedgehogs along our highways ( see Hedgehog news item (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4635723.stm) ). We hope Norma(n) doesn't become another statistic...
But for now, we have a friendly, but presumably temporary urban hedgehog keeping us company.
Shot below was taken after sunset using on-board flash. When photographed, Norma(n) would freeze for a minute or so before shuffling onwards - presumably when his/her night vision returned.
Keith.
Norma(n) has been around for sometime, but recently started making more regular dusk appearances plus a couple of surprise daytime walks around the garden and even onto the patio where we were sitting, following the "Camera ready, no Norma(n) - no camera, Norma(n) appears" rule !!
Norma(n) has obviously already met Tigger the Cat - (s)he has nonchalantly walked right past Tigger a couple of times and Tigger did the "Oh it's you" look and carried on catnapping/cleaning/etc, so we think Tigger may have learned to respect Norma(n) at their first meeting.
Norma(n) has a regular path round the garden inside the flower beds. We watch his progress by spotting which plant is quivering.
For any Python fans, we haven't heard a faint "Dinsdale!" yet :)
There is yet another UK wildlife survey - this time for hedgehog numbers. Members of the public are asked to spot roadkill hedgehogs along our highways ( see Hedgehog news item (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4635723.stm) ). We hope Norma(n) doesn't become another statistic...
But for now, we have a friendly, but presumably temporary urban hedgehog keeping us company.
Shot below was taken after sunset using on-board flash. When photographed, Norma(n) would freeze for a minute or so before shuffling onwards - presumably when his/her night vision returned.
Keith.