Yes they are. They are extremely affectionate on next doors roof line too I think they must mate for life....not sure though.
Goodness, I got in a heck of a muddle, just read @swampdonkeys post, given what sort of couples she gets in her garden my mind was boggling there for a few seconds
The loudest? I didn’t know. But it makes sense. Interestingly I’ve not heard them much of late - could be the drought. They’re relatively new (25 years) to our region due to garden irrigation: they followed the lush gardens, which were not indigenous. Now with the drought and lack of irrigation, they seem to have moved away to probably greener pastures. They’re huge when in flight - the wingspan. When Snowie was a puppy he’d see one in the garden digging in the ground and watch it with fascination. And then decide it was worth racing up to, by which time the huge bird had flapped its wings (v noisy sound!) and risen up onto the fence long before Snowie could even reach it, clumsy boy - he’d never be able to hunt for his dinner. Now as an adult he can’t be bothered - he hardly gives them a second look while he’s snoozing on the patio.
We get red squirrels, foxes, bats, pine martens, lots of birds, frogs, newts and toads. Love them all. Oh, except the ducks that make a terrible mess of my wildlife pond and who keep trying to nest in the garden. Also, I DO NOT love the tunneling voles. Or the rat who shimmied up the metal birdfeeder pole right in front of my kitchen window recently.
Just to add: they’re not as annoying as the crows in Sydney. That incessant “ah ah aaaah” sound would sometimes drive me dilly! As if they were all in a meeting and agreeing with the chairperson.
Oh what a joy, I've never seen one yet, I'd love to. We only have greys here I hoped to see them in Scotland last year when I visited my friend, but no luck. Rats are a definite no no.
I know, the red squirrels are an absolute delight. We have one chestnut-coloured one, and one almost black. They have nested in the big trees at the bottom of our garden before, but this year they seem to have chosen somewhere else. I feed them through the winter, so they like us
Lovely. I've never seen a pine marten either, they used to be confined to Scotland I think, but there is now a small population in Mid wales not far from me. But I don't think they will be coming into my garden.
We get bats, lots of birds, pheasants , ducks, lizards, frogs, hedgehogs but not so many in the last few years , squirrels (handy for LAT training with Charlie), the occasional badger and fox, slow worms x
Bats, bats were flying over my garden last night. And in the daytime now the bumble bees are out in force, several different species. Sometimes they nest in my shed, I love them, when you go in to it they set out and buzz about like a sort of little army on scouting duty