Late last night I was sitting in this very study battering away at the keyboard when I heard something outside, beyond the kitchen door. What could it be? There was a thumping and a bumping and a scratching. It's not the first time I have heard it.
I tiptoed into the dark kitchen and headed for the light switch. This time I remembered to go for the first of three switches - the one that illuminates the outside area around our kitchen door. If I had been thinking really clearly I would have grabbed my camera because I correctly guessed what I was about to see.
It was a badger standing on the black coffin, trying to remove the three bricks I had previously placed on the coffin lid. Clearly it was after the bird seed in the bin. He or she was no more than three feet away from me.
The badger stopped what it was doing and looked up at the kitchen door. They have notoriously poor eyesight but I suspect that the creature saw me and soon jumped down from the coffin.
However, he or she did not run away immediately. Six feet down the path the badger turned and looked up at me as I opened the door and for a brief moment our eyes were locked together. Then I hissed and the badger ran away as fast as its little legs would carry it. Up the lawn and off into the night.
It was a magical encounter. I am a big fan of badgers and resentful of the persecution they have endured from both official and unofficial quarters in recent decades. It is as if their history on this island bears no weight. They were here before human beings.
I have blogged about badgers before and I will remember last night's encounter for the rest of my days. God Save The Badger!
from Yorkshire Pudding https://ift.tt/cZrVtDv