All three of them seem to have taken up residence in the garden and were cropping on the front lawn all yesterday morning. This is welcome (apart from the ticks they will be shedding) as the lawn is a bit overgrown, but during the afternoon they sidled closer and closer to my fruit trees, and particularly to my plum tree which is groaning with fruit at the moment.

I watched them closely, and then the young stag amazed me by standing right up on his hind legs, the better to pull a chunk off the cherry tree. I knocked on the window and the little group bounced away a short distance.

But they were soon back.. I like them a lot but the cats are not sure about them at all…

The first was when we were sitting in the dining room watching dusk fall over the mountains while we ate our dinner. Suddenly several small creatures flitted past the window – bats! We had heard there were lots in the area, and these must have just emerged from hibernation. I know some people don’t like them – but I have never understood why. Schrodi likes them too – at the old house he used to spend hours on the roof trying to catch them – he never succeeded though (at least as far as I know).

And then we saw the elusive deer which before this we have only glimpsed in the webcam. Four of them were at the bottom of the garden grazing around the area that is earmarked for the bee and butterfly garden. They are red deer and very nervous. I am slightly in two minds about them because although it is great to see them – I don’t want them to eat my vegetables. I have some deer fencing ready to put up – so hopefully that will let them eat the grass but not the carrots!

I suppose it is only natural that we are seeing more creatures as we get into spring proper – hedgehogs next perhaps?