I love Dogs me...

B2 & Pip, Thankyou, it is the way the natural world works but it don't make it any easier to witness. I'm convinced it was starvation by its lack of body mass. No downy feathers were evident so it wasn't that young. I'm wondering if it was a 'bad vole year' I know they go in cycles does the vole population. I know many Farmers who confirm that Barn Owls are a rarity in these parts. Traditional Barns are no longer used either, vermin control using chemicals could be hurting the Owls too, selling most the straw crop for bio-mass energy production, another one. Farm diversification another. A Farmer I know well has converted His farm from dairy to a 'petting Farm' to allow it to be opened to the public they've had to clean it up & eradicate vermin. The list goes on, the world seems to be ganging up on its natural inhabitants

It's great having that level of knowledge Pip, thanks for the info-every day is a school day

A beautiful day for a walk, the sun was above the horizon to greet me set in a near cloudless sky, the epitome of John Keats-'a season of mist & mellow fruitfulness'. The fluting Autumnal song of the Robin seemingly echoing from within the light rolling low mists has now replaced His mating song. The meadow is up to knee height already with the grasses, due to the heavy dew I donned my wellies. Young un & her Mum however were both below the grasses so got soaked thru. Not that it bothered them as they ran with abandon across the meadow to emerge soaked then straight back thru it to me, up they jumped to show me just how wet they were, what's a bit of moisture when you can share the happiness of two Dogs. We took the long walk South then Far East to the coast, today was a quiet walk marred by the discovery that myxomatosis has reared its ugly head in the area, around the copse warren were a number of Rabbits sat in the cool sun showing the discharge around their eyes rendering them blind & oblivious to potential predators(my Dogs) both the Dogs just sniffed them & moved on. What a sad sight to see, unlike my usual view of them as they run down the Deer tracks flicking their little white scut. It is a painful death as tumours grow around any or all of their openings. It can take weeks for them to die unless they're lucky enough to be killed swiftly by a predator. It put a dampener on what was a glorious walk. Myxo raises its ugly head every few years around here I'm afraid. Transferred by the biting bugs like fleas on the Rabbits in their warren. The Birds were quiet other than the single Robin & the Farm Rookery that were 'cawing' to their hearts content noisier than of late no doubt the numbers bolstered by this years young. I noticed the Blackthorn, rose hips & Hawthorne are in fruit, heavily laden in their fecundity. The Horse Chestnut Trees from a distance looked as if they wore their Autumnal coats but on closer inspection were just covered in the aftermath of the 'leaf miner' bugs that render the leaves crisp husks. Autumn is in the air, the Dogs & me love the Autumn, cool enough to walk long distances & play but warm enough not to need extra layers. Young un & Her Mum both continued running in front of me to then shoot back for a fuss, it lifted my spirit after the Rabbits suffering. What a joy Dogs are, they have the gift of lifting us when we are down just by their antics & presence. I love Dogs me. Enjoy your day.

Thanks Tinny, sad it is too survival in the animal world is accepted but the myxomatosis thing is awful.

Thanks BT, four pawed therapy. We just love em.

Thanks Dave, if you pop round to mine around 6-6:30am I'll put a dish out for you. I can microwave for 4 as good as 3

Thanks BT, you come along too, we'll have a 'porridge party'. That part of the day is truly a magical time, it's why photographers call it(as you say) the magic hour. Beautiful light. 

Thanks Nevs, I did the 'up at 4:20am' thing in my working life, I can't break the habit, not that I want to.