Birds, Leps, Observations & Generalities - the images and ramblings of Mark Skevington. Sometimes.

Monday 22 March 2021

Fable of the Urban Fox

I take no pride in adding this to my PSL ....


At the same time, I have no shame in adding it! A Forsythia growing bold as brass along a rural lane significantly far away from any gardens. It is almost certain that I've seen Forsythia growing somewhere else away from gardens in the past and omitted it, but not convinced.

Also a NFG beetle to the moth trap last night, common but I doubt I'd find one in the garden other than at the light trap ....

Agriotes obscurus


Meanwhile, remember the Fox that visited the garden before Christmas? Well absolutely bugger all sign of it so far when it matters, ie during the square-listing year. I have noted Hedgehog doings on the lawn in the last couple of days so should see one any night soon, bit otherwise I'm going to have to get out walking the square after dark before long to see what is scuttling about and active.

And to balance my comments yesterday, City folk are just a capable of being as crass a Cuntry folk, as this neatly crafted tale details (a nod to Jolyon Maugham perhaps ....).

"One cold and hungry night, they find their dinner sitting pretty
The foxes can't believe their luck, who keeps chickens in the city?
But the chicken lover sees them prowl his pricey habitat
So he bashes both their heads in with his trusty cricket bat"

7 comments:

Gibster said...

Trailing Forsythia is possibly more likely to become naturalised than Common Forsythia, roots better apparently. Last year's stems will have pith inside if Common Forsythia and be hollow inside if it's Trailing Forsythia. I'll be wildly jealous if it's Trailing Forsythia, I've never knowingly seen that. Slum botany rocks, ain't no denying it!

Gibster said...

I need to correct my statement about hollow vs pith filled stems. Common Forsythia "apical internode of 1-year old stems with septate pith" and Trailing Forsythia "apical internode of 1-year old stems hollow". Also some differences in leaf shape and density of clusters of flowers. Have you got a copy of Stace? Definitely worth grabbing a copy.

Skev said...

No Stace. Will have a closer look, but I'm sure it'll be common garden Forsythia from some garden waste dumping. It's not exactly a strong specimen, certainly not thriving!

Gibster said...

Can get a 2nd or 3rd edition Stace for about £20. That Fable of the Urban Fox is amazing, currently listening to it on loop!

Skev said...

Got to thank Martin for reminding me about Arab Strap - he linked a new single a while back and I've been looking out for the new album since. Give the while thing a play.

Gibster said...

I did, it's brilliant. It even made it onto my "awesome shit" YT playlist in fact :) Previous addition to that playlist was Nepal Death's 2021 album entitled Nepal Death. Tracks 2 > 5 are particularly amazing.

martinf said...

Ha, love Arab Strap and the new stuff is some of their best yet!! I've not seen A. obscurus yet!!! No beetles in my moth trap since September. Rubbish!