What a privilege! Unusual things in our gardens.

I've just Googled images of them!

OMG I'm so in love! They're absolutely gorgeous!

I had an adder in my back garden a few summers ago.
I heard, but not saw, a woodpecker somewhere very nearby last week.
We get deer wandering around here.

I have not only seen, but held, a sparrow hawk three times in my front garden when it dive-bombed sparrows in the hedge and then got stuck. I rescued it and was thrilled to see it close-up. It was tiny and fragile and very beautiful. It flew off unharmed, and often hunted in my garden, as I had a huge resident flock of sparrows. They seemed fewer in number last year, but this Spring they’re making a comeback.

nanna I love your picture of the cockatoo.

My cousin lives just outside Sydney and she sent me a picture once of a koala sitting her GCs paddling pool. The night had been very hot and she found the little chap cooling off when she came down first thing in the morning.

I used to feed badgers, along with deer and foxes, every evening in my garden. If I was late putting out the peanuts they would press their noses against the French window!
Unfortunately the nuts attracted rats, which nested in my shed only a couple of metres away from my back door, so I stopped feeding birds and animals.
Apologies for poor picture, copied from old photo.

Sparrowhawk, woodpeckers and a couple of years ago a young pheasant stayed for nearly a week…

We have been adopted by a red kite - it first came to us several years ago when it was quite young. It perches in our beech tree and we do feed it (there are lots of them in our area so there isn't too much natural food around); it always knows when I have something in my hand for it and we have an excellent throwing/scooping routine. It also comes when I'm working in the garden with nothing to give it. It sits quietly and watches me, sometimes it snoozes especially if the sun is shining. Today I actually saw it come down and drink from the birdbath, and that is quite a sight.

We feel very privileged to be able to see this glorious creature up close.

gulligranny

We have been adopted by a red kite - it first came to us several years ago when it was quite young. It perches in our beech tree and we do feed it (there are lots of them in our area so there isn't too much natural food around); it always knows when I have something in my hand for it and we have an excellent throwing/scooping routine. It also comes when I'm working in the garden with nothing to give it. It sits quietly and watches me, sometimes it snoozes especially if the sun is shining. Today I actually saw it come down and drink from the birdbath, and that is quite a sight.

We feel very privileged to be able to see this glorious creature up close.

I love the red kites! When I first moved to this Oxfordshire village 25 years ago, I looked them up in my old Reader's Digest bird book, which said they were extinct, so was delighted to discover that the re-introduction had been so successful. When they swoop for food, they move so fast it seems that they miss, but they never do!

Red kites sound beautiful, very special. We get Brahminy kites which sound similar but not where we live, they are further north in the tropical regions. They get some wonderful wildlife up there ( including crocs which you wouldn’t want)
It is very hot again today - 35C. Have to admit I’m over it now.

Driving by fields this morning I saw an unusual group, four “teenage” cygnets and an Indian Runner duck, all relaxing in the sun. The two adult swans weren’t far off, nearer the river.