Steph Morrow Shenanigans

In the cool crisp night, Edmund galloped. Underneath the cover of the tall lean pine trees. The earthy floral scent of the woodland floor filled his nose. He was a handsome young buck. A small but mighty Muntjac deer, not native to the British woodland but a welcome guest none the less. 

Edmund froze.  

A cars headlights lit him up as he stood in the centre of the drive. A bright and sudden spotlight dazzling him in the darkness. 

The car stopped too.  

After a moment adrenalin filled his veins and he took off with a bound, back into the cover of the protective pine trees, skittering along narrow well worn pathways. He could never be caught. Excitement filled his heart as he followed his regular routes, nibbling on any fresh shoots, leaves and acorns in his wake. 

Suddenly a noise, a rustle of leaves. 

Edmund froze once more.  

A beautiful, dainty female Muntjac stepped out from behind the trees. She fluttered her eyes at Edmund, who’s shocked expression gave way to a strong desire in his heart. He let out a huge bark – where did that come from! 

No one in the area must think him weak, and especially not this beautiful young lady. 

Cleopatra bounded in front of him and the pair took off, continuing the well-worn paths together. Edmund showed her where all the best snacks were hidden as they zigzagged beneath the woodland foliage, covered by the cape of darkness. 

In the Spring a fawn was born, Rodalpho. No bigger than a small dog, he could easily be mistaken for a rabbit. Especially as all that’s visible was his fluffy white rabbit-like tail, skipping along the paths. Cleopatra carefully showed little Rudy where to hide during the risky day light hours and stressed to him the importance of staying still & quiet as dog walkers passed quite close by. The dogs knew he was near as they could smell him but so long as he stayed still, he should be safe. 

She tucked him away safely during the day, as she wondered the woods to forage. In the evening, as dusk descended, she returned to the woods to nurse him. Rudy was grateful for the company and couldn’t help binkying, just like a rabbit would do. He enthusiastically bounded and darted about and once big enough, Cleo took him into the meadow to show him what tasty tit bits to graze on. Rudy could hardly contain his excitement, bouncing around the lush long grass, filling his mouth with tasty juicy berries. What a wonderful, happy sight to see, a youngster with his whole life ahead of him, keen to start a wonderful adventure. 

Lois and Pete had been working hard all Spring. Their nest was built in a small nest box to the side of a garage. They were so busy preparing for their family, they could hardly stop to think. Soon the nest was full of hungry little gaping bluetit mouths. Constantly starving. The pair chirped angrily at humans that came too close to the nest – who do they think they are, like they live here too! The babies chirped restlessly, willing their parents to return with juicy caterpillars and other insects for them.  In just a few weeks the babies would fledge, ready to follow their parents into the beautiful meadow and learn how to find all the best grubs. 

At the end of the woods, in a less well to do home, a little bird box on a post sheltered underneath a tile. The nameless family were having a harder time than Lois and Pete. Their nest had little protection from the elements and predators lurked at every corner. An eery silence descended on the usually busy woodland… 

Buzzlightyear ruffled his brown and cream feathers. He wasn’t sure why the sudden quiet, but he was sure it meant he was near to something he might be able to eat. Buzzards are opportunistic creatures, and he would certainly take advantage of some little helpless bluetit fledglings.. if only he could figure out where exactly they were. At least this handy post gave him a good advantage point across the woodland floor. Little did he realise the family cowered exactly beneath his sharp talons at that moment. Nothing more protecting them than their little wooden box. 

A Great Spotted Woodpecker looked on. Crafty intelligent beady little eyes saw the bluetit parents in the tree above, anxiously watching the buzzard, giving the nests position away. 

Buzz took off majestically soaring through the emerald, green leaves, to enjoy the sunshine and blue sky up above. 

Walter seized the moment. A flutter of red, black and white feathers and with in moments he was on top of the bird box. Fury raged at him as he angrily hammered away at the birdbox. There must be a way into it! Walter also has a hungry family of woodpecker chicks to feed and even small birds would help to satisfy their insatiable hunger.  

Eventually he gave up, leaving the traumatised family in peace in favour of easier food; nuts and seeds from the birdfeeder will suffice for the moment. He carried the food up to the nest in the whole at the top of a lean tree, where the family screeched impatiently for the meal. 

Down in the cool, dark green waters of the pond another couple lurked. Cyril and Mavis bickered, chasing each other round the pond. Warily they kept an eye out overhead for any threats – a heron would make a tasty meal of the easily noticeable golden orange pair. Often thirsty insects would accidentally crash land too, a welcome meal for the goldfish couple. Sunday lunch was of course their favourite time though, when a welcome handful of fish food would appear, floating on the surface of the water. Later in the year there might be babies, but only if Cyril can learn better table manners, especially on a Sunday when the pair should be dining in style, merrily sucking in the fish food from the surface. Yet Cyril insisted on shoving Mavis out of the way and chasing her off the best bits – how rude!   

A disaster. 

It’s unknown whether Buzzlightyear attempted to land on the electrical cables above the beautiful flower meadow and misjudged it, or whether some territorial crows forced him to crash land or perhaps a car had clipped him on the busy motorway nearby. But he cowered on the floor in the long grass of the meadow. It was not normal for this usually calm and fierce predator, to feel so powerless. 

A human approached him, and he tried to fly away but instead hopped along, awkwardly falling on to the ground. The kind human gently picked him up in a soft black fleece, checking him for injuries. 

Unfortunately, a broken leg was evident, the talons hanging limply. Buzz gasped in a panic at being handled and in pain with the leg.  

Vets and rescues were called but sadly no one could help to repair the damage. Any rehabilitation would be long and for a wild animal the stress alone could be too much.  

The deep long sleep was all that could be done, to ease his pain and put his wild soul at peace. 

Buzz’s presence was missed from the meadow. The usual site of him cheerfully hunting for worms, lost.  

Roberta brought her fledging buzzard to the meadow. Part of her was looking for Buzz but mostly she was keen to show the youngster the best place to look for the juiciest insects and field voles. In her heart she knew Buzz had passed. He would not have disappeared without good reason, and she knew he wouldn’t have abandoned their small family.  

A happy site to see the pair out in the field, occasionally sunbathing and then suddenly taking off, soaring into the sky with their huge wingspan a dark silhouette against the bright sky. At least Buzz’s legacy lived on in them. 

In the dark of the night a fox shrieked. The den was near the railway and the family often took delight in raucous parties. As the fox cubs grew, they adventured further from the den, scavenging any snacks they could find. A wood pigeon that had clumsily met a gruesome end after misjudging a window was a welcome feast. At least his life ending had helped others. The bin in next doors yard was also full of tasty snacks, although the messy family couldn’t help themselves but scatter the litter far and wide in their delight at rummaging about in the feast. Left over pizza and sandwiches were certainly at the top of the fox families favourites menu! 

Nature could be brutal but for the most part all the woodland animals lived happy contented lives in the peaceful bluebell woodland and flower meadow.