NatureAtMyDoorstep

Spring is here and so are the beetles. This beetle, with its glossy exoskeleton gleaming in the dappled sunlight, appears undeterred by the obstacles in its path. Its antennae twitch with anticipation as it scours the ground for its precious bounty – balls of dung left behind by larger mammals that roam the forest. They play a crucial role in scavenging and recycling nutrients from animal waste, which helps to fertilize the soil and promote plant growth. Also, early spring marks the beginning of the breeding season for many dung beetle species. Males actively search for mates, often engaging in territorial battles or elaborate displays to attract females.

More recent visitors that came to the birdhouse feeder are European goldfinch. The European goldfinch or simply the goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family that is native to Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. The breeding male has a red face with black markings around the eyes, and a black-and-white head. The back and flanks are buffs or chestnut brown. The black wings have a broad yellow bar. The tail is black and the rump is white. Males and females are very similar, but females have a slightly smaller red area on the face. The goldfinch is often depicted in Italian Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child.

Witness the art of snooping in the wild as the European Badger uses its keen sense of smell and sharp claws to explore the forest floor. European Badgers have an incredible sense of smell, which they use not only for hunting but also for communication? Their keen noses can detect a variety of scents, aiding them in finding food and communicating with other badgers through scent markings. This heightened sense of smell is a crucial tool in their nightly adventures through the forest, allowing them to navigate and thrive in their woodland habitat

It was a nice surprise to find this little toad in an old rotten stump, where it stayed for a week and then just as it appeared it vanished. The common toad, European toad, or in Anglophone parts of Europe, simply the toad (Bufo bufo, from Latin bufo "toad"), is a frog found throughout most of Europe, in the western part of North Asia. It is one of a group of closely related animals that are descended from a common ancestral line of toads and which form a species complex. The toad is an inconspicuous animal as it usually lies hidden during the day. It becomes active at dusk and spends the night hunting for the invertebrates on which it feeds. It moves with a slow, ungainly walk or short jumps, and has greyish-brown skin covered with wart-like lumps. It is largely found in forested areas with coniferous, deciduous, and mixed woodland, especially in wet locations. It also inhabits open countryside, fields, copses, parks, and gardens, and often occurs in dry areas well away from standing water. The toad has long been considered to be an animal of ill omen or a connection to a spirit world. This may have its origins in the fact that it is at home both on land and in the water. It may cause repugnance because of its drab, wart-like skin, its slow movements and the way it emerges from some dark hole. In Europe in the Middle Ages, the toad was associated with the Devil, for whom a coat-of-arms was invented emblazoned with three toads. It was known that the toad could poison people and, as the witch's familiar, it was thought to possess magical powers. Even ordinary people made use of dried toads, their bile, feces, and blood. In some areas, the finding of a toad in a house was considered evidence that a witch was present

Insects are the primary food source for nuthatches. The birds search bark and crevices for hidden treats like beetles, spiders, ants, and caterpillars as they dance around tree trunks and stumps. Fascinating fact: Not only do nuthatches search crevices for food, but they also hide food in them. They will stuff seeds or insects in holes in trees and cleverly cover their hiding spots with lichens, moss, or pieces of bark. The nuthatches will return to this hidden food and use it as nourishment to get through winter.

Ever wonder what will happen if you put a jar of honey outside your house? Here is one of the possible answers. In my case, tree marten came for a few nights to taste the sweet honey. Despite a few fight and quarrel the end result was a clean dry jar a few meters away from where I put it. As for getting honey the natural way, Beech martens are immune to stings from wasps and bees, so they are able to get honey without injury.

August and white hibiscus develop large, trumpet-shaped flowers with five or more petals. Hibiscus blossoms open wide, inviting pollinators from bees to hummingbirds to reach in for a deep drink of nectar. As they do, they inevitably make contact with the flower's prominent stamen and pistil, aiding in the plant's pollination. In order to ensure efficient pollination, a large staminal column (tube covered in stamens) rubs against the pollinators as they reach for nectar. The result? Pollinators, especially bees, are bathed in pollen! Don't worry, the pollinators don't seem to mind. You'll see them happily buzzing around to more flowers.

In addition to bees, the fountain was also helpful for titmice throughout the hot summer as they enjoyed bathing and drinking. In hot summers and within cities, garden birds can find it particularly difficult to find water. A birdbath will do a world of good, not only for the great tit but for many other garden birds

From playful fawns to doe with broken antlers and from lone deers to herd. Some stopped for a quick snack, others moved straight forward but all traveled near my home as seen in the footage gathered during this summer.

While searching for mushrooms after the rain I came across this little buddy. Land snail is the common name for terrestrial gastropod mollusks with shells (those without shells are known as slugs). However, it is not always easy to say which species are terrestrial, because some are more or less amphibious between land and fresh water, and others are relatively amphibious between land and salt water. Although they are often overlooked, land snails play vital roles in the ecosystem. They help to recycle nutrients. They move spores of fungi and other organisms to new locations. And they are an essential food source for everything from firefly larvae to birds.

Security camera records a visit of mama deer (doe) and her little deer (fawn) at my driveway in the early morning hours for breakfast.

A compilation of brief, short encounters with wild animals caught on my trail camera. From large animals such as deer and mouflons to middle-sized ones like foxes, badgers, rabbits, stoats, and weasels to small ones like hedgehogs, squirrels, mice, dormouse, and all kinds of birds.