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Whilst the Swallows are gathering and chattering together on the
power lines overhead, in the hedgerow Rosebay's summer is coming to an end.
There are only a few buds left to open and lower down the flower stalk ripe pods
are already bursting open. What are the Swallows discussing, I wonder? The best route to
South Africa, perhaps, or mithering in disbelief that a Hobby has been seen chasing them down.
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The Harvest Mouse is the only old world mammal to have a truly prehensile tail and is
one of the smallest rodents - a fully grown male weighs in at about 7g (or ¼oz
in old money). To achieve this gargantuan size they climb grass and flower stalks to
eat seeds and small insects.
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Lapwing chicks are looked after by both parents with the male usually guarding whilst
the female does most of the leading and brooding. Four to five weeks after leaving the
nest they are left to their own devices. A century ago train loads of Plovers (= Green
Plover = Lapwing) were netted and sent to the London Christmas markets from the East
Anglian fens, they were that common. Now you're pushed to see them. It's all about habitat
loss from changing land management.
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