'Not as cute as me...'

...was my youngest son's controversial claim as we cooed over the litter of five boarlets crossing the road in broad daylight with their mother near my parents house in the Forest of Dean.

Infant boar versus...

...infant Moore. Which is cutest?

And here's mum (of the boar, obviously. Rowan's mum is much better looking, but equally shy).

We were on the way back from New Fancy view where up to 4 Goswhawks had put on a display. They were on the far limit of being photographable - unlike this Chiffchaff which was almost too close to focus.

Chiffchaff

Goshawk - said by my dad to have 'wings like a Spitfire' - not a bad description

Encounters with Boar

Visiting parents in my native Forest of Dean this weekend. The local paper was full of letters from residents feeling intimidated by Wild Boar in the Forest, many demanding the usual human response to unusual wildlife. It occurred to me that a dusk drive around a few likely spots might be worthwhile and within 10 minutes I had to pull over to let a family party of Wild Boar cross the road in front of me, led by this female (above). Most moved on oblivious to the car but one youngster turned and ran towards me before thinking better of it and following the others into the bracken. Some of the juveniles still had their stripey fur, the remains of which can just be see in this one (above). Rounded off the evening with a stag Fallow Deer and a roost of eight Common Sandpipers at Cannop Ponds.