Sunday 28 March 2010

I Spy With My Little Eye…

Is… That a leaf??

Mmm, but it’s moving…


I think it’s a Vole, no sign of ears, much too small for a Wood/House mouse

Oh my, it’s a teeny tiny baby Wood mouse!


It really shouldn’t be out of the nest by the looks of things.



So, so tiny!

(urgh, the walls look awful, and to think I only power washed/painted them last summer…)

Hopefully this will give you a good idea of its size.


I went outside to see how close I could get…


I was able to get far too close.



I followed it, trying to see if it would notice danger.





Then it decided having a wash was a good idea with me stalking it…



Gradually getting ever closer…





Found something interesting


I herded it into the hedge


However, when I went up onto the tier to refill the cleaned bird feeders it joined me… I hope it’s found its home or otherwise grows up very quickly, there are far too many cats around here.

Poor baby.

12 comments:

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz....I am in love.....the baby woodmouse is just so cute, and one of my favourites. I have one nesting in the robin box but I havn't been able to get any photographs.

Keep the cats away....I know which I would prefer in my garden, and it isn't the cats.......

Fabulous photography......

I am going back to take another peep at that post......

Esther Montgomery said...

What a peculiar looking creature!

I suppose its chances of survival are remote - but going on safari with it must have made you hold your breath.

Esther

Sheila said...

How cute! It is just adorable!

Floridagirl said...

Wow! Those are amazing photos! Love them!

Liz said...

Hi Cheryl,

I know, isn’t it just precious? I really hope it’s survived the night – gone back home. It’s raining today and I dread to think of it wandering around in the cold rain, such a small animal will not survive.

Lovely to hear you have one nesting in your Robin box… Although not the intended use of a nestbox… :)

I’ve seen wood and house mice around, sadly almost always accompanied by a cat ‘playing’ with it. One did escape thankfully. The monster cat knows it is not welcome in my garden, but obviously I cannot stop it when I’m out nor can I contain mousie to my garden.

I am assuming we disturbed them when we went in the shed for the first time in months, I imagine one day I may find a little nest in there. I was in half a mind to take in the baby or at least attempt to scare it so it learned to be wary of large things…

Liz said...

Hi Esther,

Awww, it’s looking strange in some shots because it’s stretching… Rodents do tend to look top heavy when young before their leg muscles strengthen and they put on weight. I cannot imagine this has long opened its eyes, judging by the ears I would place it around 3 weeks old.

Such a sweet little baby, I really hope it has survived today – raining!

Liz said...

Hi Sheila,

Thank you, it was just far too sweet. Bumbling around, completely oblivious of any danger…

Liz said...

Hi Floridagirl,

Thank you very much, mice really are cute – although I’m not so sure I’d feel the same if they were in the house!

Urban Dirt Girl said...

I love the action shots of the mouse! He is too cute. I hope he makes it. You take great photographs and I love your blog.

Yoke, said...

Awww, Liz.. what a cute little thing your mouse baby is! It must've been soo cold too and wet. Poor baby.

I love where it is standing up against the wall, its expression is that of a very young one.

We used to have nests of Wood mice underneath a tree which stood 3 feet in front of our bedroom door in our previous house.

One year we found the young ones in a string along the path; all dead, but not by any predator; theyt must have been met by disease. Never found out what it was.

I doubt your baby would make it through the night on its own, not now temperatures have gone down again plus cold winds and rains. (if the cats had not found it first of course)

Layanee said...

The little guy is cute and you took some great shots.

Kala said...

They move so fast - you were able to get quite a few good shots!