CHAPPIE THE WONDER DOG ~ DOG WALKING, NATURE, WILDLIFE & COUNTRYSIDE BLOG
What is Chappie The Wonder Dog? – Chappie is a Fox terrier dog and this website is based around a blog which has lots of amazing Animal videosof the
nature &
wildlife
in the Oxfordshire countryside we encounter on our walks. The emphasis is finding nature at its best and our Wildlife blog is designed to be fun and informative. The main focus is on the animals we encounter such as deer, stoats, insects, grass snakes, birds, etc. Our Wildlife Video blog describes our dog walks through the countryside and has lots of video clips, photo’s and lots of useful information. Below are some of best video clips I have taken on our dog walks together. I have detailed more of my favourite animal video clips in Chappies store. The blog details the longer walks and adventures me and Chappie undertake. I think you will be amazed at the amount of wildlife we see or Chappie tries to chase! You can also find lots of great information in the Animal articles section which also includes animal / wildlife video clips. If you have a passion for wildlife then please view our nature | wildlife | countryside blog – your comments are welcome……...........
In the park with Chappie and I spot a Muntjac. At first it stares at me and I stare back thinking this is midday in broad daylight. As cool as you like the Muntjac then just walks around the path in the park with not a care in the world. I keeping panning to to the right as Chappie is somewhere in the long grass and I keep expecting him to come running out of the grass and chase the muntjac. Muntjac Deer are browsing animals — they prefer to eat roughage such as brambles, tree and shrub leaves, ivy and even twigs, but by the end of winter there is little left in the wood for them to eat. Muntjac deer are one of the few mammals that eat bluebells and dog's mercury. If given the opportunity they will creep into gardens to eat cultivated plants, especially roses, and some have been know to steal food from bird tables. An unusual feature of the muntjac is that they breed throughout the year, which means that fawns may be discovered at any time. Only a few days after a fawn is born the doe comes into season, so that a female can be almost continuously pregnant.
What the weasel / Stoat lacks in size and weight it certainly makes up in ferocity. It is a member of the Mustelidae family and is often common in the woods. Other members of the family include the rare pine marten, polecat, otter and, largest of all, the badger. All one usually sees of weasels and stoats is a brown creature, streaking across a woodland path several metres away. However, both of these species are very inquisitive. It is possible to wait, absolutely still, until their insatiable curiosity makes them come to inspect this strange human creature that has entered its domain. Closer inspection shows how incredibly quick their reactions and movements are. Even with their short legs they run rapidly, often bounding through the woods with arched back. Weasels are smaller than stoats, but a better distinguishing feature is that a stoat has a black tip to its tail, which the weasels lacks. The weasel's quick movements ensure that they have no problem catching mice and voles which comprise their main diet. They hunt mainly by sight and scent and will also eat other prey, from rabbits to insects. Their long, slender bodies enable them to enter mole burrows and their agility enables them to climb into bushes in search of birds eggs. As the weasel scampers through the woods it often stands upright to inspect its surroundings and will take advantage of a log or stump to gain extra height. Any sound or movement is of interest to a weasel even a roosting bird is possible prey.
Well this was moment of luck for me and bad luck for the poor mouse. I was walking Chappie close to a stream further down the right of way and I heard this 'eeekkkking' sound. I stepped a few paces to me left and spotted this grass snake eating a mouse that was still alive. In my astonishment of seeing this I was trying to film this via the screen viewer on my camcorder rather than the lense, so I only caught the snakes head at the end even though I was watching it for a couple of minutes. The usual self-defence of grass snakes is to vanish as fast as they can, usually very noisily. If caught, a grass snake will often 'play dead', or it will writhe furiously and bombard you with a foul-smelling liquid. It might hiss and mock-strike but it can't hurt you.
I managed to capture on an evenings walk a barn owl hunting. A barn owl flying and searching for food is one of natures must see moments. A hunting barn owl is a beautiful sight, with its slow, buoyant flight, wavering direction, hovering and swift plunges into the undergrowth for prey. On the last clip you can just make out the barn owl is carrying a rodent in its claws. Barn owls are found in many countries around the world, preferring mild, middle latitudes without extreme weather conditions. Not strictly nocturnal, this owl can be seen in the half-light of winter afternoons, patrolling silently along hedgerows next to country lanes. The European population is in decline and factors known to be affecting numbers are the reduction in traditional farming systems and the increasing use of pesticides. Smaller than tawny owl but with longer, narrower wings. Adult from south and west European race has warm, vermiculated yellowish-brown upperparts contrasting with clear silver-white underparts. Crown, nape, back and rump warm yellowish-brown with soft grey mottling and rows of tiny blackish spots. Coverts on closed wing similar; in flight shows warm-buff flight and tail feathers with dark-brown barring. Face has complete heart-shaped white facial disc with dark rusty eye pits and black eyes. Underparts, including feathered legs, silky white. Feet grey-brown. Bill pinkish. Adult from central European race has buff body underparts and underwing coverts. Similar in other respects to white-breasted race. Juvenile resembles adult as soon as down is lost.
Fox terriers are described in the Oxford English Dictionary as aggressive, spirited, and exuberant. I would agree on all three accounts. Fox terriers are full of life and are basically hunting dogs. If their instincts are nurtured they can be come prolific killers of rodents, rabbits, etc. However there is so much more to the fox terrier than that. They are only aggressive if provoked or in the heat of battle. If exercised properly they like nothing better than to sleep on there favourite cushion, however they will always stay alert ready for the next adventure. In fact they make very good pets but they must be stimulated mentally and physically. They can be very gentle and good with children. However, when hunting mode kicks in then it's a different story and they will run through walls to get to their prey. All the dog training in the world is not going to bring back a fox terrier as soon as he see's a juicy rabbit hop in front of him. Cats – I won't even go there!
The origins of terrier come from the Latin word 'terra' meaning earth. Bigger than a Jack Russell but smaller than hunting dogs, they were used for primarily flushing out vermin. Factory owners loved them and they became very fashionable with aristocracy and then with the lower classes. As the name suggests they were used in the heat of battle with the fox and hounds. There are accounts of them being sat in the red coats of huntsmen waiting to be dispatched down a fox hole where the hounds could not go. From the late 1800's the fox terrier was coming into its prime and was extremely popular. BY the 1920's the American's had the own Fox Terrier club along with the English and the Fox terrier was winning trophies here and across the pond. Fox terriers were exchanging hands for huge sums of money.
However there success has somewhat been there down fall. Over breeding and then there lack of popularity (partly due to modern day living) has led to a decline in the number of Fox terriers. I have lost count of the number of elderly people who stop me and say ' I don't see many Fox terriers anymore', this is because they can remember how popular they were. Younger people just tend to stop me and say 'what a fluffy, cute dog he is – is it a big Jack Russell ?'
I was very lucky to catch this site of a little Egret in the river. It did'nt hang around to long. I believe these birds who look like a small white heron are becoming more common in this country. These Birds would not look out of place in the Africa savanna. The most common pure-white, heron-like bird in Europe. Sexes alike. Slender and elegant appearance, with long neck. Bill long, dark and dagger-like. Bare skin at base of bill yellowish in breeding season but otherwise darker. Also sports long head plumes in breeding season. Appearance remains similar throughout year. In flight shows broad, rounded wings and trails its long legs behind it. Wherever large, shallow lakes or coastal wetlands are found in southern Europe, you are likely to find little egrets present during the summer. Furthermore, the species' range is expanding and it now occurs regularly in southern Britain. A hunched-up roosting little egret may not inspire much admiration, but when striding purposefully through the shallows on its long legs, or poised motionless, waiting for a fish to pass by, it is a most elegant bird: it will stab at prey with unerring accuracy. On some occasions, the birds appear to shuffle their feet in front of them, apparently to disturb resting or hiding prey into tell-tale movement.
I was in the right place at the right time on a summers evening to catch this roe deer munching on some long grass. Deer hold a fascination for many people, perhaps because they are the largest of the woodland mammals. Whatever the reason, a walk through the woods is enhanced by the sight of one of these splendid animals. The roe deer is the smallest of the native species, tending to be shy and secretive. They feed mainly during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk and enjoy browsing the woodland trees and shrubs, as they prefer twigs and coarse leaves to more succulent grasses. Towards the end of winter, when vegetation in the woods is difficult to find, roe deer often change their habits and have to be content to graze in nearby fields. Fallow deer are much larger and are an introduced species that are often found in deer parks. As a result they have become accustomed to humans and will tolerate a closer approach. Over the years they have escaped from parks to establish wild herds that roam the countryside, using the cover of woodland by day and grazing in the quiet of evening and early morning. A fallow buck displays a splendic head of antlers iron from August until the following March. Then the antlers fall off and it has only flue months to grow another pair ready for the next rutting season.
On a walk by the River Windrush I could not believe the amount of water voles I saw. Apoligizes for the quality of video but the water voles are fast little things and there difficult to keep up with. Anyway, I have edited a compilation of several clips above. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed filiming them -there not that easy to see though. Water voles enjoy living in the banks of slow moving rivers, streams and other waterways. They are pretty much widespread throughout Europe. The waterside burrows of these strong swimmers have many floor levels that hinder flooding, as well as nesting chambers and a food store for the long winter months. Although water voles are a quick meal for many predators, the UK population suffered a catastrophic level of predation by the American mink. Water voles are often mistaken for rats. Ratty, in Kenneth Grahame's 'The Wind in the Willows', was actually a water vole.
A large species, appearing a striking array of greens, yellows and blues in the male, but no blue present in the females. Very pronounced greenish antehumeral stripes, a large yellowy-green triangle on the second abdominal segment and tail bands joined, blue in the male, green in the female, make it relatively easy to identify. Very much on the north eastern limit of its national geographical range, there is a definite stronger presence of this species in the south of the county. It is common in southern Britain but largely absent from upland areas. It is a very confiding insect and frequently 'investigates' people who walk into its territory, allowing excellent close-up views. It is unusual that it often flies when conditions seem unsuitable, early morning, dusk and cool, cloudy, sometimes rainy days. It often moves well away from water and will create a territory along a suitable hedgerow for example. Breeding areas cover a wide range of ponds, lakes, canals and ditches.
As we venture further into the woods we come across a muntjac that slowly creeps through the forest in front of us. I manage to take the above video with a pheasant also in the background. At the end it jumps away probably after it picks up our scent. The Muntjac has become naturalised in England and Wales and is Britain's smallest deer. Unlike most deer, the Muntjac doesn't live in herds, but is solitary or found in pairs. According to the British Deer Society, Muntjac were brought from China to a park in Bedfordshire in the early 20th century. They spread across the country after they escaped, or were deliberately released, from the park. In the video you would have also noticed the wood carpeted with bluebells. Although bluebells flower in Europe, it is only in the British Isles that they are found in such profusion. The whole floor of the wood is a shimmering carpet of blue as each bell trembles in the breeze. Bluebells are part of the hyacinth family, and so grow from bulbs. They do produce seeds but their main method of multiplication is through the white bulbs, hidden beneath the ground.
A Roe deer and her fawn. The survival chances of the young roe are poor. Mortality in the first year may be as high as 50%. Some fawns, particularly young ones, fall victim to foxes and dogs. The doe defends her young vigorously against these predators, but she do nothing to protect them against disease. In areas heavily populated by roe, parasitic pneumonia, caused by lung-worm, an kill large numbers of fawns in early spring. In May, when the new season's fawns are due to be born, the buck and doe drive out their young of the previous year. The banished yearlings then have to wander about until find somewhere else to live. In the meantime they are exposed to increased risks from cars, dogs and, not least, from people who have shooting rights over the land they cross. The roe's liking for newly-planted forest trees, for both fraying and browsing, has brought it into sharp conflict with landowners. In the past, the deer population was kept in check by bears and wolves but, with the absence of these natural predators, this is now the job of the forester. If roe deer were to become completely protected they would soon become an un-bearable pest. As it is, with careful management, we can expect these graceful creatures to inhabit our woods for many years to come.
in the Oxfordshire countryside we encounter on our walks. The emphasis is finding nature at its best and our Wildlife 
