As winter turns to (in theory) spring, Burren wildlife starts to prepare for warmer weather. On a walk north of Doolin, a mile before the Burren’s edge, the small rolling ridges fold down into marshy ground. Further up the hill, a large pile of slates sits among the patchy grass, put there last summer by a local inhabitant called the Temporary Garden Fiddler.
This is a large mammal that appears when the winds die down. Its eccentric behaviour is a joy to behold, as it snuffles around the garden starting little jobs but never finishing them. Its plan is to build a solid level area in slate around the back and side of the nest, where it can share warm summer evenings with its mate and offspring. But for the Temporary Garden Fiddler there is always something else to do, such as digging holes, messing about with dry stone walls or watching sport on TV .
Mid March is a good time to spot one of the rituals of this curious animal. The female, spotting the big pile of slates, asks the male whether the level slated area will be finished before the kids go off to college. The male responds by folding his arms and stomping around the garden. When the male stomps back he makes a list and shows the female that sorting out the slates will be the next thing he does. But once she has gone back to the nest, the male sits down with a cup of tea and listens to some football on the radio.
The slates will have to wait until tomorrow.
