WET, WILD AND HUMID SUMMERTIME

In the last week of so the number of bees and butterflies has increased in the garden, as the wet and mild(ish) weather has made for excellent growing conditions.

The birds have started to come back, with the odd appearance from a young and adult great and blue tits.

All in all it’s been a strange spring and summer, with plenty of ups, but more downs. I’d be interested to know how other people have viewed wildlife in their gardens, but know a couple who have experienced similar to me.

The swallow family are now testing their wings as the youngsters gorge on the huge numbers of flying insects. I expect another brood from the new brood in the horse stable, particularly if the favourable weather conditions continue.

At the moment the evening air is filled with the beautiful songs of blackbirds, swallows and a lonesome chiffchaff, while tree and house sparrows chirp away with youngsters in the rose hedge before diving to feed at one of the seed feeders.

The potatoes and carrots are progressing well and I’m hopeful of a sweetcorn crop this year. The runner bean and tomato plants are showing signs of bearing fruit, but they seem to be slower than previous years.

My sunflowers are growing rapidly and I think a few will reach over 10ft, with potential for even higher if the weather warms up a little more.

My daughter loves the garden, well in particular watering the plants, and herself, with her pink elephant watering can. If that isn’t there she’ll try and lift my big green one, which if less than a quarter full she can do.

Now is the time to watch the insects make best use of the garden, before the birds return from moulting and once again bask in the bounty of food that the area provides, along with some handouts from me.

NOT MUCH ACTION

The wildlife has not been out in force recently, well not in my garden anyway.

A male blackbird is often heard from a few nearby high spots, notably tops of telegraph poles, joining a subdued dawn chorus and being prominent during the dusk chorus.

The swallows are often seen now with youngsters from the first brood and given the weather and potential increase in insect numbers in the next few weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a second brood.

A chiffchaff has recently been heard to sing again, so perhaps a second brood is on there, while a male robin has often been in the garden when it sees me with the mealworm box ready to put some on a feeding station.

The tree sparrows and house sparrows must still be feeding youngsters, because they grab a number of mealworms each visit, but I expect them to fledge soon.

One of the interesting visitors is a magpie, which seems to have discovered I'm fairly generous when it comes to feeding the smaller birders. It if often joined by others, who then scare the smaller birds away and gobble up mealworms, before trying their beaks on the peanuts - which they sometimes succeed with despite the feeder being only suited for smaller birds.

I've counted four different types of bees visiting the garden, I can't name them, but can tell the differences from colour and size variations.

When the summer returns after this current storm, I'll take a closer look and come back with types of bees so it can provide me with information on who is living around here and why.

For now I can only hope the ducks enjoy the weather as I think it'll be warming up from next week onwards!

FOUND A NEW NEST

I'm not updating this blog as much as I'd like for two reasons - Time and the fact the great tits nest failed.

I had hoped they would return once I'd cleared the dead chicks and nest out, but I've not seen or heard them very much.

If they hadn't I thought another pair of birds would nest, especially as it's proved a popular nestbox.

The blue tits' nest in the wall of the outbuilding at the back of our house did provide some moments of wonder as the parents struggling to get in and out to feed the chicks, but that only lasted for about a week before they fledged, something I missed.

But this week I did find out where the swallows have nested this summer, not in the outbuilding that had provided the blue tits with a nest, but the big shed that houses a couple of horses about 150 yards behind our house.

Despite the weather I think they've been doing very well as there are thousands of insects flying about after any rain, which the swallows seem to gobble up as sweep majestically through the air.

I even think they sing when there's lots of food, exclaiming songs of joy at all the food.

Another storm is due to hit tonight and last over the weekend, so I hope the swallows delay fledging until next week, if indeed they are ready to.

I did see some blue tits chicks in the trees by the garden this week, but the small birds are slowly dispersing, probably to moult, with or without youngsters.

Here's to some better weather from next week, both for us and the wildlife!

A WASHOUT

So 'Flaming June' has turned out to be flaming wet and a disaster for many of our birds with chicks, including the ospreys on Springwatch.

The decision by the Dyfi Osprey Project to feed the remaining chick has my backing as it helps continue the revival of such a majestic bird.

For those that want to read all about how the final chick was saved, click here; you'll find it very moving and a superb tribute to the people involved.

Ospreys are one of my top birds, along with the swallow and peregrine falcon. None have nested in my garden, so a do have soft spot for blue and great tits, plus robin, who all have raised broods in my garden.

I only hope that the final osprey chick now gets enough food and calm, dry weather to fledge.

The weather has also effected wildlife in my garden as the birds, bees and small mammals struggle to keep warm and find food.

I've tried to help with live mealworms, which have been gobbled up by the blackbirds, tree sparrows, house sparrows and great tits.

I suspect the blackbirds have chicks, possible the same parents that had chicks earlier this year.

This afternoon I'll be taking part in the Big Garden Weigh-in with my daughter as I continue teaching her about the local wildlife and how to help them with food and shelter.

It's always good teaching the next generation and I hope she takes up an interest in nature.

As the week ahead shows a continuation on the cooler weather, further rain if forecast, which doesn't bode well for the ospreys or much of the other wildlife trying to breed and bring up their next generation.

WILL THE REAL JUNE PLEASE STAND UP

Today was back to what we expect in June, sunshine and warmth, the latter didn't stay for too long though and it was distinctly chilly in the morning and evening.

I bet the wildlife is wondering what on earth is going on, particularly those who have lost broods to the weather.

After watching the demise of the blue tit chicks on Springwatch it seems that this is the fate of many chicks this spring and summer, including the great tits in my garden.

Perhaps second broods will be the norm this year, I hope so otherwise a cold winter could have a devastating effect on some birds.

In other news I was outside as dusk fell and was charmed by a bat flying around after insects, sometimes within inches of my head.

A superb time was had by me, although I'm not sure the bat felt the same. I'm not the greatest bat expert so was unable to identify it. What I will say is it was about the size of a blue tit.

If anyone can identify the bat from my feeble description, I'd welcome your thoughts.

I'll now be keeping an eye out during the evening to see if this area is a good area for feeding bats. It's certainly a good one for swallows, swifts and house martins during the early evening as many gather in the area most nights.

This week the weather promises to be unsettled and cool, yet more battles for our wildlife and us humans as we deal with yet another damp summer!

BLUE TITS FLEDGE

The blue tits that were nesting in the wall of an outbuilding behind our house have fledged, unfortunately without me witnessing it.

I thought they would be fledging last weekend, as the noise they made when a parent arrived with food penetrated through the windows when they were firmly shut.

It's good to know they managed to fledge considering the results the great tits had in my nestbox.

The return of Springwatch has lightened up May and it was interesting to note that other species of birds have been effected by the wet and cold April.

It was sad to watch the kingfisher chicks perish and realise that there must be thousands of chicks across the country to have faced the same fate.

The warm weather has relinquished its reign to the more cooler and wetter weather as we enter June. I'm hoping most of the young currently being brought up are able to cope with the next batch of cold and wet weather this weekend.

June is a month which generally goes quiet as chicks fledge and disappear to learn their local territory, while the parents moult their feathers away from prying eyes.

But I suspect second broods will mean later fledgings and we'll still see small young birds around our gardens. Indeed I saw robin chicks this week around the garden begging parents for food.

Sadly most young birds will fall victim to birds of prey and other parents looking to feed their young - foxes, weasels, rats, magpies etc.

This of course could mean that these animals lose young due to a lack of normal food, or they just have their young later.

I'll be watching the garden, field and lanes for new life and updating the blog before the bank holiday weekend ends.