THE SOUND OF THE NEXT GENERATION

The gardens, fields and woodland around my garden are now very green, with a number of plants already flowering – clematis and strawberry are just two.

Recently there has been some very mild weather, particularly at night, which has meant there has been a huge growth in the flora.

Many of the plants I’ve grown from seed are now either in bigger pots on window sills, in the greenhouse or outside.

The only danger to the ones outside is the forecast frost this weekend and cooler weather – slightly strange for the start of May!

In other news the swallows have been performing their usual aerobatics and almost constant singing – which I thoroughly enjoy as it’s my favourite sounds of summer.

While the bird cameras have failed to deliver live footage of nesting birds, the bird boxes have proved very popular – all but the one with the camera in!

The tit nest box with the camera that has a failed power lead has got house sparrows nesting in there; although I’m not sure if there are eggs, chicks or just a nest in there at the moment.

In the triple sparrow nest box the camera box (which had a house sparrow nest last year with no camera) has nothing, the middle box is being investigated by a pair of blue tits, while the other box has house sparrows, WITH CHICKS.

I first heard them yesterday and after patiently waiting for nearly an hour for a parent to come back with food, was able to confirm the nest box used and the sound of chicks.

For me it confirms the camera has put off the birds, although I’m still hopeful that by keeping it in there the birds will get used to it and not be afraid of nesting there next year.

It does show that if you provide nest boxes in the right locations (height, size and direction the hole faces) then birds will readily take advantage.

The next question as we start to properly enter the breeding season is; how many broods will we have this year?

I’m predicting at least two, and I’m fairly confident the robins and blackbirds are either on eggs or have chicks; I just don’t know where the nests are – a task for this weekend.

Until then I’ll be making contact with a hedgehog rescue centre to rehome any, primarily to help rid the garden of slugs and snails – both are causing a bit of havoc among my growing sunflowers!