WINTER GRIPS WITH FROST AND SNOW

There’s been a few very cold nights recently and with the heavy frosts and snow, it’s meant our wildlife is facing up to the depths of our winter.

The garden has seen a layer of snow, which has now turned very icy and some areas of the lawn are inaccessible for the birds and small mammals.

I’ve noticed that the bird feeders are quickly being eaten, while the food that inadvertently drops on the floor is quickly being hoovered up, by a combination of birds, mice and voles.

The long tailed tits are now spending regular time in the garden and I can hear them coming well before they arrive.

A couple of robins are now singing a number of times a day as they defend their territory ready for the breeding season.

As 2015 approaches we’re heading for a mild spell of weather, but I suspect another very cold snap will soon be with us, once again testing the resilience of our wildlife.

One of the first jobs of 2015 will be to fit the new power cable to the original nest box camera and monitor both for winter roosting and early signs of nesting.

Nest building in 2014 started in late February, was delayed by a cold snap, before recommencing in the middle of March.

The first chicks were heard in the middle of April and a total of four broods in both the blue tit nest box and sparrow nest box, but both for sparrows, house and tree.

The swallows first appeared on 16^th April, so will they be earlier or later in 2015? As they are my favourite bird, joint first with the peregrine falcon, I hope it’s earlier.

So here’s to a wildlife friendly 2015 and both of my bird nest box cameras working!