August is fast becoming the new September as the weather is
seemingly preparing us for autumn.
In the last few days the small birds are starting to return
to the garden, complete with the youngsters they’ve fledged this year.
The great tits, blue tits and house sparrows are now coming
for fleeting visits, and the youngsters are only just about distinguishable
from their parents.
Not many sightings still of the blackbirds or robins, while
the goldfinches are now being seen in large groups down the lane.
The tomatoes aren’t growing really for the third year in a
row, so next year they may get one more opportunity.
A second crop has come from the broad beans, while the
sunflowers are doing their best – only a couple making it to around the 8ft
mark.
The grass still isn’t growing properly following the hot and
dry early summer, even with the rain of recent weeks.
It might be it needs a good few months to recover before the
lawn is fully green again.
The tawny owls are being heard every night, presumably the
youngsters foraging and calling to their parents.
Hopefully we’ll still hear them in the coming months, and
perhaps the little owls come back – if the cats aren’t continuing to decimate
the local rodent population.
