CHICKS ON THE GROUND

April ended in typical April fashion, with cooler and wetter weather.

But, unlike last year when we had glorious sunshine and warm weather, May started with distinctly cooler and wetter conditions.

However, despite this there have been several new additions to the garden; all seen in the last few days.

A number of robin chicks, with their distinct mottled chests, have been in and around the garden, feeding on small invertebrates.

While the most seen in one go has been two, I suspect there are at least a couple more.

One of the parents has always been around, looking for danger and sometimes helping find food.

There have also been a few sightings of blackbird chicks, although not in the same numbers as the robins.

The blue tits are still hanging around, although where they are nesting is unknown – I suspect it’s not anywhere near the garden.

The great tit pair in the garden are now showing any signs of having chicks, but with the cameras now working it’s difficult to know.

I’m not hearing the tell-tale signs, but this might be because the parents are still on eggs.

Given the new chicks, and suspected other birds with at least built nests, if not eggs, the first order of mealworms has been placed.

I’m hoping to be able to test whether there are any newly hatched chicks when the mealworms are placed out later this week.

If the adult birds aren’t feeding on the mealworms, and instead gathering a beak full of them, I’ll then try and track them to the nests.

With the BBC’s Springwatch programme not far away, I do hope the weather warms up and helps us see lots of growing wildlife.