BADGERS AND BUTTERFLIES

The weather and temperatures have picked up this month, but not to heatwave levels – and certainly not enough to prevent the heating being required on some nights.

The warmer and sunnier weather has brought out plenty of butterflies, and a new butterfly has been seen in the garden.

A speckled wood was seen on the ivy, sunning itself, and I managed to grab a quick picture before it fluttered away.

I also managed to capture a red admiral too, although they have been seen many times, feasting on the buddleia.

They have more than made up for the lack of bird activity, albeit a small flock of house sparrows are now roosting in the wall climbers – something that seems to happen quite often at this time of year.

They are literally about a foot above the front door and can be seen and heard about an hour before sunset.

It’ll be a few weeks before they need to find a new roost site, when the leaves start to leave it fairly exposed.

Our summer visitors have definitely not been sticking around for this warmer weather, even if it would be feast time for them.

The garden wildlife is undergoing the usual transition as autumn starts to take hold, and it might be a few weeks before the birds are regularly seen.

However, I can’t help but feel that the stupidly high level of cats in neighbouring houses, along with feral cats that are being fed by the same neighbours, are having an impact on the birds being seen around.

I saw one of the cats with a small vole only yesterday morning, which does make you wonder if this small area of countryside is being restrictive to many species of wildlife, because the cats are either killing prey or the animals themselves.

There might be one saviour in this though. For the first time ever, a badger visited the garden, the closest badger I’ve seen to the house by about 500 metres.

I’d noticed a few small holes in the grass verges on the lane, which can now be put down to foraging badgers.

Great news for them and also my girls who managed to see a ‘real life’ badger right by our house.

It helps bring the closer to wildlife and hopefully encourages them to take a keen interest in wildlife when they grow up.

WINTER COLD STAYING AWAY?

November has been quite mild so far, and there’s little indication it’ll change in the near future.

It appears the weather conditions have meant the bird feeders aren’t as active as they might be, although the garden is still seeing house sparrows, blue tits and great tits.

The odd robin is now making a regular appearance, while the blackbirds have been heard a few times in the nearby trees and bushes – obviously by their alarm call.

There was a fleeting glimpse of a flock of long tailed tits, while down the lane jays, magpies, blackbirds and a great spotted woodpecker have been seen.

I’ve not seen any further evidence of badgers down the lane, although recent sightings have meant I’m confident of seeing more in the winter months.

The other large mammal around the area has also made itself known this week. A fox has been heard for two nights running calling in the early hours, and quite near the house.

After a few years of little fox or badger activity, it’s been great to see it evidenced recently, while tawny owls have also come back to the area after years of absence.

Perhaps the more elusive wildlife is back to stay, let’s hope so.

AUTUMN IS IN ITS WAY

The chill of autumn cast an early white shadow on the lawn one morning last week, but the full version of the season is yet to show.

A mild autumn has meant many birds are yet to spend much time in the garden as the fields, hedgerows and woods are clearly providing enough food.

I did glimpse a flock of long tailed tits over the weekend briefly visiting the garden. I've seen them while on my bike around Frodsham Marsh but I'm looking forward to watching them flock around the peanut feeders in the garden.

Last year I counted over 15 in the garden at one time, so will they break the record this year and have a big number of youngsters from the breeding season? Only time will tell.

This week I've spotted a couple of jays around the lane and possibly the first fieldfare, although I was unable to confirm this as I was driving.

As November nears I'm hoping for a number of winter visitors, but will the elusive badgers from down the lane put in an appearance?

I'm hoping a spring and summer of teaching my daughter Poppy of the exciting aspect of nature watching will pay dividends as a new batch of garden visitors come to the garden.

On another note my birdbox camera will be cleaned this weekend and await the arrival of the first winter roosting birds.

More soon!