THE 'DROUGHT' CONTINUES AND A SURPRISE RETURN

Despite the rain, wind and minor floods, the 'drought' continues, although it didn't put off the return of summers most welcomed visitor.

Yes that's right, the swallows returned on Thursday evening about 6pm, just before a torrential downpour that lasted for hours and caused the stream down our lane to flood the road.

I can only imagine what they thought, but the next couple of days they were seen dancing in the sky, seemingly revelling in being back at their summer home.

I was slightly worried that they wouldn't return for some reason or another, though reports on social media seems to suggest most have delayed their return to these shores until about now.

So the only question now is, when will they confirm the nest site?

The nestbox camera on the great tits isn't working still, so I'm forced to guess what is happening inside. I'm sure the nest is fully built, but not sure if any eggs have been laid, mainly due to the weather.

The May weather forecast could be for more wet, windy and cool conditions, which won't help them too much. I'm not sure this year will be a good breeding time, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

In other news the tree and house sparrow groups visiting the garden seem to be getting bigger, though I'm not sure if they're nesting. Maybe next year I'll get a combined nestbox for them to use.

The blackbirds, robins and dunnocks appear to be in the garden every few hours, while a pair of goldfinches is now making more regular visits along with a pair of magpies.

A pair of blue tits is also in the garden on a daily basis and I think they're nesting nearby again. When the rain stops I'll make a more detailed search to confirm any nest sites.

PROPER SPRING WEATHER BRINGS GROWTH

After the recent cold weather that replaced the warmth of March, the traditional April showers have brought life to the flora in my garden and the nearby lanes and fields.

The heavy rain and warm sunshine are helping trees show plenty of green leaves, while my rockery and slowly diminishing pond are full of colour.

I'm still waiting for the swallows to return, but I have finally seen my first one of 2012. I watched as one swooped over the road as was driving on near my work in Wolverhampton.

I still find it strange that despite the thousands of miles I drive each month to various parts of the country that I have only seen a glimpse of one swallow this year.

My eyes will be scouring the sky for any sign of the returning swallows this week as I'm becoming a little concerned that they haven't come back.

The nestbox camera has failed again, meaning I'm not sure what stage the great tits are at in terms of nest building.

I've seen a lot of activity in and around my garden from them but without the camera I'm a little unsure.

Other birds that have increased their presence include the numerous tree sparrows, the odd house sparrow and the usual robins, dunnocks and blackbirds.

I've had magpies regularly in the garden, which appears to be to gather nesting material, although the smaller birds are issuing alarm calls when they are around.

I think the female blackbird is on eggs as she's not been around in the last couple of days, but I don't know where.

I'm hoping these heavy thunderstorms and rain will relent and the sunshine will provide the warmth to help the parent birds gather caterpillars and similar grubs for their young.

This weekend I'll try to fix the camera as I feel it could be too late in a week or two.

SPRING ON HOLD

I talked about cooler weather in my last post, but didn't expect some of the conditions parts of the UK suffered from.

The heaviest April snowfall in Yorkshire for 30 years came this week and many roads in nearby north Wales and the Peak District closed due to snow.

Luckily our garden didn't see any of it and although it was cold, the wildlife was able to stock up on food to see them through until now, when it's back to typical weather for this time of year.

The change in weather hasn't attracted any new visitors to the garden, although I have seen more of the goldfinches.

The nestbox camera is still not working but I'm hoping Easter will give me time to fix it, or attempt to!

I know the great tits are still about and I do wonder if they've built the nest yet.

The robins seem to be visiting the garden less frequently so I wonder if nest building is taking most of their time.

Following the blackbirds mating I've noticed the female has been seen less around the garden, while the male is around the same. The other night I saw him having a tremendous tug-of-war with a worm; when he eventually won the worm was almost as long as the blackbird.

Today I'm going to get out and about exploring the trees, hedgrows, bushes and fields to see what's new and who's about.

More updates and hopefully pictures, later this weekend.

FROM SUMMER BACK TO SPRING

The recent spell of summer-like weather has sparked plenty of activity among the wildlife, especially the birds singing and gathering nest material.

Trees and bushes around the house have suddenly turned green, after waiting patiently for the right temperature. It means birds are becoming harder to spot, despite their song being heard more frequently.

Cooler weather is now upon us, but it's not cold for this time of year, just what the wildlife would expect and react to.

The nestbox camera is still playing up so I've not been able to look in to see how the great tits are getting on.

I've seen them both around the garden, but not entering of exiting the nestbox.

This week I've spotted blackbirds mating, ducks pairing up, but no swallows.

I thought I'd have seen swallows by now, especially given there's been plenty of sightings across the UK, but nothing yet.

Yesterday I was in the Lake District for work and noticed the signs for the osprey viewing platform were up near Bassenthwaite Lake.

I'm back there next weekend so will be taking a look to see if they're about.

Over the next few weeks I'll be taking some walks down the lanes around my house to check out the new wildlife and how the residents are getting on preparing for the btreeding season.

I'll be taking the camera and hoping that both the video nestbox camera and my own camera produce some nice shots.

SPRING IS SPRUNG

There may not be swallows or house martins in the air, but spring has certainly sprung with many wonderful tones filling the air.

I've been hearing chiffchaffs singing for a few days now and while I was listening over the weekend I noticed a female blackbird with a fledgling feeding in the garden.

I'm sure this is much earlier than last year.

It's all timing with a prolonged spell of warmish early spring weather, with plenty of sunshine on offer.

The birds, trees and flora have all responded, with green seemingly appearing by the minute on trees around my house.

The great tits are certainly making themselves at home in the nestbox with the camera - the onyl problem is the camera is not working. This weekend it's my challenge to get that sorted - can't be missing the chicks!

This spring I'm going to spend some of my weekends walking the lanes near my home, to see what the wildlife is doing; indeed to see exactly what wildlife we have hear.

I fear the great spotted woodpeckers have moved on elsewhere as the dead tree which they seemed to occupy has now fallen.

With the clocks going forward this weekend I plan to spend Sunday evening looking for new arrivals from abroad and see just who is making their home where I live.

Can I see any swallows this weekend? I doubt it, but with sightings already confirmed in the UK, surely it will be very soon.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

The warmth of this week has brought many things out, including buds on trees, green shoots on seemingly dead plants and me into our garden to start a spring clean and planting session.

The wildlife has also been abundant with a family of long tailed tits paying more visits to the feeders this week, than the whole of winter.

I'm guessing the natural food source has run dry and spring is yet to provide sufficient supplies.

The great tit is still roosting in the nestbox with the camera but, I'm having a few technical problems so the camera is not always working.

Next weekend the pond will become a boggy area filled with nectar rich flowers and plants for the bees and butterflies, but today it was the honeysuckle that had a sever trim, to encourage it to grow with the fence rather than away from it and cover the patio.

The robin/blackbird nextbox was exposed, but I'm hoping to create a more enticing home for raising chicks as it has only been used once in four years.

In other news the blossom on the fruit tree has already started to show, which is two weeks earlier than 2011 according to my blog.

It's great to hear the morning bird song at the moment as it shows the birds can almost taste spring and the riches it brings.

Territories are being confirmed and pairs are looking for nest sites to raise a brood. It all brings an exciting air to the house, garden and local area, though winter could always come back with a sting in the tail.

The winter rose has blossomed recently and has been joined by some early eager daffodils. How long before others show their colours?

Finally I've planted my firsts seeds of the year, so I'm hoping to see some rewards for my early endeavours. Four tomato seedling pots are on the window ledge and waiting for the right time to emerge as green shoots.

RETURN OF THE TIT CAM

So winter has finally arrived, although only some of the country has seen snow. Yes I'm jealous that my garden has not seen a single snowflake.

Since the start of the proper cold spell, I've noticed that my nestbox camera has been filming something other than the inside of the box.

It coincided with the camera actually working after it stopped emitting images for most of January.

For the last week a great tit has been roosting in the nextbox and I'm hoping it continues to use the nestbox in a similar pattern to 2011.

That's when a great tit roosted from February until it and its mate started nest building int April and the produced eight eggs, before raising and fledging eight chicks.

I doubt if all have survived as the local sparrowhawk can often be seen down the lanes, but I do hope a few have made it to this breeding season.

One thing I do wonder is if this great tit is the same one as last year, though I guess I'll never find out.

I'll be updating this blog more regularly now and hopefully it'll continued to focus on the nestbox camera.

In other news the garden has seen hardly any of the usual visitors, with great tits, blue tits, blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, tree sparrows and house sparrows continuing to visit the garden and my winter handouts of fat balls and peanuts.

Only in the recent cold weather have a witnessed a family of long tailed tits along with a few chaffinches and goldfinches.

Last winter the long tailed tits, greater spotted woodpeckers and jays were commonly seen in my garden, but this year the mild weather has meant natural food supplies are still in stock meaning many birds are not requiring the hand outs from gardens.

Currently the great tit is getting more sleep in one night (14 hours) than I do in two! Luckily I know this will diminish to about five hours per night if chicks are produced.

I love winter, but do enjoy the live and wildlife activity of spring, which is handy because it'll soon be the season of breeding.