THE SAD RESULTS OF APRIL WEATHER

Despite the weather turning in to summer after a cold and wet six weeks, it has led to a rather sad ending to my nestbox camera story.

The images below aren't the easiest to view but it reflects what happens in nature every day, month and year.

I had noticed that the great tits were not around very much for the last week or so, despite me recently seeing one of the parents going in to the nestbox with a caterpillar in beak.

After hearing the story of a friend who had watched from their nestbox camera as eight great tit chicks straved to death during April and early May, I resolved to check the nestbox after watching for parental activity over the weekend.

With little or no great tit activity anywhere near the nestbox, I opened it up and found the eight tiny fledglings hadn't made it passed a couple of days old.

The unusually cool and wet weather had obviously led to a lack of relevant food for the chicks and their sad demise. I presume this has happened to many great tit and other small bird families across the UK, which makes me wonder if this breeding season will be a poor one.

In positive news I've noticed a blue tit nest in a tiny crevice in the wall of a small disused building at the back of our house. The crevice is so tight the parents have to literally squeeze out each time they have fed their chicks.

I think they'll fledge in the next week as they're very vocal when the parents bring food.

The robins have not been seen for a while, which makes me think the chicks are all out and the family has gone off to explore the countryside.

Activity has been frantic from the house and tree sparrows, as they spend lots of time in the rose hedge and the garden borders. I'm still unsure where they're nesting, but it must be close.

The blackbirds are still around and this week have been dominating the airwaves, especially at dusk, as the males use prominent spots like telegraph poles to littering the wind with lovely song.

It certainly makes a change from the constant chiffchaff tunes during the day.

Finally an unusual visitor came to the garden this week, a great spotted woodpecker, although he didn't stay around too long. Perhaps he'll be back.

More news this weekend.

ARE THE GREAT TIT CHICKS OK?

I'm very concerned for the health of the great tit chicks in my nestbox as I've not really seen or heard the parents in the garden recently.

They have been around, but not as often as in previous years when feeding growing youngsters. I fear a combination of the cool conditions and a lack of food has badly affected the chicks.

I've heard of a friend's nestbox with great tits in that all eight chicks died, mainly as a result of lack of food. This meant the parents were then bringing in the wrong type of food and the chicks starving.

I'm sure all types of wildlife have been bewildered by the weather in April and May, especially after the lovely sunny and warm conditions in March.

There does seem to be a hint of better conditions next week, but is this too late to save the inevitable population crash of many smalls birds and of course other birds that rely on naive fledglings to feed their own hungry youngsters.

Only time will tell, but I'll be checking my nestbox this weekend and hoping for some good news.

In light of the cold weather I've put peanuts out again and fat snacks, but only until it warms up, then the mealworms will be back on the menu.

Perhaps I should have bought mealworms earlier, but it would have been quite expensive to provide all the birds with enough over the recent weeks.

Today I had the canny magpies and crows visiting, after they spotted I'd left an opened back of peanuts in the garden.

The crows were dominant, but even they were scared of the tub holding the fat snacks which the peanuts were on. It was very amusing watching them dart to get the peanuts, but close their eyes in panic at being near the tub.

In positive news I did see a robin chick in the garden this week, although only one and I've not seen it since.

The swallows are still about, but I think they've delayed nesting until enough flying insects are about to feed their youngsters.

This weekend could be pivotal to how wildlife is able to bring new life in to this world and survive.

Let's hope the weather is helpful and gives them all a chance.

HOUSE MARTINS IN FULL SONG

After the arrival of the swallows, this week I've noticed a number of house martins (the birds not the band) patrolling the skies above my house.

They shared the air with the swallows, which appear to be coping with the cooler and wetter weather.

It's been unusual weather recently but the flora is benefiting massively as the garden grass, plants, bushes and small trees are growing fast.

I'm hoping to put in an order for mealworms soon, but news last night is making me rethink that.

I noticed one of the great tits with a caterpillar in its beak and watched as it entered the nestbox with the camera, that doesn't work.

It appears there are chicks in the nest, albeit small as I couldn't here them. Perhaps the wet weather of April will help the great tits have two broods, although very unlikely.

So tonight I'll be making an order for those mealworms and stop filling up the seed and peanut feeders.

I hope to get images this weekend and will try a few more tricks to get the camera working again.

All other wildlife is still about, although one thing I've noticed is the amount of solitary magpies about, which isn't good news for the superstitious among us - me included.

I suspect this is because the females are on eggs in nearby nests.

MAY BRINGS WINTER CONDITIONS

The temperatures in May are actually lower than last Christmas, which must be a shock for the summer visitors.

April usually brings showers, but it was more like heavy rain. In fact the wettest April for many areas of the UK.

The rain is welcome for most, though it was just a bit too relentless for some wildlife as they appeared to slow up on the breeding process.

I noticed the great tits were still coming in and around the nestbox, but they don't appear to be on eggs or ready to lay. That said until the nestbox camera is working again I can't be 100 per cent sure.

There are a few night visitors to the windows at night when it's dark and the light are on inside. Moths and daddy long legs have been seen recently, but the cool weather means only a few each night.

Yesterday I saw something I didn't think I'd see, especially in the summer. A family group of long tailed tits was chattering amongst the trees, which shows that food supplies must be low.

The group is usually seen in winter, but because the mild weather meant food supplies for most birds lasted through most of the season, I only saw the group a few times.

If this weather keeps up I expect to see them again, which is wonderful as they fly among the trees chattering away to each other.

The robins, blackbirds, tree sparrows, house sparrows and dunnocks are still regulars in the garden, with the blackbirds enjoying tugging worms out of the wet soil.

I've now filled in the pond with grass from lawn cuttings, so hopefully soon will completely fill it with soil and add some rockery plants.

The tree and house sparrows are showing interest in one of the nestboxes, though other areas of the local houses and buildings seem to be preferred at present.

Finally the swallows are creating wonderful songs from their perches on the telephone wires. I saw three this week, two of which must be the returning parents.

I'm now watching out for them entering the buildings behind the house and for the beginning of nest building.

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.