A TYPICALLY QUIET AUGUST MADE EXCITED BY A NEW NEST DISCOVERY

With much of the wildlife still seemingly hiding away, it’s been left to a few of the stars of the garden this year to make the headlines, and also one big surprise.

First, the big surprise and it was the discovery of new nest in the garden just last week; a nest from a bird I’ve seen around the garden and lane, but never thought it would nest near the house.

The bird in question is a goldfinch, which has nested near the top of a small bush/tree, about eight feet from the ground and in a fairly precarious place.

I’d been hearing a lot of calling from the goldfinches around the garden in recent weeks, particularly in the last week or so, and looking at the state of the nest I suspect the young had recently fledged.

It’s brilliant that a small garden can provide the right environment for birds to nest, so now the goldfinch can be added to the list of nesting birds in the garden, alongside blue tits, great tits, robins, house sparrows, tree sparrows and blackbirds.

The robin family now appears to be in dispute with one another, as one of the youngsters is seemingly trying to win our garden as part of its territory over one of its parents – I suspect the male.

They have both been seen often in the garden in recent weeks and it would seem it’s quite a good place to have.

Who will triumph in the end? I don’t know but both are quite feisty and friendly in similar doses – friendly to the humans who live here.

Another now regular visitor is the hedgehog, who can be seen, and often heard, most nights.

The hedgehog is leaving regular deposits of poo around the garden too, but is also getting around the neighbours’ houses and is also being provided some food by them.

It looks like the hedgehog has found somewhere it likes, and if collectively we continue to provide the right environment for it, then it’ll hopefully stay.

One of the most important things is allowing free and easy access to all the gardens and making sure the cats and dogs stay away from it.

I think most of the neighbours are excited to see a hedgehog, so hopefully it’ll stick around.

A REVIEW OF 2019 - PART 3/4

At this time every year I take a look back at how the garden changed during the year.

This is the third of four posts that will charter the changing view of the garden; July to September.

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

THE LONG ROAD TO DARK MORNINGS AND NIGHTS?

So September has brought what the end of August promised – cloud, wind and rain, along with a distinctly chilling feel in the air.

In the last few weeks there has been a couple of overhead views of swifts, chattering away and seemingly on their journey to warmer climes.

I don’t think they’re local swifts, merely family groups passing over and making the most of the conditions to feed.

I’ve also seen a couple of family groups of swallows, but again it’s been a week of so since the last sighting of our beautiful summer visitors.

In the garden the pond has seen too much litter falling in, so a clean-up along with new aerating plants is required soon.

There has been a smattering of blue tits, great tits and house sparrows in the garden, particularly in the last few days, making the most of the free food on offer.

One thing that has been noticeable is the local robins singing, and sounding like they’re reasserting their territories.

The one in our garden has been very vocal in the morning and evenings, making the most of the feast of bugs and earthworms the current weather is bringing to the surface.

The tomatoes are only just growing from flowers, so I don’t hold much hope for any red ones this year.

Better news on the sunflowers, the few that have made it beyond July are now getting quite tall, so they should be flowering soon – giving some birds free and natural foods for the autumn.

Five years ago most of September was warm, if not hot at times, so whether this year it’ll pick up temperature wise is another thing – the forecast suggest not!

IS IT AUTUMN OR AUGUST?

I go away for a couple of weeks and the weather goes from record breaking heat, to a soggy August in a matter of days.

They should rename August as autumn, given the late evening and early morning feel in the air, not to mention the wet and windy weather.

Over the last ten days the swifts seem to have departed for warmer climes, can’t say I blame them, while the garden birds have definitely quit the breeding season for this year.

I have seen the swallow family, now looking great with seven fledged youngsters, taking to the air and learning the aerobatic skills that a swallow needs.

It’s a fabulous sight, watching the newly-fledged swallows dancing around the skies, flirting with the fields and trees, and all the time chattering away to their parents.

They’ll be off soon and to me it means autumn has already started.

The garden is quiet with the likes of blue tits, great tits, house sparrows, dunnocks, blackbirds, robins and wrens only sporadically visiting.

I’ve cut back on extra food for them, apart from a couple of feeders, but perhaps with the weather conditions I’m tempted to put some fat balls out there.

The flora is growing significantly with all the wet and warm(ish) weather, but not the ones I want to.

The sunflowers are not as tall as last year (no they’re not dwarf ones), the tomatoes are only just flowering, and the broad beans have basically failed.

But the grass, rose bushes and ivy, the ones I have to trim regularly, are flourishing – so plenty of time in the garden for me at the moment.

With Bank Holiday weekend coming up shortly, the weather is bound to improve…

The wildlife might not care about this, but the humans who use the garden certainly do!

ANOTHER INDIAN SUMMER?

August once again proved to be anything but the height of summer, but the end of the month heralded a warmer spell which might just be enough to see summer migrants stay around a bit longer, including the swallows.

However this week looks like being a false dawn on any warmth in September, as rain and coolers winds look like winning out.

I think the swallows had two broods this year, as there’s been quite a few birds with shorter tails swooping around the garden and surrounding countryside.

I don’t know how long they’ll stay around for, but as they’re my favourite birds I hope for just a little bit longer.

The garden birds are now making a bit more of a comeback in the garden, with the blue tits, great tits, house sparrows and even the odd robin making regular appearances.

This year’s tit fledglings are still easily recognisable, although they’re definitely getting in tune with their surroundings, feeding areas and warning calls from their parents.

With the sunflowers started to get into full flower, the seeds will hopefully provide an autumn booty for the birds.

Talking of garden booty the broad beans have once again delivered a good harvest, while the tomatoes are struggling in the garden.

Next year it’ll be tumbling tomatoes, broad beans and sunflowers, and nothing else.

They’ll also be a re-introduction in the garden too, as I’m planning on reinstating the pond after filling it in because of the girls being toddlers.

Now they’re both at school, I think the small pond can come back and help them learn a little bit more about having different wild parts to a garden and the wildlife it can bring – albeit on a small scale given the pond isn’t huge!

Time will tell if frogs make it back, but hopefully it’ll provide a home to some smaller creatures and perhaps be a water source for the small birds.