DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHEN IT WASN’T STORMY?

It’s fair to say that I’m struggling to remember when the last time we had some calm weather, given we’re experiencing storm after storm hitting the UK.

And, if there hasn’t been a named storm, then we’ve been hit be continual low pressures or the windy edge of a high pressure.

The fields are soaking, and large ponds of water are now forming and not draining at all.

Even the stream alongside the lane regularly breaches the banks when we’ve had a few hours of rain.

These videos are taken one day last week, then below are two mages taken the same time, on the following day.

To see all that in one go, here’s a collated image. What’s not shown is the water on the lane is gradually damaging the surface and there’s not a day goes by when the lane doesn’t have large puddles dotted along it.

 

The wildlife is not appearing to be affected by the weather, well from what I can see and hear.

The dawn chorus has been getting stronger each day recently, although the storm and wet mornings have limited activity.

During the day we’re now hearing more territorial songs from the robins, blue tits, great tits and also the odd chaffinch.

The breeding season is largely dictated by the day length, but I do wonder how the storm will affect it long-term.

If the butterflies and moths, which lay eggs that then turn onto the caterpillar food for the small garden birds, get impacted by the storms, then how will the birds cope?

That will also impact some the birds of prey in the area, but we can only wait and see how that all plays out.

If the stormy weather continues for a while, then our summer migrants might also be impacted; so swallows, house martins, swifts and cuckoos.

Again only time with tell, until then we’ll continue to batten down the hatches and hope the water levels gradually drop.

SNOW IN THE GARDEN IN MARCH – AS PREDICTED!

Within a few days of my last post about snow in the garden in March, it snowed in the garden. The first snow it has seen this winter.

It wasn’t exactly a snowstorm and didn’t last that long before it melted away, but it certainly brought a sense of reality to the wildlife.

 The long tailed tits have been spending much more time in the garden in the last week, making use of the bird feeders. But they are often bullied at the feeders, so were left pinching bits of scraps as the blackbirds, robins, great tits and sparrows gorged themselves.

Another caterpillar found it’s way in to the house via the front door, but I suspect it’s the same bright green one I saw a few weeks ago. The Butterfly Conversation kindly told me on twitter that is was an Angle Shades caterpillar.

The other darker caterpillar was/is an Old Lady. Both are moths and the sightings are not unusual at this time of year.

The Angle Shades caterpillar might even emerge as an adult in the coming weeks, whereas the Old Lady is usually seen as an adult in the summer.

Neither nest boxes have had any overnight ‘guests’ this week, which is a bit surprising as this time last year at least one had some nest building occurring. 

I’ve kept the smaller hole on the new nest box as I’d like blue tits to take it over, but I might have to rethink that and put the bigger one on, if nothing uses it this year.

More cold and wintry weather is forecast, so it’ll be interesting to see how the wildlife reacts as we head towards Easter.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION - I JUST CAN'T SEE IT

It would seem I cannot win with this nestbox camera, as it seems to change its mind as to whether it’ll work or not.

At the moment it’s not working, but the last time I managed to see in to the nestbox there were eight blue tit eggs, as you can see in the image below! Great news and it appears they’re being incubated as I’ve seen both birds in and around the nestbox.

I suspect that hatching will be happening this weekend, although whether I get to see it is another thing. I’ll be keeping an eye and ear out for signs that the chicks have arrived and be ready to assist if the caterpillar explosion doesn’t happen.

In the last couple of days I’ve seen more butterflies than I have all year, which is obviously down to the rubbish weather we’ve had all year, and since this time last year.

Will there be enough butterflies around to mate, lay eggs and in turn provide food for the young chicks? I hope so.

I think there has been some eggs hatching as I’ve noticed one of the robin with a mouthful of mealworms that I’d put out. I still don’t know where the nest is, but hopefully soon I’ll see the speckled youngsters in the garden.

The swallows are filling the air with their delightful songs and amazing aerobatics. There is more than one pair, although I’m not sure if the others are nesting nearby, perhaps in the horse stable in the field behind our house – if this is the case I suspect there will be more than one nest.

I’ve now put up my small greenhouse again and will be spending lots more time outdoors tending to my sunflowers, tomatoes and runner beans.

The concern I have at the moment is the potato and parsnip crops I’ve had in the garden. Neither has shown signs of growing, although this warm weather might help get the soil up to an optimum temperature for both to start growing.

Finally our house has been invaded by ants, which I suspect don’t have enough food outside due to the weather and are seeking what we have. I just hope they don’t build a nest in the house as that would be very unwelcome.

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.

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.

EIGHT IN THE BED

And the little one said, "can have that caterpillar please."

Ok I made that up, but it's what the smallest chick could be saying.

All eight eggs have hatched and the parents are obviously feeding them well as they all seem healthy.

Due to a long day and spending this evening with my only offspring after she came home after a few days away, I've not spent much time looking at the chicks.

As the thunder booms overhead the female great tit is nestling on the chicks and keeping them warm during the night.

Over the weekend I hope to get lots of video and images of the chicks and note how often the parents feed them and with what food.

Until then I hope they have a good night of sleep, just like my daughter!

THE MIRACLE OF FLEDGING

As spring turns into summer (not judging by the weather!), the circle of life is once again asking for auditions to join the big wide world.

The first from our garden to join was the robin family. I've not seen the chicks since their fledging in April/May, but I'm hopeful they'll be back soon after exploring the local neighbourhood.

I've been leaving the birds mealworms since April, to help supplement the diet of caterpillars and other tit bits provided to their young.

The main benefits have been the great tits in our garden and the blue tits in next doors. I still feel the blue tits are our family, as they only moved next door after the great tits took over 'their' nestbox.

Anyway the blue tit and great tit chicks were flapping their wings and chirping away for over a week, leading me to think they didn't want to leave the nest.

I came home about 8pm from work one night this week and witnessed a chick fledging bonanza. Two blue tit chicks were in the garden calling for food from their parents, while the great tit chicks were playing hide and seek with me in the hole of the nestbox - see video below.

With several cats lurking I managed to rescue both blue tit chicks and put them in the relative safety of the honeysuckle bush, while also watching the great tit chicks take it in turns to fledge or stay in the nestbox.

I watched from the lounge window as the blue tit parents then fed the youngsters, but grew anxious as the smaller chick failed to follow the others into a nearby tree.

With my mealworm handouts the parents of both blue and great tit chicks fed their fledglings in the same tree, while I waited to see if the smaller one's chirps would be heard and rewarded with a feed.

After a while it was obvious I had to intervene, so with careful hands I scooped the blue tit chick and placed it as high as possible in the tree its siblings were being fed in. With Springwatch on record, I was able to watch as the parents eventually recognised their offspring and began feeding it.

Meanwhile the great tit chicks had eventually all fledged (6 in all), although a little help from the parents tempting them with food was required.

I continued to watch the blue tits feeding their chicks, while the great tits seemed to have flown to another tree in the field next door to our house. Just as dusk was falling the rescued blue tit chick tried to fly further up but didn't quite make it, landing on the ground nearby.

This was when fate intervened in a way I find very unkind. One of the lurking cats must have been watching this fledging and feeding frenzy from closer than I thought, and pounced on the chick before rushing off.

I immediately raced after it and was joined in my pursuit by two blackbirds, a blue tit parent and several tree sparrows. Goodness knows what the neighbours thought!

Unfortunately the cat escaped my clutches and the blue tit parents had lost one of their offspring. I cruel blow after such tenacious and hard work bringing them to fledge.

While I accept nature will also pick off the old and weak, I don't accept domestic cats and their indiscriminate killings of wildlife.

The next morning the dawn chorus including the blue tit and great tit chicks calling for food, so I'm hopeful of them returning to our garden later in the summer.

I was amazed both sets of chicks chose to fledge at the same time, and at the precise moment I came home. It was as if they waited for their 'grandparent' to come home before saying bye and thank you for the food and accommodation.

Last year the blue tits did a similar fledging, waiting for a Saturday and me to be in the garden. I'm really pleased our garden seems to be a favourable place to nest and bring up chicks.

We've been here for three years and have seen two blue tit families, a great tit family and a robin family all successfully bring up chicks in those years. This year was the first time two families were raised on our garden, next year I'm hoping the blue tits come back and we make it three!

Now I must hope the blackbird chicks fledge soon, safely and with wonderful summer weather in which to explore the neighbourhood.

On a final note the tadpoles are now developing legs and should be hopping off in a few weeks time.

NEW LIFE IN THE GARDEN

With new life struggles to be introduced to the political scene in this country, there's lots of young and refreshing life in my garden.

The robins have already raised and fledged one brood, although one was sadly killed by a cat shortly after leaving the nest. But the other four young robins are now exploring their new territory.

Not sure if the blue tits have taken up residence in the third of four nestboxes after being usurped from the one they had occupied for the last two years, but I'm leaving them to it for now.

The great tits appear to have hatched chicks and I'm hoping the mealworms I'm providing help them raise their brood along with other nearby small bird families.

The swallows are providing us with brilliant aerial displays and have been joined in recent days by swifts, which are making a welcome return.

Bees are collecting nectar from plants, bushes and fruit trees in and around our garden and it's good to see natures main pollinators in such huge numbers.

Finally the tadpoles are making good progress and have brought the pond full circle, from a puddle of water to one that contains all sorts of life - not bad for such a small water feature.

More news and pics early next week.

DEMANDING CHICKS

Mealworm, caterpillar, mealworm

No cuckoo sounds so far this weekend, but we're only half way through it so plenty of time to go!

Spent a lot of time in the garden yesterday planting out baskets, mowing and putting sunflowers around the borders. Fingers crossed they bloom and attract seed hunters later in the year.

As for the blue tits, they seem to be getting along quite well with a constant supply of food from the parents. Be it a mealworm or two, courtesy of me, caterpillars or other delicious grubs.

I was hopeful the chicks would fledge this weekend, but it seems it could be midweek, when I won't be able to view the spectacle.

Next door have introduced some feeder to the garden and this has attracted the local birds. I'm confident with plenty of shelter, wild food, nestboxes and human-presented food the local bird population will continue to grow and stay around for years.

Some of course will fly away to warmer climes for the winter, which includes the beautiful swallows. They treated us to a spectacular aerobatic display yesterday morning and evening as they competed for food and nesting areas.

They've obviously chosen the same building as last year, the year before and probably for many years before. I'm aiming to get footage of their display today and put them on my next blog.

I know they're nesting because I saw, on a number of occasions yesterday, one on the floor collecting materials for a nest.

I'm looking forward to the newly hatched chicks fledging and learning their aerobatic skills in August, before sadly gathering on the telephone wires in September and going off on their winter holidays until April.

I can see them outside the window now so fingers crossed I get some good footage.

Of the other birds, the blackbirds seem t be on eggs, as the male is the only one seen at the moment. I gather the mating I witnessed early on Thursday may have been successful.

The robins must be showing their chicks around the local neighbourhood, although I get the feeling another pair is 'operating' in the area and could be on eggs.

The tree sparrows appear to be pairing up for mating and the great tits must have chicks they are feeding frequently.

The dunnocks appear to be feeding fledglings but as usual with new families, they disperse after fledgings and take a tour of the area as the parents moult.

I'll publish a full list of the regular wildlife in my garden in the next post.

Oh finally, I was treated to a display from swifts last night, amazing aerial skills and squeaking. I don't think they're nesting too close to the garden, but I think I will see them a lot more during the summer evenings.

And I'm really looking forward to Springwatch starting tomorrow!

THEY'RE BACK

After the success of 2008 the blue tits are back and have chosen the same nest box as last year.

Last weekend they were seen mating outside the box and can be heard every morning and evening in the surrounding bushes and trees ready for the day, or bed!

From the beginning:

Christmas 2007 I received a nest box from my girlfriend's parents and after careful research, erected it facing north-east overlooking my garden.

Within weeks a pair of blue tits had shown an interest and after watching them feed on my various stations in the garden I noticed them entering the box.

After a May holiday in Cuba, I returned to find the parents flying regularly in and out with caterpillars and other sumptuous grubs for the chicks.

The chicks were audible in the living room and in early June six fledged and disappeared with the parents into the surrounding countryside.

A successful rearing must have inspired the parents (I presume it’s the parents though I have no way of knowing 100%) to return.

An update will be made over the May Bank Holiday when I’ll be feeding them more mealworms.