A COLD BLAST OF WINTER SHOCKS THE WILDLIFE

I’m sure the swallows are having second thoughts about coming back from a warm Africa, particularly given the cold, snowy and icy week of weather we’ve had.

The regular hailstone storms and overnight frosts have meant a battering for the flora, with at least two tulips having all their petals ripped away and left in tatters on the garden lawn.

The swallows have been witnessed gathering mud for nest building, and while the weather has helped create plenty of mud creating facilities, it’s not been helpful for the purposes of the a nest – rearing young.

Of course an update on this blog wouldn’t be complete without a comment about the cats coming into the garden.

The first, and only, lot of seeds have been planted this year, mainly indoor, but with a few directly outdoors. Poppies and parsnips have been planted outside, but the soil in which they have been planted has once again been desecrated by cats using it as a toilet.

If anyone has ideas on making these cats leave the garden alone and finding alternative toilets, please let me know.

Inside, the seeds of sunflowers, tomatoes, cauliflowers, chillies and broad beans have been planted. The cauliflowers are already showing a couple of green shoots, while the sunflowers are emerging in their pots too.

Of course the seedlings will stay indoors until the weather gets warmer, and they are a lot bigger.

Finally, the great tits have almost completed the nest, but the camera is playing up again so visual images of the inside of the nest box are still not available.

APRIL SHOWERS

I’ve not seen much of the swallows this last week, I presume they’ve been getting used to their summer home again – checking out the state of their old nest(s) and trying to find food in between the heavy rain.

The last few days have seen plenty of precipitation falling from the sky and dampening the spirits of the wildlife trying to bring the next generation into this world.

I still can’t see properly in the house sparrows’ nest in the blue tit nest box, while all birds are shunning the other nest box with the camera.

The first grass cut of the year brought numerous birds back inspecting the garden for food, with the blackbirds and robins spending plenty of time pulling tasty morsels out of the ground.

After noticing a number of bees around the garden I kept a small patch free from the blades of the lawnmower, as they contained clusters of small yellow marigolds that the bees we’re spending time taking nectar from.

I’m still waiting for news on helping to rehome hedgehogs, but hope to hear in the near future.

One thing I’ve done once again is plant seeds, this year with plenty of help from my eldest daughter, who is nearly five.

She gets very excited every morning when we look in the propagators to see how many new seedlings have grown.

So far we’ve got tomatoes, sunflowers and broad beans ‘showing’ themselves. This time next week I hope they will be joined by runner beans and chillies.

Then the temporary greenhouse will go up and father and daughter will hopefully grow a summer’s supply of veg and flowers.

SUMMER STARTS IN SEPTEMBER

The weather is now showing us what summer could have been like if it had bothered turning up in May, June or July. But what does it mean for the wildlife?

Well in my garden some flowers are still blooming, including gladiola, poppies and rudbeckia, so there’s been a large number of bees and butterflies each day.

At night the slugs are in decline, while the snails are seemingly hiding too as the nights become cooler. That said the last couple have been mild.

The swallows have certainly packed their suitcases, but not all have left. Just two nights ago I saw about 80-100 flying over the house and garden, searching for evening insects for a tasty treat.

I suspect the warm day weather will keep them, but it’ll be how cool it is at night that’ll prompt the full departure.

The usual mix of birds has been in the garden, although a pair of young robins seem particularly fond of spending time there.

The harvesting has begun with tomatoes now a daily fixture and just a few carrots and potatoes left.

I’m hoping the chillies and sweet peppers, most of which are still indoor, will be ready in the next couple of weeks.

So as September means we saw goodbye to our swifts, swallows and house martins, the autumn glow brings new visitors and a different time in the cycle of the lives of wildlife everywhere.

What will the cooler months bring? Our first hedgehog? The great spotted woodpeckers and little owls returning?

Will the weather bring lots of snow and the return of -25C on our car gauges? Whatever happens the wildlife will cope in one way or another, but next breeding season is bound to see extras for plenty of those who didn’t fare too well this year.

Most importantly; will be nestbox camera be able to film a new family next summer?