IT'S SPRING, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT

So, as lockdown continues the wildlife is busy nurturing the next generation, all going on during one of the warmest and driest springs ever recorded.

In and around the garden the house sparrows in the garage roof have appeared to fledge, along with a few other house sparrow families around here.

They’ve also seemingly gone off for a few days, possibly to rest, as their presence in the garden is limited at the moment.

The robins are definitely around a lot and seemingly intent on raising another brood, albeit in the same area as the two previous failed nests this year – one due to cold and the other due to magpie predation.

Whether a third nest will be successful is something I’ll be able to keep a close eye on as lockdown continues.

It’s great to be able to work in the garden and be surrounding by the lives of nature that being in the office would mean I’d miss.

The swallows are still gracefully taking to the skies and I think the pair are on eggs, because I only generally see one at a time.

A nest of swallows at the farm down the lane appears to have fledged this week.

And talking of fledgings, the great tits fledged earlier this week, but did so just as I left the house to go to the office for a few hours.

They definitely stayed around for a couple of days, but I was unable to count how many. I think four or five given the calling made from the youngsters for food just after fledging.

One thing the lockdown has enabled me to do it explore the area around the garden a little more.

I took my girls on a nature walk one evening this week and we went in search of a great spotted woodpecker nest in a nearby small wood.

We knew it was there through the power of Facebook, but no idea exactly where.

Luckily, we found it thanks to the noisy chicks, and were really fortunate to be there long enough to see the parents come to feed them.

I’ve seen them feeding in my garden, but had never seen a nest or watched a parent feed youngsters, and it provided a great result for my next generation and me to ensure we go back to the woodland again.

FLEDGINGS AND VEGETABLES

After the great tit chicks fledge the nest earlier in the week, the blue tits managed to wait until someone could witness their departure into the big wide world – well the area around the garden.

The numbers of great tits that fledged is unknown, and while there were eight blue tits that fledged, a maximum of six were spotted high in the trees calling for food and reassurance.

It would be surprising if all eight didn’t fledged, but it’s so hard to tell if they all did.

The first one leapt for freedom at about 11am, but it took until mid afternoon for the last one to come out, and then a further couple of hours to reach the others at the top of the trees overlooking the garden.

They roosted nearby as they could all be heard at dusk chattering away, and at dawn they could be heard again.

They’ll probably be taken further afield by their parents in the coming days, but hopefully they will come back later in the summer to see their original home garden.

The vegetable growing season is well underway now with tomatoes, broad beans and chilli peppers all coming along nicely.

A few sunflowers have fallen victim to the snails and slugs in the garden, but the rest, along with some tomatoes and all the broad beans, are now outside.

It’ll be another month or so before we see if the sunflowers reach their potential, and if the tomatoes, chilli peppers and broad beans produce a good crop.

HAVE THE SPARROWS FLEDGED?

The weather is certainly warming up, although it isn't quite spring like enough for some of our feathered friends.

The cool winds have held temperatures back, although this has been offset by some lovely sunshine brightening up the garden.

During periods of rain the slug and snail population has been out and about, I can see there'll be another battle to keep my new vegetables and plants away from hungry critters!

The house sparrow families appear to be growing fast and I'm expecting at least one fledging in the next couple of days.

Unfortunately the blue tit nest box camera is still mainly covered up, allowing me only small glimpses into movement inside.

But the loud and almost constant chirping if the chicks combined with the parents mating again, suggest a fledging and new batch of eggs will not be far away.

Once the fledging has happened I'll try to clear the camera view, although this will be tricky and if I suspect it'll disturb the birds I'll leave well alone.

The only other addition to the garden is the temporary greenhouse, which is now housing young runner bean, broad bean, tomato and sunflower plants.

The swallows are still conducting aerobatic displays and I'm sure it won't be long before they're swooping through the garden after insects.

TO FLEDGE AND HATCH OR NOT?

The house sparrow families are still growing, albeit at different rates, with one almost ready to fledge and the other schedule to hatch.

I suspect the fledging family are reluctant to go away from the relative safety of the nestbox given the recent stormy, if warm, weather.

Perhaps when this weekend’s weather calms a little will we see the nest empty, although whether it’ll soon be a hive of activity again with egg laying, is another question.

The camera nestbox family, which has already fledged two house sparrow chicks, has three eggs being incubated by the parents – mainly the female.

I suspect we’ll see fledging and hatching from the two families with 24-36 hours of each other, so stay tuned to my twitter account for updates.

In other news the poppies, sunflowers and other flora are contributing to a large number of bees and butterflies visiting the garden to feed on the variety of nectar rich flowers.

This is really good news after the poor weather conditions in 2012 that had negative effects on both populations.

Some of the usual suspect garden birds are now showing up, complete with at least some of the chicks they have fledged.

This particularly applies to the blue tit and great tit families, although yesterday I saw my first fledgling robin of 2013, complete with a breast that had hints of orange/red to it. This bird was probably hatched and fledged earlier in the year and is now independent from its parents.

I’m expecting more of this years’ fledglings to start visiting the garden again now their parents have had chance to change their worn out ‘clothes’ for a set of new feathers.

How many will we see during autumn and winter? Let’s make the most of the rest of summer before we start to find out!

HOW MUCH CAN CHANGE IN A WEEK IN WILDLIFE?

What a difference a week makes, not just for politics but for wildlife too.

The weather has miraculously changed into summer mode and looks like it could hold out for at least another week – perhaps getting even warmer than it is now!

While last weekend was very nice Bank Holiday Monday was wet, windy and cool, but it didn’t stop the first major fledging of the year – well the first one I officially know of.

 

I'm sat here in late evening typing this post as a robin is scouring the garden just inches from me, before breaking out in to song, which I roughly translate as being - Where Are My Mealworms!

 

The blue tits appear to have gone and this year they didn’t come and say goodbye, which is what happened in 2010 as the picture below will demonstrate.

I didn’t see any of the blue tit chicks actually outside of the nestbox, but did see the adults trying to entice them outside with caterpillars – despite the weather going from sunshine to heavy rain on the Bank Holiday Monday.

I suspect that at least one of the two robin families that have been visiting my garden and feasting on the mealworm hand-outs have also fledged, and the other family based by the railway bridge must surely be almost ready to go.

One of the house families has definitely fledged in the last couple of days as yesterday I saw at least three chicks begging to be fed by the adults, before having their beaks stuffed with mealworms.

The blackbird family eggs have hatched as both male and female are regularly seen gathering food in and around the garden. I don’t know where the nest is but suspect it may be near the railway bridge.

Talking of the bridge, I’m yet to confirm if the swallows I saw underneath there have actually made a nest. I have seen a number of them gathering mud this week, so perhaps the nest is currently ‘under construction’.

One family I’m sure still has chicks is the great tits, as they are now regular visitors to the mealworm hand-outs; again I’ve not idea where the nest is.

Finally I had a new butterfly species visit my garden, the beautiful and aptly named Orange-Tip. It didn’t stay for long, but it was wonderfully coloured and if all my butterfly and bee friendly plants continue to increase in number, then perhaps I’ll see it again soon.

FOUND A NEW NEST

I'm not updating this blog as much as I'd like for two reasons - Time and the fact the great tits nest failed.

I had hoped they would return once I'd cleared the dead chicks and nest out, but I've not seen or heard them very much.

If they hadn't I thought another pair of birds would nest, especially as it's proved a popular nestbox.

The blue tits' nest in the wall of the outbuilding at the back of our house did provide some moments of wonder as the parents struggling to get in and out to feed the chicks, but that only lasted for about a week before they fledged, something I missed.

But this week I did find out where the swallows have nested this summer, not in the outbuilding that had provided the blue tits with a nest, but the big shed that houses a couple of horses about 150 yards behind our house.

Despite the weather I think they've been doing very well as there are thousands of insects flying about after any rain, which the swallows seem to gobble up as sweep majestically through the air.

I even think they sing when there's lots of food, exclaiming songs of joy at all the food.

Another storm is due to hit tonight and last over the weekend, so I hope the swallows delay fledging until next week, if indeed they are ready to.

I did see some blue tits chicks in the trees by the garden this week, but the small birds are slowly dispersing, probably to moult, with or without youngsters.

Here's to some better weather from next week, both for us and the wildlife!

EMPTY NEST AS CHICKS FLEDGE

This day had been coming for a while, but it seems only yesterday when I got excited about seeing the first great tit eggs laid.

In just 40 days the female has laid eight eggs, incubated them and with the help of the male, raised eight healthy chicks to fledging. A remarkable achievement and one I was privileged to witness through the nestbox camera.

The activity inside a nest, den or lair as wildlife brings up their young was rarely seen by anyone, but now thanks to tiny cameras and extensive digital equipment, it is available to those of us who choose to witness a wonderful part of the circle of life.

I watched the great tit chicks from 5.30am yesterday morning, but still missed the first two fledging. I could see them in the nearby trees and hear the adults encouraging the others to leave the nest.

Three more made it out, before another fledged as I got into my car. One landed on next door's outside wall before joining the family in the trees.

Below is a series of images taken from 6.00am during the fledging. The final image is of the chick clinging to next door's house - it's just above the white brick in the centre of the screen.

When I returned home from work in the evening the nestbox was empty and I contemplated another 10 months with little activity.

But in a final twist I noticed last night a bird using the nestbox to roost (see below). I think it's one of the adult great tits, but I can only speculate as to why she it there.

My thinking is there's a possibility of a new brood, but I'd welcome people's opinions and expertise as I don't know.

I will of course check over the weekend and update my blog accordingly.

TOO WINDY TO FLEDGE?

The great tit chicks are still in the nestbox, despite often standing on top of each other peering out of the hole.

The weather today has been windy and with wet and very windy promised for tomorrow, I suspect it won't be the best day to fledge.

Perhaps they will wait until Tuesday, but my guess on when the fledging will take place has not been exactly accurate, so I'll now adopt a 'see what happens' attitude.

The parents are still bringing in lots of food and I've noticed more and more green caterpillars being brought which makes me think there's plenty of them.

I'm hoping the chicks will wait til I get home before fledging! Come back tomorrow night to see if they d0.

PREENING FEATHERS

The chicks are growing by the minute and are now pushing each other around the nestbox as they stretch their feathers and legs.

The good news is all eight chicks have so far made it, although if they all make it to next year, it'll be a miracle such is the force of mother nature.

They'll be fledging soon, which is both sad and rewarding. Sad because the while family has provided great entertainment, but rewarding because it's good to know my efforts in providing a suitable home has helped the parent great tits to raise a family.

The insight, we all have gained, into one of the UK's most popular garden birds during the last few months has been excellent and a privilege that the great tits have let us do it.

The camera has taken a bit of a battering and the viewing angle has changed a few times, particularly since the nest was built, but the live footage has been the most popular channel on our TV recently.

Even my ten month old daughter waves at 'the birdies' every time she comes into the lounge and looks at the TV; she even tries to touch the chicks as they move and shouts at the adults when they come in to the nest!

Once the chicks fledge I'm hoping the parents come back soon to raise another brood. I'll reflect on this breeding season once the chicks are gone, but this year could see a huge rise in chicks raised by birds as the first ones appeared at least two weeks earlier than last year.

I'm hoping to film the fledging but here's a video of the chicks being fed tonight.

WING STRETCHING

It's been a few days since I last updated this blog, but a stomach bug has affected the adults in our house, meaning most of my time has been sent either being ill or playing nurse!

The good news is the bug has finished its work and the even better news is the great tit chicks are bursting out of the nest.

Below are images that show how big the chicks have grown since Friday night. But first the video taken from today showing just how much of the nest the chicks have taken up.

Despite the damp and cool weather the parents have done very well and although I can't tell if all eight chicks have survived, I'm hoping when they fledge in the next few days to find out.

Saturday 14th May 8.00am

Saturday 14th May 8.00pm

Sunday 15th May 8.00am

Sunday 15th May 8.00pm

Tuesday 17th May 6.00pm

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.

TO FLEDGE OR NOT TO FLEDGE?

After my predictions in the last post about the great tit and blue tit chicks fledging, it appears they like the comfort of their nextboxes too much!

Even with my regular mealworm handouts the chicks appear reluctant to enter the big wide world around our house.

The parents appear grateful of the handouts, as do the blackbird parents, while the robin makes occasional visits. The robins and their fledglings are probably busy exploring the neighbourhood so are rarely seen at the moment.

We're now able to eat, sit and work in the garden without causing any disturbance to the birds. We can be within two feet of the birds and nestboxes without any problem.

Indeed within seconds of me putting mealworms out both great tit and blue tit parents are feeding away.

The garden is now blooming lovely, no pun intended, and I'll be providing images of this in my next blog.

Dunnock and goldfinch parents are regularly seen feeding in our garden, while the dunnock chicks appear to have just fledged and making trips too, begging their parents for food!

The pond is thriving, along with the tadpoles, snails and other creatures living in and around it.

Only a few tadpoles appear to be growing legs, but those are in the early stages. I'm hoping to see fully formed frogs in early July.

Today I'll be carrying out a survey to see how many types of wildlife come into our garden for the RSPB. It only takes an hour and the results can be filled in online. Go to www.rspb.org.uk/naturecount to do yours.

Finally I was away from my office at Connect PR yesterday when news came through of a fledgling great tit flying through an open window. My colleagues donned their wildlife caps and ensured the bird was soon free and exploring outside the building, rather than tweeting with everyone.

GARDEN UPDATE

It's been a while since I posted about my blue tits, mainly because after they had fledged I felt somewhat low that their time with me in the garden was limited.

I've also been on holiday; which helped me get over the fledging.

But recently I've been pleased to notice the family of blue tits has returned to feed in the garden from the peanut feeders.

They've been joined by other families including one or two of great tits, robins, dunnocks and blackbirds.

The garden has bloomed recently with three of my sunflowers (grown from seed) now standing at over 7ft. The aphids on some of the roses and other flowers have no been eaten by the birds and insects, including in the last few days, a number of ladybirds.
I've recently been building a small patio area and during the groundwork one of the local robin families introduced me to the youngsters.

They've been around ever since, feasting on the regular amount of worms appearing on the lawn because of the wet weather.

I also spotted a young rabbit in the garden, it seemed a bit lost as no parents were around and I'm a little concerned it might not survive with buzzards and foxes about.

The pond is coming along nicely and is now full of wildlife. The latest animal I've spotted is a water boatman.

I'll be writing regular posts now so stay tuned. In my next post I'll be talking about the tomato and dwarf runner bean plants I've grown from seed and also and update on the patio.

COMING BACK?

Parents return to feed

It's been a few days since my last blog and thanks to Chelsea and the hot warm weather, I've not felt like doing much. Yes I'm an Everton fan!

I really feel for the chicks I've been watching on Springwatch and don't blame them for fledging early just to get out of their stuffy nests.

A little surprise visitor came to one of the mealworm feeders overs the weekend - one of the parent blue tits. I recognised it from it's scruffy appearance and the way it fed from the feeder and where it flew to devour the mealworm(s).

I think it was still feeding the chicks as it went off to the trees on occasions with mealworms in its mouth.

Other activity in my garden has been the first (seen) visit of a jay, a wonderfuly coloured bird with a bit a magpie-esque streak to it.

The swallows have been mating on the telephone wires and I expect eggs have now been laid and youngsters will be soon begging constantly for food.

The tree sparrows appear to have settled their differences and paired up for the breeding season.

I've seen glimpses of the dunnocks with their chicks hoovering up bugs and flies on the garden edges while the female blackbirds must be on eggs, due their conspicuous absence.

The garden and its inhabitants have sprung in to life and I'm looking forward to watching the different species bring up their young over the next few months.

I'm still working on the video footage but here's some memories of the blue tits for now.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Blue tit chicks are refusing to move out

Many people say 'there's no place like home', and that's exactly what the blue tit chicks must be thinking.

I'm expecting them to fledge any day now, but with a wet and windy day tomorrow I suspect it'll be Thursday at the earliest when then experience the world outside the nestbox.

I've discovered tonight, big thanks to Neil, I have a programme to edit video clips. I've spent some time brushing up my old editorial skills and should have some great footage for you from tomorrow.

The chicks are sounding bigger and bigger each day and I hope they hold on until at least Saturday before fledging.

I'll be putting a fuller report tomorrow evening when I hope the video footage will give a good showing of the wildlife around my garden.

Including in the footage wild be, blue tits, blackbirds, tufted ducks and swallows.

I'll leave you today with footage of one of the local male blackbirds singing away the evening.