SNOW THEN SPRING SUNSHINE BRINGS THE BEES OUT

The cold and snowy weather seemed to be quickly followed by some spring sunshine, which in turn has led to the natural world emerging from its many hideaways.

The blossom on the fruit tree in the garden, and beyond, attracted a number of bees in the last few days, which was a welcome sight.

The birds are still not using the nest boxes, which is quite frustrating. I’m sure they eventually will, and hopefully it’ll be the signal for spring to start properly. Otherwise it could be that they are sensing winter is going to return with a vengeance.

The flora is producing a range of colours now as the borders fill with crocus, daffodils, snowdrops and tulips, but there is a slight concern that the flowerings are half-hearted, as if something negative is going to happen to them if they show too much, too soon.

I’ve not noticed the cats around the garden recently, although they can be heard every night fighting. Hopefully a couple of knockout blows each night mean they stay indoor during the day and leave the garden birds alone.

The long tailed tits have paid the odd visit to the garden since the last post. I sense it’s because the natural food supplies are still not returning to levels at which they feel comfortable not to visit the garden.

So as we await the big spring start, I wonder just how many small mammals and birds will fall victim to all these cats – none if I have my way!

SPRING SUNSHINE INCREASES BUILD WORK FOR THE HOUSE SPARROWS

Following another cold spell of winter weather, spring is certainly starting to stamp its presence and the flora and fauna are taking advantage.

The flower beds are becoming awash with colour from daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses and tulips.

This image may not do just to the previous sentence, so I’ll be taking more in the coming weeks as the number of flowers blooming starts to increase. The first one is from January.

 

 

The fruit tree has been the fastest reactor to the warmer weather in the last few days, with the branches now adorned with pinky white blossom. It looks like someone has dipped the tree in glue and then stuck thousands of pieces of cotton wool to it.

Of course the fauna is also making the most of spring appearing, with the female house sparrow having a few days rest from the aggressive male, to build up the nest – see below.

 

I’ve not seen the male inside the nest for a few days, so perhaps he’s been issued with the sparrow equivalent of an ASBO.

The robins and blackbirds are not frequenting the garden as much, certainly only the male blackbird is visible, while I can only assume that the lone robin is also the male.

While I think it’s too early to talk about eggs being laid, it wouldn’t surprise me. The only problem is finding the nest!

I’ll try to check out previous nest sites in the next couple of weeks and relay any positive news on here.

Until then I’ll be keeping a close eye on both nest box cameras and also movement in the garden. 
 

WINTER COLD POSTPONES PREPARATIONS FOR SPRING

This year we can’t say we haven’t had some proper winter weather. The snow, ice and bitterly cold northerly winds have caused wildlife in the garden to postpone plans for spring.

The nest building of the house sparrows has stopped (see first three images below), although overnight roosting has continued with the female bird (see final image below).

 

 

 

 

A pair of tree sparrows are still showing great interest in the sparrow nest box ‘complex’, but not in the section with a camera in.

In the last couple of days I have seen the pair of robins, whose territory includes the garden, flirting with each other and driving off intruders.

A pair of great tits have also been showing signs of flirtation but, like the robins, it doesn’t last long as the search for food to keep them alive during the harsh overnight frosts takes their attention.

Recently a grey squirrel has been frequenting the garden. This is unusual because although they seem to live about ½ a mile away, visits to the garden have been very rare.

The prolonged cold weather must be driving them further in search of food.

With the ground rock hard, the single winter rose and snowdrop are unlikely to be joined by any of the numerous bulbs that had pierced the surface of the soil a couple of weeks ago.

The branches of the fruit tree in the garden are covered in the first shoots of spring buds, but I don’t expect there to be any further movement in the next week or so.

That’s because the forecast appears to show this cold weather staying for a while, so postponing the recent eagerness of the wildlife in and around the garden to prepare for spring.