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.

WINTER COLD STAYING AWAY?

November has been quite mild so far, and there’s little indication it’ll change in the near future.

It appears the weather conditions have meant the bird feeders aren’t as active as they might be, although the garden is still seeing house sparrows, blue tits and great tits.

The odd robin is now making a regular appearance, while the blackbirds have been heard a few times in the nearby trees and bushes – obviously by their alarm call.

There was a fleeting glimpse of a flock of long tailed tits, while down the lane jays, magpies, blackbirds and a great spotted woodpecker have been seen.

I’ve not seen any further evidence of badgers down the lane, although recent sightings have meant I’m confident of seeing more in the winter months.

The other large mammal around the area has also made itself known this week. A fox has been heard for two nights running calling in the early hours, and quite near the house.

After a few years of little fox or badger activity, it’s been great to see it evidenced recently, while tawny owls have also come back to the area after years of absence.

Perhaps the more elusive wildlife is back to stay, let’s hope so.

WINTER TEMPTATIONS NOT ATTRACTING USUAL WINTER VISITORS

This weekend the garden had three pairs of human eyes looking out for birds, although they weren’t the only eyes looking at the garden. There was also by a pair of cat eyes – an unwelcome sight for everyone else.

Once the cat was chased off the counting began; the first tick in the box came for the… grey squirrel, which was quite ironic as we’d not seen one for a couple of months!

But the usual suspects started turning up soon after and within an hour we’d seen most of the birds we see during a weekend.

House sparrow – 8

Tree sparrow – 5

Blue tit – 4

Goldfinch – 4

Dunnock – 4

Blackbird – 3

Robin – 2

Great tit – 2

Magpie – 2

Wren – 1

Unfortunately no long tailed tits, great spotted woodpeckers or starlings, but I know they’re around.

The new nest box has been up for a week and it now has one of the cameras inside it. I hope it will not put off the birds like it has done in in one of the boxes in the triple sparrow nest box.

There is hope for it because it does have a pitched roof, which can house the camera and not interfere with nest building or even put any birds of nesting there.

The only location for the nest box is underneath the triple sparrow nest box, and hopefully the ivy growing up the wall will act as a cover to the entrance. It could even keep the noise down from the noisy sparrow neighbours!

With winter only showing glimpses of its might, sometimes just for a night of low (ish) temperatures before reaching 10c or more the next day, it’s no wonder not many fieldfares, redwings and other wintering birds haven’t been seen.

Instead tulips, crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops are all either growing or flowering. It’s great adding colour to the garden in January, but I fear winter has one big icy blast up its sleeve.

And given the odd report of swallows wintering in the UK and ducklings being born in December and January, I hope no garden birds decide to start the breeding season early and get caught out by winter finally getting its act together.

WINTER IS IN FULL SWING, BUT SIGNS OF SPRING ARE ALL AROUND

Before I go on to the changes in the garden from August to October, there’s been some turbulent weather recently, with storms bringing mild and very cold weather within days of each other.

I’ve certainly noticed changes in the garden with larger flocks of the smaller birds spending more time in the garden, while I have now chartered three robin territories on either side of the house, including the favourite singing posts.

The colder weather has certainly brought about a change in the natural food supplies for small birds and it’s even meant the female great spotted woodpecker is now a daily, if skittish, visitor.

I’m trying to get the broken camera working again as I’ve spotted that birds are now using it to roost in, not sure which ones, but the camera should be up and running again next week so watch this space.

Finally, before the pictures, I’ve noticed a number of bulbs popping up around the garden. Can’t say which ones yet, but tulips, crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops have all been planted, and by the size of the protrusions from the ground, I’d say a mixture of all four are coming through.

Anyway here are the pictures of how the garden transformed in October and November, but to give context for the first October image, I’ve included the last one I was able to take before I was taken ‘elsewhere’ for nearly two months. The last one is from the end of August. You can see just how well the triple sparrow nextbox is camouflaged.

October

 

November

HOW SUMMER CHANGED THE GARDEN

So here’s how the garden looked in the summer months of July and August.

The tree and house sparrows continued to fledge broods and the full effect of the summer sun in July and the rain in August can clearly be seen.

Next week I’ll look at October and November, with a seven week gap between the last one of August and first one in October – due to a stay in hospital.

In other news the female great spotted woodpecker has been seen feeding on the fat snack in the garden on most days, while a few female chaffinches have been seen around the garden.

On the lane there’s already been construction started on a number of nests, so I’ll mark where they are and monitor progress as the leaves return and bring camouflage.

Finally a number of bulbs are starting to sprout, so I’ll get some pics and bring news on here later this month.

July

 

 

 

August

  

 

FIRST STORM OF THE WINTER, BUT NO SNOW

The first winter storm didn’t hit as hard as was predicted in the garden, though I know it was particularly vicious across Scotland.

Although it has been followed by colder weather, the predicted snow didn’t materialise for the wildlife around the house, though it is quite rare to see here.

Birds of prey have been seen with increased regularity in recent weeks, in the form of buzzards and a kestrel. The latter even landed on a neighbour’s window ledge while it scoured the gardens for a meal. It didn’t appear to be successful, but it shows how more birds are using gardens for a source of food.

Even the buzzards, I know there is more than one as I’ve seen two within sight of the garden at once, are flying low over the gardens almost daily. A few years ago one even landed in the garden!

The great spotted woodpecker has also been back a few times in the last week, while a couple of jays have also been spotted regularly and the long tailed tits are now using the garden as a ‘winter stop off’ for food. I know it’s cold and there’s a lack of food when they come into the garden

Obviously those three aren’t as regular as the daily visitors – blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, wrens, robins, dunnocks, house sparrows and tree sparrows.

I’ve seen goldfinches up and down the lane recently, but not yet in the garden.

With colder temperatures set to continue, despite a potential brief ‘warmer’ spell in midweek, I expect I’ll have to fill the bird feeders with increased frequency.

Snow anyone?

WINTER IS HERE

Winter has started to bite this week and my peanut feeder has been constantly surrounded by a large flock of house and tree sparrows, with the odd blue and great tit.

A male and female blackbird have been seen mopping up any scraps dropped on the floor, while the resident robin is also hanging around, trying to mimic the tits but hanging onto the feeders.

While all this is happening in the front garden, out the back, which is an outbuilding and track to the manor house, the resident robin is singing and continually standing on a particular branch of a small tree overlooking the residency.

I’m not sure if there’s a suitable nesting site nearby, but I’ll keep an eye out and see if I can spot any nest building in spring.

Meanwhile I’m occasionally seeing a wren around the rear robin’s residency. It’s not around for a long time, but flits in and out of little crevices picking up little bits of food.

The great spotted woodpecker is also back, taking a keen interest in the fat snacks. It’s a male and I’m wondering if it’s the same one that has been spotted regularly in the garden over the last couple of years.

So, as the winter chill continues I’ll be keeping an eye out for all the wildlife in the garden, to see who is struggling and who is making the most of my handouts.

WHEN WILL AUTUMN TURN TO WINTER?

After a few months away due to illness, the wildlife blog is back as we approach winter and the shortest daylight hours of the year.

The weather has so far been kind to the wildlife in the garden, although I’m sure it will soon change and make the offerings I put out for the birds even more vital.

I’ve not been able to fix the broken power cable to the nest box camera, but I hope it can be fixed before the box becomes a roosting place for one or more of the small garden birds.

The six regular visitors over the last couple of weeks have been; blue tit, great tit, robin, blackbird, tree sparrow and house sparrow.

I’ve also seen magpies taking some of the fat snacks, but one visitor I didn’t expect was a kestrel, which caused consternation among the garden birds, although non fell prey to its claws.

I’m now starting to feed the birds regularly and once the colder weather grips expect to see a few more types of birds – and hopefully the great spotted woodpecker.

The local tawny owl population has been decorating the long dark nights with calls, although I’m yet to see any of them in the day time.

Now I’m off for another walk down the lane to see what animals are out and about.

SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN FORCE

Spring is now well underway with temperatures suddenly reaching 16c in the garden, and accompanied by bright, sunny skies.

The dry and warm(ish) weather has resulted in a deluge of bird song during sunrise and sunset. The rock garden and pond area are now flourishing, as this picture shows.

 

I’m pleased that the robins can be heard almost above all the other bird song, or even most other local noise in the morning or evening.

The one in the garden has now found a mate and it’s nice to know they’ll be using my garden should they be successful in having a nest of chicks in the coming months. Unfortunately I don’t think they’ll be using my robin nest box, as the honeysuckle hasn’t quite grown enough to conceal it well.

One resident that has been back in the garden is the great spotted woodpecker, although he is very shy and disappears at the slightest noise.

While the birds continue to flock to the garden and make the most of the handouts, I’ve not seen one in either nest box that has a camera.

Given the closeness of the camera in the sparrow nest box I think it could put the birds off, but a piece of straw that is in the tit nest box had been moved around for the last few days, suggesting that visitors have been in, just not seen by me.

Neither nest box is occupied overnight so it has been a waiting game to see if March can bring the start of nest building, but today it did! I’m not sure which tits are building the nest, but my hunch is blue tits.

 

One lovely sign of spring is the sight and sound of a bumblebee. I found one on the winter rose plant, which has grown year on year since being planted in 2010.

The picture isn’t the best for identification purposes, but it’s from an upside down position and show the bee feeding on early nectar.

 

If anyone has an idea on the type, please let me know.

BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH

This weekend has been the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch and once again my garden birds have put in an appearance all in one go.

It was an early start and as I’d filled the peanut, fat snack and seed bird feeders the previous night the birds flocked in.

Blackbirds, robins and dunnocks were early visitors, while the great spotted woodpecker did cause a few birds to depart quickly when he arrived at the peanut feeder.

As they are a rather skittish bird he wasn’t around for long and soon the blue tits, great tits and others started to feed again.

Then came in the long tailed tits, a group of over 12, who enjoyed feasting on the fat snacks and peanuts. At one point the fat snack feeder was covered with six, before a robin came along and bossed them off it.

I checked with last year and the amount of birds I spotted was about the same, which is good news for the local population. Whether it’s the same for the rest of the country is something the RSPB will hopefully be able to show thank to people taking part in this survey.

In other news the garage robin is now confident enough to venture all the way into the garage and to the back where I have all my bird food. He/she was feeding from the fat snack feeder that I’d just filled and placed within a foot of me.

I think one day soon I’ll be able to feed this bird from my hand.

I’ve still not fixed the bird camera to the sparrow nestbox, but hopefully I’ll get time next week.

The current nestbox camera hasn’t revealed overnight roosting for any birds just yet, but with cold weather forecast in the coming weeks, it might not be too long before it welcomes a guest or two.

IS WINTER FINALLY SHOWING ITS COLD SIDE?

A couple of overnight frosts have led to an increased number of bird sightings in the garden.

I carried out the BTO’s Early Bird Survey this week and witnessed a wide range of birds visiting the garden before, during and after dawn.

In no particular order I saw blackbird, robin, blue tit, dunnock, magpie, great tit, tree sparrow, house sparrow, long tailed tit and great spotted woodpecker.

The range of species so early in the morning utilising the fat snacks, peanuts and seeds I put out shows that wildlife can sometimes depend on human handouts to help them through the winter.

I think there are at least two male robins battling over the space around my garden, with one currently occupying the garden and another taking up space that includes the garage.

I mentioned it previously that the garage robin has been appearing in the doorway every time I go in there, often taking some food from a feeder that I leave while filling the others.

This week I managed to get a picture of the robin and you can see him nicking some food below.

I’ll be keeping an eye on both robins, along with any others, to see if I can map the territories and distinguish between them to see if they all visit the garden at some point.

Images of the long tailed tits are my next aim, although I’m not seeing them every day so it might be a little trickier.

Now that the storms have stopped for a while, I wonder if we’ll see any severe frosts and/or snow. I hope so, as it’ll give the flora and fauna a point at which to start planning for spring.

HOUSE SPARROWS MOVING ABODE?

The end of this week was a washout, but far from it being the norm – as per 2012 – it seems to be just a blip in the summer proceedings.

The house sparrow chicks in the camera nestbox are almost ready to go and I suspect they could have even gone by the time this post is uploaded, or you have read it.

I can count just the two chicks, although the noise they make does suggest many more should be inside there. You try counting them in the best of the early images below!

It’s hard to make out the chicks on some days because the nesting material, which is very high in the nestbox due to it being on the blue tit’s nest, often obscures the view as the parents often knock things as they enter the nestbox with food.

Luckily the last day or so has presented us with a clearer view and the chicks are very noticeably house sparrows with the feathers patterns easy to determine, even in black and white as the latest image shows – you can clearly see the two chicks

 

I was surprised by this new nest in my garden, as it was the first time house sparrows had nested here, but it appears that it might not be the only pair nesting in my garden this summer.

Early one morning I noticed that a pair of house sparrows were flying to and from the new terraced nestbox I’d put up in early spring.

On closer inspection they were both gathering nesting material and seem to be building a new nest, which is a little strange considering it’s nearly July.

I’ll be taking a closer look later this weekend to see if they’re still building or if the wet weather has hampered them.

The good news is this should mean next year the triple nestbox should be occupied, at least one of the ‘homes’ anyway.

In other news the blue tits and great tits have started to be seen a little more, with the robins, dunnocks and blackbirds not showing at all.

The great spotted woodpecker male has been seen again and is devouring the fat snack I’ve put up; I wonder if he’s still got young and is struggling to find more natural food.

One thing I did witness was a young swallow being chased by a small bird of prey, which I presume was a hobby.

The swallow seemed to get away by diving into a hedge just behind my house, although I only saw the battle for a few seconds and couldn’t then see what happened afterwards.

Obviously I don’t like seeing the swallows being predated, but with so many in the skies this summer it’s good to know last year’s drop in fledglings has hopefully been evened out by a larger than normal amount this year.

My nest plan is to find out if hedghogs are living around my garden and if not, contact a couple of rescue centres to provide a home for them. Updates soon.

FLEDGING IN THE RAIN?

The weather recently has been interesting, cool for spring and seems to be finally making its mind up that summer is a season we’re allowed in the UK.

With a few days of warmer weather of late, I’ve noticed plenty of butterflies and bees around and this is encouraging as a sign that the weather could actually be good this summer.

The blackbirds must have chicks as both the male and female are now seen regularly in the garden looking for the odd worm, insect or piece of fruit.

Both parents are also taking mealworms, which is good as I’d like all parent birds to make use of the food offering I’m giving out.

Where the blackbird’s nest is, I just don’t yet know, but it’s another one I’m eagerly looking for.

The blue tits are also making use of the mealworm hand-outs, although they do seem to have found some caterpillars, which is good news for a whole host of other birds too.

The caterpillars are very small so I think they’ve only just started emerging in the last week or so.

I think the blue tit chicks will be fledging very soon as the youngsters are being very vocal whenever the parents bring food.

One set of parents that seem to thrive on the mealworm hand-outs is the robins. Both local families are in or around the garden within seconds of me emerging from the house.

If I’m not around the garden and there are no mealworms, the robins seem to wander around, knowing I could be watching through the windows, trying to ‘force’ me to deliver a new batch to the feeding station.

The various house sparrow families are obviously still feeding up their youngsters as they are another bird, along with great tits and dunnocks, which are making short work of the mealworms.

I think I know where the nest sites are, but no definitive location has yet been found. Perhaps the next week or two will help my search.

Finally I’ve seen both the male and female great spotted woodpecker adults eating from fat snacks in and around the garden.

I suspect, just like the blackbirds, there are young chicks in their nest and as finding food has been difficult, they’ve ‘raided’ the next best food source, which just happens to be my fat snacks!

It’s really good to know they’re around and I hope they do stay, as winter visits are frequent, but summer ones are not.

In the next few weeks I’m looking at making contact with a hedgehog rescue group as I’d like to have these garden-friendly animals around our house and the surrounding area. More news on this next time.