NEW LIFE IN THE GARDEN

There seems to be new life everywhere in the garden, with caterpillars being very much appreciated by the newly hatched great tit chicks.

The chicks hatched earlier this week and have been fed very well by the parents, who are both bringing in a plethora of young bugs, many of them caterpillars.

The chicks are growing quickly, although the camera is still not working properly and progress is being calculated by the increased level of the chirping from the youngsters.

I’m not going to try and fix the camera until the breeding season has finished, but I’ve lost hope of the other nest box with a camera being occupied.

Ironically that camera is providing some clear live video. It’s similar to last year, when the only section of the triple sparrow nest box that was not occupied, had a camera in it.

It would seem that the birds are camera shy in this garden!

A number of sunflowers and broad bean plants have been planted outside, with a defence in place against the numerous snails and slugs – still no sign of the hedgehog from last year.

The skies are being filled with the songs of two particular birds – the swallow and chiffchaff.

I can’t work out if there has been a fledging of swallow chicks already, or if the fields around the house are a good feeding ground for swallows from around the area. I suspect it’s the latter.

Either way it’s a lovely sound to hear.

It’s the same with the chiffchaffs and the odd male blackbird calling in the evening from regular posts.

If only the weather could be as nice as the songs carried over the airwaves.

ARE THE GREAT TIT CHICKS OK?

I'm very concerned for the health of the great tit chicks in my nestbox as I've not really seen or heard the parents in the garden recently.

They have been around, but not as often as in previous years when feeding growing youngsters. I fear a combination of the cool conditions and a lack of food has badly affected the chicks.

I've heard of a friend's nestbox with great tits in that all eight chicks died, mainly as a result of lack of food. This meant the parents were then bringing in the wrong type of food and the chicks starving.

I'm sure all types of wildlife have been bewildered by the weather in April and May, especially after the lovely sunny and warm conditions in March.

There does seem to be a hint of better conditions next week, but is this too late to save the inevitable population crash of many smalls birds and of course other birds that rely on naive fledglings to feed their own hungry youngsters.

Only time will tell, but I'll be checking my nestbox this weekend and hoping for some good news.

In light of the cold weather I've put peanuts out again and fat snacks, but only until it warms up, then the mealworms will be back on the menu.

Perhaps I should have bought mealworms earlier, but it would have been quite expensive to provide all the birds with enough over the recent weeks.

Today I had the canny magpies and crows visiting, after they spotted I'd left an opened back of peanuts in the garden.

The crows were dominant, but even they were scared of the tub holding the fat snacks which the peanuts were on. It was very amusing watching them dart to get the peanuts, but close their eyes in panic at being near the tub.

In positive news I did see a robin chick in the garden this week, although only one and I've not seen it since.

The swallows are still about, but I think they've delayed nesting until enough flying insects are about to feed their youngsters.

This weekend could be pivotal to how wildlife is able to bring new life in to this world and survive.

Let's hope the weather is helpful and gives them all a chance.

A NEW CHAPTER

And so after the great tit chicks fledged and the parents to the eight youngsters to explore the countryside around our house, we're left with an empty nestbox and the hope that the youngsters make it through the perils life will throw at them.

In the meantime my partner, Sarah, has now chosen to brighten our garden with her annual window box and hanging baskets display.

Every year she produces wonderful arrangements of colourful flowers brightening up our garden - you can see an example of this with one of my images on the main blog page.

This year she's had a little help from our daughter, Poppy, in the form of pointing and some early stage speaking - which doesn't make sense.

So the next chapter of this blog will feature the every growing hanging baskets and window box, along with the various plants, vegetables and fruit we have growing in the garden.

I'll be keeping an eye out on other wildlife, including a second brood for the blackbirds next door and the flocks of goldfinches in the surrounding fields.

To begin below is a picture of the hanging baskets and window box just minutes after they've been planted out.

OK, TIME TO GO, NOW!

I'm beginning to think the great tit chicks are like modern day children; living at home for longer and longer, not wanting to live a comfortable life.

Tonight they showed unruly behaviour as 'mum' was constantly cleaning the nest and ushering them towards the exit.


Unfortunately the warm(ish) weather and hints from their parents couldn't get the chicks to shift.

Will the fledge tomorrow? I'll be up earlier than usual to find out and hopefully see a fledging, if it indeed does happen!

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.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Two days after I thought the great tit chicks would fledge, they are still in the nest, almost bursting out of the entrance hole.

Yesterday (Friday) the chicks were once again very active early in the morning (see video) but the weather doesn't seem quite right for the to fledge. Either that or a comfy home with food brought by a waiter and waitress (mum and dad) is too good to leave.

The most amusing time is at night when the mother great tit tries to keep the chicks warm be lying on top of them, although she's merely balancing on their heads! (see below pic)

And so with a warm sunny morning I was expecting the chicks to fledge today, so took this picture (below) in case it was the last chance.

But as I spent time in the garden it became clear that the parents were continually feeding the chicks, who seemed quite content to be fed while enjoying the May sunshine peering into the nestbox.

I left them for most of the day, due to various circumstances, returning to find them being fed and tonight watch as they sleep on top of each other. Nine birds in a small nestbox does make amusing viewing.

Will this image be the same tomorrow or will it empty. Surely they must fledge but with a cooler, fresher day and wet and windy weather on Monday, could they stay put for a few more days? Stay tuned.