WETTER THAN AN OTTER'S POCKET

In my last post it was all about Storm Ciara; this time it’s about Storm Dennis and the resulting impact from the combination of both storms.

To say it’s been a bit rainy and windy, would be a huge understatement. During particularly heavy rain and strong winds, the wildlife has been virtually invisible in the garden.

The birds have definitely made use of the feeders though, with the peanuts and fat snacks being devoured quicker than for many months.

The garden, roads and small streams are soaking, with the streams regularly overflowing onto the road.

Sadly, the nearest stream has been dredged and the small fish are no longer being seen when I walk by, which means the chances of seeing a kingfisher again are negligible.

I’ll keep checking just in case they’re under a nearby tunnel, and see just how the weather conditions impact the newly dredged stream.

The storms, and continued strong winds, have taken their toll on the flora, including the large old tree that was knocked over, that I mentioned in the last post – knocking out phone and internet for ten days.

The tree was a nesting and resting site for a few birds, with great tits nesting in the ivy-ridden trunk for a couple of years.

Perhaps when looking elsewhere they’ll see my nest boxes and take up the offer of a breeding site opportunity.

Despite the constant stormy conditions, the dawn chorus is starting to gather pace, with the robins (who’ve been singing almost constantly through winter), being joined by wrens, song thrushes, blackbirds, blue tits, great tits and the odd magpie with their crackling calls.

I’m sure nesting will start soon for the smaller birds, while the likes of the magpies and nearby crows, are already constructing nests in larger trees.

CHRISTMAS CALM?

As we head towards Christmas and festive celebrations, there’s been another exciting development for the garden wildlife.

There’s been another new bird seen flying through the garden, a quick flash of blue and it was gone – a kingfisher.

Now the pond (small that is was) has long gone, but there is a small stream next to the garden which has small fish in, plus a pond nearby.

Whether it’s fishing in either or both is unknown, but it must be in the area for some reason and feeding seems the reasonable explanation.

It’s only been seen once, so there will be numerous eyes watching over the coming weeks for a winter flash of blue flying by.

Not much else to report, apart from the garden birds making use of the free handouts, particularly in the recent really cold snap.

Will the mild weather continue over Christmas and into 2018, or will winter have a dastardly plan for the weather?

Time will tell, but the local birds, and small mammals will be well catered for as their winter food supplies remain sparse.

NEW BIRD SPOTTED AS SPRING STARTS SLOWLY

An amazing sight from the garden has meant the lack of activity in the nest boxes and delay in spring taking a proper grip has not been too bad.

The small brook that almost borders the garden, had signs of life last summer with a small shoal of small fish.

It was presumed that they would go or not survive, but it appears this is not the case. And the presence of these small fish has not gone unnoticed!

The amazing sight of a kingfisher perched on a branch of a small tree overhanging the brook has been brilliant.

I don’t expect it to be a common visitor or even see it again, but just the one glimpse is enough.

Of course spring is not in ‘full bloom’ yet and I hope this is the reason why birds are not spending time in the nest boxes. It is unusual though that not one bird has spent a night in either nest box.

Time will tell, but with an Easter weekend of strong wind and heavy rain, I don’t expect things to change much as we approach April.

And April should herald the arrival of my favourite bird – the swallow.

BLUE TITS FLEDGE

The blue tits that were nesting in the wall of an outbuilding behind our house have fledged, unfortunately without me witnessing it.

I thought they would be fledging last weekend, as the noise they made when a parent arrived with food penetrated through the windows when they were firmly shut.

It's good to know they managed to fledge considering the results the great tits had in my nestbox.

The return of Springwatch has lightened up May and it was interesting to note that other species of birds have been effected by the wet and cold April.

It was sad to watch the kingfisher chicks perish and realise that there must be thousands of chicks across the country to have faced the same fate.

The warm weather has relinquished its reign to the more cooler and wetter weather as we enter June. I'm hoping most of the young currently being brought up are able to cope with the next batch of cold and wet weather this weekend.

June is a month which generally goes quiet as chicks fledge and disappear to learn their local territory, while the parents moult their feathers away from prying eyes.

But I suspect second broods will mean later fledgings and we'll still see small young birds around our gardens. Indeed I saw robin chicks this week around the garden begging parents for food.

Sadly most young birds will fall victim to birds of prey and other parents looking to feed their young - foxes, weasels, rats, magpies etc.

This of course could mean that these animals lose young due to a lack of normal food, or they just have their young later.

I'll be watching the garden, field and lanes for new life and updating the blog before the bank holiday weekend ends.