SWALLOWS, SUMMER STORMS AND NESTBOX CAMERA WORKING!

I’m not sure how it happened, but the nestbox camera is now working again and it’s revealed the house sparrow chicks, although mainly in voice rather than in pictures.

The nest has been built on top of the blue tit nest and is so high up in the nestbox, that it obscures most of the view afforded by the camera.

Luckily, through the nest material you can sometimes make out movement from the chicks, a visit from the parents and the odd wide chick gape – look to the left hand side of the image below.

 

But most of all you can hear them chirping away, particularly when the parent birds arrive.

Now I know the chicks are fairly big, I’m attempted to move the material covering the camera and see if a better image can be provided. Here's the result.

 

The weather this weekend has been awful, with Sunday bringing autumn-like conditions. The good thing is this should be a one-off day of weather and warmer conditions should return next week.

It’s good news for the house sparrow chicks too, as they should be ready to fledge in about 3-5 days and will be strong enough to withstand the odd day of heavy rain, high winds and cool temperatures.

House sparrows around my garden and the close vicinity appear to be in high numbers, with a number of freshly fledged youngsters filling the air with unsteady flight and incessant calling to their parents for food.

I’ve also had a visit from a blue tit family, although whether it’s the same one that used the camera nestbox, I’m not sure.

The swallows and swifts appear to have had a good year as I’ve not seen them in such huge numbers for a few years.

In the evening, and sometimes the morning, the airwaves are filled with swallow songs, with the swifts often appearing alongside their fast flying cousins.

Swallows are one of my top three birds, along with peregrine falcons and ospreys, so to see them is probably my favourite vision and sound of our springs and summers.

The robins, blackbirds, great tits, dunnocks and magpies are heard rather than seen at the moment, although I do get fleeting glances of them from time to time.

Let’s hope as summer progresses that the small birds continue to raise more youngsters and those that fledge come to visit my garden in due course.

But most of all let’s hope that summer delivers some sun and conditions that favour a successful breeding season to make up for last year.

A WASHOUT

So 'Flaming June' has turned out to be flaming wet and a disaster for many of our birds with chicks, including the ospreys on Springwatch.

The decision by the Dyfi Osprey Project to feed the remaining chick has my backing as it helps continue the revival of such a majestic bird.

For those that want to read all about how the final chick was saved, click here; you'll find it very moving and a superb tribute to the people involved.

Ospreys are one of my top birds, along with the swallow and peregrine falcon. None have nested in my garden, so a do have soft spot for blue and great tits, plus robin, who all have raised broods in my garden.

I only hope that the final osprey chick now gets enough food and calm, dry weather to fledge.

The weather has also effected wildlife in my garden as the birds, bees and small mammals struggle to keep warm and find food.

I've tried to help with live mealworms, which have been gobbled up by the blackbirds, tree sparrows, house sparrows and great tits.

I suspect the blackbirds have chicks, possible the same parents that had chicks earlier this year.

This afternoon I'll be taking part in the Big Garden Weigh-in with my daughter as I continue teaching her about the local wildlife and how to help them with food and shelter.

It's always good teaching the next generation and I hope she takes up an interest in nature.

As the week ahead shows a continuation on the cooler weather, further rain if forecast, which doesn't bode well for the ospreys or much of the other wildlife trying to breed and bring up their next generation.

FROM SUMMER BACK TO SPRING

The recent spell of summer-like weather has sparked plenty of activity among the wildlife, especially the birds singing and gathering nest material.

Trees and bushes around the house have suddenly turned green, after waiting patiently for the right temperature. It means birds are becoming harder to spot, despite their song being heard more frequently.

Cooler weather is now upon us, but it's not cold for this time of year, just what the wildlife would expect and react to.

The nestbox camera is still playing up so I've not been able to look in to see how the great tits are getting on.

I've seen them both around the garden, but not entering of exiting the nestbox.

This week I've spotted blackbirds mating, ducks pairing up, but no swallows.

I thought I'd have seen swallows by now, especially given there's been plenty of sightings across the UK, but nothing yet.

Yesterday I was in the Lake District for work and noticed the signs for the osprey viewing platform were up near Bassenthwaite Lake.

I'm back there next weekend so will be taking a look to see if they're about.

Over the next few weeks I'll be taking some walks down the lanes around my house to check out the new wildlife and how the residents are getting on preparing for the btreeding season.

I'll be taking the camera and hoping that both the video nestbox camera and my own camera produce some nice shots.