SUMMER IN WET MODE?

While it's fair to say this summer has been warmer and drier than last year, well maybe July, the fledging of our summer visitors hasn't been too visual.

Certainly the swifts have been successful, and there are often family groups circling high above the garden on most evenings this month.

The screeching sound of the swifts is a fantastic summer sound, although it'll soon be gone again for another year.

The swallows haven't been seen in family groups, although individuals are regularly seen and heard. I do wonder if the wet spells in June impacted the nest, just like the swallow family on Springwatch.

If that has been the case, then the weather recently has certainly been much better, so hopefully we'll hear the sounds of young swallows in the coming days.

The garden birds are certainly not around as much, which is normal for this time of year. But a family of long tailed tits has visited the garden twice recently, so perhaps the parents are showing the youngsters where to get winter food.

Having said that, only this morning I've already heard a family of blue tits, great tits, wrens and robins around the garden, so they're either recent fledglings or they have stuck around a bit longer because of food.

The tomatoes and broad beans haven't been successful this year, although I'm hoping the spell of warm weather next week will help growth.

CHICKS AND RAIN EVERYWHERE

It’s been four weeks since my last post, and quite a lot has happened.

The main thing is that summer hasn’t even started, with much of the recent weather akin to autumn, rather than the warmest season of the year.

The great tits chicks did fledge, although it must have been while I was at work, because one day they were very audible in the morning and when I got home later in the day, there was silence.

However, the air was filled with the noise of newly-fledged tit chicks and has only stopped in the last few days.

It’s hard to tell if they are great tit or blue tit chicks from the sounds, but when the parents give alarm calls it’s much easier to identify.

They all appear to have been doing very well, and they probably stuck around for a bit longer due to the unseasonal late spring weather.

Of course, the last few weeks have been awful, particularly for the wildlife who expect much warmer conditions.

The constant rain and very cool temperatures mean many of the insects that birds feed on are difficult to find or have been washed away.

I’ve been continuing to hand out mealworms, which the great tits, blue tits, robins and house sparrows have been swooping on very quickly.

Just when I thought the bird life would fade away for the wet summer, the robins provided me with quite a surprise.

In the last few days I’ve noticed robins heading into part of the ivy just outside the kitchen window.

A pair of robins did spend time in the same area last year but didn’t raise a family there.

This year I’ve seen evidence in the last 48 hours that lead me to believe they have nested and now have chicks.

Two robins are now going into the area with caterpillars, and also some of mealworms I’ve been handing out.

I’m going to monitor the behaviour of the robins over the next few days, because I’m concerned the weather will reduce the survival chances of the chicks.

And given the incidents of the various chicks in Scotland on Springwatch over the last couple of weeks, my concerns are real.

The sound of summer, in the voice of the swallows and swifts have been heard when the rain stops, with swifts seeking higher air while chattering and the swallows swooping around the garden.

I think the swifts I’ve seen haver had young, but I think the swallows are either on eggs or have young. They usually cause quite a racket when the young leave the nest, so I think I’ll be able to tell when that happens.

In the meantime, let’s hope summer does come along and doesn’t leave us with a soggy and disappointing June – I think the swallows will agree with me!

CHICKS ON THE GROUND

April ended in typical April fashion, with cooler and wetter weather.

But, unlike last year when we had glorious sunshine and warm weather, May started with distinctly cooler and wetter conditions.

However, despite this there have been several new additions to the garden; all seen in the last few days.

A number of robin chicks, with their distinct mottled chests, have been in and around the garden, feeding on small invertebrates.

While the most seen in one go has been two, I suspect there are at least a couple more.

One of the parents has always been around, looking for danger and sometimes helping find food.

There have also been a few sightings of blackbird chicks, although not in the same numbers as the robins.

The blue tits are still hanging around, although where they are nesting is unknown – I suspect it’s not anywhere near the garden.

The great tit pair in the garden are now showing any signs of having chicks, but with the cameras now working it’s difficult to know.

I’m not hearing the tell-tale signs, but this might be because the parents are still on eggs.

Given the new chicks, and suspected other birds with at least built nests, if not eggs, the first order of mealworms has been placed.

I’m hoping to be able to test whether there are any newly hatched chicks when the mealworms are placed out later this week.

If the adult birds aren’t feeding on the mealworms, and instead gathering a beak full of them, I’ll then try and track them to the nests.

With the BBC’s Springwatch programme not far away, I do hope the weather warms up and helps us see lots of growing wildlife.

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.

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.

COMING BACK?

Parents return to feed

It's been a few days since my last blog and thanks to Chelsea and the hot warm weather, I've not felt like doing much. Yes I'm an Everton fan!

I really feel for the chicks I've been watching on Springwatch and don't blame them for fledging early just to get out of their stuffy nests.

A little surprise visitor came to one of the mealworm feeders overs the weekend - one of the parent blue tits. I recognised it from it's scruffy appearance and the way it fed from the feeder and where it flew to devour the mealworm(s).

I think it was still feeding the chicks as it went off to the trees on occasions with mealworms in its mouth.

Other activity in my garden has been the first (seen) visit of a jay, a wonderfuly coloured bird with a bit a magpie-esque streak to it.

The swallows have been mating on the telephone wires and I expect eggs have now been laid and youngsters will be soon begging constantly for food.

The tree sparrows appear to have settled their differences and paired up for the breeding season.

I've seen glimpses of the dunnocks with their chicks hoovering up bugs and flies on the garden edges while the female blackbirds must be on eggs, due their conspicuous absence.

The garden and its inhabitants have sprung in to life and I'm looking forward to watching the different species bring up their young over the next few months.

I'm still working on the video footage but here's some memories of the blue tits for now.

BANK HOLIDAY BONANZA

Barbeque feeding session

What a weekend, well at least weather wise! Summer is officially here and as my partner, Sarah, planted the hanging baskets and window boxes, I was busy making sure the blue tits weren't going to fledge without me noticing.

While it was an interesting experience, it proved that wildlife doesn't confirm to human activity and won't rush along a fledging just to coincide with a bank holiday.

What I did learn was that blue tits are great parents, ignoring all manner of activity in the garden to continue providing food for their chicks in the nestbox.

As Sarah planted out the baskets, right underneath the nestbox, the blue tits made the initial alarm calls before realising she meant no harm and continued to feed the ever-louder chicks.

Even when we had a bbq for the neighbours and ate at a table underneath the nestbox, the parents continued to feed the chicks and inadvertently provide a small garden spectacular for me, Sarah and our guests.

I did help the viewing by handing out mealworms, but Neil and Fiona, Holly and Jonny, along with Andy, Sarah and me, watched in awe as the blue tit parents continued to feed the chicks.

Tomorrow I'll be putting up video footage, provided by Neil and Fiona's camera, of various wildlife activities, including that of the ducks and swallows.

Back to the blue tit chicks and I'm confident they will fledge this week, unfortunately I think I'll miss the fledging - unless they hold off until the weekend!

The wonderful weather coincided with the return of Springwatch. I thoroughly enjoyed the first programme and hope it continues to provide amateurs like me notes on how to provide a good habitat for all wildlife and watch them without disturbance.

Lots of footage tomorrow including that of a make blackbird's evening song.

DEMANDING CHICKS

Mealworm, caterpillar, mealworm

No cuckoo sounds so far this weekend, but we're only half way through it so plenty of time to go!

Spent a lot of time in the garden yesterday planting out baskets, mowing and putting sunflowers around the borders. Fingers crossed they bloom and attract seed hunters later in the year.

As for the blue tits, they seem to be getting along quite well with a constant supply of food from the parents. Be it a mealworm or two, courtesy of me, caterpillars or other delicious grubs.

I was hopeful the chicks would fledge this weekend, but it seems it could be midweek, when I won't be able to view the spectacle.

Next door have introduced some feeder to the garden and this has attracted the local birds. I'm confident with plenty of shelter, wild food, nestboxes and human-presented food the local bird population will continue to grow and stay around for years.

Some of course will fly away to warmer climes for the winter, which includes the beautiful swallows. They treated us to a spectacular aerobatic display yesterday morning and evening as they competed for food and nesting areas.

They've obviously chosen the same building as last year, the year before and probably for many years before. I'm aiming to get footage of their display today and put them on my next blog.

I know they're nesting because I saw, on a number of occasions yesterday, one on the floor collecting materials for a nest.

I'm looking forward to the newly hatched chicks fledging and learning their aerobatic skills in August, before sadly gathering on the telephone wires in September and going off on their winter holidays until April.

I can see them outside the window now so fingers crossed I get some good footage.

Of the other birds, the blackbirds seem t be on eggs, as the male is the only one seen at the moment. I gather the mating I witnessed early on Thursday may have been successful.

The robins must be showing their chicks around the local neighbourhood, although I get the feeling another pair is 'operating' in the area and could be on eggs.

The tree sparrows appear to be pairing up for mating and the great tits must have chicks they are feeding frequently.

The dunnocks appear to be feeding fledglings but as usual with new families, they disperse after fledgings and take a tour of the area as the parents moult.

I'll publish a full list of the regular wildlife in my garden in the next post.

Oh finally, I was treated to a display from swifts last night, amazing aerial skills and squeaking. I don't think they're nesting too close to the garden, but I think I will see them a lot more during the summer evenings.

And I'm really looking forward to Springwatch starting tomorrow!

NO NEWS - IS GOOD NEWS?

A wet evening

Returning home tonight to a wet and dreary outlook, there wasn't much birdlife about. I expect the blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, dunnocks, tree sparrows and robins, amongst others, to be sheltering in the trees and bushes.

A lone male blackbird did post a late evening song from a nearby telegraph pole, but he appeared to be singing to an empty stadium.

Even the swallows were not about, presumably not many insects to be caught on the wing in the late wet evening. Perhaps they're brooding on eggs, fingers crossed we'll see a family learning the tricks of catching insects in mid-air later this summer.

Not much activity from the blue tit family, even when an offering of mealworms was presented. I hope the parents were taking turns in keeping the chicks warm in the cool, wet May weather.

So feeding was kept to a minimum, well any feeding that I noticed, but I hope tomorrow will bring better weather and some visible news from the blue tit family.

More tomorrow on the blue tits and the rest of the wildlife in my garden.

A COUP - AND NOT A DOVE IN SIGHT

Tree sparrows attempt nestbox coup

After a breakfast feeding of mealworms all seemed well with my blue tit family until a sinister side of bird life reared its ugly head.

Today has been developing in to a potentially devastating one for the blue tit family, in particular the blue tit chicks.

A pair of tree sparrows appear to have taken a liking to their nestbox and have been inspecting the entrance and generally hanging around outside it.

They constantly chirp away making their presence easy to detect, especially as working from home today I sit just the other side of the wall to the blue tit nestbox.

I've seen the blue tit parents chase of the tree sparrows on a number of occasions and it seems to have done the trick, but tree sparrows have been known to regularly take over another nest, regardless of the situation.

In some cases they build their nest ON TOP of the existing one, even if it has chicks or eggs inside.

So the day ended with my usual late evening meal, though I got a little wet this evening.

All seems to have returned to normal as I post, but rest assured I'll be checking on their progress throughout the weekend, as I'll be spending lots of time in the garden.

More pics soon.

DINNER IS SERVED

Mealworms before bedtime

To help the blue tit parents give their chicks a decent evening meal I supplied a few mealworms.

Ok I had another motive in that I wanted to teach the parents I wasn't a threat and indeed it was me providing the meals. I hoped this would give me the opportunities to take some close pictures.

As you should be able to see from the images in this entry I succeeded to a certain extent.

Within seconds of me putting the mealworms in feeding stations in my garden the blue tit parents, along with a pair of great tits, a robin and a pair of dunnocks, tucked in to the feast.

I didn't see them once eat a mealworm for themselves, but I hope a few extra ones will help keep them healthy during this exhaustive time.

I'm not hearing the chicks yet but I hope to have some audio evidence by the weekend.

Anyway enjoy the images and I'll be back with more updates tomorrow.

FEEDING UPDATE

Taking pictures

After crouching by the window trying to get images of the parents entering the nestbox to feed the youngsters I’ve had to make do with the current images you can see in this post and the previous one. (this is of a robin picking a mealworm off the ground)

The mealworm feast I’m providing is feeding not only the blue tits, but also blackbirds, robins, dunnocks and great tits.

I believe, judging by the behaviour of the robins, dunnocks and great tits, they all have nests with young in nearby. This weekend I intend to establish exact locations and, if possible, provide images of their ‘homes’.

I will of course not jeopardise the health of chicks or adults during this exercise.

As for the blue tit chicks, I’ve not really heard them yet while they’re being fed, but expect to hear something by the end of this week.

It’s at this point that I regret not putting up a camera nestbox, though this was decided for me when in February the adults blue tits were using the nestbox as a roosting station.

I will however put one up in late autumn when I clear out the current nestbox ready for next year.

BREAKING NEWS

Tits give birth (well hatch anyway)

Great news for all followers of this blog. The eggs have hatched this afternoon and the parents are frantically dashing to and from the nestbox with various offerings for the newly-hatched youngsters.

I'm helping a little by providing mini mealworms which they seem to be hoovering up very gratefully.

I'm in the process of taking pictures for you all to see and will upload them whenever it is possible.

In the meantime hold on to your hats, the next few weeks as raising young tits is a difficult business, full of ups and downs.

I'll be helping out with mini mealworms handouts but fingers crossed we'll see some blue tit fledglings in about 3 weeks.

Speaking of fledglings I met a blackbird fledgling this morning while on a bike ride down the country lanes by the house. In a fluster it clung to the outside of a hawthorn hedge by the side of the lane and we both looked at each other in curiosity for about 30 seconds before both carried on our separate ways.

The picture above is one of the parents picking off a mealworm to take it back to the chicks.

Further pictures will be available on my next update.

LATEST NEWS

May 7th

After a spell of warmer weather the paired blue tits were seen mating outside the bird box on a number of occasions.

Since then the birds have turned from a pair to one, presumably the male, who's been singing warning songs everytime I've been in the garden.

The obvious conclusion would be the female sitting on eggs in the nestbox and the male keeping her up-to-date with what's happening outside.

In the last couple of days the male has been seen taking mealworms (supplied by me) into the nextbox without the usual sound of chicks begging for food.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed the female is on eggs and hopefully will hear the sounds of chicks in the next couple of weeks.

Which is a positive of the holiday to Mexico (due to be taken on Saturday) has been cancelled. Fingers crossed all this will lead to me seeing the chicks fledge.

The recent weather hasn't been exactly May-like (my greenhouse has fallen in the winds) but a new batch of mealworms has arrived and I'm ready to help feed any chicks.

Talking of chicks it seems with the variety of birds arriving and taking away beakfuls of mealworms that a number of chicks are in the surrounding buildings and countryside.

Pairs of robins, blackbirds and great tits and indulged in the feast, with goldfinches, tree sparrows and dunnocks utilising either the worm handout or peanuts.

With the odd visit from woodpigeons, house sparrows, chaffinches, pied wagtails, magpies, a greater-spotted woodpecker, wrens and a pair of song thrushes, the garden is full of life.

The usual swallows are performing aerobatic sorties catching flying insects and nesting again in the small barns behind the house, while long-tailed tits have lengthened the time between their family visits.

THEY'RE BACK

After the success of 2008 the blue tits are back and have chosen the same nest box as last year.

Last weekend they were seen mating outside the box and can be heard every morning and evening in the surrounding bushes and trees ready for the day, or bed!

From the beginning:

Christmas 2007 I received a nest box from my girlfriend's parents and after careful research, erected it facing north-east overlooking my garden.

Within weeks a pair of blue tits had shown an interest and after watching them feed on my various stations in the garden I noticed them entering the box.

After a May holiday in Cuba, I returned to find the parents flying regularly in and out with caterpillars and other sumptuous grubs for the chicks.

The chicks were audible in the living room and in early June six fledged and disappeared with the parents into the surrounding countryside.

A successful rearing must have inspired the parents (I presume it’s the parents though I have no way of knowing 100%) to return.

An update will be made over the May Bank Holiday when I’ll be feeding them more mealworms.