WILL THE FIRST FROST OF THE AUTUMN SIGNAL BIRDS BACK IN THE GARDEN?

After the first storms of the colder seasons, one an ex-hurricane, the garden has played host to the first frost.

It wasn’t exactly too cold, but perhaps it’ll be an early signal for the birds to start coming back to the garden in search of food – particularly if they know there’s a constant and varied supply.

The number of flying insects has definitely diminished, and spiders seem to be getting ready for the winter by hiding away.

There’ll be a clean up of the nest boxes soon, to prepare winter roosting places for some birds, although it remains to be seen if any will use the camera boxes.

With leaves falling everywhere, the earthworms have a bounty and the work on producing nourishing soils for next year’s vegetables and flowers will soon begin.

This winter we’re promised storms and bitterly cold weather, but aren’t we promised this every year?

Until the car temperature gauge shows it and the snow piles up on the ground, many, including the wildlife will simply prepare for winter as normal.

WINTER IS ON ITS WAY

After a very mild autumn, the first signs of winter have led to frosts, cold winds and even snow in places.

There’s not been any snow, or very little sign of frost, in the garden, but the small birds have been flocking to the feeders.

The flock of house sparrows seems to be increasing in numbers, while the blue tits and great tits are spending more time in and around the peanut feeder.

I’ve also noticed a robin spending plenty of time on selected perches around the garden, sometimes singing, but mainly watching out for other robins and opportunities for grabbing some food from the feeders.

The temporary greenhouse was blown over in the recent and while moving it to the garage for winter storage, I found a huge number of slugs and snails seemingly trying to hide out the cold.

I safely moved them to the green waste bin so they can spend the winter somewhere else and not spend next spring and summer munching on the garden plants and vegetables.

Each day brings more leaves from the trees and it’s now much easier to spot the birds on the branches, but the down side is there’s not much daylight to be able to do this.

I’m hoping that as we go in to December and the weather gets colder, we start to see the likes of fieldfares, redwings and the now more common jays in the garden

This should increase the chances of the local sparrowhawks entering the airspace above the garden and the battle for survival in the coldest and darkest time of the year.

SUMMER BRINGS SUNSHINE, GROWING PLANTS AND DISAPPEARING BIRDS

The warm weather was interrupted by a few heavy showers and plenty of rain this weekend. While it’s great to be able to sit in the garden and enjoy being amongst the wildlife, the wet weather is most definitely welcome, both for the flora and fauna.

I did feel sorry for the birds who visited the garden looking like they had been swimming, and also the bees who got a pounding from the raindrops as they tried to gather nectar from the flowers.

I’m hoping to continue harvesting the vegetable crops this week, following the broad beans that made a tasty and welcome addition to the homemade paella I cooked this week.

The potatoes should be ready soon, while the runner beans and tomatoes should start showing by the end of July.

Of course the broad beans will still be harvested for the next few weeks and I’m delighted that they’ve done so well considering I’ve not grown them before in the garden.

The sunflowers are really starting to grow, with one now over six feet tall. I think they’ll be half a dozen that will exceed six feet and I’m sure the birds will welcome the seeds in early autumn.

The birds are now making themselves scarce; only the robins, blackbirds and goldfinches regularly visible now.

I have seen a few chiffchaffs, and heard plenty, but I’m not sure if they’re feeding youngsters or not. I suspect they are, but where is beyond me so far.

With the height of summer fast approaching I know the bird visits will decrease and I’ll have to concentrate on what’s growing in the garden, although the insects will take over to some degree, particularly the numbers of butterflies and moths, more of which next week.

Of course this will last until late summer when the young small birds that have survived the dangerous first couple of months return to a place their parents have used to feed, shelter and breed.

BEES IN ABUNDANCE

This week I’ve been fascinated by the bees in the garden. There has been an almost constant hum of noise around the escallonia bush, with at least 15-20 bumblebees and the odd honey bee making the most of the nectar on offer.

I recently trimmed the bush back, after previously allowing it to grow for a couple of years. It has flowered every year, but not to this extent.

 

Here’s an idea of how it’s grown from 2008, 2009 and present day.

 

I’ve so far been able to identify three types of bees visiting the escallonia; the red tailed bumblebee, buff tailed bumblebee and early bumblebee.

 

If anyone can identify any more than please let me know.

Finally for this bee-fest, here’s a video of the escallonia. Next week I’ll have an update on the flora, including the vegetables I’m growing.

 

 

SPRING WARMTH BRINGS BREEDING SEASON EXCITEMENT

As spring sunshine grips most of the UK, bringing with it warm weather the breeding season is well underway as birds, insects and mammals all focus on raising the next generation.

The tit nest box, which now has a pair of house sparrows, still doesn’t have a working camera so I can’t view the nest building activity.

The house sparrow nest box camera is fully operational, but no birds are utilising it – which as explained previously I think this is because the camera is too obtrusive inside the box.

Flowers, tree buds and the first vegetable plants sprouting are now being joined by butterflies and plenty of insects, including various bees, as spring has well and truly sprung.

This is a wonderful time of the year and the buzz among the birds in the garden is lovely to see, hear and feel. It feels like a huge race has begun to get the next generation born and raised; it’s great to see it in the garden and surrounding countryside.

I’m sure April will bring plenty of showers, but if the temperatures keep like they are this weekend the growth in the flora will significant.

Of course in turn this will help the mammals, birds and insects that will feast spring’s rich offerings.

The focus in the garden will be fixing the camera, cutting the grass and encouraging the growth of vegetables and flowers.

One thing is for sure, the next few months will bring new arrivals and a colourful garden as wildlife and humans alike enjoy the warmth and sunshine (hopefully).

On a final note I’m taking images of the front of the house and some of the garden that I will unveil in the coming weeks to show how spring helps the garden bloom and come alive.