WINTER IS ON ITS WAY, AS AUTUMNAL FROSTS ARRIVE

The garden has already seen a couple of frosts this year, but the influx of birds has yet to appear.

The garden feeders are being utilised, mainly by a few blue tits, the odd robin and great tits. Other birds are appearing infrequently.

One exciting development recently has been the appearance of a male sparrowhawk.

It was spotted on top of an outbuilding next to the house, and it appeared to be gathering itself after a failed hunt.

It look inexperienced so likely one that was born this year, but there’s hope in the house that it’ll keep making appearances in the future.

Of course that might mean negative news for the smaller garden birds, however it does mean there is a depth to the food chain in the area, with the top predator not being cats!

The next job in the garden is to clean out the nest boxes and make them ready for winter roosting. Checking the cameras are still operating will also be part of the process.

The flora in the garden has gained a new lease of live, with a large lily flowering, along with the rose bush.

The rose bush flowered in every month last year, and has done the same this year, proving it can withstand the rigours of all seasons.

It also means there’s a food source for any insects still hanging around before winter, and for those that appear early in spring on warmer days.

Once again the signs of lack of food in the surrounding countryside is likely to be signalled by the arrival of long tailed tits at the garden feeders, although there’s sadly little hope for any waxwings, redwings or other winter visitors given the history of not appearing.

THE LONG ROAD THROUGH WINTER BEGINS

Autumn has managed to get through most of the season with mild weather, but the road to cold winter weather is well underway.

Snow has been seen in some parts of the country and in the last few days further reports of snow are being made.

But now overnight frosts are now becoming the norm and the wildlife is taking more refuge in and around the garden.

The bird feeders are being visited by more and more birds, and I’m sure a number of small mammals are nicking a few peanuts at night.

It’s hard to see which birds are coming along, with the dark mornings and evenings, so the weekend is the only time they can be counted and seen.

Will the garden be visited by fieldfares, redwings or waxwings? A hope remains, but given the scarcity in recent winters, it’s not too high.

There is probably more hope of seeing snow, which would prove more popular in the house (with the children) than the wildlife outside.

However it’ll be much easier to see which animals are visiting the garden!

WINTER COLD INSTEAD OF AUTUMNAL STORMS

Finding a suitably warm and safe place to roost during the long, cold winter nights is something small birds in particular need to find.

The small number of house sparrows that have been roosting above the front door for weeks now, and despite the leaves falling off they appear to be sticking it out.

Most are now congregating around the outflow pipe from the bathroom, which must offer some warmth because of the heat from baths and showers.

They’ll probably be forced to find another roost site suitable for the depths of winter, but perhaps the conifer hedge, just a few feet away will afford the right warmth and protection form the nuisance local cats.

It’s expected that the garden will start to fill with more birds in the coming weeks, as the lure of ‘free’ food becomes too much, particularly as natural supplies diminish.

The usual winter visits from the long tailed tits must surely be coming soon, and the elusive redwings, fieldfares and the even more elusive waxwings are still to be sighted in the garden in a decade.

Next weekend the nest boxes will be checked, cleaned and the cameras given a quick look over, ready for the potential winter roosting birds.

Fingers crossed the birds don’t block the cameras up or technology fails and delivers infrequent or no video feed.

Then there’s the added problem of birds being sensitive to the cameras and only nesting in boxes with out cameras.

Until then it’ll be interesting to see who all wildlife in the garden will cope with the onset of the cold winter conditions, that is until an autumnal storm comes along.

THE WINTER CHILL HAS ARRIVED

So the long nights and dark commutes to work are with us again, but as we bunker down for winter how does wildlife cope?

Many depart to warmer climes in search of food that would be in very short supply here, while others adapt their eating habits. Some even come to this country for the winter.

 

Reports of swallows still in the UK have been heard this week, but these must surely be heading south now. The onset of the much colder conditions and the lack of daylight hours must mean these reports will soon cease.

What I expect to increase will be reports of fieldfares and waxwings. I’ve only seen fieldfares on rare occasions near my garden and never seen a waxwing. Luckily my parents-in-law live closer to the east coast so around Christmas I see quite a few fieldfares and the odd waxwing taking advantage of the numerous winter berries.

I’ve increased my supplies of nuts to the bird feeders this week to help top up the natural supply of food, although some birds may rely much more on what I and my neighbours put out than any other food source during winter.

The number of birds I’ve noticed in the garden has decreased, although this is probably down to me being unable to spend much daylight watching for them.

Robins, blue tits, great tits, house sparrows, tree sparrows and blackbirds are still using my garden every day, though I’m hoping to see more of the great spotted woodpeckers, goldfinches, long tail tits and maybe one or two surprises.

I’ll be checking the nestboxes over the coming weeks to clean them up and help provide a place for birds to shelter and a communal huddle for warmth. Perhaps I’ll get the camera working again and get some pictures up on here.

The garden is halfway to being prepared for winter, though I’m leaving dead plants and leaves in areas so insects can shelter, while the bushes are being not being trimmed short so birds can also find shelter.

Over the next few weeks I’ll show some images of how this is coming along, subject to any early snow!