I had some assistance today from my 16-month old daughter today when filling up the feeders. She didn't seem to understand exactly what was happening, but I waited with her to show her the birds when they started feeding - it took about 30 seconds!
Once the birds saw what was happening they appeared from nowhere and it shows they must be around waiting for the feeders to be refilled before descending to make the most of the free handout.
My daughter (Poppy) has even started to make 'tweet tweet' noises to copy her dad imitating the birds.
With the warmish weather continuing the variety if species visiting the garden isn't huge. Robins, great tits, blue tits, dunnocks and tree sparrows, but I'm left waiting to see the likes of chaffinches, long tailed tits and goldfinches. Even the blackbirds are proving scarce.
As November tumbles towards December I'm not alone in wondering when the cold weather will arrived and when is does, will it bring much of the white stuff?
I'm sure it won't be long for everyone to find out.
I'll be keeping an eye on the visitors to the garden and update when new visitors come and say hello.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011
SOME BIRDS ARE BACK
So the fat snacks have been out for over a week and the birds are starting to show interest.
A few blue tits, great tits and the odd robin have been feeding on the snacks, but the numbers of tree sparrows, dunnocks are higher.
I've seen about four to six tree sparrows on each visit, whereas the dunnocks come in similar numbers.
The house sparrows are also making the odd appearance, but I'm still waiting for the long tailed tits to come and take advantage of the snacks I've put out for them.
As autumn struggles to force cold weather on the UK, the birds appear to be content to continue feeding in the fields, hedgerows and woodlands around the house.
With further warm(ish) weather forecast for this weekend and early next week, I suspect I won't see an increase in the birds visiting my garden for a while.
It's good news for the birds and my family, but we all know the cold weather will come along and it's good for the birds to know there's a place to find food when necessary.
Finally the nestbox camera has been cleaned and adjusted. Now it's a case of waiting to see who comes along to make use of the nestbox for winter roosting.
A few blue tits, great tits and the odd robin have been feeding on the snacks, but the numbers of tree sparrows, dunnocks are higher.
I've seen about four to six tree sparrows on each visit, whereas the dunnocks come in similar numbers.
The house sparrows are also making the odd appearance, but I'm still waiting for the long tailed tits to come and take advantage of the snacks I've put out for them.
As autumn struggles to force cold weather on the UK, the birds appear to be content to continue feeding in the fields, hedgerows and woodlands around the house.
With further warm(ish) weather forecast for this weekend and early next week, I suspect I won't see an increase in the birds visiting my garden for a while.
It's good news for the birds and my family, but we all know the cold weather will come along and it's good for the birds to know there's a place to find food when necessary.
Finally the nestbox camera has been cleaned and adjusted. Now it's a case of waiting to see who comes along to make use of the nestbox for winter roosting.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
FEEDERS ARE FULL BUT STILL NO BIRDS
Today I bought my first fat snacks of the winter for the birds.
It can still be relatively cheap (no pun) to by these snacks and the birds love them. The added benefit is any scrapes dropping on the floor can provide food for voles and birds that prefer to feed on the ground.
I use about ten snacks a week so costs about £8 a month to keep the birds with a constant supply.
Today I filled my feeders and felt I was being watched I as placed them around the garden. My feelings were right as the feeders were barely out of my grasp when a robin came to sample the delights.
The robin spent most of the afternoon nibbling on the snacks and was joined at various stages by a couple of great and blue tits.
I'm expecting more arrivals over the next few days, although the weather isn't too cold so the majority of birds do seem to be content with the food they can get in the fields and hedgerows.
Tomorrow I'll be spending a bit of time in the garden cleaning out the nestboxes so hope to catch a few different birds, including chaffinches, goldfinches, long tailed tits and tree sparrows.
More updates next week.
It can still be relatively cheap (no pun) to by these snacks and the birds love them. The added benefit is any scrapes dropping on the floor can provide food for voles and birds that prefer to feed on the ground.
I use about ten snacks a week so costs about £8 a month to keep the birds with a constant supply.
Today I filled my feeders and felt I was being watched I as placed them around the garden. My feelings were right as the feeders were barely out of my grasp when a robin came to sample the delights.
The robin spent most of the afternoon nibbling on the snacks and was joined at various stages by a couple of great and blue tits.
I'm expecting more arrivals over the next few days, although the weather isn't too cold so the majority of birds do seem to be content with the food they can get in the fields and hedgerows.
Tomorrow I'll be spending a bit of time in the garden cleaning out the nestboxes so hope to catch a few different birds, including chaffinches, goldfinches, long tailed tits and tree sparrows.
More updates next week.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
AUTUMN IS IN ITS WAY
The chill of autumn cast an early white shadow on the lawn one morning last week, but the full version of the season is yet to show.
A mild autumn has meant many birds are yet to spend much time in the garden as the fields, hedgerows and woods are clearly providing enough food.
I did glimpse a flock of long tailed tits over the weekend briefly visiting the garden. I've seen them while on my bike around Frodsham Marsh but I'm looking forward to watching them flock around the peanut feeders in the garden.
Last year I counted over 15 in the garden at one time, so will they break the record this year and have a big number of youngsters from the breeding season? Only time will tell.
This week I've spotted a couple of jays around the lane and possibly the first fieldfare, although I was unable to confirm this as I was driving.
As November nears I'm hoping for a number of winter visitors, but will the elusive badgers from down the lane put in an appearance?
I'm hoping a spring and summer of teaching my daughter Poppy of the exciting aspect of nature watching will pay dividends as a new batch of garden visitors come to the garden.
On another note my birdbox camera will be cleaned this weekend and await the arrival of the first winter roosting birds.
More soon!
A mild autumn has meant many birds are yet to spend much time in the garden as the fields, hedgerows and woods are clearly providing enough food.
I did glimpse a flock of long tailed tits over the weekend briefly visiting the garden. I've seen them while on my bike around Frodsham Marsh but I'm looking forward to watching them flock around the peanut feeders in the garden.
Last year I counted over 15 in the garden at one time, so will they break the record this year and have a big number of youngsters from the breeding season? Only time will tell.
This week I've spotted a couple of jays around the lane and possibly the first fieldfare, although I was unable to confirm this as I was driving.
As November nears I'm hoping for a number of winter visitors, but will the elusive badgers from down the lane put in an appearance?
I'm hoping a spring and summer of teaching my daughter Poppy of the exciting aspect of nature watching will pay dividends as a new batch of garden visitors come to the garden.
On another note my birdbox camera will be cleaned this weekend and await the arrival of the first winter roosting birds.
More soon!
Thursday, 6 October 2011
AUTUMN, WHAT AUTUMN?
Towards the end of August I watched as the swallows chattered excitedly on the telephone wires, probably sharing experiences of the migration to Africa with this year’s youngsters.
This year I counted over 30 which is almost double the amount I counted in 2010, obviously a good year.
I expected to see them fly before September, but apart from a few days with only a fleeting glimpse of them, most appeared to stay until after the recent big storm. Were they telling me something?
It would suggest so as the storm didn’t herald the start of autumn, merely that start of an Indian summer, which in turn appeared to be the catalyst for the swallows to depart.
As we basked in 30c and wall to wall sunshine, so the swallows made their exit and other animals made the most of a late harvest as blackberries ripened in the hedgerows and insects continued to flourish.
The weather has certainly helped my tomatoes ripen and also have a positive effect on my peppers, carrots and chillies.
In the last week I’ve had over 100 cherry tomatoes ripen and I’m expecting at least double that in the next week or so, despite the weather actually starting to behave like October.
The summer has been patchy at best, but it appears to have been good for the wildlife. The blackbirds have raised at least two broods, as have the robins.
I’ve recently heard the blue tits and watched a number of great tits on the feeders, some of which must be this year’s brood from the nestbox.
Talking of the nestbox, I’ve not see any activity in there since the great tits left in early summer and I’ll soon be clearing it out ready for any roosting birds over the winter.
The breeding birds of the summer have shown signs of fatigue as the end the post-chick raising moult, I even saw a male blackbird with a grey head, but this has gradually turned black again.
Finally my pond has helped form a place for a frog to spend time but has produced no tadpoles this year. This winter I’ll be filling it in as my daughter is now walking and exploring everywhere.
In its place I’ll continue the rockery and have a boggy wildlife area until such time as I can have the pond back.
This year I counted over 30 which is almost double the amount I counted in 2010, obviously a good year.
I expected to see them fly before September, but apart from a few days with only a fleeting glimpse of them, most appeared to stay until after the recent big storm. Were they telling me something?
It would suggest so as the storm didn’t herald the start of autumn, merely that start of an Indian summer, which in turn appeared to be the catalyst for the swallows to depart.
As we basked in 30c and wall to wall sunshine, so the swallows made their exit and other animals made the most of a late harvest as blackberries ripened in the hedgerows and insects continued to flourish.
The weather has certainly helped my tomatoes ripen and also have a positive effect on my peppers, carrots and chillies.
In the last week I’ve had over 100 cherry tomatoes ripen and I’m expecting at least double that in the next week or so, despite the weather actually starting to behave like October.
The summer has been patchy at best, but it appears to have been good for the wildlife. The blackbirds have raised at least two broods, as have the robins.
I’ve recently heard the blue tits and watched a number of great tits on the feeders, some of which must be this year’s brood from the nestbox.
Talking of the nestbox, I’ve not see any activity in there since the great tits left in early summer and I’ll soon be clearing it out ready for any roosting birds over the winter.
The breeding birds of the summer have shown signs of fatigue as the end the post-chick raising moult, I even saw a male blackbird with a grey head, but this has gradually turned black again.
Finally my pond has helped form a place for a frog to spend time but has produced no tadpoles this year. This winter I’ll be filling it in as my daughter is now walking and exploring everywhere.
In its place I’ll continue the rockery and have a boggy wildlife area until such time as I can have the pond back.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
TOAD IN THE HOLE
Not the usual sausage in mash version, but an actual toad in a hole in our garden.
I noticed it last night while watering the plants in the greenhouse; I thought it was a mouse but it then appeared from the undergrowth.
It appeared to be wary of me, but not completely overwhelmed once it could see I meant it now harm.
The good news is the toad is still there tonight so is obviously enjoying our garden and I'm happy to welcome a new animal to the garden as it will eat slugs, snails and other animals that want to eat my plants!
I think I've worked out where the toad lives so will be keeping an eye out and updating the blog with further news.
This morning, after my daughter's 5am alarm call, I was able to watch some of the birds in and around our house and noticed another new bird.
A female blackcap was among a family of chiffchaffs, my returning great tits and a sole robin chick.
It was great to see and hear all the birds going about their daily routines and the families feeding together. The whole scene reminded me of my own family growing together and the early alarm call was soon forgotten.
Maybe I'll get up at 5am most days (during the summer) to see what else is happening in and around where we live.
I noticed it last night while watering the plants in the greenhouse; I thought it was a mouse but it then appeared from the undergrowth.
It appeared to be wary of me, but not completely overwhelmed once it could see I meant it now harm.
The good news is the toad is still there tonight so is obviously enjoying our garden and I'm happy to welcome a new animal to the garden as it will eat slugs, snails and other animals that want to eat my plants!
I think I've worked out where the toad lives so will be keeping an eye out and updating the blog with further news.
This morning, after my daughter's 5am alarm call, I was able to watch some of the birds in and around our house and noticed another new bird.
A female blackcap was among a family of chiffchaffs, my returning great tits and a sole robin chick.
It was great to see and hear all the birds going about their daily routines and the families feeding together. The whole scene reminded me of my own family growing together and the early alarm call was soon forgotten.
Maybe I'll get up at 5am most days (during the summer) to see what else is happening in and around where we live.
Sunday, 12 June 2011
IT'S RAINING ON MY PARADE
So this is 'flaming June'? I think not!
A day of constant rain has left the few garden visitors looking more bedraggled by the minute.
I'm sure the worms are not the only ones loving this weather. The reservoirs that needed a little drink along with rivers and farmers must be pleased.
This afternoon I watched a chiffchaff taking aphids from my blooming rose hedge, hoping he would stay around to eat all of them, but he stayed only for a few minutes.
A robin and blackbird then took advantage of the wet conditions bringing out all sizes of worms, although they took a soaking in the first place.
The next two days forecast warmer and drier weather and I'm hoping the plants, vegetables and fruit in my garden will benefit from today's soaking and have a growth surge this week.
Not much opportunity to see the swallows today, but I think the youngsters are near to fledging.
More updates later this week when I'm able to get out a bit more.
A day of constant rain has left the few garden visitors looking more bedraggled by the minute.
I'm sure the worms are not the only ones loving this weather. The reservoirs that needed a little drink along with rivers and farmers must be pleased.
This afternoon I watched a chiffchaff taking aphids from my blooming rose hedge, hoping he would stay around to eat all of them, but he stayed only for a few minutes.
A robin and blackbird then took advantage of the wet conditions bringing out all sizes of worms, although they took a soaking in the first place.
The next two days forecast warmer and drier weather and I'm hoping the plants, vegetables and fruit in my garden will benefit from today's soaking and have a growth surge this week.
Not much opportunity to see the swallows today, but I think the youngsters are near to fledging.
More updates later this week when I'm able to get out a bit more.
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