LIGHTER NIGHTS, BUT NOT WARMER DAYS

The clocks may have sprung forward, making the nights lighter for longer, but the warming up of the daytime is yet to take place.

The spring blossom is slowly disappearing from the fruit trees, but there are no signs of the garden birds starting to nest.

Neither of the nest box cameras have shown any activity, or have even been used by anyone roosting overnight.

The garden is acting like it is a trance, with flora and fauna waiting for the warmth to properly kick everything into life.

Only today has there been any significant sound of spring, with chiffchaffs singing their unmistakable song almost everywhere. It’s s lovely song to hear and ensures everyone knows spring is coming.

There has been no sign of any caterpillars recently, and the general insect life appears to below in numbers; again the spring warmth will surely bring many out.

A bee has been spotted on this lovely flower, taking a rest or possibly just struggling to get enough energy to enjoy the spring sunshine.

The long tailed tits are still making daily visits to the bird feeders, with the fat snacks proving to be the most popular.

When they stop coming to the garden will be the time I know they’ve gone to nest and spring should be firmly with us.

Until then I think everyone in the natural world will be hoping to see more of the sun and less of the grey clouds bringing rain.

NEW BIRD SPOTTED AS SPRING STARTS SLOWLY

An amazing sight from the garden has meant the lack of activity in the nest boxes and delay in spring taking a proper grip has not been too bad.

The small brook that almost borders the garden, had signs of life last summer with a small shoal of small fish.

It was presumed that they would go or not survive, but it appears this is not the case. And the presence of these small fish has not gone unnoticed!

The amazing sight of a kingfisher perched on a branch of a small tree overhanging the brook has been brilliant.

I don’t expect it to be a common visitor or even see it again, but just the one glimpse is enough.

Of course spring is not in ‘full bloom’ yet and I hope this is the reason why birds are not spending time in the nest boxes. It is unusual though that not one bird has spent a night in either nest box.

Time will tell, but with an Easter weekend of strong wind and heavy rain, I don’t expect things to change much as we approach April.

And April should herald the arrival of my favourite bird – the swallow.

SNOW THEN SPRING SUNSHINE BRINGS THE BEES OUT

The cold and snowy weather seemed to be quickly followed by some spring sunshine, which in turn has led to the natural world emerging from its many hideaways.

The blossom on the fruit tree in the garden, and beyond, attracted a number of bees in the last few days, which was a welcome sight.

The birds are still not using the nest boxes, which is quite frustrating. I’m sure they eventually will, and hopefully it’ll be the signal for spring to start properly. Otherwise it could be that they are sensing winter is going to return with a vengeance.

The flora is producing a range of colours now as the borders fill with crocus, daffodils, snowdrops and tulips, but there is a slight concern that the flowerings are half-hearted, as if something negative is going to happen to them if they show too much, too soon.

I’ve not noticed the cats around the garden recently, although they can be heard every night fighting. Hopefully a couple of knockout blows each night mean they stay indoor during the day and leave the garden birds alone.

The long tailed tits have paid the odd visit to the garden since the last post. I sense it’s because the natural food supplies are still not returning to levels at which they feel comfortable not to visit the garden.

So as we await the big spring start, I wonder just how many small mammals and birds will fall victim to all these cats – none if I have my way!

SNOW IN THE GARDEN IN MARCH – AS PREDICTED!

Within a few days of my last post about snow in the garden in March, it snowed in the garden. The first snow it has seen this winter.

It wasn’t exactly a snowstorm and didn’t last that long before it melted away, but it certainly brought a sense of reality to the wildlife.

 The long tailed tits have been spending much more time in the garden in the last week, making use of the bird feeders. But they are often bullied at the feeders, so were left pinching bits of scraps as the blackbirds, robins, great tits and sparrows gorged themselves.

Another caterpillar found it’s way in to the house via the front door, but I suspect it’s the same bright green one I saw a few weeks ago. The Butterfly Conversation kindly told me on twitter that is was an Angle Shades caterpillar.

The other darker caterpillar was/is an Old Lady. Both are moths and the sightings are not unusual at this time of year.

The Angle Shades caterpillar might even emerge as an adult in the coming weeks, whereas the Old Lady is usually seen as an adult in the summer.

Neither nest boxes have had any overnight ‘guests’ this week, which is a bit surprising as this time last year at least one had some nest building occurring. 

I’ve kept the smaller hole on the new nest box as I’d like blue tits to take it over, but I might have to rethink that and put the bigger one on, if nothing uses it this year.

More cold and wintry weather is forecast, so it’ll be interesting to see how the wildlife reacts as we head towards Easter.

WILL THE GARDEN SEE SNOW IN MARCH?

Recent overnight frosts have not appeared to be too damaging to the flora that has emerged a little earlier than usual.

Indeed plenty of blossom and traditional spring flowers were out before the first snowdrops appeared.

I had wondered whether any birds had started nesting, but after a check up on all the nest boxes I have seen no evidence of any nesting material.

It meant good news for installing a new camera to replace the one in the triple sparrow nest box, which had been broken thanks to a mouse that hadn’t taken to kindly to it being in a place it was sleeping.

The camera was obviously putting off the birds nesting, as the other two boxes sections have been used since it was first erected. The mouse and a new nest box (with roof space for the camera) have meant a change of camera location.

The new camera installation has taken three sections of work, but is now fully operational as the images below demonstrates. The first one is the new nest box, the second one the original one.

Now there will be a lot of finger crossing as human eyes will be firmly focused on both cameras to check for any movement.

The new nest box has a smaller entrance as I’m hoping to bring back the blue tits, as they have not nested in the garden for a number of years – mainly sue to the house sparrows, tree sparrows and great tits.

There has been no sign of the caterpillars and I suspect they have crawled away to hide from the recent overnight frosts and prepare for warmer spell before emerging again.

Finally, the long tailed tits have been visiting regularly in recent days. It’s lovely to see and hear these birds in close proximity to the house although as there were only two of them I do wonder if the previously seen larger group has disbanded ahead of the breeding season, or these are two outcasts. 

WINTER SHIVERS NOT LASTING LONG

The current cold snap (cold by this winter’s standards) is not good for the bulbs and plethora of blossom that is now appearing in the garden and surrounding countryside

The emergence of these significant signs of spring have not been lost on flora or fauna, with two sightings of caterpillars in the garden.

I don’t know what type of moth or butterfly either of these caterpillars will (perhaps won’t now) grow into, but I’ve not seen them since the colder weather turned up.

The snowdrops are stating to emerge, as is the usual winter rose, but both are behind the odd tulip and crocus that have already flowered.

It’s strange to see this happening, but I guess it shows nature goes by temperature and reacts to other species, be they flora or fauna.

The birds are certainly eating up the offerings of fat snacks, peanuts and seeds, but they’re not venturing into the garden as often as in past winters, or indeed staying for long.

I’m hoping to work up the camera in the new nest box in the next couple of weeks, now that the birds have used to it being on the wall.

There is obviously a significant degree of hope that no mice venture inside and nibble off the antenna to the camera and cause a ‘black out’.

Now we’re in the middle of February I wonder if winter is actually simply passing us by this year or will March, as it has done previously, bring us snow, biting northerly winds and sub zero daytime temperatures.

If it does then the blossom laden trees and early nesting birds will be in for a big shock.

WINTER TEMPTATIONS NOT ATTRACTING USUAL WINTER VISITORS

This weekend the garden had three pairs of human eyes looking out for birds, although they weren’t the only eyes looking at the garden. There was also by a pair of cat eyes – an unwelcome sight for everyone else.

Once the cat was chased off the counting began; the first tick in the box came for the… grey squirrel, which was quite ironic as we’d not seen one for a couple of months!

But the usual suspects started turning up soon after and within an hour we’d seen most of the birds we see during a weekend.

House sparrow – 8

Tree sparrow – 5

Blue tit – 4

Goldfinch – 4

Dunnock – 4

Blackbird – 3

Robin – 2

Great tit – 2

Magpie – 2

Wren – 1

Unfortunately no long tailed tits, great spotted woodpeckers or starlings, but I know they’re around.

The new nest box has been up for a week and it now has one of the cameras inside it. I hope it will not put off the birds like it has done in in one of the boxes in the triple sparrow nest box.

There is hope for it because it does have a pitched roof, which can house the camera and not interfere with nest building or even put any birds of nesting there.

The only location for the nest box is underneath the triple sparrow nest box, and hopefully the ivy growing up the wall will act as a cover to the entrance. It could even keep the noise down from the noisy sparrow neighbours!

With winter only showing glimpses of its might, sometimes just for a night of low (ish) temperatures before reaching 10c or more the next day, it’s no wonder not many fieldfares, redwings and other wintering birds haven’t been seen.

Instead tulips, crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops are all either growing or flowering. It’s great adding colour to the garden in January, but I fear winter has one big icy blast up its sleeve.

And given the odd report of swallows wintering in the UK and ducklings being born in December and January, I hope no garden birds decide to start the breeding season early and get caught out by winter finally getting its act together.