Wednesday 30 August 2017

At Home

We've finally managed to finish our little pond area this past couple of weeks, though i'm still trying to find a couple of extra hidey holes for the bugs and hopefully frogs/toads.







In other garden news my noisy Starlings seem to have moved on, only 3 or 4 are lingering at the moment. The Swifts are also gone but have been replaced by House Martins, lots of them flying all around the house and gardens and all up the street. A flock of Long-tailed and Blue Tits have swept through the gardens a few times, twice bringing with them a Chiffchaff and a young Dunnock and once a Willow Warbler - they're a joy to watch. The LTTs are constantly chirping, you can always hear them long before you see them.







The Sparrows are still making the most of the bird bath and feeders in the front garden. A Wren has started making an appearance on a regular basis. A few feral Pigeons took up residence in a nearby mill that's being (slowly) refurbished when they opened up some of the windows and didn't fit new ones. A couple of days ago one actually ventured into the garden, it's the first time since we moved in that we've had one do that! Collared Doves are still regular visitors too.




My daughter spotted the Wren in the Budleia outside the window but I could only grab this shot before it was gone.


Overhead there's been a lot of Gulls, we're on a 'flight path' and they're on the move right now, Herring and Black-headed, possibly Common too but not a good enough view to be sure.   There was even one flying over in the dark a few nights back, squawking with every flap.



The Foxes are in every night after dark - rarely together but we can tell them apart by the amount of white on the end of the tails. The squirrel is in regularly and I caught it destroying one of the feeders after it cleared the feed tray of nuts! We see a Bat or two flying around the garden at dusk. Just this morning I discovered Hedgehog poop by the feeder, good to know they are still around too.





This Grasshopper jumped through our patio doors at the weekend and ended up in the dining room. I managed to nudge it on to a pencil and put it back out in the garden where it wondered around the ivy for a while. It's been a long time since I saw one in the garden.


I thought when I started this post that it's been quiet in the garden but after reading this back I realise it really isn't!

8 comments:

  1. You do have a lot going in in your garden, looking forward to seeing what you discover with the new pond. I love the photo of the squirrel hanging of the feeder.
    The birds have been very quiet in my garden over the summer, but I too have a pair of feral pigeons, they are in every day and constantly trying to build a nest under next doors solar panels on his roof. We are having a porch/conservatory fitted on the back of the house, so looking forward to sitting in there and watching the birds. We found a Toad in the front garden this afternoon while tidying up, first I've seen in a while.. made a toad house out of a old pot for him to hide in.
    Will do a garden post once we are all sorted.
    Amanda xx

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    1. It doesn't do bad for such a small garden really! I'm always looking for ways to make it more wildlife friendly too! Thanks :)

      It's funny how the pigeons have never been in here before, they've been hanging around a while? It sounds like you're going to have a perfect place to sit, I spend so much time sat at the dining table watching out the patio doors I really should put in a comfier chair! xx

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    2. Just letting you know it was the 16th of Sep, caring for life was closed, just that day (every Sunday) you could have a trip to Eccup, far end of the reservoir on the bridge, all the geese are on the banking. Today hundreds flew over my head the sound was amazing.
      Amanda xx

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    3. Thank you that sounds like a good idea my husband had suggested combining it with Golden Acre but we haven't been to Eccup in ages! x

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  2. It is a busy place that garden of yours!! Squirrels are the best feeder destroyers ever..lol. Super shot of the wren it really highlights how secretive he was being.

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    1. Busier than I thought when I put it all down :) It's currently destroying a second one, if the Starlings are at the nut tray it goes for the feeder instead! Thanks it's not easy to get the Wren it's quite the skulker normally!

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  3. definitely not quiet! It'll be interesting to see what moves into your little pond area over time :)

    I've had a noisy 'midnight magpie' for a few weeks over the summer, chattering for a few minutes late each night. Not heard it for a week or so now though so think it has moved on or given up!

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    1. It will, I do check the pond daily!!

      That must have been quite odd to listen to in the dark!

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