Thursday 28th February 2019

Mild day with temperature today reaching 13c this afternoon. Showers on and off most of the day.
I managed to cut the lawn early this morning before the rain. First cut of the season, never before have I cut in February.
Rest of the day worked on project book. 
With the desktop still playing up I am unable to post photographs. Been over a week now, have no patience when it comes to PC technology. iPad and iPhone works so why not the desktop?

Wednesday 27th February 2019

Very warm and sunny with temperature once again reaching 20c this afternoon.
This morning worked on project book, this afternoon attended the asbestos support group.
 Only sighting to report today is that the yellow brimstone butterfly was busy in the garden.

Tuesday 26th February 2019

Very warm and sunny with temperature again reaching 20c this afternoon.
Day indoors working on project book meaning nothing else to report today.

Monday 25th February 2019.

Warm and sunny with temperature again reaching 20c this afternoon.
Day in the garden. Alpine house tidied and three concrete sinks prepared for alpine plants, sunflower stems hollowed out ready for the bug house, willow tree shreddings spread in the wooded area, bee nest removed from a nest box and hedgehog homes tidied with food left for when they wake up.
Nothing else to report today.

Sunday 24th February 2019

Warm and sunny with temperature this afternoon reached 20c.
Nothing to report today as spent the day on project book.

Saturday 23rd February 2019

Warm and sunny day with temperature this afternoon reaching a balmy 19c.
Day spent in the garden. Dead headed all the hydrangea plants, pruned the fuchsia plants and started a general tidy up. 
             No sign of the frogs today nor any spawn. What I saw last night from my headlamp was the algae glistening. Disappointed at that. 
Not photographed but an admiral, small white and a brimstone were seen in the garden this afternoon.
My January wildlife article for Wordspress Whitley Pump was published today, will be interesting to follow feedback.

Friday 22nd February 2019

Warm and sunny day with temperature this afternoon reaching 17c.
A morning at Henry Street just browsing and relaxing with a lunch and coffee.
This afternoon visited Emma, Phil and their numerous children, how many more Phil!?
                Wildlife news today was all about frogs. After nearly five years of zero Frog sightings today saw a pair doing what frogs do in the Spring. So pleased with this news. 
By my headlight at 9.30pm tonight I saw the frogs still in the same position and clearly spawning. What a result.

Thursday 21st February 2019

Warm and sunny day with temperature reaching 17c this afternoon.
Have finally agreed to write a monthly article on garden wildlife for Wordspress / Whitley Pump. Managed the 500 words required but unsure if I will ever be up to journalistic standards!
Rest of the day spent working on project book. 
             Good to see so many bees about in this glorious weather, may it continue. The male sparrowhawk appeared in the garden again this morning as did the female great spotted woodpecker.

Wednesday 20th February 2019

Mild and sunny day with temperature reaching 14c this afternoon. Another superb sunset tonight.
Not much to report today as invited over to lunch with friends. Male sparrowhawk did appear at breakfast as did a mouse under the bird feeder.

Tuesday 19th February 2019

Warm and sunny day with temperature reaching 16c this afternoon.
Another day working on project book. A milestone today, all images now categorised and edited except for the identification of the moths. Need to write a monthly text now before I start designing the book. A long process this year.
No wildlife surprises today, all the regular birds including the female blackcap were very busy at the feeders today. Bees were active on the iris and crocus flowers. The pair of squirrels were doing what they do best this time of year, chasing one another at a manic speed. Amazing to watch.

Monday 18th February 2019

Mild but mostly an overcast day. The most beautiful sunset tonight.
A day working on project book and project Whitley Pump (Wordpress).
Love is in the air? Magpies, dove and a squirrel all with mouthfuls of nesting material.
Still no sign of the male blackcap but the female very busy feeding from the lawn bird feeder. 
Peanut butter cam' has also shown her busy on this feeder so could have two female blackcaps in the garden.

Sunday 17th Sunday February 2019

Very mild and sunny, temperature reaching 17c this afternoon.
Another day on project book.
All manner of bees were active today in the Spring bulb border particularly loving the crocuses.
No other wildlife news due to my time working on the book.

Saturday 16th February 2019

Mild but mostly overcast today with temperature still reaching 15c this afternoon however.
A day on project book, still on August! Must try and identify as I photograph in the future me thinks.
Bit of a surprise this morning, photographed a pine ladybird that was on the door frame, so tiny. Have been advised to record it as reasonably scarce. 
No other wildlife news due to working on the book.

Friday 15th February 2019

Warm day with temperature this afternoon reaching a balmy 17c.

Nothing to report today.

Thursday 14th February 2019

After an overnight frost and early morning fog the day turned out to be mild and sunny. Temperature this afternoon reached 16c.
My turf order has been cancelled, a national shortage of turf apparently. The beast from the east and the hot summer had had a detrimental affect on grass growing. This project is just not to be?

As regards the day, best forgotten. An 8am dental appointment left me with pain like I have never experienced in my mouth. 

Wednesday 13th February 2019

Mild and sunny all day. Stunning sunrise and sunset. Temperature reached 16c this afternoon.
A good day in the garden. 
Split up over 100 snowdrops and replanted in the woody area. Has really looked good this year. Photographed all the different types of snowdrops and hellebores for my records.
Next project in the garden is the laying of turf in the alpine area, third attempt at this. Turfed in 2017, unsuccessful due to lung operation and not being able to look after newly layer turf. Seeded in 2018, unsuccessful due to the beast from the east hence another go at turfing. Do not envisage any problems this year.

Tuesday 12th February 2019

Mild and sunny day. Temperature reached 12c this afternoon. 
Spring bulbs loving the sun.
Another day working on project book. Managed to identify 70% of the July images. Will have a day off tomorrow and have another go on Thursday. 
Trail camera images over the last two days showed two foxes back in the garden. Peanut butter feeder still very popular, the female black cap is almost a permanent visitor to this feeder.

Monday 11th February 2019

Mild and sunny day. Temperature reached 10c this afternoon.
Project book today trying to edit June images. Was ok except for the moths, really do struggle here so think may have to make an exception? 
Peanut feeder is proving a massive hit since placing out all varieties. 

Sunday 10th February 2019

Milder day with showers.
Day back on project book. Sorted out June photographs, tomorrow will try and edit each image. What a task.
Still no sign of a blackcap, the female is in the garden all day feeding on a good mix of food from peanut butter, sunflower hearts and fat sticks.
More starlings emerging now, matching the numbers of blackbirds. jays, magpies, great spotted woodpecker, dunnocks and goldfinches all regular visitors now.
Pigeons appear to have lost eggs probably from magpie invasion. 
              Garden really looking like Spring now with snowdrops, crocuses and helibores all in flower now.

Saturday 9th February 2019

Mild and sunny day. 
Garden looks a mess, wet and mucky with twigs littering the garden.
Checked through hundreds of trail cam' images, no surprises. The one fox and hundreds of cats.

Friday 8th February 2019

Cold and very wet from Llanberis to Home.
What a dreadful day, left hotel at 9.30am and arrived home at 4.30pm.
What a holiday, loved it.

Thursday 7th February 2019

Can't believe this, woke up to find the weather had changed dramatically again giving us mild and dry conditions. Heavy overnight snow added to the atmosphere that is Snowdonia.
Enjoyed a fabulous day at Bobnant Gardens with time to explore Betts-y-Coed late this afternoon. Drove over the Llanberis Pass again with today looking dramatically different to yesterday after last nights snow.
The gardens are reputed to be the worlds best set in 30 acres made up of gardens and woodland including a mill and stream. All against the backdrop of Snowdonia.
With recent heavy rain Swallow Falls was in full flood, just the right conditions for a spot of white water rafting. Madness but good to watch.
Returned back at the hotel rather tired again but what a day, what a holiday. Rain every night but day times were good, how jammy is that.
Enjoyed the last night of steak, local beer and entertainment of a Wales Male Voice Choir.