Very warm and sunny with temperature today reaching 16c this afternoon.
A day in the garden after a little bit of a lay in.
Watered all the plant pots and new wildflower plants. Four large sacks filled with home made compost. About 50% of the compost bin now emptied.
All my bonsai trees trimmed for another year and topped up with soil.
Lots of bees and hoverflies enjoying the recent planted wildflower plants. A male hairy-footed flower bee was identified by one of my followers.
A pied wagtail appeared in the garden this afternoon.
Squirrel has now chewed through the dustbin lid. I upturned a large clay pot onto the lid as a deterrent but clearly had not worked.
Very warm and sunny day with temperature this afternoon reaching 21c.
Today was all about celebrating cousin David's 70th birthday. What a lovely day for such a celebration. David and Christine have developed a wildlife garden over many years, it was a pleasure to sit outside and appreciate their achievements.
Very warm and sunny with temperature this afternoon reached a balmy 20c.
An enjoyable day in the garden.
Replacement herb plants planted, plant pots weeded and topped up with home made compost. Homemade leaf mould spread on the rose border.
The original alpine border tidied and gravel topped up.
A peacock butterfly photographed and a brimstone, orange tip and a small blue butterfly seen.
Photographed a plume moth on the wall of the house tonight.
Very warm and sunny with temperature this afternoon reaching 18c.
Collected my C5 Aircross today, very pleased. Toasted car over a pint and a pie at the Warren Inn.
Nothing else to report today.
Mild and sunny although not so warm as of late. Temperature this afternoon reached 13c.
Very little wildlife activity today. Hardly any birds about, very little food eaten as a consequence. Did have a couple of stock doves ground feeding this afternoon. I am pleased with the number of bees and hover flies already enjoying the wildflower plants. This will be an ongoing success story I guess?
One observation to report is the continuing saga of the dustbin lid removal that houses the sunflower hearts in the food store.
I assumed it was a strong large rat that was able to remove such a large lid with a deep lip. It was removed overnight again and within an hour of my back being turned this morning the lid had been removed again. Ridiculous. I set a trail cam' and by lunchtime the lid was removed yet again. On checking the SD card it showed up a squirrel. How on earth is it getting in with door and window shut and no sign of a large entry hole, only the original mouse hole. It beggars belief, have the camera set again to record overnight action.
Very warm and sunny with temperature reaching a high again of 17c this afternoon.
A visit to Henry Street this morning for a few herb plants to replace some that are now past their sell by date.
Planted up this afternoon.
Trail cameras picked out a pair of hedgehogs and a pair of foxes. Hedgehogs eating loads of a night, will try and purchase in bulk as so expensive by a 2kg bag.
Lots of ladybirds about now, mostly 7 spot. Moths have started to appear in the moth trap, last night a Hebrew Character.
Warm and sunny all day with temperature today reaching 17c this afternoon.
Lawn cut today before meeting with Lulu and Clive to celebrate ones birthday.
Nothing else to report today.
Stunning day. Warm and sunny all day with again the temperature reaching 17c this afternoon.
A day in the garden transferring old pot bound herb plants into the new herb border in the wild flower plant area.
Also mulched this area with 2018 shredded leaves. Birds are loving it.
Checked out two days of trail cam' images and can confirm a pair of hedgehogs are getting rather frisky after only being awake for a few days after their hibernation period.
Gorgeous day. Warm and sunny all day with temperature today reaching 17c.
Enjoyed big time a day out to Thriplow for the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend & Country Fair event. What an amazing event, organised by the inhabitants of the Village. This being the 51st year, an incredible achievement. It was not what I expected at all. So much going on including entertainment by Morris dancers, solo artists, country/folk band, vintage vehicles, gardens open, craft stalls, beer tent, village pub, blacksmith and so much more. My type of a day out, loved it.
Mild and overcast day, temperature this afternoon reached 14c.
A full day working on project book, proof reading today. Went into three books this year, may have to look at another way of recording the yearly wildlife in future years?
Trail cameras confirmed the hedgehogs and foxes were out again last night. Male sparrowhawk spent time on a feeder a few times today, just appeared to be resting.
Two stock doves were back this afternoon ground feeding under the bird feeder. Good to see bees busy on the flowers in the alpine sinks. Arabis plants proving a hit.
Mild and sunny again today. Sun did struggle however as a little overcast.
A rest from project book today spending the day in the garden. Cuttings in the greenhouse that were over wintering now outside hardening off. Teasel, bugloss and lavender seed now sown. Hopefully plants that will give a good return next year.
Started to empty the compost heap and was astonished to find two eggs buried. Have seen this when a fox had buried eggs in plant pots but never in the compost heap before.
The woodpeckers were in the garden again, blackbirds were collecting nest material, a wren appeared and also a male sparrowhawk.
Brilliant day, mild and sunny all day with temperature this afternoon reaching 17c.
Did not check the trail camera images today but hedgehog poo confirmed hog activity.
Day spent on project book.
Mild and sunny all day with a cracking sunset tonight.
Spike was out again last night so definitely had woken up now after the hibernation period.
Still not seen the jays for a while but both the male and female great spotted woodpecker were about again.
Another day on project book.
Weather conditions are changing at last. Mild, sunny and so much less breezy.
After my dental appointment this morning it was then the rest of the day working on project book.
Trail camera confirmed a hedgehog has now woken up. Enjoyed a good meal of hog biscuits, met his mate Foxy so the friendship continues.
Cold, windy, sunny and sleet this afternoon. Temperature reached 13c this afternoon.
Today was all about the Reading half marathon. Good day for running apparently. Friends I support managed in just over 2 hours, pretty good going that.
Until the sleet arrived I worked on project wildflower plants. All plants now layed out ready for planting.
Cold wind with temperature today reaching a high of 12c. Gale force wind most of the day with rain tonight.
A visit to Henry Street this morning for a few stepping stones for the wildflower plants area. During this afternoon I layed out said stone slabs. Hopefully can make a start on planting tomorrow.
Considering how cold it is at the moment I am surprised at the number of bees about. Male and female great spotted woodpecker in the garden again. Not seen the jays for a while and still waiting for the elusive blackcap.
Cold wind, mostly overcast today. Temperature this afternoon reached 13c.
A full day working on the book project. During breaks I saw and photographed the male and female great spotted woodpecker.
Trail camera confirmed just the one fox out each night. No sign of hedgehogs yet.
