Tuesday 29th April 2014

What a thunder storming day. Very mild and pretty wet most of the day culminating in a thunderstorm this afternoon. 66mm of rain recorded as at 9.30pm.
            Ears yesterday, teeth today. Dentist this morning demonstrated how to clean ones teeth. Technicians have worked out that the gap between teeth can't be cleaned by a conventional toothbrush and there are now these tooth picky/brushy things of different sizes to deal with this issue. As I have various size gaps I require 4 different picky/brushy things. What a performance, will need to allow an hour each day to clean my knashers now....!
              Clearly the Wrens have now hatched as adults busy feeding all afternoon. No room for a camera in the nest so using my wandering cam which is connected to the monitor. Starling chicks really growing now, can see beaks very clearly and the Blue Tit continues to sit.
Squirrel babes in the hedgehog box this morning, trail cam set but bit busy tonight to check.
                The Observatory was officially declared open this afternoon. Phil, who gave me invaluable help in the design of the room always said that once finished he would cut the ribbon over a glass of bubbly. Today was the day, Phil and his wife Helen duly turned up this afternoon for the ceremony! When introduced to Helen we both stood in shock, we knew each other, neither of us could believe it.
Was an enjoyable afternoon.
        Finished the day with a meal at Barkham Bull

Photographs tomorrow.

Monday 28th April 2014

What a day, more on that later.
Weather good today, mild, dry and a little Sun.
Hospital this morning. Appointment with the Audiology department over the issue of picking up NASSA through my hearing aids. Short of boring you all with the techno details it will be sorted hopefully within 10 days.
          Lawn cut on return from Hospital as rain was forecast so all looking good for tomorrows official opening of the Observatory. 
The Sunflowers are growing well, will soon be transplanting. Have only lost two to slugs and snails. Most pots have there own individual cloche, this helps keep snails/slugs at bay although I do use an organic slug killer in the pots. Never on the garden I hasten to add.
            Blue Tit very restless today, not sure why? Starling Chicks growing fast, can just see their beaks now over the top of the nest. Still pretty dark however.
On checking out the sunflowers I was aware of squeaking close by, on looking down it was a delight to see two tiny baby Squirrels. They were adorable. This description is from someone who only a few months ago was suggesting catching the adult Squirrels and moving them on. I was advised this would be deemed illegal. I have learnt to live with them now and took pleasure in watching the adult build a

drey of twigs in a large nest box.
These two young seen today appeared from a Hedgehog box (no camera), trail cam now set to record, hopefully more activity. Must add that during the afternoon one of the babes took to the pond and swam across it, amazed me.
Pictures 1 - 6 - Baby Squirrels.
      "            7 - Blue Tit and eggs this afternoon.
      "            8 - Sunflowers almost ready for transplanting.

Sunday 27th April 2014

 A rubbish day for weather. Wet most of the day. Only showers but enough to stop me working in the garden. Not enough to stop me enjoying a walk at Moors Copse this afternoon. Was pretty muddy and flooded in parts but a great walk. The Purple Orchids and Bluebells were stunning.
Watching the Starling Cam was pretty interesting this morning. The chicks are old enough now to understand that their poo needs to be removed. The chicks remove the poo to outside the nest then the adult takes and drops in the neighbs garden!
Pictures 1 - 5 - Moors Copse.
        "          6 - Adult Starling removing chicks poo. 

Saturday 26th April 2014

Mixed bag today of sun, rain, wind and thunder. 19mm of rain recorded.
Day spent in garden pottering. Planted out a further 30 Sunflower plants. 12 Pumpkins and re-planted Greengage and Avacado plants.
Foxy was clearly about last night, not seen for months. Wonder if Cubs are about?
                Ticket for this years Birdfair now confirmed. One of my yearly highlights.
Picture 1 - Piece of garden Jewellery.
     "      2 - Another piece of garden Jewellery (Fox Poo)!
 "  3 & 4 - Just liked these perspectives of the garden.

Friday 25th April 2014

What a day, never stopped raining all day. As I write this the recorded rainfall is at 76mm. Flooding returns I guess. Local Park & Ride closed due to flooding, area's of Arborfield are closed and two cars already abandoned in Twyford.
Due to the weather I enjoyed a full day in front of the monitor's. Amazing to see once again the method of turning eggs and how the sitting bird is fed by the partner. 
Twice today the Magpie attempted to gain access to the Starling nest. What some lungs Starling have in times of distress.
Blackbird still building and today the Wren started again on re-building a nest in the roosting pouch.
The most amusing sight was watching a pair of Pigeons nothing short of necking? Not seen this ritual before, as well as twisting necks there was a spell of, well, how can I put it, french kissing? Were like this for over two hours in the same spot in the pouring rain.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Pigeons in love.
      "              3 - Wren with building material.
      "              4 - Sitting Blue Tit being fed.
      "              5 - Blue Tit turning eggs.

Thursday 24th April 2014

A dull, overcast day. No rain recorded and temp' reached a high of just 15c.
Hard day today physically. When the foundations were dug last year for the Observatory all the spoil was dumped at the side of the garage side of house. Today I levelled and fixed a fence for security. 
Hopefully this is the last of the heavy duty jobs that were outstanding.
           With recent rainfall the bird feeders had become rather messy so today gave them all a thorough clean. This is an important job in any event to stop any possible disease birds are likely to catch.
A Blackbird is building another nest, not in this garden but two doors down. Selecting all building material from the garden however. A broken egg appeared overnight on a chair, think it maybe a Blackbird egg, am sure Doug will help me on this. Where it was found is a spot where a Magpie has been causing mayhem with the Blackbirds and Pigeons.
A Red Kite spent some time trying to access the garden, lowest it became was at chair height. No food out so can only think it remembered me putting out a chicken wing last week and hoped for more?
Fascinating to watch the Blue Tit through the monitor this afternoon. Watching how they turn the eggs while sitting is amazing. Almost turn over in the process.
              Enjoyed the Binfield Badger Group agm meeting and talk this evening. The interesting talk by Andy who manages a rescue centre for Badgers and other animals (Badgers mostly) was backed up by a PowerPoint presentation. The amount of work involved in finding new sets or even introducing them to existing sets is commendable. With the Governments stance on culling it sure is very much an emotive situation and generated much debate tonight.
Picture 1 - Good, clean bird feeders.
     "      2 - First Ladybird seen this year. Looks battered but was well and truly alive. With the amount of Greenfly about we need 100s more of these.
Picture 3 - A lonesome Fungi on back lawn.
     "      4 - Blackbird with nesting material.
     "      5 - Broken egg.
     "      6 - Red Kite over back garden.
     "      7 - Blue Tit getting comfortable.

Wednesday 23rd April 2014

Mild, overcast, little sun. 7mm of rain recorded from late afternoon - midnight.
A 'not a lot going on' sort of day. Doing the weekly Morrisons shop always stunts my day.
Once shopping out the way I spent time in the Observatory watching the Starlings and Blue Tit. Also looking out for Swifts now of course. Starling chicks now very noisy so may get a glimpse of them soon.
          Enjoyed a meal at the New Inn with Brian & Carol  early evening. Good to see the return of Stinger. Thanks Brian for the recent use of your bungalow in Padstow.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Just liked this unusual perspective of the back garden.

Tuesday 22nd April 2014

A very dull, overcast day with showers late afternoon. 17mm of rain recorded over night. Temp' today again reached a high of 15c.
Day in the workshop framing copies of Rick Stein menu's on the two occasions we have eaten at this prize winning Padstow restaurant. Visits in 2004 & 2014.
          Plenty of Birds about today. Jay, Male/Female GSWs & Wren. Particularly pleased to see the Wren as not spotted for some weeks. Appears to be back in the pouch, nesting? I'm not sure. Still the 9 Blue Tit eggs, being turned every hour. Leaves nest for only minutes now before returning with bugs she gradually eats. Her partner also appeared in the box for a short time. Starlings still manic of course feeding their young.
Picture 1 - Wren.
      "     2 - Female GSW.
      "     3 - Rick Stein wall in the kitchen. (a) Main Course & Sweet menu 2004.
                                                                         (b)     "          "               "          "   2014.

Easter Monday 21st April 2014

 A pretty good day, not much sun but dry for most of the day. Showers early evening.  Temp' reaching a high of 15c.
Day spent in garden transplanting tomato plants and succulents I propagated over the winter.
Spent some time with the girls at their veg patch. I had a bucket of poultry poo pellets which I suggested they spread over the patch as a feed. You would have thought I had given them poison!
           In the morning sun it was a pleasure to see once again a Speckled Wood, Peacock and Orange Tip Butterflies. Also a large Wasp (Hornet?) and various other bugs.
Birds were very busy. Starlings now manic with feeding young chicks, sadly unable to see how many. Now have 9 Blue Tit eggs. This has been fascinating to watch. Actually saw her lay the 9th egg.
Picture 1 - Starling with breakfast.
     "      2 - Wasp/Hornet? Sunbathing on a deck post.
     "      3 - Speck;ed Wood Butterfly on the conservatory cill.
     "      4 - Bug on a candle.
     "      5 - Spider on a seed tray.
  " 6 & 7 - Blue Tit via the monitor,
  " 8 & 9 - Girls with poultry poo feed.

Easter Sunday 20th April 2014

What happened, after a reasonable start to the day the heavens just opened complete with thunder and Lightening. Had this for most of the day until 6.30pm when the sun came out giving us a lovely evening.
Enjoyed an early morning walk at Fobney. Had been walking about ten minutes  and I was thinking - dull, overcast, no sign of life (human or wildlife) and this could be the first outing not taking any photographs. Then it all changed, a Roe Deer appeared, an Egret appeared and on reaching the weir, a Grey Wagtail to delight me.
I love mornings like this, full of surprises.
               With such atrocious weather for the rest of the day I took the opportunity of booking hotels, rail and car hire for the impending Scotland Cruise and four days with family. Can't believe it is a month to the day we are embarking.
Picture 1 - Back end of a Roe Deer.
     "      2 - Grey Wagtail.
     "      3 - Egret.
     "      4 - A fluffed up Magpie after a good wash in the back garden.

Saturday 19th April 2014

Liking this weather, more please. Hope you are joking about having rain tomorrow?
Planted the Maple, no easy task. Not able to lift such pots now, lucky I have a sack barrow. 
Re-potted over eighty Sunflower plants. Can't believe how much growth made in just ten days. Still many more to plant out, will probably plant out these directly into the garden.
I am clearly at the top of my game for winning this years competition. Of the emails received on progress it is clear many of you are already cheating. I can tell a runner bean to a sunflower!
                Starlings very busy feeding now, shame unable to see through the cam as box so full of nest material.
Blue Tit has six eggs for sure, could be seven. Still covers with feathers when away for a long period.
Picture 1 - Blossom covering the pond.
     "     2 - Very small section of Sunflower plants.
     "     3 - Six Blue Tit eggs.
     "     4 - First Moth of the season.