What a scorcher, superb. Going to miss this weather next week.
Thoroughly enjoyed the early morning walk to Fobney. Plenty of activity with three young Herons enjoying the morning sun. Managed a photograph of two together. The Grey Wagtail was busy collecting building material. Swan still sitting looking majestic in the morning sun. A Shoveler and Little Grebe were on the large lake at the time a Little Egret flew over. What a morning.
Day spent watering and generally making sure the garden is up together before the holiday.
Extra feeders and water bowls left out for the birds and their young. Great night for Moths & Bugs but sadly picts' not good enough to share. Unusual for me but set the camera incorrectly.
Last night was the first night Adult Blue Tits left their chicks to themselves. Chicks almost full size now with not much space to move. Sad to be leaving them.
Picture 1 - Entrance to Fobney Meadow.
" 2 - Grey Wagtail collecting nest material.
" 3 - Young Heron.
" 4 - Waspy Bee thingy on house wall this morning. Help, what is it Boyo?
" 5 - Little Egret.
" 6 - Damsel on seat in Observatory.
" 7 - Tufty on its way to the bird feeder.
" 8 - Last photograph of the Blue Tit Chicks as will be fully fledged on return from holiday.
Picture 9 - Extra water bowls for the birds to cover period we are away.
Scotland tomorrow so blog off line for a while. If WiFi allows I will try and update while away.
Hottest day of the year I reckon? Temp' reached 26c this afternoon.
Another good night for Bugs and Moths. Great to see the first Brimstone of the season. The Brimstone flew onto the chair next to me so an instant photograph.
Large part of the day spent packing case for the impending holiday.
What a stunning day, just gets better.
Another good day relaxing in the garden. Sadly it is two days now since I last saw the Swifts. Can only hope they are still in the area.
Good to catch up with Neil & Sarah tonight. Enjoyed a Chinese take a way with a few pints of Neils home made beer. By jove it is some pretty strong stuff Neil!
Picture 1 - Chaffinch sunbathing on back lawn.
" 2 - Frog enjoying the sun from the pond.
" 3 - Sad this, I spooked a Sparrow which flew into the door in front of me. Snapped neck, instant death.
Picture 4 - Not a set up. This Beetle landed on the table in front of my Insect book.
" 5 - Baby Blue Tits.
" 6 - Alpine border looking good.
As predicted another superb day.
Day spent just enjoying the garden and the wildlife around me.
A good selection of Bugs and a Moth last night.
Picture 1 - Baby Blue Tits.
" 2 - 5 - In last nights Moth Trap.
" 6 - Garden night scene.
A warm and very sunny day. Rest of the week looking the same. Bring it on.
Weekly shop this morning, nuff said!
Planted out another 20 Sunflower plants. Still a good 20 more to plant, these are the weaker plants so will leave until back from holiday.
Starlings going mad, never seen so many. The noise is now getting a little annoying. My family are over shadowed by the gate crashers.
There is no doubt our pair are nesting again so more to come.
Only saw two Swifts today, they did fly down the side of the house so perhaps looking for next year.
Good to see the Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly. Landed on a white flower in full sun. Bootiful.
Lots of Bees around the Ceanothus which is good news especially as I thought the shrub had died. Just late in blooming this year.
Picture 1 - Tortoiseshell Butterfly.
" 2 - Young Blue Tits.
" 3 - Young Starling missing its mates?
" 4 - Adult Starling enjoying a preen.
" 5 - Ceanothus.
" 6 - Just love this climber, does not appear to attract Bees however.
Another mild, sunny day. Rest of the week also looking good. Wonder if we will be so lucky as to experience this kind of weather in Scotland?
Starlings still arriving in droves. At one point today I counted 32. Only topped up the feeder once today.
Adults have defo' taken over the nest box again. With the camera now pretty much covered in dirt it will be difficult to obtain much of an image through the monitor.
Blue Tits growing fast, wings forming now but eyes still closed. Removing poo from ones bottom does amuse me!
Met with Janet and Colin at Barkham Bull lunchtime. Good to catch up over a good pint of Tribute and a 'Ridiculous Burger'. Appreciated Colin helping me back home with working out how you 'back up' from the monitor.
I just need that push to give me confidence, I am paranoid of deleting all that has been recorded. With Colin's help I am ok now but will require help in editing - you there Colin!!
Picture 1 - Blue Tits growing fast.
" 2 - Removing ones poo.
" 3 - Adult Starling back in box singing her heart out.
" 4 - Just a colourful perspective at the BBQ end of the garden.
A good mild and sunny day with temp' reaching 18c this afternoon.
Town this morning to purchase some last minute items of clothing for the impending Scotland holiday. Clothing to cope with the best and worst of Scottish weather.
Swifts still flying about and a couple of times swooping down the side of the house. Swift Call CD still playing, can only hope with fingers crossed. The fact they have flown back to the area is good news so must be patient that they find my Swift Nest Box.
Not known a year for the number of Starlings feeding in the garden. Have now cut back even more the times of day I am feeding them. Within two hours, two fat blocks and a suet stick feeder were emptied.
The Adults do appear to be cleaning the nest for almost certain another family.
Planted out 22 Sunflower Plants, all protected by a plastic bottle. Still have another 30 to plant out. Bound to lose some to slugs or snails or even sabotage?......!
Picture 1 - Swift Call CD player and Swift Nest Box.
" 2 - Two of the young Starlings still being fed.
" 3 - Starlings being taught how to fly.
" 4 - Our family of Starlings.
Windy but a lovely sunny day for visiting London.
Day spent at the Olympic Village culminating in a visit to the top of Orbit.
Brilliant to see the success of the wildflower meadows and borders. Made more enjoyable with most plants now out in full flower.
Good to see inside the Velodrome (all timber as supplied by Lavers), how on earth do those bikes stay upright without slipping on the steep slope of the floor?
The Aquatics Venue also a very impressive building, unable to go inside due to a tournament taking place.
What was sad and disappointing was seeing the state of the main stadium. All the track and grass now removed. Top layer of stadium also removed. One big builders site again as it prepares for West Ham taking over in 2016.
The visit to the top of Orbit was awesome. Clear day, what a view. The mirrors were something else showing everyone and the outside view as being upside down.
Picture 1 - Olympic Rings.
" 2 - Velodrome.
" 3 - Aquatic Venue.
" 4 - Velodrome.
" 5 - Orbit and main Stadium.
" 6 - Mirror inside Orbit.
" 7 - View from the top of Orbit overlooking the Stadium.
" 8 - One of the Wildflower borders.
What a weather pattern today. A gorgeous morning with blue sky and long periods of sun with temp' reaching 19c by 11am. All changed by mid-afternoon. Heavy showers ending with a whirlwind type storm at 5pm. Branch from the Silver Birch down & pots over. 22mm of rain recorded in a period of just 30 minutes.
Lazy day just watching and admiring the antics of the Starlings. Our four fledged this morning but at one point this morning 37 were counted on the lawn around the feeder. You can imagine it was also a pretty noisy day! The standard size feeder of suet sticks was re-filled 5 times. Will for the future just fill morning and night to encourage the chicks to fend for themselves from grubs in the lawn and garden.
Adult Starlings tidied up the nest box taking out droppings and un-eaten bugs and then continued to enter the box during the afternoon. Feel sure we will see another brood.
The Swift Call CD is now hanging out of the bedroom window. Fingers crossed now for some success this season. Whatever happens, it is already good news that Swifts have returned to the area. Many memories eh Boyo?
Pictures 1 - 4 - Starling Fledglings.
" 5 - During the storm. There was another Rainbow, much lighter in colour.
