Gorgeous day. Slight overnight frost leaving us with a mild sunny day.
Nothing else to report as busy with decorator, shopping, bank and coffee breaks.
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
Tuesday 26th April 2016
What strange weather. Chilly, warm, cold, hot, sunny, bleak, dark, snow, sleet and rain. Localised it appears as Woodley and Bracknell were dry and sunny all day but Thatcham, Alton and Tilehurst experienced the mix bag of weather.
Spent day removing more of the feather edge fencing, equivalent of eight panels today. Shame I have to remove the ivy hedging but it is the smallest area of all the ivy in the garden. Plenty of bugs/insects disturbed but was very careful to rehouse in my other Ivy hedge.
Make sparrowhawk called for a couple of minutes, unusual as normally stays a while. The female great spotted also feeding today, no sign of Jays for a while despite plenty of monkey nuts in the feeder.
Decorating going good, should finish on Friday.
Pictures are of bugs/insects seen whilst fence/ivy clearing.
Spent day removing more of the feather edge fencing, equivalent of eight panels today. Shame I have to remove the ivy hedging but it is the smallest area of all the ivy in the garden. Plenty of bugs/insects disturbed but was very careful to rehouse in my other Ivy hedge.
Make sparrowhawk called for a couple of minutes, unusual as normally stays a while. The female great spotted also feeding today, no sign of Jays for a while despite plenty of monkey nuts in the feeder.
Decorating going good, should finish on Friday.
Pictures are of bugs/insects seen whilst fence/ivy clearing.
Monday, 25 April 2016
Monday 25th April 2016
Dull morning but afternoon cheered up with plenty of sun.
Decorator started this morning, managed to strip away at least 70 years worth of paper. I never did strip away paper not even the original.
Fence chaps called in with written quote so all ready to commence on Friday. Spent afternoon taking down the equivalent of four fence panels. Posts are rotten but the feather edge still good so will keep for future projects.
No time sadly to check out any garden wildlife today. Going to be a busy ten days.
Pictures of fence clearing.
Decorator started this morning, managed to strip away at least 70 years worth of paper. I never did strip away paper not even the original.
Fence chaps called in with written quote so all ready to commence on Friday. Spent afternoon taking down the equivalent of four fence panels. Posts are rotten but the feather edge still good so will keep for future projects.
No time sadly to check out any garden wildlife today. Going to be a busy ten days.
Pictures of fence clearing.
Friday 22nd April 2016
Not such a good day with showers on and off all day.
Between showers I spent time shifting timber ready for the fencers. When wet worked in front room making sure ready for decorator on Monday.
Enjoyed a curry takeaway with Neil and Sarah tonight. Not so much to drink tonight as need a clear head for the trip to Dudley tomorrow.
Between showers I spent time shifting timber ready for the fencers. When wet worked in front room making sure ready for decorator on Monday.
Enjoyed a curry takeaway with Neil and Sarah tonight. Not so much to drink tonight as need a clear head for the trip to Dudley tomorrow.
Sunday, 24 April 2016
Sunday 24th April 2016
Another pretty good day. Cooler still but dry, little sun however.
Another fencing company called this morning to price up to replace 13 fence panels. Will probably secure the business with this company. Calling again tomorrow with written quote.
Most of the day spent clearing space for the workmen to work without causing issues. Anxious not to disturb areas that wildlife are known to exist.
First thing this morning in the sun I spotted a beautiful bee fly on the greenhouse door. Thanks Boyo and Jackie for identifying.
Tufty has now emptied the drey box of all fleece and left the twigs. Has taken the fleece high up in the Lelandii tree. Not sure what it is at now?
Pictures 1 & 2 - Fence clearance.
" 3 & 4 - Bee fly.
Another fencing company called this morning to price up to replace 13 fence panels. Will probably secure the business with this company. Calling again tomorrow with written quote.
Most of the day spent clearing space for the workmen to work without causing issues. Anxious not to disturb areas that wildlife are known to exist.
First thing this morning in the sun I spotted a beautiful bee fly on the greenhouse door. Thanks Boyo and Jackie for identifying.
Tufty has now emptied the drey box of all fleece and left the twigs. Has taken the fleece high up in the Lelandii tree. Not sure what it is at now?
Pictures 1 & 2 - Fence clearance.
" 3 & 4 - Bee fly.
Saturday 23rd April 2016
Another brilliant day, perhaps a little cooler but dry and sunny most of the day.
An interesting and exciting day spent at the Dudley Mine and tunnel system. An amazing experience with a mini concert and light show deep underground in the larger of the caverns. Did not expect the concert, a complete surprise. To give an idea of size you could fit St.Pauls Cathedral into the cavern. It really is one of England's hidden treasures. Will visit again someday to learn more about this area.
A good day out.
Pictures are of the Dudley cave and tunnel system and surrounding area.
An interesting and exciting day spent at the Dudley Mine and tunnel system. An amazing experience with a mini concert and light show deep underground in the larger of the caverns. Did not expect the concert, a complete surprise. To give an idea of size you could fit St.Pauls Cathedral into the cavern. It really is one of England's hidden treasures. Will visit again someday to learn more about this area.
A good day out.
Pictures are of the Dudley cave and tunnel system and surrounding area.
Thursday, 21 April 2016
Thursday 21st April
Slow start but the sun came out mid morning giving us another very warm and sunny day.
Up early to drive across to Amersham for my camera, this of course took up the morning.
This afternoon cut the lawn and sowed numerous different seeds collected from various places visited last year.
Tonight enjoyed very interesting talks on Berkshire Dog Rescue and Badgers & Bovine TB at the Binfield Badger Set AGM. Packed house tonight creating a good atmosphere. Knew a lot about Bovine TB from reading reports etc but knew nothing about the dog rescue organisation. In fact didn't know a local group even existed. Very important work carried out by them with some high profile searches / finds discussed. An interesting evening.
Up early to drive across to Amersham for my camera, this of course took up the morning.
This afternoon cut the lawn and sowed numerous different seeds collected from various places visited last year.
Tonight enjoyed very interesting talks on Berkshire Dog Rescue and Badgers & Bovine TB at the Binfield Badger Set AGM. Packed house tonight creating a good atmosphere. Knew a lot about Bovine TB from reading reports etc but knew nothing about the dog rescue organisation. In fact didn't know a local group even existed. Very important work carried out by them with some high profile searches / finds discussed. An interesting evening.
Wednesday 20th April 2016
A cracking day, warm and sunny all day.
Day out today. Met up with Carol, Mac, Pauline and Jacky today at a pub in Amersham. Good to catch up on 3 years worth of news. After lunch enjoyed rest of the day outside in the sun at Jackie's house.
Left late afternoon, despite rush hour time made very good progress reaching B & Q Reading in under an hour. Wallpaper now bought ready for the decorator next week.
After arriving home I realised I had left my camera in Amersham. Not impressed with ones self.
Day out today. Met up with Carol, Mac, Pauline and Jacky today at a pub in Amersham. Good to catch up on 3 years worth of news. After lunch enjoyed rest of the day outside in the sun at Jackie's house.
Left late afternoon, despite rush hour time made very good progress reaching B & Q Reading in under an hour. Wallpaper now bought ready for the decorator next week.
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
Tuesday 19th April 2016
A cracking day, very warm and sunny all day, loving it.
This morning blitzed the front room of books. All layed out on a temp' table in the garage. Four boxes of books were taken to the tip as part of this exercise.
This afternoon moved a load more timber, knackered now so resting rest of the evening.
Have found another area where mice have been seen by a trail camera. Think I might be creating another habitat with camera.
This morning blitzed the front room of books. All layed out on a temp' table in the garage. Four boxes of books were taken to the tip as part of this exercise.
This afternoon moved a load more timber, knackered now so resting rest of the evening.
Have found another area where mice have been seen by a trail camera. Think I might be creating another habitat with camera.
Monday 18th April 2016
A reasonable day, mild with a fair amount of sun.
Sadly my blog for next two weeks will be a tad boring as the front room is to be decorated next week meaning a few days of emptying the room of hundreds of books, pictures etc.
Also the fence is in a worst state than first thought meaning my wood stack that had been added to over about 30 years had to be moved. Decided to move into the fruit cage, sorting out as I go.
This morning a fencing contractor called, measured and priced. OMW, haven't I saved some money over the years. Difficult to come to terms with having to employ contractors these days.
This afternoon made a start on moving my wood stack, couple of each day for a week should do it.
Used the Meerkam to check out the white curtain in the hedgehog box, yep, a spider, a bigun.
Also checked out nest boxes without cameras and was amazed to see nests in all of them. Amazing as I thought I was fully aware of nesting activity in the garden.
Sadly my blog for next two weeks will be a tad boring as the front room is to be decorated next week meaning a few days of emptying the room of hundreds of books, pictures etc.
Also the fence is in a worst state than first thought meaning my wood stack that had been added to over about 30 years had to be moved. Decided to move into the fruit cage, sorting out as I go.
This morning a fencing contractor called, measured and priced. OMW, haven't I saved some money over the years. Difficult to come to terms with having to employ contractors these days.
This afternoon made a start on moving my wood stack, couple of each day for a week should do it.
Used the Meerkam to check out the white curtain in the hedgehog box, yep, a spider, a bigun.
Also checked out nest boxes without cameras and was amazed to see nests in all of them. Amazing as I thought I was fully aware of nesting activity in the garden.
Sunday, 17 April 2016
Sunday 17th April 2016
What a cracking day, slight frost at dawn but the day was warm and sunny.
Spent a most enjoyable few hours at the 1000 acre Rushall Farm, Bradfield. But wet underfoot but the bluebell spectacle was the best I have ever seen. Bluebells as far as the eye could see in the most beautiful woodland. Once out of the woodland the views over the chilterns on such a clear sunny day was just superb. Loved it. With my love of farming I spent considerable time studying the 700 year old barn and other farm buildings.
Pictures 1 - 11 - Bluebell Woods @ Rushall Farm.
" 12 - Mystery curtain in the hedgehog box.
" 13 - Cherry Tree shooting in the hide.
Why hadn't I caught up with this hidden gem before, will be keeping an eye open on their website now for future events.
Back home I relaxed in the hide for a couple of hours, surprised to see the flowers sprouting, didn't happen last year. Better than a vase of flowers!
Probably nothing very interesting but a white curtain has appeared in a hedgehog box, not there yesterday but am aware spiders are quick workers, will check out with my new toy (Meerkam) tomorrow. Mice still in the woodstack but have now made another entrance, shown up on the hide monitor.
Have seen birds chase one another during the mating but have never witnessed a full blown sexual encounter as I did from the hide with a pair of blackbirds. I was actually somewhat amazed, won't describe detail but did think one never stops learning about wildlife.
Spent a most enjoyable few hours at the 1000 acre Rushall Farm, Bradfield. But wet underfoot but the bluebell spectacle was the best I have ever seen. Bluebells as far as the eye could see in the most beautiful woodland. Once out of the woodland the views over the chilterns on such a clear sunny day was just superb. Loved it. With my love of farming I spent considerable time studying the 700 year old barn and other farm buildings.
Pictures 1 - 11 - Bluebell Woods @ Rushall Farm.
" 12 - Mystery curtain in the hedgehog box.
" 13 - Cherry Tree shooting in the hide.
Back home I relaxed in the hide for a couple of hours, surprised to see the flowers sprouting, didn't happen last year. Better than a vase of flowers!
Probably nothing very interesting but a white curtain has appeared in a hedgehog box, not there yesterday but am aware spiders are quick workers, will check out with my new toy (Meerkam) tomorrow. Mice still in the woodstack but have now made another entrance, shown up on the hide monitor.
Have seen birds chase one another during the mating but have never witnessed a full blown sexual encounter as I did from the hide with a pair of blackbirds. I was actually somewhat amazed, won't describe detail but did think one never stops learning about wildlife.
Saturday, 16 April 2016
Saturday 16th April 2016
A mixed bag of weather today. Mild but most of the day was wet. Cheered up late afternoon with blue sky and sun.
Despite the rain I managed to fit a replacement blade to the mower and cut & fixed the alpine house shading.
This afternoon I marked out the shape of the igloo and loose layed the first layer of plastic bottles. What have I started?
Good to see the return of the Jay and female woody today. Strange happenings with tufty, over breakfast I watched tufty dragging more of the fleecy stuff over towards the bridge. On checking there was a trail of fleece from the silver birch tree to half way over the bridge. Not a clue where he is now, no sign in the tree so is he under the decking. A job for my Meerkam tomorrow I think.
Pictures 1 & 4 - Shading the alpine house.
" 2 & 3 - Base to the igloo.
Despite the rain I managed to fit a replacement blade to the mower and cut & fixed the alpine house shading.
This afternoon I marked out the shape of the igloo and loose layed the first layer of plastic bottles. What have I started?
Good to see the return of the Jay and female woody today. Strange happenings with tufty, over breakfast I watched tufty dragging more of the fleecy stuff over towards the bridge. On checking there was a trail of fleece from the silver birch tree to half way over the bridge. Not a clue where he is now, no sign in the tree so is he under the decking. A job for my Meerkam tomorrow I think.
Pictures 1 & 4 - Shading the alpine house.
" 2 & 3 - Base to the igloo.
Friday, 15 April 2016
Friday 15th April 2016
What a difference 24 hours make. A dreadful day, much cooler and from mid day nothing but rain. This morning was reasonable, even sunny at times.
Managed to finish the wedding and general garden tidying up this morning so was lucky there.
This afternoon as so wet I stayed in and sorted the swift call gizmo I purchased at the Bird Fair last year and charging up the Meerkam camera outfit so I can use hopefully over the weekend.
Tonight is the fourth night the blue tit has not roosted so time now go clean out ready for the swifts, hopefully.
The alpine house shading material arrived this afternoon so hopefully this will be a job I can carry out this weekend.
I appear to have a fence problem, meaning collapsing. Weight of the ivy against very old fencing (packing case timber from the eighties) has finally given way. Sadly not a job I can carry out now so begrudgingly will have to enlist the help of a fencing contractor. Will wait until the nesting season is over, have secured with rope as a temp' measure. Good job I have friendly neighbors.
Managed to finish the wedding and general garden tidying up this morning so was lucky there.
This afternoon as so wet I stayed in and sorted the swift call gizmo I purchased at the Bird Fair last year and charging up the Meerkam camera outfit so I can use hopefully over the weekend.
Tonight is the fourth night the blue tit has not roosted so time now go clean out ready for the swifts, hopefully.
The alpine house shading material arrived this afternoon so hopefully this will be a job I can carry out this weekend.
I appear to have a fence problem, meaning collapsing. Weight of the ivy against very old fencing (packing case timber from the eighties) has finally given way. Sadly not a job I can carry out now so begrudgingly will have to enlist the help of a fencing contractor. Will wait until the nesting season is over, have secured with rope as a temp' measure. Good job I have friendly neighbors.
Thursday 14th April 2016
What a cracking day, warm and sunny most of the day.
Today was a mixed day of jobs. This morning I started the annual job of finally clearing up all the autumn leaves etc and weeding the rose border.
This afternoon added a few more bottles go the alpine wall and preparing the base for the igloo. Base now down, levelled and fixed. Next job on this project is to mark out the shape of the igloo.
Disappointed at the moment that there is no sign of nesting in the various nest boxes. Blue tit did take an interest in the sparrow box and the starling still spends time roosting in the starling box. Squirrel appears to have deserted the drey so at the moment not much going on except for images of mice.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Preparing igloo base.
" 3 - Bottled wall nearing completion.
Today was a mixed day of jobs. This morning I started the annual job of finally clearing up all the autumn leaves etc and weeding the rose border.
This afternoon added a few more bottles go the alpine wall and preparing the base for the igloo. Base now down, levelled and fixed. Next job on this project is to mark out the shape of the igloo.
Disappointed at the moment that there is no sign of nesting in the various nest boxes. Blue tit did take an interest in the sparrow box and the starling still spends time roosting in the starling box. Squirrel appears to have deserted the drey so at the moment not much going on except for images of mice.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Preparing igloo base.
" 3 - Bottled wall nearing completion.
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