Friday 30th June 2017

Another warm day, mostly sunny. Temp' reaching a high of 21c.
Not a sign of a moth in the trap but a fair few again around the garden. 
Gatekeeper, Comma, Speckled Wood and a White butterfly in the garden today.
Two fox cubs and two hedgehogs out last night. Cubs made a right mess of my turfed lawn again. Still think it is funny to roll up the turf. Think I will have to redo in the Autumn and cover with netting.
Pied wagtail appeared this afternoon after an absence of a couple of weeks.
Jay busy feeding young again, sadly unable to photograph.

Image 1 - Fox family video.
 " 2 & 3 - Moths in the garden today.
    "     4 - Comma butterfly on the conservatory window.

Thursday 29th June 2017

A decent day, mild and dry. More overcast than sunny.
With Lulu and Clive moving to the Toll house tomorrow all hands on deck this morning helping pack. Light duties for me of course.

Arrived home lunchtime to spot a comma butterfly on the hydrangea shrub. Been alluding me for some time this butterfly.
Six moths by the front door attracted by the outside light. Nothing in the trap.
Bees busy on the lavender and hot lips plants. Have taken cuttings of hot lips hoping to increase the number of bee friendly plants.
Yet more dragonflies emerged from the pond today going by the number of larva attached to the grass stems.
Some good footage of the fox cubs last night, two out last night as were two hedgehogs.

Image 1 - Video of a fox cub waking up the hedgehog.
     "    2 - Male southern hawker dragonfly.
  " 3 - 6 - Moths around the front door. Attracted by the outside lamp.
     "   7 - Comma butterfly.
     "   8 - Dragonfly larva.

Friday 9th June - Wednesday 28th June 2017

Sorry about lack of blogging this month, some technical issues. Even tonight it has taken me a while to connect.
The month has mostly been warm and very sunny with last week reaching temperatures we experienced in 1976.
                                
Garden wildlife this month has been all about the emerging southern hawker dragonflies from the pond. Seven I have watched and photographed but many more have emerged going by the number of larva clinging to the vegetation.
Hopefully I can be successful with frogs, just nothing this year.
Fox cubs all grown up and adult size now. Still very playful, do not see the five now but last night four appeared on the lawn. Good to see them making friends with the hedgehogs. Eat and drink together from the same bowls, some great images.
Been a few butterflies about, seen this month have been the peacock, comma, speckled wood, red admiral. painted lady and a white which I am unsure about.
Moths, not so many recorded this month. Nothing to speak of from the trap but a fair few from the ivy hedge and around the garden lights. Did have a green moth on the front door step yesterday which I have not seen before.

Hopefully will return with photographs by the end of the week.

Thursday 8th June 2017

Mild, overcast, windy with rain tonight.
A day in the garden spending most of the time pulling out wildflower plants from the meadow which were smothering weaker/smaller plants. Amazed at the number of ladybird larvae in this patch.
          Three fox cubs and mum out last night. It appears the squirrel indeed caught the pigeon I wrote about last night . Extraordinary.
One hedgehog also showed up, catching loads of snails going by the amount of empty shells left on the lawn.
               Enjoyed an evening out with Nigel and Lyn eating at the London Street Brassiere.

Wednesday 7th June 2017

A much improved day. Mild and sunny but still very windy.
Day in the garden re-staking sunflowers etc. Wind has played havoc in the garden with the plants.
Only one fox cub out last night, mind you with the weather yesterday I do not blame them for not venturing out.
No sign of the hedgehogs either.
Good to see young greenfinches and goldfinches being fed today. Pigeons and blackbirds appear to be nest building again.
Looks as though a squirrel caught a pigeon today, hopefully on the trail camera 🎥. Will be checking tomorrow morning.
The squirrels have been chasing pigeons throughout the Spring, something I have not seen before.
A lot of ladybird larvae about at the moment. Photographed two today.

Tuesday 6th June 2017

Very wet and windy all day and well into the evening. Looks like Autumn with all the fallen leaves.
Hairdresser this morning and slept all afternoon. What a waste of a day.
Sorry folks.

Tuesday 5th June 2017

Mild day and mostly drizzling. Heavy rain and strong wind tonight.
Not much doing today, dentist this morning and Henry Street this afternoon for another lavender shrub.
Damselflies really do like the salvia shrub, not seen one around the pond yet.
Two hedgehogs out last night and three fox cubs. A rat also showed up eating hedgehog food.

Sunday 4th June 2017

Mild but rather overcast today.
Lawns cut today as rain forecast for next two days.
Amazed at the number of damselflies on the salvia shrub. Bees also love this shrub, think I will take some cuttings.
Lots of young goldfinches on the feeders today. Not seen the great spotted or waggy for a couple of days now. Although a fair few about have not seen the usual quantities of young starlings in the garden this year.

Saturday 3rd June 2017

Warm and sunny all day and into the evening.
Day spent at Lulu and Clive's new home (Old Toll House) in Whitchurch, Hampshire. What a place they have bought. In a wood which is there's, all mature trees, oaks, ash, beach, rowan, monkey puzzle and loads more. Surrounded by a wildflower meadow which they also own. There own borehole, I just love the place, can't wait for them to move in.

Thursday 1st June 2017

Very warm and sunny. Loving it.
Day once again not doing much except watching the bees, butterflies, damsel flies and birds flying about in the sun.
Speckledwood butterfly in the wildflower meadow this morning. Damselflies not even close to the pond but loving the salvia (hot lips) shrub.
Bees busy on the foxgloves and salvia, young birds still being fed. Busy day.
Three cubs being fed again last night, more good video images.