Warm sunny weather returns. Brilliant day.
Having breakfast and who should fly in, the Heron. Didn't stay long so unable to obtain a decent photograph.
Enjoyed a good walk at Moor Copse near Pangbourne. So good to see a vast variety of wild flowers and butterflies. Never seen so many orange tip butterflies, beautiful. Bluebells still colorful but the wild flowers was the interest for me.
Have some hard work ahead on the project 2015. Been told not good enough to just level, it has to be finished with a 50mm layer of hardcore to take weight of building. That I didn't take into account. Could be a delay now on the project. Think I will be shopping for hardcore tomorrow.
Enjoyed a meal and a few pints of Poachers real ale at the New Inn tonight. Good way to finish the day.
Despite being out most of the day I left the swift call playing but sadly to no avail again. Nothing more I can do, will jus have to hope they do turn up?
Picture 1 - Heron on the bandstand.
" 2 - 7 - Moor Copse.
What a horrid day, rain more or less all day plus very windy.
Did nothing today except sit in the conservatory looking for the swifts to arrive. Sadly no sign.
Something to shout about - can now explain what all the secrecy was about with regards filming here last year. Dragonfly productions on behalf of BBC2 spent last May-Sept' filming for a program 'The Great British Garden Watch' to be aired 2015. This was one of five gardens to be filmed. I can now confirm the program will be shown next Wednesday 13th May BBC2 at 9pm. Really excited now.
Pictures 1 - 4 - Great British Garden Watch listed in the TV/Radio Times.
" 5 - A good preen in heavy rain this afternoon.
After an early morning shower the rest of the day turned out mild, sunny but spoilt by gale force winds.
Thought I had finished clearing the site for project 2015 but noticed today the Forsythia shrub was right on the edge. The Ceanothus shrub had recently died so an ideal spot for transplanting.
Also dug up a bucket full of Hyacinth and Crocus bulbs. Really am ready to start leveling now.
Trail camera picked up Foxy in the garden last night, need to find out now where she is coming into the garden
Pictures all of the Fox.
A cracking day with temp' reaching 21c this afternoon.
Have over done it a little, suffering somewhat so a relaxing day sitting in the garden watching the butterflies, bees and the odd visit by the Sparrowhawk but sadly no sign of the Swifts.
In removing blossom from the pond I saw four Dragonfly Larvae, three from one end of the pond and one from tother end. Different types I think as two differing colors.
Picture 1 - Not sure on this, awaiting help from my buddy to identify?
" 2 - Good layout of the blue tit eggs.
" 3 - Greenfinch as photographed from the hide.
" 4 & 5 - Dragonfly Larvae.
After a wet start the rest of the day turned out warm and sunny. Pretty windy however.
Thoroughly enjoyed a morning Fobney walk. Full of activity which included Kestrel being chased by a Magpie, Heron stalking while looking for food, Cormorants sunbathing on the pylon, Oystercatcher still about and one of my favs' the Grey Wagtail showing off at the weir but the best was seeing six Swifts. So local now.
Pushed myself somewhat with the walking but what a morning.
The afternoon was even better, an Orange Tip, Small Blue, Small white, Yellow Brimstone and a Peacock Butterfly all in the back garden.
The blue tits still feeding one another, I do find this strange.
Marked out the site for project 2015 and dug up thousands of lilies, could not believe how these had spread.
Pictures 1 - 4 - Fobney.
" 5 - Holly Blue Butterfly.
" 6 - Site marked out.
" 7 - The eight blue tit eggs.
Breezy, mild, sunny but showers late evening.
Day spent on project 2015, site now cleared but a few plants to shift before the next phase which will be to level.
Swifts really local now so swift call on most of the day now. Getting very impatient now.
Strange happenings with the nesting blue tits. Last year it was noticeable the male was keeping the female fed by bringing food into the nest box. Not this year, the female meets male at the peanut butter feeder at regular intervals and the male feeds her. Not ever seen this before.
Enjoyed a good meal and real ale over at Carlos and Sarah. Good to catch up with news and latest work on the house.
Picture 1 - Swift call.
" 2 - Iron pole in my way of project 2015.
" 3 - Site cleared.
" 4 - Blue Tits feeding.
" 5 & 6 - Looked like droplets of water on the lawn, but no. A stunning flower.
A pretty good day, mild, breezy with plenty of sun.
Enjoyed a walk this morning at Fobney before meeting the powers that be at the Council who are now looking after the site. Productive meeting, they appear keen to carry on the good work of the previous team.
This afternoon finally completed the demolition job of the garage shed. Just the clearing up now before marking out.
Interesting to see a couple of adult Blue Tits feeding one another. Noticed what looked like a Thrush collecting food from the edge of the pond. Probably a Blackbird, what say you Boyo? Do say it is a Thrush.
Picture 1 - Grey Wagtail at Fobney.
" 2 - Song Thrush at Fobney.
" 3 - Thrush or Blackbird feeding from edge of the garden pond.
" 4 - Blue Tits feeding on peanut butter.
" 5 - Garage shed down, just the clear up now.
