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.
Friday, 15 April 2016
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.
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Wednesday 13th April 2016
A brilliant day, very mild and sunny all day.
This morning a trip to Henry Street for six more alpine plants to finish off the r/h bottled wall. Also required greenhouse shading material but not stocked by HS.
Drove on to B&Q for the shading but no joy there either.
Success on line tonight however so hopefully delivered by the weekend.
This afternoon started a major tidy up of all the winter rubbish. Fallen leaves, twigs etc. Also made a start on cleaning out the sunflower stems, these hollow stems will be made into bug boxes.
The sparrowhawk at Lavers I mentioned yesterday had a happy ending, flew out once the doors were open early this morning. Good result, must be weak however as not eaten or drunk since Monday afternoon.
This morning a trip to Henry Street for six more alpine plants to finish off the r/h bottled wall. Also required greenhouse shading material but not stocked by HS.
Drove on to B&Q for the shading but no joy there either.
Success on line tonight however so hopefully delivered by the weekend.
This afternoon started a major tidy up of all the winter rubbish. Fallen leaves, twigs etc. Also made a start on cleaning out the sunflower stems, these hollow stems will be made into bug boxes.
The sparrowhawk at Lavers I mentioned yesterday had a happy ending, flew out once the doors were open early this morning. Good result, must be weak however as not eaten or drunk since Monday afternoon.
Tuesday, 12 April 2016
Tuesday 12th April 2016
A very mild and sunny day, brilliant.
Cut the lawns this morning and worked on the alpine bottle wall this afternoon. Almost completed the rh/wall so should be starting on the lh/wall pretty soon now.
Thought would clear up the bird food store as not seen any mice for a couple of weeks now. The new propagator (a gift) was full of spent sunflower seeds and chewed fleece. Lifted a plastic pot carrier and there were these two mice huddled together in a ball of fleece and sunflower seeds. One ran but stayed within the store which I managed to photograph. The mouse returned to the nest after about five minutes. Have set a trail camera now.
May have lost the male sparrowhawk as one flew into Lavers shop Monday afternoon and was still there at 5pm tonight. Can't believe it will last another day without drink or food, bad news. Last seen in the garden yesterday morning.
Tonight I attended a very good and productive Fobney Reserve meeting. EA, TW and RSPB are all very impressed in the reserve has developed over the three years. New fencing and planting has tidied up the reserve and now has a defined conservation area. Dates agreed for forthcoming walks/talks during the summer, hope the weather is an improvement on the rain we experienced all through the winter.
Pictures of the mouse in the bird food store.
Cut the lawns this morning and worked on the alpine bottle wall this afternoon. Almost completed the rh/wall so should be starting on the lh/wall pretty soon now.
Thought would clear up the bird food store as not seen any mice for a couple of weeks now. The new propagator (a gift) was full of spent sunflower seeds and chewed fleece. Lifted a plastic pot carrier and there were these two mice huddled together in a ball of fleece and sunflower seeds. One ran but stayed within the store which I managed to photograph. The mouse returned to the nest after about five minutes. Have set a trail camera now.
May have lost the male sparrowhawk as one flew into Lavers shop Monday afternoon and was still there at 5pm tonight. Can't believe it will last another day without drink or food, bad news. Last seen in the garden yesterday morning.
Tonight I attended a very good and productive Fobney Reserve meeting. EA, TW and RSPB are all very impressed in the reserve has developed over the three years. New fencing and planting has tidied up the reserve and now has a defined conservation area. Dates agreed for forthcoming walks/talks during the summer, hope the weather is an improvement on the rain we experienced all through the winter.
Pictures of the mouse in the bird food store.
Monday, 11 April 2016
Monday 11th April 2016
Two words, wet day.
Today especially as wet was a good day to catch up with blogging. Holiday photographs now sorted and blogged accordingly.
Also caught up with the three trail camera images. The pond tc showed up only cats and the fox drinking from the bath tub, the bird bath tc showed absolutely nothing but great result with the Hide Park tc. This is close to the mice habitat and clearly there were plenty about as the fox and a cat returned time and again to the same spot. Foxy actually using its snout to shift branches from the wood stack where the mice live. No sign of any being caught and on checking the monitor tonight mice were evident as were feeding on peanuts I had dropped into their habitat.
Still no sign of hedgehogs or frog spawn.
Today especially as wet was a good day to catch up with blogging. Holiday photographs now sorted and blogged accordingly.
Also caught up with the three trail camera images. The pond tc showed up only cats and the fox drinking from the bath tub, the bird bath tc showed absolutely nothing but great result with the Hide Park tc. This is close to the mice habitat and clearly there were plenty about as the fox and a cat returned time and again to the same spot. Foxy actually using its snout to shift branches from the wood stack where the mice live. No sign of any being caught and on checking the monitor tonight mice were evident as were feeding on peanuts I had dropped into their habitat.
Still no sign of hedgehogs or frog spawn.
Sunday 10th April 2016
Weather pretty good, lots of sun and mild. Just right for exploring the garden and catching up on the bird feeders.
All the feeders were empty so proof that there was still plenty of bird activity while we were away.
Cases unpacked and photographs imported to the desktop.
Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday but good to be back home and catching up with the garden wildlife.
All the feeders were empty so proof that there was still plenty of bird activity while we were away.
Cases unpacked and photographs imported to the desktop.
Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday but good to be back home and catching up with the garden wildlife.
Saturday 9th April 2016
What a brilliant week we had but weather today oh so different. Left the bungalow at 10am and arrived home at 3.30pm with a right variety of weather to contend with From drizzle to pouring rain, eye blinding sun, wind to a howling gale, hail and snow. The snow over Bodmin Moor looked spectacular.
Resting tonight, will sort out and reflect on the holiday tomorrow.
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