A brilliant day. Very warm and sunny all day and into the evening.
A frustrating day with my hearing issues so will only blog on the good points of the day.
Enjoyed another walk on View Island and the River stopping at the tea barge for nourishment.
Even better today as was able to sit outside.
Arrived home to a great welcome. Six swifts high in the sky but also swooping down to the house. Making the most of this as very soon they will be leaving us as they migrate once again.
No moths in the trap last night but again loads flying about the garden. Not seen so many butterflies as yet but still time I guess especially if this sunny spell continues.
I blogged a week ago on my experience at the two Reading shopping malls banning any photography. Common sense has prevailed and I have gained permission and also a personal invitation to a spot in Reading where apparently I will obtain the best views of Reading. Can't be bad.
Picture 1 - Ants nest in the front drive.
" 2 - 5 - All flew into the observatory while eating my dinner last night. Greenfinch
recovering outside.
" 6 - Bee drinking from the pond.
" 7 - Moth on plant in back garden.
" 8 - Insects on same plant as the moth.
" 9 - 11 - View Island and the tea barge on the river.
A stunning day, very warm and sunny all day. Brilliant.
Day spent cleaning, repairing and oiling some more chairs and table. Eight more chairs and another table to go. Rest tomorrow so a Friday/Saturday job.
Good to see the half dozen swifts about still and today against a brilliant blue sky. No photographs as rather high in the sky.
Still no moths in the trap but six small magpie moths about the garden on fencing, shed doors and the lodge door.
Tonight while eating dinner in the observatory another flew in on to the blind. Photograph tomorrow.
Red damselflies were again busy on the pond vegetation. This blog almost a repeat of yesterday?
Sunflowers this year a joke, hardly any growth and badly eaten by snails, certainly will not be a winner this year.
Looking forward to resting tomorrow by taking a walk by the river and nature reserve.
Picture 1 - Damselfly.
" 2 - Small magpie moth.
" 3 - Young pigeon.
" 4 - Foxy.
" 5 - Watching the swifts.
" 6 - Table & chairs cleaned and oiled.
" 7 - My tallest sunflower so far this year, growing on its side has not helped.
A brilliant day, warm and sunny all of the day, how I like it.
Day spent repairing, cleaning and oiling four garden chairs and a table. Back breaking work.
Another day with hardly a bird about, two days now without topping up the feeders.
Another night without a moth in the trap but a beauty on the side wall of the house. A few red damselflies on the pond this afternoon.
Day broken up with a visit to the surgery, ears gone wrong! Unable to sort, RBH it is tomorrow.
Picture 1 - The reason for killing the Lilly beetles when I see them.
" 2 - Table & Chairs looking fresh after an oiling.
" 3 - Moth.
" 4 - Damselfly.
Another brilliant day, very warm with again long sunny periods. No complaints.
Not the best day in the world but has to be carried out. Day spent treating garden furniture, managed to clean and treat six chairs today. Birds poo sticks like, well yes, shit. Required a chisel to shift the stuff.
Hardly a bird to be seen again, great spotted regular at the moment, today the male visited a few times.
Amazing to watch a spider wrap up a fly, the speed they work, amazing.
Lots of bees, flies and hover flies about so still plenty of wildlife to admire.
Picture 1 - Spider.
" 2 - Male great spotted.
" 3 - Moth.
" 4 - Hover fly.
" 5 - Spider v Fly.
" 6 - Hover fly?
" 7 - Fly.
" 8 - Bee on a bugloss.
" 9 - Unsure on this?
" 10 - Cleaned and treated chairs.
A good day, warm with plenty of sunny periods.
Day spent working on the landscaping around the alpine house. Purchased four bags of gravel from Henry Street this morning to help with the project.
Looking pretty good, gravel requires a few plants of course (pots in place) and will not loo complete until the lawn is sown next Spring. I have to dismantle the fruit cage first. A winter job now as have to spend some time now treating our garden furniture, a job I carry out every three years.
Hardly any birds again but plenty of other wildlife. Good to see a gatekeeper butterfly but sad to see it succumb to the spiders web. I watched fly into the web and the spider was out like a shot and had it disabled in no time. Despite my efforts I am afraid after twenty minutes the butterfly died.
Sad also to see a pigeon in distress after a twig became caught in the gape of its beak. I tried crabbing it but was having non of it and flew off to the Ash tree. It thrashed about for ages but unsure of the outcome.
Picture 1 - Alpine landscaping.
" 2 - Young great spotted.
" 3 & 4 - Distressed pigeon.
" 5 & 6 - Moths.
" 7 - Bee.
" 8 - Moth.
" 9 - Gatekeeper Butterfly.
Bl**dy weather. Sunny, warm but showers on and off all day.
Day spent working on the path despite the weather. 50% finished before I start on the gravel infill. Henry Street tomorrow for the gravel. Using recycled block paving for the path.
Hardly a bird about today, feeders not touched and only filled the monkey nut feeder up once against the norm' three times daily. One moth seen today and foxy caught on the trail camera.
Picture 1 - Moth.
" 2 - Foxy.
" 3 - Alpine house path/landscape.
Breezy, warm, overcast, sunny, another mixed bag of weather.
Started this morning on preparing the ground for a path connecting to the alpine house. Next year this will also be landscaped to include a lawn, hopefully a wild flower meadow.
Couple of moths today but not from the trap. One on a table and another on the greenhouse down pipe. No results from the trap at all this year.
Good to see the young great spotted again but not much else today.
Got involved with another venture this afternoon, Mens Shed Whitley. The idea is anything you have that requires help or just to discuss this workshop is free and open the first Friday of every month. This afternoon was the first so was unsure how well it would be supported. Was pretty good for the first session. Three broken watches, two broken lawn mowers, two pairs of shoes and a stack of decking to cut! Watches we suggested trying the market place, mowers we suggested the tip, shoes we suggested swapping feet to even wear and the decking we suggested buying a saw! Well it's a start....
Enjoyed a meal at Cote with Nigel and Lyn tonight. The idea was to start a discussion on what to do for our big birthday bash next year. A Cunard cruise or River trip are the options. Watch this space.
Pictures 1 - 4 - Mens Shed Whitley.
" 5 - Moth.
" 6 - Bee.
" 7 - Damselfly.
" 8 - Moth.
" 9 - Young great spotted.
