Cold day and mostly overcast, a stunning sunrise however.
Enjoyed a dawn chorus walk at Fobney. Although cold it was still a stunning morning. Glorious sunrise, beautiful chorus and mist over the lakes and canal. Good to see and photograph a roe deer eating foliage on the side of the canal.
A further trip to Henry Street this morning for these extra plants. This afternoon managed to plant up the sinks and pots.
The trail cameras confirmed certainly one fox cub out last night with the bandstand looking like the den. Cameras now surrounding the bandstand to record activity. Still unsure reasons for this move to another den.
Doug has confirmed that a swift has arrived in Bracknell tonight so are we any closer to seeing them here?
Much cooler day with a little sun late afternoon. Temperature only reaching 12c this afternoon.
A day spent planting up the rest of the hanging baskets. Over 300 bee friendly plants used in the planting. Looking rather impressive already.
Just the sinks and pots to plant now but have run out of plants! A visit to Henry Street tomorrow I think.
A cause of concern re the fox family. No show of the cubs last night from any of the cameras. At this stage not a clue as to why, would not expect cubs to move on until mid June the earliest. Have the cameras repositioned tonight.
Mild, cold, bitterly cold, sunny, overcast, showers, a right mix today with temperature today only reaching a high of 12c.
Some good images from the trail cameras again last night. Hedgehogs and foxes still bonding well.
A jay was busy in the garden today, a bird not seen for a few months now. No swifts yet, fingers crossed I will see them this weekend.
Good to see Julie and Darren this afternoon, Darren would have stayed in the museum all afternoon if he could. A bit of a hit this museum. The cousins yesterday found it most interesting provoking many memories.
Mild but overcast with a few showers, temperature reached 13c this afternoon.
Not a great deal to report today as entertained the cousins, our turn this month.
Did see and photographed a welcome return of a female greenfinch.
A warm and sunny day with temperature this afternoon reaching 16c. As I write this we have experienced an hour of heavy rain, not happy as have just spent 2 hours this afternoon watering all the shrubs and plants, pot plants, alpine border and pots. Used up all the water butt water so actually this rain should be welcomed as the butts will now be full again.
Spent some time at Fobney this morning, acted a a guide for a sound recordist who lives in Reading but had never heard of Fobney. He found the experience very peaceful and calming and suggested bringing groups of friends down on a regular basis.
Met a well known Reading Man at Fobney who was meeting with a chap from the parks department to see about some seating using some of the trees they have recently felled.
Trail camera images confirmed lots more hedgehog and fox activity last night. Hedgehogs still sharing the fox den, will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Photographed a blue butterfly on the wall flowers this afternoon, been trying for days, very rarely do they settle.
Warm and sunny with temperature this afternoon reaching 21c.
Not at home much today but did manage to mow the lawns and look through over 9000 trail camera images from two days recording.
Managed a photograph of a brimstone moth today, was in the moth trap last night. No sighting of the swifts yet but can only be a matter of time now as seen so local.
Warm and sunny with temperature this afternoon reaching 22c.
A lot of time was spent today at Sheeplands selecting bee and insect friendly hanging basket plants. From their vast home grown selection we managed to find over 300 plants which will not only be used in the baskets but also the sinks, tubs, pots and mass planting in a what used to be the sunflower border.
A lot of work now in planting this little lot, busy rest of this week so will make a start over the weekend.
Some cracking images of the fox family from last nights trail cameras, two hedgehogs were also seen. Not much else is going on sadly. There are a fair number of butterflies about during the day, clearly loving the sun. Blues, whites, orange tips and speckled wood. Plenty of bees and wasps, bug boxes beginning to get used again now.
