Another mixed weather bag today. Showers, mild, some sun with a major change during the evening - very heavy rain.
Today I increased the Bug hotel to 10 stories with a mix of in-fills - shredded paper, bark, leaves, plastic tubes, sunflower stalks, old bird nests, felt and rotting wood.
Fixed up my replacement weather station, rain gauge and wind monitor. The broken weather station is now fixed at the bottom end of the garden minus the rain gauge.
Today saw the two Squirrels playing together, in and out of the dove cote and digging up buried monkey nuts/acorns. Fun to watch but think they will become more of a nuisance.
Picture 1 - Wind monitor.
" 2 - Bug hotel.
After a heavy overnight frost the day was a mix of sun and showers.
Fixed up my new Bat box 3mtrs high in the Oak tree. My original box blew down in the recent gales and split in half. Repairable, for another day.
Fun to watch Tufty trying to work out the mechanics of the new peanut feeder. As far as I could tell he had no success. Was interesting to note Tufty also spent time in one of the openings in the Dove Cote. Is he/she looking to nest I wonder?
Really good evening at the Pack Horse with John and Hillary. Good steak with a few Hoppits, my kind of evening. On picking up J & H we were invited in to see the Rocking Horse John has made for the Grandchildren. John is another Viscount Linley, the quality of work John produces is unbelievable. Am sure the grandchildren will enjoy hours of pleasure rocking.....
Picture 1 - How does this damn thing work?
" 2 - The Bat box.
Brilliant morning. After an overnight frost the morning was dry and sunny but hay ho, effin wet most of the afternoon.
With a Henry Street garden voucher I bought a Squirrel proof peanut feeder. Beast of a machine which should solve the problem and hopefully the Jays will now return.
Just started another bug hotel when the rain started so rest of the afternoon spent in the workshop to do a spot of sorting.
That's better, after heavy overnight rain the day turned out to be very mild and sunny. Good to spend the day in the garden.
Emptied and re-positioned a couple of nest boxes. Fixed up my new Bat box and and also removed the bird from the Woodpecker box. Initially thought this was a Frog. There was not a nest in the box so unsure what happened here, appears to be a full size bird? Am sure my old walking partner Doug will have some thoughts on this?
Annoyingly a mouse has been at the wasp nest, interesting however to see inside the exposed nest and the comb layers.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Bird taken from the Woodpecker box.
" 3 & 4 - Starlings in the Swift box as shown on the monitor.
" 5 & 6 - Wasp nest.
I suppose the weather today was a little improved, very mild with only one shower this afternoon.
Don't like mundane days, weekly shop this morning and B & Q to choose dining room wallpaper. No promises as to when I start decorating though! Have actually found a good decorator who will carry out this task during February.
This afternoon I worked my way to the back of the workshop to expose my Wurlitzer Organ. After a good clean and a quick check that it still played it was time to be photographed prior to selling it on ebay.
Picture 1 - My Wurlitzer Organ.
" 2 & 3 - The Weir at Fobney coping with high levels of water.
What a day of mixed weather conditions. While walking to the dentist the heavens opened and I was soaked. In the twenty minutes I am in the chair the rain stops and the sun is out. Sort it out. Further, lighter showers during the day. Still very mild.
Despite Manor Farm Road still being closed due to flooding I managed it albeit water half way up leg. I was warned by two council operatives that I entered at my own risk. Was worth the risk as the flooding created some spectacular sights. Fobney Wetland reserve is now surrounded by water with the fields either side of the canal also flooded. The canal has breached in half a dozen places along the towpath. The weir looked pretty impressive and very noisy as you can imagine.
My biggest surprise and delight was to see thirteen Little Egrets in the flooded field, managed to photograph ten.
Not sure how many picts' are uploaded, should be seven but a message has appeared mentioning a fault in upload. What photographs are showing were taken at Fobney this afternoon.
Weather slightly improved today. Day of showers, in Checkendon there was a mega rain storm leaving the road through the Village once again flooded.
Day spent with Jean and Doug, enjoying a pint of Hoppit at the Pack Horse. Good to catch up with them both, depressing at times when discussing members of the family who are now in care homes or care at home. Not good getting old.
Can't wait for tomorrow now so I can investigate this frog in the Woody box, hopefully photographs tomorrow. Camera today showing the two starlings in the swift box. Better start calling it the starling box now?
