A good Spring day but much colder with temps' not reaching higher than 12c.
Morning spent making the final adjustments to the cam monitor system. All good with a spare channel for my wandering cam. Blue Tit and Starling channels are positive with nesting in progress.
Good to see Michelle this afternoon and to meet Nigel and Tilly. Never thought I would be playing with Barby this afternoon! I was so close Michelle of giving you a slide show this afternoon, pleased you hold so many good memories of times past.
After 15mm of overnight rain the day turned out pretty good albeit a little chilly with a high of 13c. What a storm late afternoon however, a rainbow as bright as I have ever seen one.
Morning spent unpacking and setting up the second monitor. All ready now to connect the four remaining cameras. A job for tomorrow, once completed I will have seven nest boxes and one feeder connected to the monitor system.
An afternoon enjoyed in the company of my old mate Doug. At times like this afternoon I wish Doug and Anna were still living at 483. Was good to swap notes on our respective photographs and of course to see how the garden is developing after two years hard graft.
Disappointed that my Frogs have as yet still not performed, still time but hard frosts are now forecast and that is not good for fresh spawn.
A couple of days ago I set up a food station for mice, how excited I was when tonight I noticed 114 photographs captured, but.....not a mouse but tufty enjoying the feast. Still good to see.
Not so much sun today but still very mild reaching a high of 16c this afternoon. A little windy at times with rain at 5.30pm set to last through the evening.
Not much to report today as it took me all day to fix up this Swift nest box under the eaves above the front door. The longest part of the operation was the connecting of 30mtrs of cable to the monitor in the observatory. A work of art, laying the cable inside the guttering of the house and conservatory before fixing to the brickwork leading to the monitor.
Boyo - those Swifts better find this box?!! Your sentiments I know for the work you have put in to installing your Swift boxes.
What a cracking day, plenty of sun, warm and very little wind. Changing for the rest of the week to arctic temps'. Reached a high of 16c today.
Day spent shifting six barrow loads of compost to the Rose border. Hard work but mulching done for this year now. Can't do better than home made compost.
Starlings bring in as much material as they take out, not feeling good about this nest. Magpie has also sussed the nest and spent time with his face in the opening.
New Swift box now ready to fix under the eaves but chickened out fixing it up today. Will try again tomorrow after a nights rest.
Picture 1 - Starling spring cleaning.
" 2 - Barrow load of home made compost.
" 3 - Rose border mulched.
Not so much sun today, in fact pretty dull but very mild with a heavy shower mid-day.
Two more barrow loads of compost spread on the Rose border, should finish this task tomorrow.
What a day for wildlife. Male Sparrowhawk paid a visit at breakfast time but not successful. All small birds safe for another day.
Six Red Kites today with four appearing to fight made worse by the intervention of the Crows. Sadly my photographs do not show very clearly what was actually happening.
The Starlings are still a puzzle, however my mate Doug has explained to me what could be happening. Could be another couple could be interested in the site? Sadly my monitor is not showing a clear picture as nest built up to the camera lens.
Picture 1 - Male Sparrowhawk.
" 2 & 3 - Red Kites in action.
" 4 - Crow screaming at the Kites.
" 5 - Monitor showing Starling and structure of nest.
Another warm and sunny day with temp' reaching a high of 18c this afternoon.
Garden looking pretty good at the moment with most of the Spring bulbs now out in flower.
Lawn cut today, first cut of the year. Not a neat cut, blade set high for the first cut. Birds loved the freshness of the cut with the Blackbirds particularly hunting out the worms.
Made a start on emptying this years compost heap, spreading over the Rose border. Hard work so only two barrow loads today.
All photographs captured this afternoon in the back garden.
A beautiful day. Warm and sunny all day with temp' reaching a high of 19c this afternoon.
Surprised to note the Starling was still building the nest. Even more surprised that a third Starling had appeared and appeared to be destroying the nest. Perhaps the monitor will help me solve what is going on?
Planted all the plants purchased last week in Cornwall. The Gunera is a beauty, should give some shade during the summer with a width expected of 2.4mtrs.
Bought a Tea plant for the Observatory and another Banana to replace one that recently died on me.
Picture 1 - Gunera in the bog part of the garden.
" 2 - Starling still building.
" 3 - Still no spawn.
