Monday 5th September 2016

After heavy overnight rain the day was very warm but disappointingly overcast for much of the day. 
Day spent on the Autumn shrub trimming. All shreddings returned to the border for mulch. Just the bay tree and ivy hedge to trim now at this end of the garden. Time limited this week so probably a weekend job.
          Couple of moths today but not in the trap. One spotted on the window cill tonight and one on the table this morning.
A southern hawker flew onto a flower pot this afternoon but sadly flew before I could capture a decent image.
Spider cave looking good with spiders now weaving their magic in the form of spectacular webs.
          Late this afternoon an expert on all things blinds made some suggestions as to how I can overcome the issue of the monitors being hard to see due to brightness from the glass roof. Not sure if this is going to be affordable?
Picture 1 - Fungi City today.
      "     2 - The start of trimming/shredding.
   " 3 & 6 - Moths.
   "        4 - Southern Hawker Dragonfly.
   "        5 - Spider.

Sunday 4th September 2016

A warm but very overcast day, Indian summer forecast for the end of the week.
Morning spent shredding the trimmings from yesterday. Shreddings scattered over a rough piece of ground behind the pond.
This afternoon produced another hog home from an old plant holder next door was throwing out. Placed in an area a hedgehog has been spotted.
Good to see images of a hedgehog using the fence gap I recently cut. Really is good news this, just hope these beauties continue to use our gardens. Again last night one hedgehog slept in the home under the silver birch tree.
Picture 1 - Moth on the bandstand table.
     "      2 - Another hog home produced from a plant tub.
   " 3 & 4 - Fungi City in the pond.
   "        5 - Spike about to venture next door.

Saturday 3rd September 2016

Mixed weather today, very mild but overcast with rain late this afternoon into the evening.
Visited Poundland & B & M for some cheap hose pipe to house the monitor cables. No such luck so back home and ordered from Amazon.
Spent most of the day on Autumn clearing, cutting down loads more stinging nettles and cutting out dead branches of the stellata tree. Clearly a hedgehog has been visiting this part of the garden so may well create a hog home tomorrow.
Some good fungi forming now, a good sign of Autumn.
          Very little in the way of wildlife today, probably because I was in the garden moving about. Only one moth this morning, will continue to leave the moth trap connected each night but not very hopeful now of any increase in numbers. Been very disappointing this year.

Friday 2nd September 2016

Very warm but overcast with little sun. Shower this evening with the most stunning purple sunset.
A visit to Henry Street this morning for the annual purchase of spring/summer bulbs. All bee friendly bulbs which will be part of the wildflower meadow project and also planting around the igloo.
This afternoon I started the annual Autumn clearing starting today with the nettles by the pond.
Very few birds about, been like this for some weeks now but plenty of other wildlife about like mice, foxes and hedgehogs.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Porch and garage doors re-painted.
      "              3 - Starting to clear nettles.
      "              4 - Hedgehog at the feeding station.
      "              5 - Hedgehog just entering ones hotel for the night.
      "              6 - Foxy enjoying some hog food.

Wednesday 31st August 2016

A very warm day.
A lot of time today spent discussing with the community centre manager the final arrangements for next weeks guided nature reserve walk and afternoon tea. Looks like a mini bus full so think this may be one of many I will be conducting looking to the future.
Just need some decent weather, or at least dry for this walk.
         Good to see a hedgehog using one of the hog homes again last night. I need to find out where the second hedgehog lives, they clearly use the two fence cut outs between neighbours I did two weeks ago.
Mice are also using three food stations as per my trail camera images and also using three separate homes as per my monitors. All good stuff.

Thursday 1st September 2016

A very warm day, pretty hot in the sun.
Today was all about the hospital for tests re my hearing loss. No wonder I was getting increasingly more frustrated as have now been classed with moderate to severe hearing loss. Will now have to wear giant speakers behind my ears! Will be fitted on 22nd September, what a great birthday present?
Just need my eyes to be tested now so I can see what I can hear! Joking apart I can't wait to have my hearing back again.
         Richard the painter arrived early morning to paint the garage doors and front door porch. Looking good, last painted twenty years ago.
        Arriving home at 6pm I promptly did a garden walk and to my joy spotted a southern hawker on the decking with wings outstretched. Oh dear however, on close inspection it was clear this was a damaged specimen. Very sad.
Hopefully tomorrow I can have some quality time catching up in the garden.

Tuesday 30th August 2016

Another hot day.
The chaps enjoyed a walk from Fobney to Southcote helping the canal trust with opening and shutting the lock gates at Fobney. Picked a particularly busy period with a fair few barges passing through.
Back home in time for lunch on the bandstand before bidding our visitors a safe journey back up North.
Has been a brilliant week, enjoyed every minute, look forward to meeting up in November now.
          A lot of images to catch up on now from the trail cameras and of course the images I captured on our various days out.