Wednesday 5th June 2019

Mild but again a little overcast. Temperature reached 21c this afternoon.
Most of today was spent looking at thousands of trail camera images covering the last 48 hours. Just the one fox cub appeared so perhaps it will be our resident fox from this years brood? 
Four hedgehogs (two pairs) were recorded which is very good news of course. If young do appear I just hope the foxes leave alone.
A jay was also photographed, was surprised at this as not seen a jay for some time.

Tuesday 4th June 2019

Mild but a little overcast today.
Enjoyed a day at Stowe. Was not able to explore the whole park, not enough time. What we did see was well worth the visit. The fields were buzzing with insects plus dozens of swallows swooping low for insects. 
Will probably return in the Autumn.

As away for the day it means I do not have any wildlife news from the garden today.

Monday 3rd June 2019

A cooler day but temperature still reasonably warm reaching 21c this afternoon.
A day spent in the garden mostly in the alpine house. Have started over 60 succulent cuttings, some as possible replacements and others that visitors have expressed an interest in.
Biggest issue is stopping mice having a good chew.
              Many insects seen today including a green orb spider and a shield bug larvae. Lots of bees but rather surprisingly, no butterflies.
No sign of the fox cubs last night, the vixen was very active still happy to be sharing food with the hedgehogs. No sign of swifts, in fact very few birds about today. This is one very strange year.

Sunday 2nd June 2019

Very warm day, temperature this afternoon reached 28c.
Installed a handrail in a vulnerable area of the boardwalk ready for the open afternoon for a group of elderly folk next Sunday. An annual event, an organisation my sister is involved with. The handrail itself is a work of art as used bits and pieces from a mezzanine floor I was involved with back in the 80s. The items were left over and being thrown away.
               Lots of damselflies again today plus a bonus, a female beautiful demoiselle flew into the conservatory.
Young blue tits and starlings spent most of the day in the garden being fed. The female pied wagtail also returned.
The trail camera confirmed the fox family back together on the lawn last night. Two cubs, Mum and Dad. Hedgehogs also very active.

Saturday 1st June 2019

Very warm and sunny, apparently hottest day of the year so far. Temperature reached a high of 28c this afternoon.
After a few months of using the bandstand as a workbench while working on project museum it was time for a clean up.
Balustrade on the balcony now hinged so hopefully this will enable me to photograph dragonflies at a closet distance. 
So many damselflies in the garden (and conservatory) today, both the red and blues. Hopefully this also means a good year for dragonflies. 
              Enjoyed a BBQ tonight, the first one in two years. Good to be back on the BBQ decking which was always deemed the best area of the garden. Many a debate over the years found the camp fire.

Friday 31st May 2019

Warm although a little breezy. Temperature reached 21c this afternoon.
A relaxing day not doing much. I did fit a blind to the museum entrance door. Must arrange an official opening day now.
             Apart from a few young birds being fed there was not much going on in wildlife world today. Thankfully the trail cameras came up trumps with images of fox cub bonding with the hedgehogs.
With only one sighting of swifts here this year it really is not a good year for birds. Not known a year like it.

Thursday 30th May 2019

What a contrasting day to yesterday. Warm and sunny and temperature indeed reached 21c.
It was a relaxing day just mooching about the garden.
Managed to photograph damselflies laying eggs in the pond this afternoon. A female great spotted woodpecker appeared on the feeder early this morning. 
Trail camera confirmed another night when the pair of hedgehogs and fox cubs were sharing the food dishes on the back lawn.