Birds & Bees

Bee species

Orange Ladybird

The sunny weekend brought out the insects with a smart Cream-spot Ladybird and a Bee with a long tongue. Butterflies were scare still and no dragonflies as yet.

Great Northern Diver and Newts in the Pond

On Sunday stopped off at Bough Beech Reservoir and finally managed to see the juvenile Great Northern Diver that has been present since November last year. This was a new bird for me at BB and my first for 2 years.

In the garden pond, 2 newts were seen and the introduced frog-spawn is started to hatch. Whilst in the garden the first Harlequin Ladybird for the year was found.

Jumping Jay

Jay

The first Jay for 3 months was seen in the garden today and I managed to get a record shot as it jumped around on the fence in the corner of the garden.

Still Waters

With the mild weather, I found a few Ramshorn Snails and a Waterboatman in the pond. Not much I know, but this time of year you look for any sign of life to assure yourself Spring is on the way.

Heron

Heron

Saturday morning - a Heron was seen circling low over the garden looking suspiciously like it had been checking out the pond. It ended up on it's favourite perch on top of the conifer tree in the corner of the garden and was soon mobbed by a crow.

Also seen in the garden was 2 Goldcrests and the usual Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits.

Double Fox

Foxes Playing

At the weekend on Saturday morning two foxes started chasing each other and playing by rearing up against each other and play biting and boxing. I'm not sure whether this is a courting pair or 2 youngsters from last year's litter.

Weekend

Saturday gardening mainly involved leaf-clearing with bird highlights of 6 Pied Wagtails and Coal Tit. A Silver-Y moth was found and a Red Admiral took an interest in the underneath of the trampoline as if it was looking for a roosting location.
Sunday was a wash out and I stayed in, moving furniture around and waiting for a cooker fitter that never showed. I should have been twitching the Hythe Green Heron - let's hope it stays for a bit and I might make the trip yet.

Frog and Fungi

Shaggy Ink-cap

Froglet

The Shaggy Ink-cap fungi are up again all over the garden which had to go as I cut the grass for, hopefully, the last time this year. Also a froglet was found on the rockery next to the pond and an adult was seen at night in the torential rain.

Orange, Gold and Redwings

Orange Ladybird

Goldfinch (not stopping)

Goldcrest (not showing)

Two Redwings flew over the garden at the weekend - the first for the winter. Also, I got my first pictures of a flyover Goldfinch (they never seem to stop) and a elusive Goldcrest skulking around in the conifer. It is a constant challange to get some decent pictures of both these species. An Orange Ladybird (first for the garden) was more obliging and is a beautiful ladybird when seen really close up.

Weekend Wildlife

Timmy the Fox wandered around the patio as bold as brass the other day even though he could see us at the window. Also I've added a Coal Tit picture taken last week.

"Timmy" Fox

Coal Tit

The pond is started to take shape with more plants being added. The 2 joists on the left are for some decking. Wildlife seen this weekend were: Two sizes of diving beetle, back-swimmer Whirly-gig Beetle (again just the one) and brief visits from dragonflies - most likely Common Darter and Southern Hawker. Also a male frog was rescued from the cats and put in the pond.

Bird visitors were Chiffchaff (sang briefly), Coal Tits, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit & Blue Tit and a flyover Swallow.

Great spotted in the Garden

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard and then seen in flight in the garden (only the 2nd record this year). Meanwhile dragonflies (possibly Migrant Hawkers) hunt over the lawn and around the trees and a Meadow Brown was also seen to compliment the daily Large Whites, Small Whites and occasional Holly Blue.

The pond is now ready for the liner and ... er some water - so this weekend should see the great fill taking place. It's roughly 7 metres by 5 and only 60cms at the deepest point but should attract some interest from the local wildlife. The last pond we had was only a quarter the size and recorded up to 15 toads, 20+ frogs and 10+ newts at one point.

First Red Tommy

Had a trip up to Redditch yesterday and saw 2 Red kites and a Buzzard on the M40 near Oxford.
Meanwhile in the garden the first Tomato has ripened, well ahead of it's siblings. There's really no advantage in ripening first - it just means you get eaten first.

First Tomato

Five a Day

At the moment the vegetable patch is bursting out all over with chard, spinach, lettuce, beans, peas, sweetcorn and courgettes. All thanks to Helen and the kids carefully nuturing, harvesting and watering.
The Courgette flowers are really impressive and are certainly the biggest blooms in the garden at the moment.

Courgette Flower

The Patch

First Swallow

Spent all day in the garden, weeding amd painting fences in the glorious sunshine.

Highlights of birds recorded throughout the day included my first Swallow for the garden this year, also 2 Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk, Blackcap (heard only), Goldcrest and 4 Jays.

First butterflies for the year were 4+ Holly Blues, 2 Speckled Woods and a Small White.

Garden Flowers

The Hellebores are starting to look good and bulbs are coming up everywhere - once we get through this stormy week the garden is going to look bloomin' marvellous.

Fence Failure

The recent gales brought down 3 fence panels (not my new ones fortunately), so looks like I'll be visiting Wickes again to put in another order.

Weekend Gardening

A dry sunny and cool weekend allowed me to continue with digging the pond and Helen to prepare the front plot for vegetables. We added about 10 bags of rotted manure to prepare the soil. Found this juicy looking caterpillar - probably a moth caterpillar.

Whilst digging the pond a fairly fresh half eaten dove carcass was uncovered - it looked like it had been buried there recently by foxes.

Birds seen of note: 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3+ Long-tailed Tits and 2 Goldcrests.

Digging the Pond

Jaz attends to his favourite scratching post.

Various creatures found over the weekend were a beetle larvae, Harlequin Ladybird and a Shield-bug.

Inspired at last to dig the pond, but as you can see there's a long way to go.

Parakeets

At lunchtime in Wimbledon Park, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets were seen chasing each other over the trees and calling loudly.

At home in the garden, I started digging the pond with the kids. It's going to be a while before we can move any water in, but it's great to have started.

Morning Sunshine

The sunrise was lighting up the Sycamore tree this morning which looked very attractive and heralded the promise of a pleasant day where I can get out to continue digging the borders and painting the fences.