A good day, chilly and overcast start to the day but soon warmed up giving us a very mild and sunny day.
A lazy day mostly relaxing in the garden. Sad to say this but we need rain to refill the water butts.
Baskets and tubs using up a fair amount of water and the bird baths are being refilled as fast as I can manage. The hundreds of starlings this year are keeping me busy.
Starlings actually are a big issue this year. With so many at both ends of the garden the other birds are not getting a look in. Even the magpies are afraid of getting involved in any altercation .
Never spotted a single butterfly today but good to see moths and bees about.
Forty five years ago was a very special day, more on this on Tuesday once recovered from the celebrations?
Sunday 29 May 2016
Saturday 28 May 2016
Saturday 28th May 2016
Again, a very warm and sunny day.
Ideal weather to enjoy Truckfest. A great display of USA and UK trucks and truckers and not forgetting my favourite, the Ice Road Truckers. Fantastic day out.
Arrived home to the screeching of hundreds of starlings, more than ever this year. Young great spotted also being fed, a young magpie also being fed which is a first for me to witness.
Plenty of other young birds feeding including goldfinches, greenfinches, robins and blackbirds.
Ideal weather to enjoy Truckfest. A great display of USA and UK trucks and truckers and not forgetting my favourite, the Ice Road Truckers. Fantastic day out.
Arrived home to the screeching of hundreds of starlings, more than ever this year. Young great spotted also being fed, a young magpie also being fed which is a first for me to witness.
Plenty of other young birds feeding including goldfinches, greenfinches, robins and blackbirds.
Friday 27th May 2016
Another very warm and sunny day.
Most of the day spent digging up bluebells that had overtaken the garden. Brings lots of colour every Spring but time now for some thinning out. Bulbs not wasted as spread out in the wooded area of the garden. Lots more to dig up yet, hard work so pacing myself.
Not sure what has happened to the Swifts, no sign of them again or a few days. Will not be nesting here this year but would like to think I still see them prospecting this year?
Good to see a few moths about now, another first for the garden last night.
Most of the day spent digging up bluebells that had overtaken the garden. Brings lots of colour every Spring but time now for some thinning out. Bulbs not wasted as spread out in the wooded area of the garden. Lots more to dig up yet, hard work so pacing myself.
Not sure what has happened to the Swifts, no sign of them again or a few days. Will not be nesting here this year but would like to think I still see them prospecting this year?
Good to see a few moths about now, another first for the garden last night.
Thursday 26th May 2016
A stunning day, very warm and sunny all day.
An enjoyable day spent at Lyn and Nigel's. Good to be able to eat outside, England at its best.
Looking forward now to the rather special weekend ahead with Lyn and Nigel.
An enjoyable day spent at Lyn and Nigel's. Good to be able to eat outside, England at its best.
Looking forward now to the rather special weekend ahead with Lyn and Nigel.
Wednesday 25 May 2016
Wednesday 25th May 2016
Much cooler today, a little sun but mostly overcast.
Today taken up mostly by British Gas and me going clothes shopping in town. Have to look smart for the weekend special celebration?
Good to see another species of moth not seen in the garden before. In fact was the only moth in the trap last night.
Unusual that there appears to be just one young goldfinch feeding, normally lots of them vying for perch space on the feeders.
Male great spotted on the feeder today, not seen for a while.
Picture 1 - Moth from the trap last night.
" 2 & 3 - Young goldfinch on the feeder.
Tuesday 24th May 2016
A glorious day, very warm and sunny all day.
Lawns cut this morning before the next batch of rain reaches us. With back aching somewhat after planting up 37 pots and baskets the lawn cutting took a little longer than usual.
Started now the nightly performance of watering said plants.
No shortage of starlings this year, hundreds of them, sounds like hundreds anyway.
Mint moths busy, have a fair few this year. Bees also busy on the lavender, butterflies ignoring my slices of pineapple however.
Picture 1 - Mint Moth.
" 2 & 3 - Starlings ground and feeder feeding.
" 4 - Vine weevils from one basket, two baskets were infested.
Monday 23 May 2016
Monday 23rd May 2016
A very warm and sunny day. Glorious day.
Trip to Henry Street this morning for more potting compost. Rest of the day planting up the sinks and tubs. Job done, should be another good showing this year.
Love my garden wildlife but by heck dont the starling make a racket, non stop all day.
Also fun watching them bath in the guttering water. Surprised to see a couple of mint moths locked together fly into the conservatory. Placed them on the mint plant and there they stayed.
Thrush seen tonight, missed a photograph, hopefully will return tomorrow.
The swift call worked its magic this morning, half a dozen swifts soon appeared and were very active most of the day.
Trip to Henry Street this morning for more potting compost. Rest of the day planting up the sinks and tubs. Job done, should be another good showing this year.
Love my garden wildlife but by heck dont the starling make a racket, non stop all day.
Also fun watching them bath in the guttering water. Surprised to see a couple of mint moths locked together fly into the conservatory. Placed them on the mint plant and there they stayed.
Thrush seen tonight, missed a photograph, hopefully will return tomorrow.
The swift call worked its magic this morning, half a dozen swifts soon appeared and were very active most of the day.
Sunday 22nd May 2016
Warm and sunny most of the day. Showers late afternoon into the evening.
Day spent planting up rest of the hanging baskets. Eighteen now planted with nineteen tubs and sinks to plant up now. A job for tomorrow.
Loads of mint moths about this year along with an orange tip and small blue also seen today. Hundreds of starlings again, did not nest in the garden this year however.
Picture 1 - Orange Tip butterfly.
" 2 - Mint Moth.
" 3 - Young and adult goldfinch.
" 4 - Basket work station.
" 5 - One of the many boxes to be planted.
Day spent planting up rest of the hanging baskets. Eighteen now planted with nineteen tubs and sinks to plant up now. A job for tomorrow.
Loads of mint moths about this year along with an orange tip and small blue also seen today. Hundreds of starlings again, did not nest in the garden this year however.
Picture 1 - Orange Tip butterfly.
" 2 - Mint Moth.
" 3 - Young and adult goldfinch.
" 4 - Basket work station.
" 5 - One of the many boxes to be planted.
Saturday 21 May 2016
Saturday 21st May 2016
Warm and dry most of the day, rain arrived late afternoon into the evening.
Day spent working on this years hanging baskets. Six completed today, another twenty to plant up.
Young birds and the two young squirrels busy being fed, starlings loving the meal worms.
A mouse was spotted tonight in the nest box in the wood stack. Camera also showed activity in the drey box. So many twigs it is obscuring the view inside the box. It is something big but pretty sure not a squirrel unless it is a young one roosting?
Despite the rain there were a fair few moths flying about tonight. A bit wet to risk connecting up the moth trap tonight.
Day spent working on this years hanging baskets. Six completed today, another twenty to plant up.
Young birds and the two young squirrels busy being fed, starlings loving the meal worms.
A mouse was spotted tonight in the nest box in the wood stack. Camera also showed activity in the drey box. So many twigs it is obscuring the view inside the box. It is something big but pretty sure not a squirrel unless it is a young one roosting?
Despite the rain there were a fair few moths flying about tonight. A bit wet to risk connecting up the moth trap tonight.
Friday 20th May 2016
Warm, dry and sunny. A good day, rain forecast for the weekend however.
Most of the day spent at Henry Street for the annual spend on basket and pot plants. My job now for the next few days emptying all of last years baskets and pots before refreshing with new compost before the major plant up.
No sign of swifts since return of holiday, swift call reconnected so hopefully will soon see a return?
Two young squirrels have appeared, not sure where the final drey was built, must be close by as seem to stay about the garden 24/7.
Young great tits and starlings in garden being fed but as far as I am aware did not nest in the garden.
Blackbird is nesting again in the bay tree, every year for as long as I can remember now.
Generally speaking however not a good year for nesting in this garden this year.
Most of the day spent at Henry Street for the annual spend on basket and pot plants. My job now for the next few days emptying all of last years baskets and pots before refreshing with new compost before the major plant up.
No sign of swifts since return of holiday, swift call reconnected so hopefully will soon see a return?
Two young squirrels have appeared, not sure where the final drey was built, must be close by as seem to stay about the garden 24/7.
Young great tits and starlings in garden being fed but as far as I am aware did not nest in the garden.
Blackbird is nesting again in the bay tree, every year for as long as I can remember now.
Generally speaking however not a good year for nesting in this garden this year.
Thursday 19 May 2016
Thursday 19th May 2016
A very warm and sunny day ending another good holiday.
Left Knutsford at 9.45am and arrived home at 3pm after a lunch break at the Pack Horse.
Within minutes of arriving home I had photographed a mint moth on the mint plant and a damsel fly on the hydrangea.
Pretty tired right now, night night.
Left Knutsford at 9.45am and arrived home at 3pm after a lunch break at the Pack Horse.
Within minutes of arriving home I had photographed a mint moth on the mint plant and a damsel fly on the hydrangea.
Pretty tired right now, night night.
Wednesday 18th May 2016
A warm but a little overcast today, ideal driving conditions.
Sadly, time to say goodbye to Crail. Left at 10am for the long trip home (avoiding Glasgow/Edinburgh) spending an hour at Queensferry exploring more of the iconic rail bridge. So interested in the history of these Forth Bridges am sure I will be returning.
Onto the A7 to Carlisle and the M6 to Knutsford for our overnight stay. Arrived at 6.30pm pretty tired, a good local pint soon revived me.
Pictures of Queensferry South.
Sadly, time to say goodbye to Crail. Left at 10am for the long trip home (avoiding Glasgow/Edinburgh) spending an hour at Queensferry exploring more of the iconic rail bridge. So interested in the history of these Forth Bridges am sure I will be returning.
Onto the A7 to Carlisle and the M6 to Knutsford for our overnight stay. Arrived at 6.30pm pretty tired, a good local pint soon revived me.
Pictures of Queensferry South.
Tuesday 17th May 2016
An even warmer and sunny day.
Today we visited Falkland Palace at Falkland. What a Palace, aside from the history of this remarkable building the workmanship in both the stonework and woodwork was gobsmacking. The grounds were also well looked after and particularly endearing was the work involved in attracting wildlife to the vast grounds. Chose a good day to visit with swallows crash landing after their epic flight from Africa. Never seen swallows at close quarters before.
On way home stopped in St.Andrews at a gastro pub this time for haggis bon bons and a ping of local ale.
Once home I was back out for my last evening walk of this holiday. Just a wonderful evening.
Pictures are of the Palace and grounds.
Today we visited Falkland Palace at Falkland. What a Palace, aside from the history of this remarkable building the workmanship in both the stonework and woodwork was gobsmacking. The grounds were also well looked after and particularly endearing was the work involved in attracting wildlife to the vast grounds. Chose a good day to visit with swallows crash landing after their epic flight from Africa. Never seen swallows at close quarters before.
On way home stopped in St.Andrews at a gastro pub this time for haggis bon bons and a ping of local ale.
Once home I was back out for my last evening walk of this holiday. Just a wonderful evening.
Pictures are of the Palace and grounds.
Monday 16th May 2016
Another very warm and sunny day.
Not good, despite pre booked tickets the long awaited trip to the Isle of May for Puffin Watch was cancelled due to a broken rudder on the boat. Up early for the 8am sailing, could not believe there was not another boat available, so disappointing. Just had to get over it, difficult.
Back home for a cuppa and to re-evaluate it was decided to visit a local woodland area famous for all things birds and being close to sand dunes and beach also seals and wading birds. All we saw was one solitary chaffinch.
This is not turning out to be a good day.
Pictures 1 - 6 - Sand dunes and forest close to St.Andrews.
" 7 - 15 - St.Andrews Castle.
This afternoon visited St.Andrews castle, with Lorna so into English/Scottish history I'm sure she preferred this as opposed to another nature reserve!
Could not leave St.Andrews without another visit to The Links, just love it there especially with the weather so good.
Once back home I was out again for my evening walk and reflecting on an eventful day....
Not good, despite pre booked tickets the long awaited trip to the Isle of May for Puffin Watch was cancelled due to a broken rudder on the boat. Up early for the 8am sailing, could not believe there was not another boat available, so disappointing. Just had to get over it, difficult.
Back home for a cuppa and to re-evaluate it was decided to visit a local woodland area famous for all things birds and being close to sand dunes and beach also seals and wading birds. All we saw was one solitary chaffinch.
This is not turning out to be a good day.
Pictures 1 - 6 - Sand dunes and forest close to St.Andrews.
" 7 - 15 - St.Andrews Castle.
Could not leave St.Andrews without another visit to The Links, just love it there especially with the weather so good.
Once back home I was out again for my evening walk and reflecting on an eventful day....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)