Wednesday 30 June 2010

Moths About

There have been so many new things in my garden recently and I'm not doing that great at names of these more specialised species. Obviously I know this is a moth but what sort? So many very similer ones around right now. This one seemed quite happy sat on Alan's finger. The Nuthatch turned up today. Not seen any babies yet but they were late last year too. Another Unnamed Beetle, well in fact its the same shape and size of a 'Dusky Cockroach' but its the wrong colour. There's so much I need to learn. It is sat on some seeded grass, so you can imagine how tiny it isNo visits from any Bunny Rabbits yet, I wonder what's keeping them away? I saw the Buzzard getting bombarded by two Sea Gulls today. He then went off to hover just like a Kestrel. The adult Robin blessed us with a visit, not seen her new baby today though. On the veggie front, well my tomato's are looking great. All still green but it wont be long before we're inundated. Need to measure my Sunflower again tomorrow, its definitely shot up in last few days.

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Sunshine

At 02:26 hours this morning we had the most amazing thunder and lightening storm which lasted a good half hour. Today was a scorcher, I spent most of it indoors though. Mr Woodpecker came around but didn't bring his new baby along with him, which was a shame. The baby Blue Tits where here in force and were joined on the fat feeder by a juvenile Great Tit. I spotted a Black Butterfly today, never seen one before, The outside of its wings looked brown and had markings on but when he opened his wings up the inside was black with no markings. I only managed a quick snap shot before it flew off. Berney the Squirrel showed her face today, not seen her in ages. She didn't seem to mind the heat.

Over the past few days the army have been flying their Helicopters very low. The big ones like this can make the roof shake on the house and sends all the wildlife away.

Monday 28 June 2010

Siskins Return

What a strange day we've had weather wise. The forecast said 'hottest day of the year', yet we have been under thick grey cloud all day. The wind picked up mid afternoon and now its pouring down. So much for a summers day. Thankfully the feeder has been used lots today with the return of the Siskins. I've not seen them since before I went away on holiday weeks ago. My baby Woodpecker stopped by again too but I wasn't quick enough to take any photo's. The Blue Tit chicks are now venturing to the feeder all on their own now. During a brief spot of sunshine this morning the crows ventured into next doors garden. Then seem to be going in there most days now yet never brave my garden. I spotted the Jays and a juvenile Great Tit feeding in the grass. I have absolutely no idea what this creature it, maybe a grasshopper? My mum snapped this shot for me yesterday. I can see through my window that I have 2 red ripe strawberries ready for eating but it's raining so hard outside that I don't want to get wet. What a dilemma

Sunday 27 June 2010

A new visitor

I have to admit I've been ever so poorly the last two days and have not been strong enough to venture into the garden. Today though, I managed to get up to get a glass of water and as I looked out of the window I spotted my very first Baby Woodpecker. They stand out from the adults as they have an all red cap on their heads. I was so excited as I have never seen a baby woodpecker before, ever. My mum has been keeping me up to speed with what's been happening outside and she managed to snap these great photo's of a Slow Worm she spotted. Amazing how he managed to climb the steep garden steps just outside the kitchen window. Then he decided to disappear down the gap.

Saturday 26 June 2010

Tenko Film Set

I spotted most of these bugs yesterday but I new I wasn't going to have time in the garden today so I saved them. My garden seems to be full of Grasshoppers at the moment. So much so when you go out sunbathing you feel like your on the set of Tenko. They are so noisy. My Cuckoo Spit is still dripping, I really must read up some more on that. This spider looks like he could give a good nip, if provoked. Oh I must tell you about my dried Scotch Broth Mix Peas that I planted. They are growing ever so well , no flowers just yet though. My garden is becoming such a haven for Bee's. This one was unusual as he was yellow all over. Now this little Beetle shone iridescent green in the sunlight. It was only the size of a rain drop. And finally my Chives are in full flower now.

Friday 25 June 2010

Bug Club

If you like bugs then my garden would have been Paradise for you today, they were everywhere and so many I have never seen before. This one was only one millimeter long but I could make out droplets of something stuck to its back. Now this could be the same creature but this had no droplets but did have a yellow dot instead. The Ants were acting strangely today. They were devouring something at the very top of a tall Foxglove and taking it in turns patrolling up and down the plant stem. There were Spiders everywhere too, I spotted this one on my Radishes right next to some more Caterpillars. Yesterday these caterpillars looked just like black dots, can't believe how quick they grow. Talking of veggies, my Strawberries are still producing a bumper crop. I got another 2 bowls full this evening. My mum spotted this unusual looking fly and took a photo of it for me, haven't a clue what it is but the back is such an unusual shape. I found the shell of a Black Beetle which was shining radiantly blue in the sunshine. Oh one last thing, my potatoes are coming through. I spotted a couple breaking the the soil today, now when should I pick them?

Thursday 24 June 2010

Quiet Again

It's gone quiet again here. It must be because the temperature has soared again. Both Blue Tit families have shown their faces but only briefly. The Blue Tit with four chicks kept her chicks in pairs all the time they were in the garden. Which made feeding them quite exhausting for her. In previous years she's always fed them together on the feeder. I wonder if there's a Sparrow Hawk about and she's edging her bets keeping them apart? The wild bit is growing amazingly well, I wonder how many hundreds of plants are growing in there. I spotted a lot of these large flies in the wild bit.
And the Woodpeckers stopped by briefly this evening. Still no sign of their chicks. I noticed the Cuckoo Spit on the plants is dripping? Sounds strange I know but I actually saw water drops dripping from the leaves today. One of the cats left us a Slow Worm outside the back door. Fingers crossed he'll survive.

Wednesday 23 June 2010

Babies, babies everywhere

There's me saying only yesterday how quiet the garden is and today I'm surrounded by babies. This adult Blue Tit arrived with 4 chicks on the feeder this morning and shortly after this Robin chick appeared. Then another Blue Tit with just one chick turned up. Then a newly fledged Great Tit turned up without any parents. Then both Woodpeckers arrived and stuffed their beaks with food before flying off into the tree's. So they must have some babies to feed too. A very scruffy looking Jay turned up too but I missed the photo of him. The weather has cooled down a lot so maybe that's what bought them all out of the bushes. Whatever the reason, its wonderful to have a garden full of babies. And if that wasn't enough babies I've found another 50 on my Radishes. Lots of identical little caterpillars munching away. I could have sworn they were not there yesterday and today a whole plant has been eaten by them. At the top of the garden we found this. I've seen them before but I'm not 100% sure whats inside, any ideas?

Tuesday 22 June 2010

Where have all the birds gone?

Where have all the birds gone? I've sat watching for hours today and saw hardly anything moving in the garden. It's quite spooky. Maybe they are punishing me for going away last week and not keeping the food topped up. As I have no birdy photo's to show you I thought I would add some photo's of a Baby Bat I rescued a while ago. He was found on the ground in some leaf litter and was too young to fly. He was smaller than my thumb nail and looked and moved like an alien!He was in such a poor way that I ended up having to hand feed him and he lived in a sock hung from my neck. When he got stronger I was able to return him to his roost. I really loved looking after him. Back to my baron garden, well are are no birds but my veggies are doing well. I had to pick a load of Radishes today as they were about to bolt. The mange tout has not made it as far as a plate yet. My wild Fox Gloves are in flower. I've decided it's time to measure my Sunflowers. My tallest one today is 12 inches high. I've never grown them before so have no idea how quick they grow or even when they flower. I really should be measuring my nettles as they tower above me now. I did spot some pooh on the lawn today which looks very much like Bunny Pooh. I'll have to keep a look out for him.