Mr No Tail's New Tail

This last week has seen the arrival of 3 bunny rabbits to the garden. Unfortunately they are quite nervous and I've not managed to get a nice photo of them yet, but I'll keep trying. However, I managed to get this lovely action shot of Mr No Tail today and yes I know his tail has now grown back but the name seems to have stuck.
Oh we found this creepy looking bug today. It looks like a gigantic horsefly. Nearly 2 inches long which is a lot bigger than the Horsefly's I've seen in the UK before. I'm wondering if we bought it back with us from our camping trip in Sardinia?
Not sure what these fungi are but they're popping up everywhere on the lawn now.
Mr Nuthatch has been around for most of the day again. Almost got him all in the photo!
And finally Squizz looking as adorable as ever.

Telling them apart

At last I can tell the difference between our two hedgehogs. When they finally stood next to each other it became quite easy. One has white inner ears and the other has black. Hence the new names 'Whitear and Blackear'. Whitear is also considerably bigger than Blackear and a lot more nervous.

Swallow chicks

I realised today that I haven't mentioned the Swallows at all this year. Well, their chicks (5 of them) fledged whilst I was away and all seem to be doing well. The adults nested at the front of the house again this year and are still busy flying over the fields collecting insects for the chicks.The wet weather has certainly bought the birds back to the feeder. It was lovely to see the Nuthatch back again today.
I watched this little Blue tit chick for ages this morning as flew around the garden chasing butterflies.
and Squizz was busy burying nuts again today.

Hedgehogs and Avocados

Well my previous obsession with the cuckoo seems to be out done by my total facination for the hedgehogs right now. They are just so wonderful to watch. Really wish I could tell them apart.

Quentin, Mr No Tail's mischievious chick has been asking for trouble again today. He's been playing around on the grass inches away from 'Baby' my tabby cat, who luckily for him, is feeling a little under the weather at the moment. I had an avocado left over from dinner so out of curiosity I decided to put it on the feeder to see if anything would eat it. It wasn't long before Squizz came along and liked the insides clean away.

Bird counter reaches 53

Aphid

Its been a fair few weeks since we've had a new bird in the garden but today arrived a wood pigeon. Ok not quite as exciting as the Redpoles but still its a new bird to add to the list. I didn't manage to get a photo though which is a shame.

Aethes tesserana

It has been on the whole a really quiet day in the garden. I don't think the birds like this humid weather at all. So to make up for the lack of bird photographs today, I've been out and taken some bug shots.

The bramble is now taking over in the wild parts of the garden. Should be a great year for berries by the looks of the flowers.

Some foxgloves have appeared too this year.

AND Mr mole has returned!

HEDGEHOGS

I've just spent the last half hour sat on the steps in the garden watching the Hedgehogs. There were two of them tonight, running around. They are so fast too and virtually impossible to photograph unless they're eating. They were fantastic to watch but I got totally midged and now look like I have the measels, all over my face.

A week away

A week away and the garden has turned into a jungle. The lawn is covered in white and red clover. I've found a wasp nest in an old hole where an ornamental frog used to sit. A lot of new flowers have appeared. There's even stuff going on inside, this blue bottle was still alive and wriggling as the spider wrapped its thread around it.

Monkey nuts

Another dull day weather wise. Where's this heat wave they promised us last week?
The Jays have been interesting to watch today. This one spent ages sorting through all the monkey nuts then proceeded to swallow four whole ones in one go and fly away. He certainly knew the ones he wanted.
Then this Jay turned up. Obviously been feeding chicks madly for a while judging by the state of his feathers.

Squizz and Snarly Sid have been funny today. I watched Snarly Sid grab the monkey nuts off the feeder then run to different parts of the garden and bury them. Only for Squizz, who rarely goes on the feeder, if Sids around, go to the same spots and dig the nuts up again and eat them. Sid's going to think he's going barmy when he looks for them later. Mr No Tail has been around again with his chicks. One of them seems to be a lot more inquisitive than the others and keeps wandering off. He looks so cheeky, I'll have to give him a name. Micro Moths, arn't they ace

DARK AND GLOOMY

Snarly Sid

Its been so dull and wet in the garden for the last few days its been hard to get some nice photo's and it's certainly not belly in the dirt weather for bug photographs.

On the up side, we now have a baby Robin visiting. No sign of its parents though, which is a shame.

Unlike the Blue Tit chicks who are still being spoilt rotten by their parents even though they can happily feed themselves now.

We now have a pair of crows spending a lot of time at the top of one of the trees at the furthest end of the garden. Gosh the sky looks so grey , it's going to pee down again any minute.

BREAKING NEWS

Couldn't wait until tonight to post this.

Mr No Tail has just arrived in the garden with his 3 chicks.

Nuthatches and Tits

Really not having much time at the moment in the garden, its just not good enough. Did manage to snap a few shots today though. This one of a Nuthatch in flight which I really like. The Great Tit chicks were devouring the fat balls. Gosh, if you new having kids would leave you looking like this, you would never dream of doing it.

A Day Away

It was gone 20:30 before I managed to find time to go into the garden today so not much to write about I'm afraid. Mr Woodpecker is here, still no sign of the chicks though.

Red clover has appeared during the night all over the lawn,


and Mr Nuthatch is hammering away at the branch trying to get the shells off the sunflower seeds. Hope to be able to write more tomorrow.

Insects Galore

My favourite photo from today has to be this magnificent Scorpion Fly. I've never seen one before.

I also spotted the first Caterpillar today too. This morning the Siskins appeared again for a quick bite to eat on the feeder. I also spotted this Spider, not one of my favourite things so I'm glad there was a nice big lens between me and it. Then this evening I spotted this poor moth. It has obviously had a run in with something as its missing half a wing. I doubt it is able to fly by the way it was clinging on to the blades of grass. It wont take he birds long to spot him, being that colour in the grass.

FEEDING STATIONS

What a racket there's been in the garden today.

Blue Tit's

We've had six Blue Tit chicks, one Coal Tit and four Great Tit chicks here all day calling none stop for food from their parents.

Great Tit Chick

You wouldn't believe something so small could make so much noise.

I'm waiting to hear from a nice man called Matthew from Mushroom.org before I add the name of this fungi, just in case I get it wrong.

Snarly Sid came to have a drink from the bird bath today. He is such an unfriendly squirrel, he attacks other squirrels, leaps on poor Phil the pheasants head and chases the Chaffinches like its a game. All the others are quite happy to share and eat together, I wonder what made Sid such a little git?