Mr Blackbird loses his tail

Another scorching day here in the garden. Mr Blackbird appeared this morning minus his tail, close call with a cat maybe? He seems fine and it hasn't affected his ability to fly and collect food for his soon to be fledging chicks.

Phil the Pheasant turned up again today. He's spent the past few days up the top of the hill on the wall. Think he may have a mate up there as I heard two of them calling yesterday.

Found another new beetle today, called a Tortoise Beetle, what a cool name. Not a great photo but it only stayed for a few seconds but still its another one for the list.





Took this photo of a snail today. Not sure what the clear round balls are. Little too big to be her eggs I think. Maybe its a fungus or maybe the eggs of something slightly bigger? Hopefully someone will be able to tell me.
ID update: Javesella

Cuckoo's, Bugs and Wild Borders

Another sunny day, isn't it wonderful. The feeder has been quiet again but the rest of the garden is bustling with life.

Cuckoo in flight

I seem to be getting slightly obsessed with Mr Cuckoo right now, but he's making so much noise at the moment and such a joy to watch. I noticed today a little Chaffinch kept landing next to him on the wire and there was definitely some interaction between them. The romantic in me would like to think this Chaffinch was its mum from last year but realistically it was probably just keeping a close eye on him so he didn't raid their nest this year.

Cuckoo

The butterflies are still flying over, Painted lady's, Cabbage Whites and even a little Orange Tip but they're not feeding in the garden yet. The wild borders are filling up nicely though so hopefully it won't be long.

Oh I heard a skylark from the garden today so that's another tick for my bird counter. Up to 52 now, I can't believe it. I noticed the Swallows for the first time to-ing and fro-ing from above the bedroom window today too. Even a pied wagtail turned up, not seen him since the winter.

ID update 03/06/09: Criomorphus sp., probably C. albomarginatus

I've still not managed to find the names for quite a few of my bugs, so I'm going to post the photo's up anyway and hope someone who sees them will be able to tell me. They are tiny, only about 2mm long.

ID update 03/06/09: Javesella (female)

Migration of the Painted Lady

Short Tailed Vole

Its been a lovely 24 hours in the garden, I've taken so many photographs its hard to pick just a few to post. It started last night with a visit from a short tailed vole who kindly let me take a very quick photo before he scurried off back into the deep grass. Then all last night the owls were calling, one Barn and two Tawny's, not managed any photo's of them yet though.

Then this morning the cuckoo was about and I managed to get this shot of him chasing his lunch. He's stayed around all day again too.

Then this afternoon I went out with the macro lens to see what was about in the garden. Again I found so many little bugs and can still only name a few. The one that did fool me was this fellow. I was convinced it was a Buff Tailed Bumble Bee, totally convinced. But then Malcolm from the bug club told me it was actually a bee mimic. Officially called a Merodon equestris (Greater Bulb-fly), its really a Hoverfly. It only has one set of wings, which I really should have noticed and Bee's always have two. So I've learnt something new again today.

Then I spotted these two very colourful and 'friendly' beetles. They look like some sort of Soldier Beetle but I've still to look them up in my books. Being that colour they should be easy to spot.

A few days ago my friend in Ipswich texted to say they were inundated with Painted Lady butterflies over there. Thousands of them but up here we'd not seen one. That was until this afternoon and I witnessed such a wonderful spectacle as they started to arrive literally on the wind. Very few landed but hundreds flew over the hillside and down the valley. I wonder where they are heading? They weren't stopping to feed so taking a photo was really difficult. I did manage to catch this guy though as he took a 2 second breather.

Oh I have to include this photo as it is the only new insect I've managed to correctly identify in last few days, its a Elachista Argentella. Another tiny little moth that likes being out in the daytime.

Must be dinner time, my belly's rumbling :-)

Spitfires, Moths and Moles

The sun has shone all day in the garden. I've been out finding lots of little insects I've never come across before. I've taken loads of photo's but will try and find out their names before I post them up here. Not much action on the bird table today, which is nice as it means their busy collecting bugs and berries from natural places. Although Mr Chaffinch was doing a great impression of a spitfire earlier.


Mr Mole visited last night. Although I love to see him and watch his hills pulsate whilst he's digging he does make a right mess! Took this photo of him a while ago, as he doesn't show his face too often.


Now doesn't this little moths face look like Gonzo from the muppet show? I haven't found him in any of my books yet but I'll keep looking and update this when I find out what he is.

Wet & Wild Day

It's been a very wet and windy day here today. Still the garden has been as busy as ever. Both Mr and Mrs Woodie were feeding in the tree at the same time today and taking food away, so it wont be long until we see the babies, I hope.

Some one could do with a hairdryer! Blue tit

Even Squizz the Squirrel braved the rain.

Found this big chappy sheltering in the window recess.
Rhagium bifasciatum

Birds on the wing

I've been away for a couple of days so haven't had a chance to get into the garden. So I thought I'd add a few photo's I took last Sunday. As well as all the bugs I had great fun taking photo's of some birds in flight. So instead of boring you with lots of different ones I went to play in photoshop and spliced them altogether for a bit of fun.

Daisy

Blue Bottle

Bugs Galore

Common Carder Bee

Its been a fantastic day in the garden today. The sun has shone all day and brought with it loads of bugs for me to photograph. Its been such fun crawling around in the grass.

Slug

Common Blue Damselfly (female)

Mr Woodie has a sex change

Confession time: I realised today much to my embarrassment that Mr Woodie is in fact Mrs Woodie. I'd always thought it was the females which had the red nape but as I was reading up about their fledging chicks this morning I noticed my mistake. Oh well, I know better now.

It finally stopped raining in Capel Curig today. Mrs Blackbird (yes definitely female) has been out collecting worms and taking them back to the nest all morning.

Closer view

When I went out into the garden this afternoon I noticed all the buttercups were covered in these little insects. I had a look in my books under flies but couldn't find out what they where. Until a nice man called Malcolm from an online Bug Group got in touch and told me they were in fact moths, Micropterix calthella to be exact.

Added 17:10 Just heard the cuckoo calling so dashed out into the garden and there he was on the wire. Not a great photo but fantastic to see.

Colourful day in the garden

This is my favourite photo from today, Mr Woodie and a little Blue Tit feeding together. For a few seconds this afternoon, Mr Woodie, Phil the Pheasant and one of the Jays were all within feet of each other feeding in the garden. The colours were amazing and would have made a fantastic photo if I'd been quick enough.

This little Chaffinch has been with us for a couple of months now. He has two deformed legs and cannot stand upright at all. He seems to manage perfectly though and just does everything by rocking on his belly.

Phil showing off

Mr Woodie caught in the act

Mr Woodie was caught red handed today on the picnic table pinching the cherry from my fruit cake. He's been getting increasingly bold these last few days so I'm pretty convinced he has chicks to feed nearby.
Vocal Mr Nuthatch

Phil attacked!

Poor Phil the Pheasant got attacked today. Not by a vicous dog or even the farmer but by this little chappy below. He looks so sweet sat there munching on his nuts. Until he spotted Phil that is, when he instantly changed into a demon squirrel possessed! Pool Phil didn't know what hit him as cutey pie here lept on his head from above. It was all over in a few seconds though and apart from a few ruffled feathers no one was hurt.

The Nuthatches are finally getting their breeding colours although I'm sure they are already raising a chick. And the woodpecker's been showing well today too, with loads of visits to the feeder. I so hope they have some chicks too.

Flippin Flora!

Last night I was updating my bird list when my friend texted to say I needed to add a Flora list to my blog aswell. I thought 'what a great idea' until I realised that I am absolutely useless at naming plants and grasses. However, today I made a start, a very slow start but it is a start. The bluebells and buttercups came easy but it took 4 books and 2 people to name the Hairy Bitter-Cress! I soon discovered it will be easier to wait for each plant to flower before I try identifying them, so this list will hopefully increase week by week throughout the summer. Either that or I'll be laying a huge amount of decking very soon!

Not much new in the garden today. The Jays have been out in force again terrorising the poor blackbirds. The Sparrow chicks are now feeding themselves and I think I caught a glimps of a nuthatch chick but not certain. I'm going back to hit the wild flower books again now, wish me luck.

Herb Robert

Another New Visitor

One of the squirrels enjoying

a brief gap in the rain clouds.

Well its been another great day in the garden with another new visitor. It was a female Linnet. Not usually seen in gardens or on their own. This one was so very pale too, that I had to email photo's to my friends just to make sure that she was in fact a Linnet.

Still its very exciting as its another 'First' for the garden.

Hedgehogs, Jays and the Blackbirds

Late last night I went up to open the gate at the very top of the garden when something small and black scurried past my feet. It was very dark so I went back indoors and grabbed my camera and a torch and this is what I found.

A hedgehog

As for today, its been a tough day of nest defending for the black birds as the Jays have finally found their nest site amongst the hedge cuttings at the top of the garden.
The Siskins also returned today and feasted on the dandilion heads on the lawn.