Bonking Beetles

Lots of insects about today. Its certainly Soldier Beetle Bonking time of year, they are at it everywhere, all over my garden. Alan took this nice photo of Nuthatch for me today, I think he may have taken this one of a fly on a thistle too although it could possibly be down to my mums handiwork. My mum DID take this photo of a facinating green insect. Such an amazing shape.

Fledgelings

It's rained and rained here today but it didn't stop the pair of Spotted Flycatchers play and feed at front of the house all day (no photo's) . I can't believe my birdcounter is now 54 just in my one little garden, thanks to them. There are lots of baby Jays about right now, fantastic to watch. There's a newly fledged pied wagtail here too at the moment. Oh we're finding some whole Cherry's too now on the lawn.

Circles of life

My mum visited today and as she was digging in my compost she found these eggs just under the soil. New life about to hatch. Which was made more poignant as we'd just found the remains of what looks like a Sparrow Hawks kill on the lawn.

Sun came out

The sun came out today so I went out into the front garden and made the most of it. My Scotch broth died peas mix are growing amazingly and I can see in the sun light the peas just about to grow inside. I even managed to get a bowl full of Salad leaves, mange tout and strawberries for dinner this evening. I wonder how long till the Carrots, Beetroots and Tomatos will be ready. My Nutstursians (ok spelt it wrong) that I planted from seed are now in flower. We had to move the sunflowers as they are growing so big now. Tallest one is now 25 inches. We've tied it up against the wall and discovered it has another 6 flower heads on it. So now I have a whopping decision, do I cope the heads off and leave just one to grow really tall or leave them to bush out? Decisions decisions. In the back garden we have Hair Bells appearing in the wild bit, which is lovely. I spotted a new bird on the fence, quite a way away but is was a Spotted Flycatcher , thanks to Kathryn for the ID.

Telling them apart

If you didn't know much about birds it wouldn't be hard not to know both these little fellows were the same bird let alone the same species. This poor one has just started his annual moult after feeding his babies none stop for the past few months. He also got completely drenched and water logged so was sheltering in the cycle shed until he dried off a bit. We did finally get some sun shine as you can see this pair of Siskins enjoying. Are those Niger seeds sprouting in the feeder? Looks like it from here.

Another Baby

Now this is a curious one. For weeks I've believed I only had one Robin chick this year and I've watched him daily on the feeder. Today Alan took a photo of him with his new red chest plumage just appearing which made me feel almost proud. It's like, buying new school uniform time packing their lunch box and sending them off on their first adventure. This was all amazing until this afternoon and I spotted this little fellow on my feeder, without the newly emerging red breast feathers! So all this time I have two Robin chicks without ever knowing it.

Bathing by Solar Light

Sadly no time for bird watching today in the garden but I did spot this Snail, does that count? Alan did put up a new Bird Bath with solar light I got for my birthday today. Not sure who's going to be bathing in there at night but it will be fun to see if anyone does. Today was a good day though as I ate my very first home grown Blue Berry and it was gorgeous. Can't wait to feast on them and the Raspberries over the next few weeks. I noticed the rope on my Hammock has all degraded, good job no one tried to sit on it recently. Not much in the way of wildlife photographs today but here's a nice hairy backed fly for you.

MYSTERY SOLVED

Now thanks to Fran Humpherson and her kindness in getting in touch, the mystery of these funny round Peanut things I kept finding is over. They are in fact Cherry stones of all things! I would never have guessed even though we have a 25 foot high Cherry Tree next door. What am I like!

Mysterious Nuts

I got up really early this morning in the hope of getting the photographs I wanted to go with yesterdays blog and thankfully I managed to get every one of them. Was is worth waking up at 5am for a photo of something which resembles a round peanut, I don't know! Anyway, here they are. The Fungi are still everywhere and what did I say about the Raspberries, don't they look good enough to eat. Well they would be if I could reach them hhehheeee. I even spotted my favourite wild rose just starting to flower.

Drizzle

I went outside into the garden for the first proper time since my birthday today, almost 2 weeks ago. It was drizzling and all had on was my Jim Jams and pink Wellies but in those few minutes I saw so much. On the new step there were 3 seed like things, the likes of which I've not seen before. Look a little like a peanut but round but anyway they were on the step just next to where the Thrushes smash their snail shells, so I think it may have something to do with them. Then I noticed the whole lawn is covered in fungi of differing sorts and if that wasn't enough the Raspberry Bushes are bursting with bright red fruit. As it was raining so hard my intention was to go out later and take some photo's but alas the rain just got heavier and heavier and here I am now with lots to tell you but not a single relevant photo. I even braved putting the nettle stew on my Tomato's, that I have left fermenting in the corner of the garden for last few months. The lady on the telly who told me how to do it was right, it absolutely stank! Lets hope it works as all my Tomato's are looking very neglected and the leaves a little yellowy black. After such a strong start in the veg garden, its amazing how easy it is for things to go downhill quickly. So lets hope for some sun tomorrow and lots of photographs.

Jays Arrive in Force

Well what a lovely sight I woke up to today. The Jays had bought their new family of babies down into the garden for a visit. I saw 4 chicks but I heard more. They were so cute and were squabbling over everything and even getting told off by mum and dad quite often too. Their Crest's were up and down like a new found game and the noise! They sounded like a herd of constipated Wilderbeast with sore throats. I didn't manage to get a photo of all the mayhem but Alan got these two shots of the adults. I did get this little photo of a lovely baby Great Tit just before he slid down the rail in the rain. There were more than usual Chaffinches in the garden today, not sure why as I'd forgotten to fill the feeder up. Oh yes, there was a great big Black Toad in the shed today too, wonder if he lives there? The woodpeckers were here too, no baby though but they seem to be getting tamer, which is awesome.

In Flight

Isn't this such a lovely photo of a Great Tit in flight with a great big sunflower seed in his beak. Alan took it on my camera and didn't even tell me he'd taken it until I was looking through all te others. There's a photographer in him in there, somewhere for sure. Yesterday I mentioned the Swallows late leaving their nests but today I spotted them collecting on the wires already, now that is early. The sun was in the wrong place so perhaps some may have been fledgelings waiting for food instead of getting ready for the off. It was Carnival day here in Capel Curig and for the first time in 30 years they decided to hold it in the field in front of my house, literally my front garden. The Speakers were a bit loud, that even the cats were to scared to venture outside. As for the bird feeder, not a bird anywhere. Still it was a good day enjoyed by loads and we get our peace and quiet back tomorrow. x

Drizzle Day

Blue Tit

It's only been a few day since I left my garden to tender to itself , yet it looks as though a Tornado has blown threw. My Tallest Sunflower has been snapped and the others look a right mess. The only think looking promising are my Beetroot. The feeder is still full of birds with the Siskins are here in their numbers are the baby Robin still about. I spotted the Swallows on a nearby building were about the fledge too today, how exciting, only about 3 weeks too late for the rest of the country. I spotted this Gull acting peculiarly on the roof.

Baby Chaffinch

I was wondering why I hadn't seen any baby Chaffinches this year when today it all became clear. The Mum from of this family has sadly been killed so this poor Dad has been doing all the feeding himself. He's doing a very good job though especially at keeping the baby well hidden from the dangers of SparrowHawks. I only just spotted them in the undergrowth.

Getting tired

I am getting so so tired these days that writing a daily blog is becoming just a little too much for me so for a while anyway, it will will an every few days affair I think. Today I have had no time outside out all but I can tell you Alan spotted a Baby Black Bird, which is awesome, especially after what happened to Mr No Tails leg earlier in the breeding season. I didn't manage a photo but Alan did.

Party Times

Wow now that has to be some record for recovering from a party wow. I did have a lovely evening but I'm afraid I've slept virtually every moment since. My poor garden has been neglected. However, on my little scout about just now I spotted Hegdehog pooh every where. Well not everywhere but two piles near the cat den and the others in yard. Maybe more than just two ? looks promising. The feeder has been full of birds and none more special than this baby WOODPECKER. Isn't he just adorabe. Alan actually took these photo's which proves how tame he's getting hehhehe