Autumn arrives early

Storm clouds brewing

I woke up this morning and discovered Autumn had arrived a little bit early with the lawn covered in leaves. The weather didn't help dispell the feeling either as storm clouds appeared above and gave us a great afternoon display of lightening and thunder. Then I noticed the ripe Black Berries, is it really still August?

Bargain Bird Boxes

The garden at night

Its typical, there's me complaining about having the most nervous and elusive Robins on the planet just the other day and now, well for the last two days, they have been around constantly. One was even sunbathing just a couple of feet away from me on top of the compost bin yesterday.

My mum found two of these bird boxes at a car boot for only 50p, what a bargain. I know its a bit late in the year for them this year but putting them up now will give the birds plenty of time to get used to them and clock them ready for next spring.

I believe this fella is a new visitor to the garden. He's a lot smaller and slenderer than my resident Nuthatches, maybe he's one of this years chicks?

Green Veined Butterfly

Today my identification capabilities have been put to the test again with this little fellow. At first I thought it must be a 'Small White' as it had the same markings as a Large White but a lot smaller. But on further research I found that Small White's don't have the same vein markings as this one does. Sooooooo I think I've decided its a Male Green Veined Butterfly, I think.

Flying Away

Woodpeckers are back

I've not had much time in the garden today but the odd moments I did get I saw so much. Most excitingly a 6.30am this morning I saw Mrs Woodpecker on the feeder. First time I've seen any of the woodpeckers on the feeder since June, I was so excited. Didn't get a photo so have used an old one.Later on I saw the Robin's. Three of this years chicks and an adult. Virtually everyone I know who enjoys their garden has a tame Robin except me! I have the most nervous Robins in the world and I don't know why. My Jays, which are notoriously shy are virtually hand tame compared to the Robins. Mr Redfoot stopped by for a while at lunch time, And this evening Whitear had a feast on some left over cat food.

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

The sun shone for all of 5 minutes today here in Capel Curig, luckily I had camera in hand and managed to snap this photo of a Golden Ringer Dragonfly as he rested for a few seconds in the sunshine.

Fat Ball Jays

This Jay spent ages this morning trying to land on the fat ball feeder. Eventually he managed it, took one mouth full and slipped off. It wasn't long before he was back trying again and this time he had it sussed.

Bugs again

A couple of bug photo's today but haven't had chance to look them up to say for sure what they are yet.

FELL FROM THE SKY

I was looking forward to watching the Shooting star display tonight but its all cloudy here. But talking of things shooting across the sky, this stone literally fell from the sky a couple of days ago. I was sitting in the garden having a cup of tea when I spotted a white thing drop from the sky, hit the lean to roof and fall onto the path. I went over to have a look to see what it was and found this. It looks very much like quarts but it is completely see-through inside. Its also very shiney. I'm guessing a bird must have picked it up thinking it was bread or something then dropped it as he flew over my garden.

The Summer House Arrives

It's here, it's here, my summer house has arrived and I love it. I have to thank Alan, mum and Harry who helped digging out the bank, clearing the brush and making a base for it. AND a big thank you to the guys at http://www.allshedsnorthwest.co.uk/ too. I can't believe the summer house, delivery and them coming all the way from Liverpool to put it up only cost £539. Truly amazing, can you tell I am sooooooo happy with it. I'm going to call it Lou's Shed.

Before

Oh and to make things even better, literally minutes after the Shed guy's left the Sparrow Hawk came into the garden and landed on a tree only 20 foot away from where we were sat on the veranda and was totally unaware we were there. The sun shone all day too, it's been great. During the evening the came rain came but it just made sitting in the summer house even cosier. I lit the oil torches and it looked magical.
Animal wise, there were lots of Small White butterflies around today they especially seemed to like the thistles in the wild patch in the garden. Oh and I saw the Willow Warbler again.

WASPS 4 - ALAN 0

(Hoverfly, I think, need to check)

Well today saw the latest in the battle of Alan verses the wasps. Since his stinging on three separate occasions last week , Alan has been out to get his revenge on the wasps. First he tried normal household wasp spray, squirted directly down the hole which worked for approximately 10 seconds! So he tried again and again but still they kept coming. His last attempt yesterday involved some specially created foam, fantastic stuff apparently. Anyway today, I was out in the garden and apart from a white foam covered nest the wasps where happily going in and out of their nest as usual. I think they may now recognise him though as one followed him tonight into the house and stung him again!
I bought a lovely new feeder yesterday. It has a spike through the middle where you can thread apples of fat balls. The tits love it and so far the squirrels haven't shown any interest, which is great.
I also saw one of the Blue Tit chicks playing on the hammock today.
My garden still looks like a builders yard.

Toads, toads wonderful toads

Toads, toads, wonderful toads.

I watched this Great Tit chase and catch this bee today, he then flew onto a fence post and ate it. I found some great little solar spot lights for the garden last week, Mrs Robin seems to like them too.

We've been so busy in the garden levelling out the ground. Finally finished it tonight. Roll on Tuesday .....

Reptiles Rule

Another day pottering in the garden. We're still trying to level out the what was the brush pile at the top of the garden, ready for the summer house which is due to be delivered on Tuesday. Found another toad today, this one was huge and quite ugly compared to the small cute looking one from yesterday. Found another slow worm too. Each one I've photographed has been so different to the last. I didn't realise they came in so many colours and patterns. I went out in the dark last night to watch the hedgehogs and there were so many snails, everywhere they were.

Toads and Giant Wood Wasps

Happy Chappy 'Slow Worm'

The sunshine is back at last and I've spent virtually the whole day in the garden. We've had some new visitors in the garden today which has been very exciting. First of all, my mum spotted this Giant Wood Wasp laying her eggs in the logs at the top of the garden. Then later I managed to get some photographs of another slow worm, a very pale one this time. Then this evening we had a visit from a wonderful little Common Toad.

ALAN- V -WASPS

Its been a tricky situation having the wasp nest in the garden especially as its been growing in size so quickly. To be fair, I decided that as long as no one got stung that they would be welcome. Well last Sunday, Alan accidentally stood on the entrance of the nest and got stung quite badly on the bum (am trying not to laugh). But as it was really his own fault for scaring them I decided to give them another chance. However, this afternoon Alan got stung again on the toe. He was just walking down the garden when it happened so I can't really defend them this time. So this afternoon, Alan (his butt cheek still red n swollen) got his revenge. I've not been out in the garden since but I doubt I'll be seeing many wasps about tomorrow.

hedgehogs

I've been out all day choosing a new summer house for the garden so I've not had time to take any photos. Until now that is. I've just been outside and found Whitear eating the monkey nuts I left out for her. Isn't she lovely.

Butterflies and Bunny Rabbits

There's bunny rabbits everywhere today, not sure where they have all come from. Lovely to see them munching their way through the grass. Finally managed a photo of a slow worm today, he was ever so quick so not the best photo's of the world but its a good record shot.

I saw the most beautiful Red Admiral Butterfly today too. I don't think I've ever seen one quite so stunning in colour before.

Slacking again

I admit it, I've been slacking again on my blog. I've been so busy in the garden, to actually write about it. I've decided after years of dreaming about one that I'm going to get a summer house for the top of the garden. So that's meant lots of chopping branches and clearing the brush pile in the corner. Luckily all the nesting birds have gone from there now although I suspect the hedgehogs live somewhere in there. So I'll have to make them another temporary home until they find themselves something better.
The buzzards are very vocal at the moment and have been circling above the garden for most of the day. The sparrow hawk has been back again too. Not sure what he caught, maybe a dunnock looking at the feathers.
The wasps have made another hole in the grass. Amazing to watch as the top hole is definitely the entrance and the bottom hole is the exit. The hedgehogs are still visiting every night, they are loving the monkey nuts I put out. And finally I found another new plant in the garden. Not sure what it is, but it has very pretty fruit.