Sunday 27 May 2012

Where are all the Hoverflies?

During the hotspell in March my garden was buzzing with Hoverflies, now there hardly seems to be any just the smaller species and few Bumble or Honey bees. The only butterflies I've seen so far are one Orange tip and a couple of green veined whites. None of which bodes well for the birds when they have hungry chicks to feed.



My lawn is covered in buttercups and they look wonderful.

Just thought this looked lovely in the sun.

A little herbaceous Potentilla

Friday 25 May 2012

Sunny days and Misty Mornings



Everyones enjoying the sunny weather. The rabbits are sunbathing in the field and we've noticed one of the pheasants is very particular about coming back to the same spot to sunbathe. Unfortunately a large rabbit likes the same place and they end up almost side by side. We thought the Redstarts had deserted us but saw the male chase the female into a hole in the wall and then sit outside chattering at her as his tail quivered. He's  been in and out with food so fingers crossed.  We have seen Treecreepers going in and out of a crack in one of the old beech trees and a pair of Blackbirds turned up with a very noisy fledgling that chased them round the garden begging for food and on Monday morning  I heard a cuckoo calling in the woods. In the drystone wall under the sunflower seed feeder we have a family of voles that rush out for the bits the Siskins drop - like the Coal Tits they are very nervous of the bullying Siskins.  We had a pair of Blackcaps for a day and a pair of Redpolls regularly visit but are bullied by the Siskins. We see a pair of Pied Wagtails with beaks full of food but haven't spotted the nest yet. Swallows are going in and out of the barn but don't seem to have built a nest in there. The crows are getting nervous when the Buzzards fly over and we think the Buzzards have a nest by the lane. A Grey Squirrel has also started visiting us, it's nervous of the washing blowing on the line, squinting myopically at it and starting back as it blows towards it.  The hedgehog has been released but still comes back (or one comes back) for a dish of catfood at night.



Female Redstart

Orange Tip
Grey Squirrel

Tree Creeper by crack where nest is.

Vole Banquet












Tuesday 8 May 2012

Redstarts and Jays

The Jays have become regular visitors to the garden, though not everyone is happy. A pair of Blackbirds make every attempt to show them they are not welcome, working together to drive the Jays away. This morning we watched a pair of Redstarts investigating our feeders and then look with interest at a hole in an outbuilding. Apparently they like to make nests out of moss and hair so I think Barrie may be due another haircut later. Driving along in Bleasdale I saw something white flapping in a field, I couldn't make out what it was so got my telephoto lense out - two Redshank mating. We often see Deer in the grounds of Gisburn Park, as we were drivng past on Monday we spotted one by the side of the road  nonchalantly chewing as two men walked right past and never noticed it.