Hares and Snails

Very humid last night and when I went into the garden there were lots of brightly coloured snails eating decaying Centaurea flower heads. Felt mean as just put down some "Growing Success" slug pellets from the organic gardening society around my peas. They are only meant to kill slugs and snails and be safe for wildlife, but the snails were managing to look very beautiful. This morning we had a hare feding on the grass heads in the yard, watching us watching it through the window, eventually it wandered off literally kicking its heels as it went. It appears to be an on again off again thing with the Redstarts they are in and out of the hole in the wall but not that often to have young. Watched two voles have a real barney in the drystone wall by the greenhouse, totally oblivious to me. They chased in and out of the wall, coming to blows in the grass, one tried to run off but the other grabbed its bum and bit and shook it. It was a very, very noisy affair.

Hare eating grass flower heads

White-lipped snail

White-lipped snail

Brown-lipped and White-lipped snails

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

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

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.

Jays and Siskins

We noticed a little plush brown vole was feeding on the fallen seed under the bird feeders so we put some on the ground, hoping to get some nice photos. It didn't get much chance to feed as a fine pair of Jays turned up. We managed a couple of photos before one gave a very harsh alarm call and they both took off, hopefully they'll be back, though they are always very nervous. We also had a pair of Siskins coming for the peanuts.

Swallows are back.

Just seen our first Swallow of the year, a female coasting over the marshy fields behind the house. Nice birthday present for me but worried as the forecast for overnight is for gales and heavy rain. One swallow definitely doesn't make a summer. We are settling in and its amazing how quickly the local wildlife has cottoned on and since putting out food and mowing the lawn we have suddenly become a prime territory worth fighting for. Two equally matched Robins were particularly brutal rolling around the lawn attempting to stab each other in the chest with their beaks. At least one did survive as I  heard it singing later. Two female blackbirds had a scrap one dragging the other by a wing past the kitchen window while I was washing up. We did have three baby rabbits coming into the garden to eat my newly planted perennials - an ornamental Bistort being favourite. Barrie pointed out if I didn't want rabbits in the garden I shouldn't put out rabbit food (bird seed). I was going to try the strategic placement of Ferret poo but now there appears to be no need. A feral cat turned up for a few days and the bunnies are no more.

House Move

Finally moved into our new home. Amazed how noisy the countryside is, especially when you haven't got double glazing. The dawn chorus starts with the Robin before daylight and he's the last to finish singing at night and still feeds around the bird feeders when its dark. He's joined by the hooting of the Tawny Owls and the melody of the Blackbirds and gradually the smaller birds join in with little more than a burp from a Bullfinch to the incredibly sweet song of the Dunnock. On Tuesday night it got stormy and the wind set the trees roaring and creaking. Most are Pine and they bend and sway at alarming angles. Th;ere are plenty of deer,  we watched three coming down to the stream  to drink while we were putting up the bedroom curtains. Our outside light is also proving very attractive to moths so I am going to have to brush up my identifying skills. However that would mean finding a book which is in a box of which there are many.