July part 3

15th St Swithan's day so we should have sunshine and showers for the next 40 days. A fledgling robin has appeared in the garden. Along with lots of sparrows.

July part 2

8th It's 6.30.a.m. and the sparrows are very noisy outside, also saw a young female blackbird, young and adult blue tits,great tits and a young magpie. Later white butterflies danced around each other as they travelled across the garden. A brown/orange butterfly also in garden. Hard to identify and to photograph. Gold finch cam to feed at midday. Picked my first raspberries and strawberries- delicious!
11th  Adult hedgehog in garden but no baby in tow.
12th 5a.m. Hedgehog in garden again - it's raining and the garden needs it we hav'nt had rain for ages. at 8a.m. Hedgehog in garden again hope she is ok. Hedgehog arrived back in garden at 9:30 earlier than usual.
13th juvenille blue tits in garden hopping around they are very sweet.

July 2010

"If the first of July it be rainy weather. 'Twill rain, more or less for four weeks together."
1st Cloudy,warm and dry. No rain for four weeks together according to the above saying.
Sparrows are mating in next doors tree.
7th Fledgling sparrows in garden and a female with feathers in her beak.
Exiting a baby hedgehog with mum in the garden this evening. Feeding together for about half-an-hour.

Between 3-5 are born in a litter between June and July. They are born pink and blind but within hours sprout a few white spines which grow browner as they age. By 14 days their eyes open and by 6 weeks they will have over 2000 spines. By 4 weeks they will be eating solid food and will be independent by 6 weeks. The male has no part in their rearing .