Note from Andrew Beach - Pat's Husband: I regret to say that my
beloved wife passed away in November 2013. As you will know if you have
read her blog posts she was truly in love with nature and enjoyed
sharing this love with others through these posts. This post was
prepared but not published which I now do in her memory. It may not be
complete but this is how she left it, so how it shall be.
1st Still in the New Forest. We go to Bolder Wood to see the deer . There are 13 in the field but they are not as close as we've seen back at the van.
2nd Arrive home today and fledgling sparrows, great tits, and starlings are all in the garden, while a male and female bullfinch are in the garden.
3rd We put a new camera trap in the garden over night and catch a hedgehog, a squirrel,cat and young starlings.
8th Its very noisy in the garden - sparrows and starlings still trying to get mum and dad to feed them and 6 goldfinch. Later I see a young great tit on the drive. He looked very vulnerable and I watch from a distance till it flies off.
Week 3 and I pick a bowl full of strawberries from the garden. Yum.
The garden continues to be a nursery for the young birds of the area. great tits , blue tits, goldfinch and sparrows mainly. Adult blackbirds, pigeons and magpies also visit. While the hedgehog comes at night.
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Friday, 31 May 2013
May 2013
Note from Andrew Beach - Pat's Husband: I regret to say that my beloved wife passed away in November 2013. As you will know if you have read her blog posts she was truly in love with nature and enjoyed sharing this love with others through these posts. This post was prepared but not published which I now do in her memory. It may not be complete but this is how she left it, so how it shall be.
1st and it's sunny.
2nd 3 hedgehogs in the garden . 1female and two males I think. The female is circled by one of the males- she huffs at him when he gets too close. Both eat the food put out. A third hedgehog comes close and is chased off but stays in the garden eating , he keeps trying but is always chased away. This goes on for over 2 hours at which point they follow the female out of the garden .
3rd Just one hedgehog tonight.
During the day 2 male blackbirds fight continually during the day and they are not the only ones, sparrows also fight amongst themselves. Sadly more sparrows kill sparrows than anything else.
5th the blossom is just coming out on the tree.
9th We watch a collared dove chase off magpies. Dad said it's been happening all week. I think they must have a nest nearby. When I return home there is more fighting going on - blackbirds, sparrows, blue tits, robins all seem to be chasing each other all over the garden.
15th 2 hedgehogs in the garden, the female is making lots of angry noises.
16th and I'm awake up hear the dawn chorus -amazing.
"A BIRD DOES NOT SING BECAUSE IT HAS AN ANSWER
IT SINGS BECAUSE IT HAS A SONG".
Maya Angelou
Around at Dads we watch the sparrows collecting nesting material from the newly cut lawn.
23rd When putting out food for the hedgehog I disturbed a fox in the garden.
26th My first fledgling of the year -a robin.
27th Setthorns Caravan Park , New Forest
First birds to arrive at the bird feeder - nuthatches, blue tits, great tits, cole tit,and a willow tit . a new spot for me.
Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)
Lives in conifer woods and birch woods preferably close to rivers and streams. They eat invertebrates in summer and plant material in autumn and winter and will hoard food if they can.
Nests in mid April in anew nest every year usually close to the ground. Lays 6-8 eggs which are incubated by the female. The young are fed by both parents and will fly after 17 days.
We also heard a cuckoo and at 9pm a fallow deer walks through the site.
Fallow Deer(dama dama)
Herds of fallow deer have lived in ancient forests for centuries. Unusually for deer there are different colour varieties. Chestnut brown with white spots is typical for summer, but some maybe pale brown with spots, known as menil. Black and white varieties can also be found. They feed at anytime but dawn and dusk are usual. Rutting time is October - November.
28th A Jay briefly lands on a tree nearby. On a walk we see a blue tit using a hole in a tree for it's nest and heard lot's of beautiful bird song. Blue bells are in flower in the woods.
29th Male and female Greater Spotted Woodpecker on feeder are devastating the fat ball.
30th 5 fallow deer pass close to the caravan. You can see the velvet on the antlers.
They stay in the woodland close to the caravan as we find them later in the day.
31st I've never seen so much Gorse in flower!
In amongst it a Brimstone butterfly.
Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryxrhamni (pceridae))An early sign of spring as it emerges from hibernation. It has a wing span of 6cm and can be see in flight from May - September. It is believed the word butterfly was first used to described this insect. It is widespread in North Africa and Europe. They lay eggs on buckthorn bushes when they come into leaf. The green caterpillar last from 3-7 weeks before it turns into a pupa.
I found the quote in a puzzle book and thought I'd share it with you.
"The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes."
Frank Lloyd Wright
1st and it's sunny.
2nd 3 hedgehogs in the garden . 1female and two males I think. The female is circled by one of the males- she huffs at him when he gets too close. Both eat the food put out. A third hedgehog comes close and is chased off but stays in the garden eating , he keeps trying but is always chased away. This goes on for over 2 hours at which point they follow the female out of the garden .
3rd Just one hedgehog tonight.
During the day 2 male blackbirds fight continually during the day and they are not the only ones, sparrows also fight amongst themselves. Sadly more sparrows kill sparrows than anything else.
5th the blossom is just coming out on the tree.
9th We watch a collared dove chase off magpies. Dad said it's been happening all week. I think they must have a nest nearby. When I return home there is more fighting going on - blackbirds, sparrows, blue tits, robins all seem to be chasing each other all over the garden.
15th 2 hedgehogs in the garden, the female is making lots of angry noises.
16th and I'm awake up hear the dawn chorus -amazing.
"A BIRD DOES NOT SING BECAUSE IT HAS AN ANSWER
IT SINGS BECAUSE IT HAS A SONG".
Maya Angelou
Around at Dads we watch the sparrows collecting nesting material from the newly cut lawn.
23rd When putting out food for the hedgehog I disturbed a fox in the garden.
26th My first fledgling of the year -a robin.
27th Setthorns Caravan Park , New Forest
First birds to arrive at the bird feeder - nuthatches, blue tits, great tits, cole tit,and a willow tit . a new spot for me.
Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)
Lives in conifer woods and birch woods preferably close to rivers and streams. They eat invertebrates in summer and plant material in autumn and winter and will hoard food if they can.
Nests in mid April in anew nest every year usually close to the ground. Lays 6-8 eggs which are incubated by the female. The young are fed by both parents and will fly after 17 days.
We also heard a cuckoo and at 9pm a fallow deer walks through the site.
Fallow Deer(dama dama)
Herds of fallow deer have lived in ancient forests for centuries. Unusually for deer there are different colour varieties. Chestnut brown with white spots is typical for summer, but some maybe pale brown with spots, known as menil. Black and white varieties can also be found. They feed at anytime but dawn and dusk are usual. Rutting time is October - November.
28th A Jay briefly lands on a tree nearby. On a walk we see a blue tit using a hole in a tree for it's nest and heard lot's of beautiful bird song. Blue bells are in flower in the woods.
29th Male and female Greater Spotted Woodpecker on feeder are devastating the fat ball.
They stay in the woodland close to the caravan as we find them later in the day.
31st I've never seen so much Gorse in flower!
In amongst it a Brimstone butterfly.
Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryxrhamni (pceridae))An early sign of spring as it emerges from hibernation. It has a wing span of 6cm and can be see in flight from May - September. It is believed the word butterfly was first used to described this insect. It is widespread in North Africa and Europe. They lay eggs on buckthorn bushes when they come into leaf. The green caterpillar last from 3-7 weeks before it turns into a pupa.
I found the quote in a puzzle book and thought I'd share it with you.
"The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes."
Frank Lloyd Wright
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
April 2013
April and it's still freezing. Regulars in the garden - 2 longtailed tits, 3 blue tits, 2 great tits, 2 collared doves, 4 pigeons, 2 magpies, a gang of sparrows, 2 male and 1 female blackbirds (one of the males has a white stripe on his wing), 2 dunnocks, 2 robins, 1 male black cap, 1 wren, and several starlings.
The daffodils are in flower so spring must be here!(about 3/4 weeks late I think). Crocus are flowering in the grass verges and catkins are on the trees.
2nd week.
I thought the blackbird with the white stripe on his wing was the dominant bird but another one has been chasing him off all day. The female has been collecting nesting material from my untidy garden.
13th 3 dunnocks have been flitting around the garden. One of them the female I think has been fluttering her wings at the others. It isn't at all unusual for a female to have 2 males in attendance.
4 goldfinch in the garden today and buds on the trees.
14th Female greater spotted woodpecker feeding in garden today. 1st bee and butterfly of the year. Daffodils and celandine in flower and daisies in the grass. Also blackthorn blossom on the trees.
19th Both a male and female blackcap in the garden today.
Blackthorn blossom
female blackcap
2 hedgehogs in the garden , one is making lots of hissing noises at the other. I think its the female telling the male she's not ready to mate.
26th A return visit to Somers wood. caravan park.
On the way the clouds are like cotton wool balls in the sky and I see my first swallows of the summer.As we arrive there are blue tits, great tits and chaffinch on the feeders and as we reach our pitch a buzzard fly's over head.
27th We go for a walk in the sun but it soon turns into hail and rain and thunder so we go back to the van.
We fill up the feeder by the van and watch as chaffinch, blue tits, great tits, dunnocks, pigeons, magpies and a nuthatch all feed. 2 robins have a face off on the ground.
Squirrels and rabbits are close by.
The daffodils are in flower so spring must be here!(about 3/4 weeks late I think). Crocus are flowering in the grass verges and catkins are on the trees.
2nd week.
I thought the blackbird with the white stripe on his wing was the dominant bird but another one has been chasing him off all day. The female has been collecting nesting material from my untidy garden.
13th 3 dunnocks have been flitting around the garden. One of them the female I think has been fluttering her wings at the others. It isn't at all unusual for a female to have 2 males in attendance.
4 goldfinch in the garden today and buds on the trees.
14th Female greater spotted woodpecker feeding in garden today. 1st bee and butterfly of the year. Daffodils and celandine in flower and daisies in the grass. Also blackthorn blossom on the trees.
19th Both a male and female blackcap in the garden today.
2 hedgehogs in the garden , one is making lots of hissing noises at the other. I think its the female telling the male she's not ready to mate.
26th A return visit to Somers wood. caravan park.
On the way the clouds are like cotton wool balls in the sky and I see my first swallows of the summer.As we arrive there are blue tits, great tits and chaffinch on the feeders and as we reach our pitch a buzzard fly's over head.
27th We go for a walk in the sun but it soon turns into hail and rain and thunder so we go back to the van.
We fill up the feeder by the van and watch as chaffinch, blue tits, great tits, dunnocks, pigeons, magpies and a nuthatch all feed. 2 robins have a face off on the ground.
Squirrels and rabbits are close by.
Friday, 8 March 2013
March 2013
1st Saw a goldcrest at dads today, only my third sighting of this tiny bird.
3rd Birds in my garden today, 2 longtailed tits, 3 goldfinch, blackbird ,7 house sparrows, 2 collared doves, 3 pigeons, robins, blue tit, great tit, cole tit and a new spot for me a blackcap.
The Blackcap is a singing bird,
A Nightingale in melody,
Where Ivy flapping to the breeze,
Bear ring-marked berries black as jet. ... J Clare.
Blackcap (sylvia atricapilla) A bird with a beautiful song but will mimic other birds. In summer it lives in deciduous woodland but can be seen on bird tables in the winter.Feeds on insects, berries and apples. The male builds several nests in brambles or dense vegetation and the female chooses the best and lays 4-5 eggs. They may have 2 broods.
It has been the coldest March for 50 years.
3rd Birds in my garden today, 2 longtailed tits, 3 goldfinch, blackbird ,7 house sparrows, 2 collared doves, 3 pigeons, robins, blue tit, great tit, cole tit and a new spot for me a blackcap.
A Nightingale in melody,
Where Ivy flapping to the breeze,
Bear ring-marked berries black as jet. ... J Clare.
Blackcap (sylvia atricapilla) A bird with a beautiful song but will mimic other birds. In summer it lives in deciduous woodland but can be seen on bird tables in the winter.Feeds on insects, berries and apples. The male builds several nests in brambles or dense vegetation and the female chooses the best and lays 4-5 eggs. They may have 2 broods.
It has been the coldest March for 50 years.
January 2013
Year starts quite sunny which is unusual at the moment.
2nd Andrew startled a blackbird which flew up the road in front at him at 48 mph.
12th Visitors in the garden 4 longtailed tits, 2blie tits, 2 great tits, 2 collared doves, 3 pigoens, 1 magpie and a robin.
13th[14th firtys flurry of snow of the year, filled up the bird table and water.
18th deep snow today 2 fieldfares in the garden. The robins breast looks very red against the snow. a sparrowhawk comes for a meal but misses this time.
8 inches of snow on the ground. 2 fieldfare still eating the apples i'm putting out for them. There are plenty of garden visitors.
19th A huge icicle hangs from the roof .
Before I melt, come look at me,
this lovely icy filigree,
of a great forest in one night .
I make a wilderness of white.
2nd Andrew startled a blackbird which flew up the road in front at him at 48 mph.
12th Visitors in the garden 4 longtailed tits, 2blie tits, 2 great tits, 2 collared doves, 3 pigoens, 1 magpie and a robin.
13th[14th firtys flurry of snow of the year, filled up the bird table and water.
18th deep snow today 2 fieldfares in the garden. The robins breast looks very red against the snow. a sparrowhawk comes for a meal but misses this time.
8 inches of snow on the ground. 2 fieldfare still eating the apples i'm putting out for them. There are plenty of garden visitors.
this lovely icy filigree,
of a great forest in one night .
I make a wilderness of white.
October 2012
October starts with mixed weather but there is more of a nip in the air.
2nd Saw a young boy with his dad collecting conkers it brought back memories from both my childhood and my childrens. The leaves are turning to autumn colours.
7th A gang of 7 starlings in the garden, 3 greenfinch, 6 longtailed tits, a great tit, 2 blue tits, a dunnock, 2 pigeons fighting, 2 collared doves, a magpie and a squirrel.
Friday 26th - Wed 31st Bidford - on -Avon
Small CL sight by the river. Lovely autumn colours on the journey. On the very first day we see a kingfisher - He now has a better picture then me.
2 swans regularly feed on the grass on the river back. as do 4 morehens.
There is a tangle of dogwood with white berries and red berries near the van where a blackbird and a robin are feeding on the berries. On the feeder I see my first tree sparrow.
Tree sparrow (passer montanus) Not as common as the house sparrow they have a black spot on their cheeks. Lives in open woodland, farmland, parks and orchards where there are hedgerows. They eat seeds from grasses, cultivated cereals and small invertebrates. It nests in holes and crevices in trees, buildings and cliffs. Both adults build the nest while the female will lay 5 -6 eggs, with 2 - 3 broods a year.
2nd Saw a young boy with his dad collecting conkers it brought back memories from both my childhood and my childrens. The leaves are turning to autumn colours.
7th A gang of 7 starlings in the garden, 3 greenfinch, 6 longtailed tits, a great tit, 2 blue tits, a dunnock, 2 pigeons fighting, 2 collared doves, a magpie and a squirrel.
Friday 26th - Wed 31st Bidford - on -Avon
Small CL sight by the river. Lovely autumn colours on the journey. On the very first day we see a kingfisher - He now has a better picture then me.
Sept 2012
Thursday30th August - Sunday 2nd September
Peatling Magna , the Old Stables, C L site, Leicester.
Quiet sight with views over open fields 2 buzzards circle over the other side of the field. lots of "tits" around visiting the feeder. magpies, crows, pigeons also around while an owl makes itself heard at night.
It has been the wettest summer in 100 years.
The first frost of the year during the night on the 30th August.
10th Saw 2 buzzards in the sky over castle Bromwich.
11th and 15th there is a fox in dads garden curled up under a bush. Also had a siskin in the garden for the first time.
Peatling Magna , the Old Stables, C L site, Leicester.
Quiet sight with views over open fields 2 buzzards circle over the other side of the field. lots of "tits" around visiting the feeder. magpies, crows, pigeons also around while an owl makes itself heard at night.
It has been the wettest summer in 100 years.
The first frost of the year during the night on the 30th August.
10th Saw 2 buzzards in the sky over castle Bromwich.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)