My Garden 2023

Today had meant going birding but was too tired, so kept eye on gardens. Had 3 Jackdaw at the fat balls, a juv Starling trying to figure out how to reach the two fat balls without breaking its neck etc , feeder has no top so after many attempts of trying the youngster decided drastic action was needed, so clung on for dear life and poked its head down the feeder ah success!  Later watched a Feral Pigeon trying to do same it was all fingers and thumbs at first but finally stuck its head down feeder and both its legs became wedged in feeder lol I was willing it to get its neck stuck then I could watch it and have a good laugh but no chance it decided to give up before it did any damage to itself.

Mentioned yesterday to AH & CH I hadn't seen a Robin in ages, today an adult came and had bath in a water dish.  Spotted a male Chaffinch on the niger feeder.  The adult Great Tit had the three juvs with it, two were begging for food but the other was attacking a fat ball as if not eaten in ages, then the adult was going in and out the "Great Tit" nest box, it hadn't used it this year. The juvs had a look inside as well, they would put it in their memory bank expect.  I decided to put some of my hair in the box and the one below as well, since Covid I always cut my hair and save the trimmings for the birds nest boxes. As yet they not returned, also hung a seed feeder with black sunflower seeds and dried calciworms, nice treat for them.

Two Collared Dove popped in. One Wood Pigeon was perched in tree at front and looked pig sick, hope its mate not been naughty. Pair of Blackbirds been busy. The Spuggies still run the front garden. Had a Sparrowhawk over high. 

All in all well worth staying in.

John  

As you all know my gardens are full of trees/shrubs with next to know grass but loads of "weeds" but to me they aren't they are welcome as the wildlife seem to like them as if they would in a wood etc.  Out of curiosity looked through my Collins Gem Guide Herbs For Cooking & Health published in 1987 and the Collins Gem for Wild Flowers published in 2002 to see how many I have growing.

Over the years of consulting the herb book I never knew that lots of "weeds" are classed as herbs such as Dandelion, Chickweed, Foxglove, Goosegrass and lots more including trees. At present I have twenty-nine different herbs growing, blimey.  Of the wild flowers which some are classed as herbs I have twenty-two species. 

Other than the more common herbs I have such as Oregano, Lemon Verbena, Fennel and Mint which I bought from garden centre, the rest came courtesy of the birds, they also pooped all my trees bar two, so thank you very much to the birds they have saved me loads of money by pooping in both gardens and bringing allsorts!

The Adult Great Tit is still feeding the three juvs and all are flying in and out the trees and shrubs. Jackdaws have returned to the fat balls. 

Cheers

John

Today another female Blackbird gathering wet leaves out pond. Thought it was for nest in front hedge but she didn't go it so that's another nest, blimey these birds are doing well this year compared to last when only one pair nested and only one juv survived. Spotted one Greenfinch on Niger feeder and two Goldfinch on same. No sign of Collared Doves or Wood Pigeons. Oddly only had one Feral Pigeon today!!

John

Today found three dead very tiny juvs below where one Blackbird nest is in driveway, they didn't look like Blackbirds more like Blue Tits. 

Found another Blackbird nest in lilac next to garden gate. The male Blackbird yesterday was feeding three juvs, had an adult Great Tit feeding two possibly three juvs with fat balls. The Collared Dove keeps flying out rowan to the hawthorns. What last week was the juv Starling residence is now the Spuggies spotted them in two of the Hawthorns. Think the Wood Pigeon have nest in the conifer as they keep going back and forth. Spotted another pair building a nest across road in big tree. Nothing has nested in my three nest boxes as yet. 

 

Again the Spuggies provided much needed entertainment for me, this time a collection of nine including adults and juvs either taking or waiting to bathe in a empty one litre ice cream container, watched them for ten minutes from front lounge window making sure I was partly concealed behind curtain, the juvs were really enjoying a dip, one by one each took their turn and then flew in privet hedge to do what they do. A male Blackbird kept getting wet each time it was snacking on the daily apples I put out but it didn't seem to mind. Simple things I find are the best!