Cyn's Nature Notes: Return of No-Tail

Sunday 13 October 2013

Return of No-Tail

Pleased to see the return of No-Tail the pigeon and his offspring feeding together on the lawn today. They have been sporadic visitors to the garden since mid-July. I hope we will see more of them from now on.

Went across the road today to collect some of natures jewels, they were beautiful shiny, wonderfully self marked conkers, the seed of the horse-chestnut tree. The road was covered in crushed conkers and I thought of years ago when I used to collect them for my siblings, make a hole through them with a skewer and then thread string though. Those long years ago most children played conkers and it was sometimes hard to find any, as they had already been collected. I shall keep mine for a few weeks to admire them, then I will put them outside for the squirrels to find. Conkers are inedible, unlike the seed of the sweet chestnut tree, these are delicious and can be eaten raw, roasted or used in many recipes, including Christmas stuffing. Do make sure you are using the right type of chestnut if you are going to eat them.

The hops are turning dark brown and the bright red haws on the hawthorn are already being eaten by the wildlife. Sloes have disappeared completely, they were devoured very rapidly this year.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.