Pheasants

Glancing out of the window today, I was delighted to see the emperor strolling across the lawn with a female pheasant in tow. They were heading toward the feeding station. She was very nervous and as soon as I spotted her so she noticed me, she turned on her heel and in a hurry and scurry she was across the lawn and hidden amongst the shrubs.

Fortunately she came back later and resumed feeding.

Creatures who certainly always eat well are the squirrels -- they feast on currants, mixed fruit, suet, biscuits and mixed seed. They are always first at the window, ready and waiting in the morning, and throughout the day they turn up to clear any scraps left over from the birds.

Hertingfordbury

We recently visited Hertingfordbury, a small but pretty Hertfordshire village. It was well worth visiting as it has a variety of old and interesting buildings for such a small place. Some are beautiful and others fascinating.

The village sits in the middle of the countryside and although there is a busy road nearby it didn't spoil the peace of the village. My attention was caught by the huge balls of mistletoe hanging from some of the trees and there was also a splendid conifer, darkly green and covered in enormous fir cones.

During our entire visit the song of birds filled the air. A very pleasant afternoon.

Brimstone Butterfly

Saw a large yellow butterfly in the garden today. It must have been the warm sunshine that drew it out. It was a beautiful Brimstone.

Daffodils

Time to celebrate -- the daffodils are in bloom!

True it is only the miniature ones, but they are so bright and cheerful, and the regular sized ones will soon be following on because they are in fat bud with long stems.

Cole Green Way

A glorious day: twelve degrees and dry. So we walked a little of Cole Green Way -- formerly a disused railway line connecting Welwyn Garden City and Hertford. Such a pretty walk.

With horses grazing and beautiful views.

The Emperor and His Son

The two male pheasants seem to have spent the winter keeping each other company. Most days they turn up together at regular intervals to be fed. If they aren't noticed waiting by the side kitchen window they hurry along to the patio windows. Once there, if they are still not noticed, the younger one will climb on the step and stand with his beak against the glass or just settle down on the step, patiently waiting to be noticed. His father "the emperor" is not half as patient; he will strut from the kitchen window to the patio doors where he will rise up on tiptoe, flap his wings and loudly crow. This of course brings the attention straight to him and as soon as he sees a movement from within, he scurries back to the kitchen window as fast as he can, anxious to be first and not to miss anything.

Today was much the same, except as they finished feeding and wandered away across the lawn, the emperor turned on his son, and fluffing his feathers out and dropping the wing facing his son, then lowering his head, he slowly advanced, with a sideways motion, toward his son, who immediately backed away. The emperor resumed a normal posture and moved to where his son was standing, once again he adopted the "aggressive" stance and again the youngster retreated. This behaviour continued until the older one had driven his son far away.

This gentle aggression is a sure sign that it is mating time. The first time it happened the younger pheasant appeared not to understand, with the unfortunate circumstance that he became a victim of much stronger aggressive behaviour and feathers flew. Now he understands and makes himself scarce!

We occasionally have other male pheasants wander into the garden, but no mercy is given and the older pheasant instantly becomes very territorial at any time of the year, flying at them and attacking them with no or very little warning.

Late February Flowers

I long for some bright days -- this winter seems to have lasted so long and been so cold, but each time I look in the garden I find more and more flowers open and bravely facing the cold.

Today I was delighted to find mauve, yellow and white crocuses and heliborus feotidus or stinking helibore as it is commonly known. It has green stems, leaves and flowers and as the flowers open fully the bottom edge of the petals becomes edged with red. There are also mauve and white violets; aconites; daffodils in bud; chinodoxia or glory of the snow; the wonderfully perfumed vibernum bodnantense; and cascading down a bank, a veronica with tiny deep blue flowers and masses of buds showing promise of much to come.

Alas no sign of my beloved primroses yet.

The rhododendrons, azalias and magnolias are all heavy with bud and promise of much future enjoyment, together with the rosettes of foxglove leaves standing all around the garden, wherever their seeds happened to fall.

Magpie & Squirrel Hide and Seek

This morning I once more watched the squirrel feeding with amusement. When the squirrel was replete, the magpie who had been watching him feed, and patiently waiting for this moment, boldly walked up to the squirrel who was crossing the lawn with a piece of biscuit in his mouth. I knew what was coming and fortunately had my camera to hand and was able at last to photograph the whole sequence.

Now, where shall I hide this piece of biscuit?

                           Ah yes, nobody will find it here...

How odd -- that magpie's always following me around.

Thank you very much my friend.

Goldfinches

The goldfinches who have delighted us all winter by visiting in flocks, are now visiting the garden in pairs