Cyn's Nature Notes: Dunnocks Mating

Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Dunnocks Mating

There are fieldfares in the cotoneaster and holly. They are such large and pretty members of the thrush family, and so welcome in my garden.

A surprising sight this late morning was dunnocks mating. Later, I was drawn to the window by the insistent one note call of a dunnock, and looking out I saw a flighty female performing for three males, who in their ardour were caught between paying court to her and chasing off their rivals.

After a few minutes it all died down and the young (three years old) pheasant came to feed. He came alone and it is a couple of days since I have seen his father, whom I call the emperor, on account of his regal attitude and beautiful colouring. There has been the sound of shooting in the nearby fields and I hope he is safe. He has been with us for so many years I would hate for him to end up on someone’s plate. He looks glorious wandering around outside.

The fox has been coming very late, my fault because I have been slow to get his food ready. I must make a greater effort in future. We rarely have more than one at a time now,although we are still visited by at least two. The bright white of the snow makes them easier to watch during these dark nights.

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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.