Blackbirds

The immature male blackbirds are losing their brown female look and darkening up, some are already almost indistinguishable from the splendid black adult males, but are lacking the bright orange bill of the mature adult male.

If you watch the blackbirds carefully you will be able to spot brown females with brown beaks, brownish black  immature males with brown beaks and glorious adult males with their glossy black coats and stunning orange bills.

Fat Balls, Long Tailed Tits and Squirrels !

I hang fat balls out primarily for the tits, but have enjoyed seeing robins, starlings and blackbirds clinging -- albeit sometimes precariously -- to the fat ball holders. I am most pleased when I see a gathering of long tailed tits clustered around the balls and filling themselves with goodness this cold weather, although of course I am always pleased to see blue, great, cole or long tailed tits feeding there. Underneath is to be seen a gathering of birds feeding on the ground, dunnocks, robins and blackbirds. Both robins and blackbirds will tolerate each other, but are extremely territorial with their own kind.

Long tailed tits, however, are the birds that always bring a smile to my face, they are so pretty with such tiny bodies and long tails and are such a joy to watch as they cling harmoniously to the ball feasting together.

Now we have a fat ball intruder, one of the young squirrels has found the fat ball holder and in next to no time demolishes the fat ball, thereby shortening the life of a fat ball from four days to one. I think I might see if I can find a squirrel proof fat ball bird feeder.

Fourteen Different Birds and a Bank Vole

An amazing variety of birds in the garden today: pheasants, dunnocks, green woodpecker, long tailed tits, blue tits, great tits, cole tits, robins, magpies, blackbirds, moorhens, pigeons, great spotted woodpecker, chaffinches, wrens and flying over: cormorants, seagulls and terns.

Spotted from the back bedroom window a little bank vole running along and between the flints that make up the dry stone wall.

Red-Legged Partridges, Green Woodpecker and Squirrels

Delighted to watch a covey of red-legged partridges this morning. They are such plump and pretty little game birds, they have reddish brown backs and back of head, dark eye stripe, white bottom half of face and front of neck, then a black neck band with black spotting leading down, and absolutely stunning black and white barred markings on their flanks. I see them from time to time and have tried to photograph them, but they are very quick to detect the slightest sound or movement, so I haven't as yet been able to.

I was lucky enough to photograph the green woodpecker, when he spent time on the side lawn later on.

First thing this morning I watched a squirrel hide a biscuit in the birch tree, he was being watched and then followed by a crow and a magpie, so as soon as he left the biscuit and ran down the tree, both the crow and magpie went for it. The crow won and sat on the branch eating his spoils, while the wily magpie flew to the base of the tree and had to be content with the dropped crumbs !

Squirrels and Helliborus Foetida

I am fascinated to notice the variation in colour of the fur at the back and base of the squirrels' ears. On some it is a small bush of fluffy white, while on others it is a ginger colour.

One of Cyril and Beryl's offspring a young male called Sydney, will now wait patiently by the window and when given food will take it gently, I took his photograph.

The Helliborus Foetidus are now just opening, it is too early to see the red edge to the petals. These grow just under the outer edge of the Magnolia Soulangiana.

Papworth and Back and Snowdrops

Traveled to Papworth today, along the A414, A10 and the A1198, through a typically English landscape; how glad I am to live in this green and pleasant land.

We passed rows of poplars, which even in their deciduous state are still stately and eye-catching. Bordering  the roadside were a variety of trees and shrubs most of them winter bare, sometimes thickly knitted together, other times quite sparse and there were even stretches devoid of any tree or shrub.

Two of my favourites were the old, gnarled and lichen covered hawthornes, with here and there a winter darkened berry still attached, and also silver birches, their white trunks shining brightly amidst the often dingy, leafless shrubbery surrounding them on these dismal days, their tiny new catkins just forming.

We also saw many of my very favourite tree, the oak in all its stages, my heart always sings when I see a sapling oak and I know with a little luck it will be standing in hundreds of years to come, supporting so many life forms both directly and indirectly. To look across a field and see one of these venerable old trees standing so solidly, looking so beautiful and being such a support system is a treasured moment.

Just before Royston, the road is banked on either side and the ground covered by ivy, as we pass I wonder about the tiny creatures living amongst the ivy, sheltered by its leaves and hidden from our view.

The catkins are really long now and delicately yellow, such a joy to see. There is something so precious about a hazel catkin, I find a whole bush of them breathtakingly beautiful. It is the same feeling I have, as when I see my first primrose.Yesterday I checked the garden for them, no sign. Last year they were out long before now.

I found many, many clumps of snowdrops, such a delicate little flower, and yet so strong to push its way out of the cold, hard, wet ground, continue growing and to then flower in the worst of weather. Their delicate looks belie their immense strength.

I was delighted to see a kestrel hovering above the verge on the A1198, the second one I have seen recently.

Dusk was falling as we drove home and just out of Papworth, our car headlamps picked out a muntjac deer munching the grass on the verge, he was dangerously close to the road. I wonder how many other people noticed him and saw how vulnerable he was.

Pigeons

Occasionally we have several pigeons in the garden, if No-tail is around and notices them he becomes very territorial and sees them off. I must admit I don't welcome groups of pigeons in the garden, because they eat so much, so quickly and the smaller birds don't get a look in. It is difficult to shoo them away without also scaring our resident pigeon No-tail and his partner.

A few days ago we were visited by a pigeon who had been hit by a car, his breast was very muddy and he had lost some feathers. He wasn't very steady on his feet, but I thought he was probably just dazed, he found the food and then settled under a bush. Later that day he reappeared and came for some more food, already he looked stronger and ate with more relish, he also flew up into a tree when he had finished. Next morning he again appeared, but so did No-tail, who was having no stranger eating at his table. No-tail moved over close to him and spreading his wings jostled him, the new pigeon moved a few steps sideways. No-tail followed him wings slightly raised and arched, again the new pigeon gave way.The third time this happened the new pigeon moved right away and hid under a shrub, he stayed there until the coast was clear and then made his way back to the food. Alas No-tail saw him again, and this time flew swiftly at him, The new pigeon took flight and we haven't seen him since.

This morning another solitary pigeon dared to enter No-tail's territory, he was obviously hungry and managed to keep dodging No-tail while grabbing beaks full of food. Eventually No-tail tolerated him no more and it was fascinating to watch the interplay between them. It was almost balletic at times.

No-tail would edge closer and closer to the intruder, when he was almost touching, they would both lift and fly about one to one and a half feet up before descending further apart. They would then slowly edge closer and closer, repeating the performance time and time again. This was interspersed with a lot of wing lifting, at each other, mostly a single wing but sometimes both. They would also walk across the lawn keeping about two feet apart and at the same pace, they would take two or three steps toward each other, then slowly lift into the air, come down and start waking back across the lawn again. These moves were all performed in a very slow and controlled manner.

In some ways what I had witnessed was very like a courtship dance.

Suddenly No-tail became very territorial, feathers flew and a few minutes later so did the intruder. This photograph shows damage inflicted on the intruder by No-tail.

Cormorants and Winter Flowering Jasmine

Years ago I used to watch a lone cormorant fly over. He is such a distinctive bird in shape, whether flying or perching. He was a solitary traveller for a few years, and then I was delighted one year to look up and see him with a companion. Last year it really pleased me to see their numbers had risen to four, this year there are still four. When they fly, they follow the course of the river, and although we have walked the river for years we have never seen a cormorant nest and only once seen a cormorant perching on a riverside tree, so although he flies back and forth daily above the river, he obviously doesn't nest nearby.

The winter flowering jasmine is in flower, it is bright yellow and is prettily covering one of the arches, which later on will be covered by honeysuckle, clematis and jasminium beesianum, this is the jasmine with tiny red flowers that are so attractive to bees.

My Favourite Squirrel

This is Cyril, he is my favourite squirrel. We are very used to each other, and although this photograph was taken through the window, he is quite content to allow me to take photographs of him when the window is open. He is so gentle when he takes food from my hand.

In the morning he is often sitting on the window sill waiting when I first come into the kitchen. If I notice him then I feed him, if not then he will bang on the window with the flat of his little hands, to draw my attention to him. Hence my side kitchen window almost always has muddy hand prints all along the bottom 6-9 inches.

Aconites

What a joy !

The aconites are here, tiny globes of brightest yellow, shining out of the rich green lawn and brightening our day.

Early Signs of Spring

It is 1:10 pm we are travelling along the A414 away from Gilston and toward the A10, on the right hand side, at this time of year there is a wonderful stretch of roadside shrubbery. Newly lengthened primrose coloured catkins dangle from bare branches, next to winter bare, bright red stems of dogwood, interspersed now and again by great thicknesses of last years autumn coloured oak leaves, still fiercely clinging to their branches. They are newish oak saplings, probably no more than 6 feet tall so they sit well amongst the other shrubs.

A weak sun is shining from a gently clouded sky and we are passing a field on the left, with dozens of rabbits all delicately sunshine lit and browsing on the rich green grass.

Interestingly further along the A10 catkins were not as developed, and although starting to lengthen still appeared pale green in colour.

Kestrels and Sparrowhawks

Whilst travelling on our way to Cambridge via the M11, I saw a rare sight --- a kestrel ! He was hovering over the verge and seeing him gave me a happy rush. Kestrels used to be such a common sight, not only over motorways, but also over fields and gardens.

Where have they all gone? I expect when I research it, the cause will be a breakdown in the food chain, started in the beginning by herbicides and/or pesticides, thereby killing plants and insects at the bottom of the chain. Thankfully we now have set asides and more awareness of the problem. Hopefully as people become more aware gardens will be managed differently and this will help the problem.

We have lived here since 1987 and have never used herbicides or pesticides. The garden benefits from constant mulching of our own homemade compost, and is rich in plant and animal life.

For many years we had kestrels in this garden, it is true they took smaller birds, but they needed to survive as a species, and although I didn't like it I did think it was part of life's rich tapestry. Our garden kestrels nested in the oak tree the other side of the paddock, at the bottom of the garden. According to an elderly gentleman who was born and grew up in the village, kestrels had nested in the same oak tree for over 100 years, he knew this because his father had also grown up here and they had discussed it. At this time we have none in the near vicinity, the same with sparrowhawks who have now been absent for over a year.

Cormorants and Winter Flowering Jasmine

Years ago I used to watch a lone cormorant fly over. He is such a distinctive bird in shape, whether flying or perching. He was a solitary traveller for a few years, and then I was delighted one year to look up and see him with a companion. Last year, it really pleased me to see their numbers had risen to four, this year there are still four. When they fly, they follow the course of the river, and although we have walked the river for years we have never seen a cormorant nest and only once seen a cormorant perching on a riverside tree, so although he flies back and forth daily above the river, he obviously doesn't nest nearby.

The winter flowering jasmine is in flower, it is bright yellow and is prettily covering one of the arches, which later on will be covered by honeysuckle, clematis and jasminium beesianum, this is the jasmine with tiny red flowers that are so attractive to bees.

A Pair of Muntjacs

January has been a very wet month, our little lane has flooded and the fields at the end of the garden have once again become lakes, and are home to a pair of mallards and flocks of gulls and terns.

.
Today I spent two hours watching the deer on the bank, just outside the conservatory. They obviously were aware of me but took no notice, so I was able to watch them at very close range and of course take photographs.

Apparently both sitka and muntjac live in the village but only the latter visit our garden.

The female appeared first cropping her way along the bank, feeding on the ivy and the bramble and no doubt any tasty new plant shoots just breaking through! She looked healthy and well fed, her coat was a rich chestnut colour, the same shade as my favourite fox visitor. The doe had been here about three quarters of an hour when I noticed a change in her behaviour, she stopped cropping and stood as still as a post. After a several seconds her ears started twisting to left and right and sometimes she lay them back, after about ten minutes she seemed to relax and continued browsing, suddenly she stopped again and I noticed the fur on her back at the rump end was all standing upright, and from the angle I watched it gave her an almost camel-like hunched look. I was surprised at the thickness of her fur.

As I watched her, my eye was caught by a movement to the left, and turning my head I was delighted to see the buck, standing on the bank also cropping ivy and bramble. His face was very differently marked from the females, whose face by comparison was plain, she had a dull chestnut brown face with a well defined dark mid-line stripe running the length of it from her ears down to her nose, still pretty but apart from the stripe devoid of markings, the colour on his face was much more defined. He also sported a pair of horns,and judging by the soft fur encasing them they were new. The velvet, as it is called varied in colour between a rich chestnut, along the front and black at the back. Unlike the doe, he had on his upper neck at the back, behind his ears, a thick bush of bright blond hair. The fur on his body was much darker than the beautiful rich chestnut colour of the females. The buck also had two tiny tusks, hardly visible but definitely there.

The doe spent most of her time browsing on ivy and brambles. The buck however, although he also browsed, spent a great deal of time chewing the cud, he would be standing still when suddenly his little cheeks would bulge as he regurgitated food and he would start chewing, gradually his cheeks would empty, then suddenly swell again as he once more regurgitated and the process would start over. This is the first time I have witnessed this. Eventually the pair sauntered off and I returned to my easy chair and craft work. I feel blessed to have had such a wonderful opportunity to study at length two such attractive creatures and at such close range also.

The photographs show that the velvet is just being worn away on the tips of his horns.

Winter Garden

Today is mild and wet.

The garden truly is in its winter phase. Except for the odd flowering plants (hellebores, winter flowering jasmine, clematis Freckles, vibernums, ivy and winter acconites), everywhere else I look I am greeted by bare branches, last years dead foliage and general winter garden debris. It would look much better tidied up, but I always leave it to overwinter in its own way, preferring to do so because I think it is beneficial to the wildlife. It is surprising how many insects can be found thriving amongst old garden debris, this is born out by watching birds successfully searching for food in the garden, during this cold spell.

An exception we make is the fallen leaves, clearing them from the lawns and bagging them up is a great way to get some exercise and keep warm this weather.

Soon we will be pruning the buddleas, we try to do this before February each year, and usually put the cut wood on the wood piles, which as they rot lose height and need a top up.

Black Gold

Today I walked round the garden, and was pleased to find one of the compost bins full of the richest black earth. It always makes me smile to see this and remember a relatively short time ago, this bin was full of vegetable peelings, torn newspaper and cardboard. Many years ago I didn't put cardboard in, then I read that the worms like it to breed in, so I started using it, since then I have seen the evidence of this with my own eyes and now use cardboard regularly.

The pleasure of turning a soggy piece of decomposing cardboard and finding a tangle of tiny early stage worms, ready to venture forth and spend the whole of their life happily eating, while at the same time being so productive for me and my garden, is pure joy.

The worms I use are called brandlings and are readily available from stores selling fishing tackle. A fisherman friend bought me my first and only tub in either 1987 or 1988, and these are their descendants. Each time the bins are emptied the worms go onto the garden to carry on their good work, when I start a new bin I take a spadeful of rotting compost from another bin to kick start the process as there are always worms in every bin.

I call my compost my black gold! It always feels like treasure.

Remember never to put any cooked food in to compost as it will attract rats.

Promises

Still very cold outside, but from my kitchen window, using binoculars, I can see daffodils and bluebells, darkly green thrusting up through the cold wet earth.

Swan Antics

Down to the river with my son to feed the ducks, however I forgot the bread!

We were well wrapped up and enjoyed the usual sights and sounds of the river, as we headed for home our attention was caught by the antics of a pair of swans. They were banging on the closed door of a barge with their bills, when this had no effect they swam to a window and started banging on that. Still no effect, back to the door. This went on for several minutes with them swimming between the door and window and constantly banging.

Eventually the door swung open and a man appeared, he spoke to them and then moved away, soon reappearing with some bread, the swans became very excited, bobbing their heads up and down quickly, he held a small piece high in the air and commanded, "Speak" they were clearly used to this because they stretched their necks, held their heads and bills high and made a small strangled noise. They were instantly rewarded with bread, this continued for a few minutes and then the bread all being used up, the man shut the door.

The swans clearly wanted more and continued to bang on the door and window, after a few minutes the man reappeared and we watched a second performance.

Serendipity, a clear case of being in the right place at the right time, and most enjoyable.

Muntjacs, Moorhens, Curlews and Lapwings

The muntjacs are still a frequent visitor as is the moorhen, who has learned where the feeding station is, although a little reticent he still manages to feed there from time to time.

Again in the field at the bottom of the garden we've had flocks of curlews and lapwings, not a usual sight and such a pleasure to see them.

The moorhen has been busy the last half an hour feeding on the side lawn, I love the way he cocks his tail as he walks about, showing us the white underside.


He is a pleasant looking bird, plump, with a white sidestripe and a striking red and yellow bill.

Watching the moorhens one of them constantly had a dirty looking bill, I thought from poking about in the mud ,however after looking through the binoculars I realised this was his natural beak colouring. I researched and found he is a juvenile, therefore one of last years young still living with his mum. How lucky we are that they both spend so much time in our garden.

Fieldfares and Redwings

The cotoneaster has suddenly been cleared of its beautiful berries, and I am delighted to see flocks a few dozen strong of fieldfares and redwings in the garden and adjoining paddock and field.

January Mallard Mating

This morning I was delighted to see the heron by the river that flows through the field at the end of the garden. As I watched him I marvelled at the length and girth of his bill, and I wished I could have crept close, to see him even better, his legs were so long and he stood so firmly on the bank as he looked for prey, and no doubt both he and I were glad that no crows were about.

This afternoon we walked by the river looking for signs of spring on the bushes, trees and plants, tried to photograph a heron across a field by a hedgerow.

Surprise of the afternoon came when we saw a pair of mallards mating. I wondered if it wasn't too early in the year, I must look it up.

Heron Hassled by Crows

The fields at the bottom of the garden are once again flooded, so at present we are enjoying living near to lakes. Wonderful change of scenery without ever leaving home!

Today we witnessed a battle between the crows and a heron. The crows were definitely the aggressors. Our attention was drawn to the sky above the garden, by the loud, long drawn out distress call of the heron, who was being bullied by three crows. Several times they caused him to lose balance by flying at him in mid-air and striking him with their wings. Three times they actually did ground him and once down they mobbed him mercilessly. Eventually he managed to make it to another field where he was still being mobbed, from here he flew toward the river and the crows gave up, I suppose he had at that stage left their territory and was no longer a threat to them.

Late Fox

Managed to take some photographs of the moorhen in the pond, tried unsuccessfully to take pictures of the wren, have tried this many times before but they don't stay in one place long enough, the same with goldcrests who are even more restless. The heron spent most of the afternoon in the field just the other side of the paddock and although I took photographs, there isn't one I feel happy with.

The fox has taken to coming for his food between 1:00 and 2:00 am, so until he again changes his habits, we may see very little of him.

Autumn and Poppies

I was looking at our photographs today and saw some really beautiful ones of the garden last autumn. We were given an automatic photo frame for Christmas by our daughter, and it is spellbinding. Endless hours fly by as we watch the years pass. There was also a beautiful poppy, bright red and with frayed edges to its petals.

Duck Feeding

Down to the river at dusk with bread to feed the birds. Male, female and immature mallards very quickly gathered and were soon joined by a moorhen, as I threw they all rushed eagerly forward, jostling each other in their frenzy. Just as I threw the last pieces two Canada geese arrived and positioned themselves expectantly, but alas there was none left. I wish I had taken more.

Snow Covered and Frosted Plants

The last vestiges of snow remain, especially where the clearing of areas caused piles to be made, as on the garden by the garage forecourt where despite much melting taking place it is still 5" deep.

After the snow, came floods and frosts, at this stage it was interesting to see the young plants, they had been buried beneath snow, which had been frozen, as the snow melted they were badly frosted night after night, often in the day also. Obviously some succumbed, but others rallied and were soon back to normal. The foxglove was one of these, when it emerged from the snow its leaves hung lankly, were dark green less solid looking and had an almost transparent appearance. Now today they are making a fine show, they are back to their right shade of green, they look and feel strong and have no weakness or transparency about them at all. If I hadn't watched them I would have no idea of how much they had suffered in the snow and frosts.

Snow Tracks

2011. A new year. May I wish each and every one of you a happy and healthy one.

Rivers are high and days are cold, we are still visited daily and nightly by our wildlife who are at this time of year are ravenously hungry.

It is interesting to note, that on some of these very cold mornings the garden seems devoid of wildlife and it is only when I open the window and start filling the bird tables that suddenly the garden is once again alive, and so much more attractive for it.

During the snowy weather I managed to wrap up warmly and go into the garden with my camera, the idea was to photograph animal tracks, of course there were many fox prints, tracking back and forth across the lawns. I have no doubt that he was looking for goodies hidden by the squirrel. There were also many different bird tracks, but what pleased me most was to find strangely shaped marks in the snow and if I had not been watching, I would maybe not have known they were formed by the squirrel's tail as he leapt forward.