Cyn's Nature Notes: New Years Day

Sunday, 1 January 2012

New Years Day

New years day, cloudy but mild.

The cotoneaster is seeing the new year in with its boughs heavily laden with last years berries, this is the first time I have ever seen this and it saddens me to realize it is due to a reduction in the number of our feathered friends.

The leaves of the cotoneaster which other years have by now turned glorious shades of red, orange and yellow, some with brown speckles or edges, are still in the most part green, this is obviously due to the weather.

The first bird I saw this morning was a pretty goldfinch, bathing in a bird bath. I looked in vain for his mate, because where one is the other is never far away.

A few years back we would have flocks of these charming little birds in the garden, but like so many others their numbers have greatly dwindled. Interestingly their collective name is a charm of goldfinches.

Later I was amused to see the magpie up to his old tricks, playing out the you hide and I watch and seek game with the squirrel. The poor squirrel who is so smart in so many other ways never has a clue that the game is being played by the magpie, who will quite blatantly hop down and watch, from not a foot away.

This morning the squirrel was very busy hiding his reserve food in a hole he dug near the pond, while the magpie ever alert watched. This time there was a difference though as the magpie uncovering the cache, instead of flying off with it or gobbling it straight away, proceeded to eat a little then carefully placed the rest back in the hole and covered it with collected leaves. Which of the two, magpie or squirrel will ultimately retrieve and eat it I don't know, but it will be interesting to see. Although I will have to be quite lucky to be looking out in that direction at that point.

I would like to wish each of you a very happy and healthy new year. I am hoping for as healthy a new year as possible it will be two years in May since my cancer was diagnosed and I feel so very lucky to still be waking every day. Long may it continue.

Many thanks to my wonderful oncologist and her caring nurse.

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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.