After 16 years of Blogging this has been my worst January showing of all. One post. Well, two now.
Why is that? I'm not wholly sure, but this winter weather is a big factor. The constant winds, wet weather and named storms have made for a grim landscape with little to encourage optimism.
Still, despite the doom and gloom the year moves on gradually. I've heard Skylarks, Great Tit and Redwing in full song, Woodpeckers drumming and today, my first Song Thrush chuntering away from a sheltered thicket. Only Chaffinch to go for the early birds singing. Tawny Owls are particularly vocal around the village on calm nights, when we get one that is.
One of our neighbour's conifers blew over during storm, er, Isha. They all roll into one these days. The tree lay precariously on our greenhouse but the weight was taken by the stone garden wall so only soft branches lay on the roof causing no damage. It seems to be a lucky greenhouse having survived Arwen and now Isha unblemished. Lets hope the lucky spell continues.
On Saturday we did the RSPB Big Garden Bird watch, seeing 15 species, with highlights being 18 Tree Sparrows, a Great spotted Woodpecker, 6 Long tailed Tits and the Goldcrest that has been at the feeders most days since Christmas feeding on tiny bits dropped from the fat balls on to ivy leaves below.
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| Long tailed Tit, Robin and a pandemonium of Tree Sparrows during the Big Garden Birdwatch. |
My first lifer of the year arrived last week when a Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum crawled over my phone in the living room.
On Sunday a few hours inland was less than productive, but a moorland Great black backed Gull, adult, hunting for a carcass to feed on was quite unusual.
New Year Waxwings remain absent but the Snow Buntings did a lap of the Bathing House field again on Saturday morning, the flock now up to 30+.
Snowdrops, Winter Aconites and Winter Heliotrope are now all in flower, so given a window in the weather, I am looking forward to getting out into the field properly!
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| Common Flower Bug |
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| A pair of Robins displaying ina roadside wood made a change from them trying to kill each other... |
Eighteen Tree Sparrows! I've not seen one in Kent since 2011 The most numerous bird seen during our "Garden Birdwatch" effort was Ring-necked Parakeet - we had sixteen.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't get too concerned over lack of blog content. I feel sure that quality (which you post in abundance) is of far more importance than quantity. - Dylan
I have phases like this Stewart, I don't worry about them, just let it be. It will come back. Good going with the "charmed" greenhouse. It is my biggest worry down here.
ReplyDeleteA lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteWe used to get so many birds in our previous garden and that was a joy, especially when the Fieldfares, Redwings and Bramblings arrived. One year ( and only the one!) a Hawfinch turned up, which was a first for me!
Did you see the Kookaburra in the tree in an Essex garden?! I saw it on Twitter and we reckon it must’ve escaped from somewhere.
An interesting sight!
I lie in bed and listen to the Owls as we have woodland really close by.
Enjoy your bird watching!😁
Dyl - Thanks for the kind comments, its appreciated. Tree Sparrows are still ok up here for the minute but for how long I wonder? Ive never had a parrot in the garden though...one day maybe...
ReplyDeleteJonathan - To be honest the greenhouse only cost 50 quid from a neighbour, so while it would be sad, it wouldnt be the end of the world. The tipped over tree has now let more light in, so its plusses and minuses all round...
Sal - Thanks you. No I missed the Kookaburra thing. There is a small zoo near us with a pair, it would be easy for a storm accident to damage the aviary and let them free...Love to listen to both Tawny and Barn Owls here, I can hear them from bed...