Saturday, 11 June 2011

The willow warblers have fledged

Three healthy chicks.

ww5

They were nesting in the hedge on the top tier and fledged on to the willows by the compost bin.

ww1

Cute little brown birds.

ww2

Thursday, 9 June 2011

Under the clouds

It has rained A LOT….and that is all I am going to say about that.

There were a couple of sunny days in April and May. I have the photos to prove it.158

The wild flowers bloomed,

130

particularly the cuckoo flower which I left last year to self seed all over midge farm because……

166

…..it brings in these beauties.

ot1

ot2

My collared dove with the partial albinism has found a partner this year.Copy of 073

A pair of willow warblers are visiting for the first time. They are nesting either in the garden or very close by as I see them collecting insects all day long.

ww1

ww2

Midge farm has got jungle fever in the rain.119

midge farm jungle

The birds have got a new bird table which they use mainly as an umbrella,

bb2

and I have got a new rhodie which produced these lovely, girly, pink bells.

123

Two years after they were planted the verbascums are finally establishing and putting on a show.

berb

My lovely song thrushes have also established and produced at least one healthy fledgling.

129

The gold finches have produced two, although they do look more like drowned rats than fluffy baby birds.

gf1

Speaking of rodents, the mouse is back but very much a fair weather visitor, I don’t think she likes getting her fur wet.

mouse may

She would never have dared to sit on the step like this when old fatso was around.

mouse12

And finally, my new toy, a butterfly feeder, with its first visitor, a hungry red admiral who sat and fed for at least five minutes. I have my fingers crossed that there will be many more over the summer.ra1