Thursday 31 March 2011

Swift Half update - 31st March 2011

  • The garden is dripping with damson blossom now - much more so than last year (and the year before for that matter). It's really quite stunning.
  • The two frogs in the pond remain glued together - but still no spawn. Generally the frogs remain well-hidden under the mass of marsh marigold flowers.
  • The newts still dominate the pond.
  • The local heron |(click twice to enlarge photo) flies in at tea time each day - no doubt to steal a newt or two, or even the frogs. I'm lucky in that the girls (hens) shout their annoyance (or panic really) each time the heron gets close -or tries to land in the garden - so to get a photo, all I have to do is listen for the girls' alarm call. Good girls!

Monday 28 March 2011

SWIFT update - 28th March 2011

  • Not a general (county) update, nor a "Swift Half update" but a SWIFT update, thanks to my contacts stationed around da woyld, reporting to me the swifts progress....
  • "Hi - As I'm writing there is a rather big arrival of Common Swifts in progress, we're talking several hundreds in the past 10 minutes The birds coming in off the sea from the general direction of Africa."
    Andy
    Torremolinos, EspaƱa"
  • The quote above, posted to my email address today, means my beautiful swifts are on their way back!
  • Less than a month now... I can't wait!

Sunday 27 March 2011

Swift Half update - 27th March 2011

  • As its the first day of summer (unofficially anyway) I thought I'd double-post today, as its been another glorious day in the south of England (rain and wind I hear from midweek on...)
  • I have a feeling a lot of the "firsts" below happened during the last sunny, warm week, but as I was locked in the office, smashing ma heid against walls, I saw none of the below, until today.
  • First bee flies in the garden this year.
  • First tree bumblebees in the garden this year (entering our shed - maybe they'll nest there?!)
  • First brimstone butterfly "".
  • First queen wasp """.
  • First small white butterfly.
  • First red mason bees "".
  • First of my favourites - the blue mason bees ""! (click photo twice to enlarge) Two weeks earlier than last year...
  • First red-tailed bumblebee "".
  • First real show of the black ants"".
  • First real show of mining bees and hoverflies "".
  • First ever yellow dung flies in garden (on the girls droppings).
  • Woodpigeons nesting in front garden.
  • A super, lazy, warm, first day of summer.

Swift Half update - 27th March 2011

  • BST began today!
  • We have two mating frogs in the pond (rarely do I see frogs in our newt-heavy pond). Click photo twice to enlarge.
  • No spawn yet though - nor did we get any last year, so I'm not confident we'll have any at all this year either - and even if we do, the dozens of palmate newts in our pond will regard that as easy prey!
  • The damson blossom is well and truly out - think this year looks like a good year for damsons (if we get a wet growing season, to swell the young fruit).

General (County) update - 27th March 2011

  • I sit here typing, only a few hours after we've entered BST-  at last!
  • I know waxwings are still around (but all a bit urgent at present - with a late move back to Scandanavia overdue now).
  • I am still hearing the odd Redwing overhead at night - heading back to Scandanavia also - always at night.
  • I have been lucky enough to find a greenfinch nest near work - these birds always hide their nests quite well... I located it by watching the urgency with which a pair flew - and then followed them around. The nest is hidden in a very thick patch of ivy on a riverside (Thames) tree in an office car park.
  • All the local birds seem very "urgent" at present. The breeding season has well and truly kicked off.
  • Finally the great bank of daffodils outside our house have flowered -after our garden daffodils have ben out for almost two weeks now.

Thursday 24 March 2011

Swift Half update - 24th March 2011

  • Our first female tawny mining bee made its presence known to my eagle eyes this afternoon, after work. The bright ginger bee (the female is unmistakeable when you see one) landed on our patio thirty feet away from me (photo above - click twice to enlarge) and even though I was sitting with a 200mm lens on the canon, (instead of the old Panasonic with the macro filter on) I thought I'd take a shot from distance anyway.
  • Our first female feather footed flower bee (photos above, click twice to enlarge) also made an appearance in the garden this afternoon also. My eyes were on bee lookout this afternoon, and I first spotted this wee black beauty (with orange pollen baskets on her rear legs) forty foot away, checking out knot-holes on our decrepit shed. Again, I thought I'd take a few photos anyway. She'll be chased around the garden by half a dozen males from now on - female FFFBs don't half come in from some attention!
  • I've not seen any butterflies since that lone red admiral, over 5 weeks ago, even though this week has been more like may, weather-wise. (Bin locked in the office again you see). BUT today, two small coppers (butterflies) chased each other over my head - so thats a first for the garden this year also. The first adult, (flying) small copper seen in the UK this year was only seen 13 days ago actually, in Lincolnshire.
  • Malu enjoyed his afternoon post-nap stretch on the patio again (photos above). Malu monster - he's a hoot.
  • The damson blossom has suddenly, errrr.... blossomed today - and boy do the newly-emerged bees love it!

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Swift Half update - 23rd March 2011

  • Another belter of a day today - temperatures must have reached 17 or 18c. I hear its back down to single figures and overcast for the weekend though - aw well.
  • The newts certainly loved the warm pond - I just looked for them in the dark and found loads in a writhing mass - around a large female. Easy now .... one at a time!
  • The heron seems to be doing recce flights over the garden as well. Those newts had better be careful!
  • The photo above is of a male feather-footed flower bee again - click twice to enlarge...
  • The photo above shows one of our three woodpeckers in flight over Swift Half. Again - click twice to enlarge...

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Swift Half update - 22nd March 2011

  • Blossom buds coming through nicely on the damson trees and pear trees.
  • Flower buds a week old now on the marsh marigolds.
  • Plenty of bees around for the spostles to chase
  • Newts doing well in the pond  - which is once again losing water quite quickly each day, after having a spell of losing none at all.
  • Talking of the pond, I think the new lily (which a pal from work dropped by in late Autumn last year) is still alive (after being frozen during the winter) and the old lily has produced its first few tiny purple leaves underwater.
  • Yala's foot seems better - but she'll no doubt stomp on another bee again and it'll blow up again!
  • About a month now before we hope our swifts return...
  • The photo is of a male feather-footed flower bee - the dragonfly of the bee world - supersonic wee mason bees these - a real hit in the garden and a delight to watch. Click the photo twice to enlarge.
  • Tonight and last night I heard Redwing passing overhead, heading east at night - a clear sign our winter thrushes are heading to their scandanavian summer breeding grounds once more.
  • At the weekend I saw two fieldfare overhead - they'll be doing the same now too.... I wonder if I'll see any more until they return in the early winter again...

General (County) update - 22nd March 2011

  • After a very settled weekend, a very settled week follows - warm, bright, no real wind (just a light breeze) - superb!
  • The tufted drake is still with the mallards on the lock at Caversham - I've never seen a tufty other than on the water or in flight, but today I saw the drake asleep on the weir-side, out of the water with the mallards  -  quite a strange sight!
  • On a wee walk up the Thames I was treated to the sound (and then sight of course!) of a kingfisher - nice to see always.
  • Plenty of little midges and caddis flies around - not long now before the big hatches.

Saturday 19 March 2011

Swift Half update -19th March 2011

  • As described below, Anna and I spent the morning viewing houses that we are considering purchasing as we rent "Swift Half" presently - and though we love living in this wonderful house with the newts, bees, foxes and of course, swifts - we really would like to own our house.
  • The day was a stunner - and all the critters came out and enjoyed it - a day of numbers it became, with number four being the order of the day...
  • Four jays in Mr.T's silver birch tree
  • Four red kites over the garden.
  • Four buzzards ditto (never seen four over the garden before).
  • Four magpies shouting at a fox in the neighbours' garden.
  • Three (omnipresent) woodpeckers.
  • Two zebra spiders on the wall (the first I've seen without really trying, all year).
  • Loads of feather-footed flower bees which the spostles love to pounce on.
  • Talking of bees and cats - Yala has done a "Malu" this spring. Last year Malu in his efforts to jump on all the bees in the garden, got a front paw stung - which blew up like a tennis ball (but got better within a day or three). This spring Yala has done the same thing - and now has a big "hot" front paw. Our spostles don't seem to learn....!
  • Click a photo twice to enlarge - the top photo is of Yala in mid air, with a feather-footed flower bee in the shot. The photo above this text is of Malu, enjoying a ssttttrettttch in the spring sunshine.

General (County) update - 19th March 2011

  • A glorious day today, commencing with a beautiful, hard frost and then not a cloud in the sky all day with the faintest of breezes.
  • Anna and I took the opportunity of viewing a house we are considering buying, in the local countryside.
  • On the way to another house, RIGHT in the countryside, it was sad to see a big dead boar badger on the side of the road - his cubs will be appearing above ground in a fortnight or so, so I guess its just as well it wasnt a sow we found dead -as she will still be suckling.

Thursday 17 March 2011

General (County) and Swift Half update - 17th March 2011

  • I know the odd swallow and house martin have appeared over Berks, but I've not seen one yet. That said, I've been locked in the sodding office for what feels like millenia, so not much chance of seeing much recently!
  • All the daffs are out in the garden - although they're quickly being flattened by the spostles landing on them whilst chasing the bumblebees around!
  • Newt activity in the pond still strong - I counted 14 last night without even trying.
  • Plenty of blackthorn and cherry blossom out.
  • Malu has already taken out the first birds nest of the year - another pair of dumb blackbirds nested in a very visible spot on an overhanging ivy branch in the rear garden. We have now got one cracked blackbird's egg on the kitchen window (might have been the only one in the nest) and a deserted nest.
  • Like last year, it's pretty well soytan that Malu (or Yala) will not allow the blackbirds to nest successfully in our garden.
  • All three hens in fine shape - one egg each, each day. (Conker below, Couven top)

Tuesday 15 March 2011

General (County) update - 15th March 2011

  • I see red kites every day here, constantly. But it's nice to see buzzards - especially two, clearly courting, over the Thames today.
  • Sadder news was the fact that once again our fancy reflective work windows have claimed another avian victim. Last time a nuthatch and this time a long-tailed tit.
  • I found a very pretty beetle on the way home. Pretty, but non native and a bit of a pest. (see photo and click twice to enlarge).
  • This is the Rosemary leaf beetle (Chrysolina americana -rather misnamed as its native to the med (not America), but found in Blighty since about 1994 and spreading fast.
  • In the mediterranean, where it belongs, the herbs on which it feasts (rosemary, sage, mint etc...) seem untroubled by it's presence. Here however, it can shred a herb very quickly.
  • Rather like the Harlequin ladybird and lily beetle, quite pretty to look at, but best squashed really...

Sunday 13 March 2011

General (County) update - 13th March 2011

  • I mentioned one of our local "toad crossings" the other day - and at about 9pm last night, after a warm day - a drizzle came over our neck of the woods. I suddenly realised that a bit of warmth and a bit of wet was all our toads needed to begin migrating en masse, across roads to their breeding grounds.
  • Its not too hard to predict when this all starts each year. There are maybe around 750 toad crossings in the UK that are known about and have been mapped by the organisation "Froglife".
  • Each year between March and April volunteers erect toad-crossing signs on roads that the toads cross between those two months, from their normal habitat (woods etc...) to get to their breeding ponds. Toads habitually migrate to their breeding ponds along paths that haven't changed for centuries - but in that time, man-made roads will be built across the  migration paths. The toads still use their ancient habitual migration paths and die in their thousands across the country, under car tyres.
  • All the toads need to start migrating is low light (dusk) a relatively warm night (maybe around 8 or 9c) and a little moisture. Then they're off.
  • The toad crossing Anna and I drove to last night is a famous toad crossing (at least round here) on the road (A4155) between Henley and Marlow in Buckinghamshire. Thousands of toads spend most of the year in the woods to the north of the A4155 (see map) and when conditions are suitable in early spring, they all head south, to cross the road and get to their breeding pond in the grounds of the Henley Business School (part of Reading University) (see map again). The grid reference FYI is
    SU 76919 85408.
  • Three years ago, volunteers helped 6000 toads across the road, two years ago they helped 8000 and last year they helped TEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE cross that bit of road separating the wood from the pond.
  • The toads, once spawn has been laid, don't tend to stick around in their breeding pools - they're back to their wood - where they really belong!
  • Magical creatures toads - not at all slimy (unlike the gooey frogs) - which make very sweet squeaking noises often (again, unlike the loud-mouthed ribbity frogs).  Toads have very pretty eyes, dry skin and are another reason why I find woods so enchanting.
  • Anyhoo.... Anna and I did go down to the woods yesterday - I headed back there at "sparrowfart" this morning - and between us we helped 51 toads cross the road .
  • A plea to all those motorists who see toad signs in early spring and don't slow down. Please do! When you see a deer sign at the side of the road, you'll probably not slow down either I guess. So when eventually you hit a deer, not only will the deer probably die - but your car will suffer also. Not so for toads I admit. You'll probably not even notice the toads as you squash them flat with your goodyears. But you'll kill dozens on warm, wet nights in early spring on their ancient paths.
  • Just a thought.
  • Please click any photo twice to see it at its largest size.

Saturday 12 March 2011

Swift Half update - 12th March 2011

  • Anna and I spent the morning on an island in the middle of a lake nature reserve, burning scrub and trying not to step on too many red-legged partridges.
  • It was a beautiful day, a real taste of spring - and when we got home to "Swift Half", I noticed our first "feather-footed flower bees" dashing around the garden, excitedly followed by Malu and Yala.
  • I also noticed the first Andrena sp. (mining bee) of the year in the garden.
  • Roll on spring!

Thursday 10 March 2011

Swift Half update - 10th March 2011

  • First mason bee (a freshly-emerged male red mason bee) hiding from the wind in the daffs today.
  • I always start checking the daffs on days like this - there's very often a bee inside! (Click photo twice to see it at its largest size)

General (County) update - 10th March 2011

  • A pal from work took a photo of a bumblebee at lunch today and showed it to me - and its the first tree bumblebee of the year - very nice to see today, considering it was blowing an absolute hooly all day.
  • The queen tree bumblebee was feeding from some daffodils that had been cut from the ground (from somewhere) and placed in a pile on the spot that a local homeless person was stabbed repeatedly to death about three weeks ago.
  • The toad patrol are ready to help one of the most famous groups of toads in the UK. About 7 miles from Swift Half, on the border of Berks and Bucks, hundreds of toads overwinter in a bluebell wood Anna and I visit in April each year. But before April, these toads all wait for a wet, warm, March evening - and ALL cross the road to their breeding ponds, on the other side of the road, on the same night.
  • This site (like I've mentioned) is quite famous round 'ere. It was also the site of the first "toad underpass" that was built in the UK.
  • I will try and watch the weather forecast like a hawk over the next week (I know the toad patrol crew are out there now, in case) and get up there to help these beautiful creatures across the road, rather than getting squashed by the passing traffic.
  • I keep saying I'll make it up there for this specific March night, but never have yet. Maybe this year...

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Swift Half update - 9th March 2011

  • I think a heron has been fishing (or should I say "newting") in the pond whilst I've done a couple of twelve hour days at work over the last two. Why do I say that? Less newts clearly visible, but also a mucky film on the pond surface - herons have notoriously dirty legs. (I'm serious!)
  • The spostles caught a hyowge woodmouse yesterday and gave it to Anna when she returned home from work. She threw it (dead) outside -and all hell broke loose - Trouble got a hold of it and all three hens and both spostles chased round after each other for a pees of the mees.
  • I think Trouble ate most of it, but it was even too big for her.
  • The joys of owning cats and hens!

General (County) update - 9th March 2011

  • Just a quickie - first (for me) bumblebee of the year seen on Monday (7th) in the sunshine - Bombus terrestris by the look of it - not my normal first bumblebee (and my favourite) the "red-tailed bumblebee"

Sunday 6 March 2011

Swift Half update - 6th March 2011

  • SWIFT HALF IS TWO YEARS OLD!!! (Anna and I have lived here now for two years).
  • Quite a few daffs up in the garden now.
  • Pear tree buds looking very healthy - and damson tree buds coming on.
  • Newts still doing well in pond.
  • First pond skater of the year today.
  • Blue tits busy nesting (or beginning to) in eaves at front of house.
  • Black birds nesting in ivy in front garden AND rear garden. Doomed though I'm afraid thanks to the spostles.
  • All hens fighting fit and laying one egg a day. Great to see Couven at her best again....
  • Jays still around. (see photo above -click twice to see LARGE)
  • Three woodpeckers still around (two males and a female). Males drumming for a fortnight now.

General (County) update - 6th March 2011

  • Even though we've had a pretty chilly week (easterly winds you see), its beginning to get innnderesting out in the wilds again.
  • Ducks, grebes and coots are all fighting and mating.
  • Pigeons are nest building.
  • The winter flocks are breaking up.
  • Crocuses (croci?!) are above gorund now, as are the first of the large daffodils (the dwarf daffodils have been and gone in many cases).
  • Mr.T suggested he saw the barn owl near the local box yesterday - me - I don't know if its still around now - no evidence of the owl anywhere near the box (no pellets, no lime) and much work on the local river means I think there'll be no owl there this year, but I live in hope. At least Mr.T has seen it?
  • The local cormorants seem to be very active - the photo below (click twice to see its largest size) shows one of these opportunist birds perching on an electricity pylon in my local patch - something I've never seen before
  • Also - VERY good to see both a male peregrine (tiercel) and female peregrine (falcon) perching on the building next to my place of work - not seen two before there ever!