Swift Half update - 1st September 2010

• You'll note that I'm updating here less and less since my beloved swifts have left.That said, I've seen the odd swallow and house martin in the skies above the garden over the past few days.
• Malu has chased one of this years fox cubs (more like a lanky fox teenager now - very "boingy" and in very good nick) off the hen's coop TWICE this week. I'm very proud of little Malu!
• Other visitors to the garden in this sunny, warm week were two migrant hawker dragonflies (photos on flickr), a few "Old ladies" (moths) and a few "Yellow underwing" (moths again) - seems like the chilly, clear nights are favouring the larger moffs right now.
• We have what looks like a red admiral chrysalis on the large shed. Strange as ALL red admiral chrysalises are normally in a "nettle-leaf tent" - but I saw the caterpillar that produced the chrysalis, and it did look like a red admiral (albeit strangely coloured). I'll keep an eye on it. Photos on flickr
• The jays are back collecting their peanuts from the bird table - but the woodpeckers I've yet to attract back (but I have no doubt at all that they'll be back when it gets a little colder).
• Huge numbers of squash bugs are in the rear (rear) garden as well as a new species for me - a cinnamon bug, normally found in southern sandy coastlands, but moving north rapidly. Nice to see though.
• Plenty of pears to pick from the trees this weekend, as well as our huge crop of football-sized potatoes!

Swift half news - 21st June 2010

• Midsummer's day and yet another dry day - and warm to boot today also.
• Plenty of tree bumblebees in the garden today - though I can't find any nest... I know this (relatively) new species to the UK liked Buckinghamshire last year - this year it seems to be Reading and Berkshire (so I'm reliably told by a chap at BWARS (see link)).
• The moth trap last night went BANANAS! The first yellow underwing moths, the first small magpies, loads of heart and darts and silver Ys (as normal), some sort of coronet (couldn't identify it properly before it flew away) and two "Dark Arches" - a first this year for the moff trap. The swing in the wind direction brought our garden moffs to life - I wonder what the rest of the week will bring!
• Plenty of activity chez Swift also with the chicks getting bigger and bigger and the nest site being raided at dawn this morning (for the first time proper) by an aerial bombardment of yearling (non breeding) males. Spectacular!
• Both woodpecker families feeding well on the post all day again - what a success that's been this year!
• Lots of ladybird larvae in the garden - mainly harlequin and 7-spot, but also 14 spot too.
• Wimbledon starts along with summer proper?