The Garden Diary |
December - 2003 |
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The fungi that had caught my attention were these tiny raspberry-like
structures, each measuring less than 0.5mm, that cover several of the logs,
giving them a deep red appearance. There are also smooth orange fruiting
bodies present, although these are comparatively few in number.
I cannot remember what type of tree the logs came from. I shall have to ask
one of my sons when they next visit in the daytime.
These very delicate gill fungi are growing on timber from an apple tree (I
think!). The largest 'umbrella' measures about 3mm across. Click on the images to see larger versions
3
December - Another quiet, dull, damp and slightly misty day has been
disrupted by a Sparrowhawk visit just before noon. There were a lot of
Sparrows about but the panic calls of one of our local Blackbirds gave them
enough warning to disperse, and the hawk was left to look down from the
conifers onto an empty Hawthorn. She(?) left before I could
get a second, less hurried photograph. 6 December - The weather
continues to be dull - thoroughly miserable.
After
I took that last photograph of the Sparrowhawk I saw another visit the same
day and by the next morning there was a characteristic circular patch of
feathers on my neighbour's garage roof, signifying that she was successful
in a third, unseen attack. Yesterday I saw a further three attacks, and
there is no sign of a kill this time. There has been no sign of the hawk
today.
The poor light meant that even with my
camera's image stabilisation at work the shutter speed was so slow that the
slightest movement by the sparrows produced a blur, especially when there
were constant arrivals and departures!
One
unusual arrival under the Hawthorn was this Magpie. We often see them fly
over, or perch on the roof or tree tops, but I cannot remember one going
down under the Hawthorn in the past. This one returned a second time a few
minutes later. The light problem was even more acute for this one, and the
camera didn't focus properly on it for the only clear shot I could get
before it left. 8 December - Yesterday the gloom was
replaced by almost clear skies - a brilliant day, on which I did a bit more
woodwork around the base of the birdbox and a few other jobs. This
morning started equally promising with blue skies and a frost (I had to use
a couple of bowls of hot water on the birdbath to melt all the ice). Then
the clouds rolled in quickly from the south, the frost disappeared, and by
mid-morning there were only the occasional glimpses of blue (none by
lunchtime).
The
Magpie was here again this morning (still only blurred pictures!), along
with a couple of dozen Starlings that enjoyed the bathing facilities with
great enthusiasm. In addition to these, and the sparrows, there have been
several Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Blackbirds here (some competition for
territory going on, I think), a trio of Blue Tits, a couple of Dunnocks, a
Robin and a Coal Tit. A song Thrush perched in the Birch tree but I didn't
see it come down for food. I haven't seen the Woodpecker since I
took the photograph at the end of last month.
I have been doing a bit more work down the garden
again. The kayak is now under shelter again and the external jobs around the
birdbox are now complete - just in time as the weather forecast promises
rain for the ret of the week! Now my attentions will turn to sorting out
inside the birdbox - setting up the electrical supply and rearranging the
shelving/seating so that I can have a camera set up by Christmas. First
thing this morning there were a couple of Goldfinches in the Hawthorn,
although I didn't see if they went to the bird table. For the first time
this winter we saw a Blackbird feed on berries on the Hawthorn. I don't
think there are as many berries as there were last year, and I think the
same can be said of the Ivy. I have mentioned before that there appeared to
be insects about this year - perhaps the smaller berry count reflects this.
The Coal Tits continue to make regular visits.
11 December - Another dull,
damp day, although the rain this morning died out by lunchtime.
Nothing
was done in the garden and bird activity was generally quiet with no return
of the Goldfinches. The Sparrowhawk was back for the first time since the
5th. She made two visits, and on the second one she 'trapped' a dozen or so
sparrows in the hawthorn by flying a couple of orbits around it. Then
she perched on my neighbour's apple tree and waited until a couple of
sparrows made a panic stricken dash away from the garden - she was last seen
in hot pursuit! 14 December - After another
two dull, damp days, today was brighter with short periods of sunshine. A
brisk northerly breeze made it feel quite cold as I spent more time sorting
out the bottom of the garden. I now have a car-full of scrap timber to take
to the local re-cycling centre tomorrow.
I
only picked up a camera briefly this morning in the hope of capturing an
image of a blackbird that was eating haws ( The birdbox is situated
on a north facing was in my neighbour's garden and has, to the best of my
knowledge, been used just once for nesting, at least five years ago. I don't
think the box has been used since. The Blue Tit seemed to be clearing out
bits, possibly droppings - perhaps it it using the box as a roosting site.
Since taking that photograph I haven't seen any other activity at the box. I
shall be checking on it again tomorrow.
Seeing this reminds me how important it is to get my birdbox ready for
action as soon as possible. I have now reached the point where I can
concentrate on that task, and I hope to get the electrical supply installed
tomorrow.
16 December - Some thin high cloud this morning and a cold start to
the day (-3C recorded last night and a bowl of hot water was needed for the
birdbath) with hazy sunshine.
Earlier
this morning I spotted the welcome return of a Blackcap to the garden, in
this case a female. She was having quite a feast on a couple of the apples
that I hung on the Hawthorn a couple of days ago. Although they have been
here in the past this is the first time I've seen one in the garden since
starting these diaries.
As I write this there are pairs of Blue Tits and Coal Tits here, taking
sunflower kernels from the bird table. While the BT's usually retire to the
Hawthorn to eat, the Coal Tits head for the bottom of the garden(s).
I
had just come into the house to get a cctv camera to test the connections
when I spotted movement amongst the Iris leaves in the small pond. Moments
later this small Wren appeared and spent the next few minutes hunting low
done amongst the leaf cover.
These rather distant images were grabbed through the window - the first time
that I've managed to get any photograph of one.
18
December - A fine day after another frosty morning requiring a bowl of
hot water for the birdbath. Bird activity was confined to the usual crowd
for the morning.
In the afternoon the Blackcap reappeared (no sign yesterday) and visited the
apples frequently right up to about 3.45pm when it was getting dark.
The Blackcap seems to have her place in the pecking order. She defended the
apples against the attention of the Blue Tits and the Coal Tits.
However, e
The Blackcap and the Coal Tit pair have been visiting since before 9am
For the rest of the day we were busy doing other things, but in the late
afternoon I did notice a brief visit by a Great Tit, for the first time
since early November.
23 December - A wet day, after another dry, cold spell - the
temperature was expected to reach double figures during the day but it is
only 8C at 2.30pm.
The Blackcap continues to be a frequent visitor to the apples, but there has
been no sign of a return by the Goldfinch.
Here, a Starling tucked in at lunchtime yesterday. I did see a Robin at one
yesterday evening when it was too dark to use a camera without flash.
As well as the apples,
I hung up a single pear, but this has been ignored almost completely (except
for the signs of one 'nibble'). In contrast, I have had to replace three of
the apples which had been completely hollowed out.
The last couple of days has seen more visits to the bird table by this
female Chaffinch. Her partner (?) has appeared in the Hawthorn just once
during this time but I haven't seen him feeding. I don't know if this is the
same bird that I photographed back in October, when she played host to a
tick, but she certainly looks healthy now.
The Wren pictured a week ago has become a daily visitor now, with one
investigating a Lavender plant next to our verandah as I write this.
The Blackbirds (at least three of them) continue to play 'follow the leader'
through the garden most days. I think there is a competition for territory
going on between them.
Finally,
I thought I'd include this female House Sparrow at the feeder. The intensity
of the eye stripe seems to vary quite a bit between individuals and like
this one, a few have really bold markings.
The flock isn't being bothered by the Sparrowhawk at the moment and they
spend a lot of time in the Hawthorn, visiting the feeder and table in
communal feeding sessions.
They continue to be very wary of disturbance and the slightest movement by
us in the house is enough to send them dashing back to the protection of the
tree.
Click on the images to see larger versions
I saw a Coal Tit visit numerous time today but there was no sign of the
Blackcap. However, there was an all too brief treat when I caught sight
of a Bullfinch in our Birch tree. Sadly it moved on far too quickly for
me to get even a snatched photograph. This is only the second time I have
seen one of these birds in the garden, the first being many years ago.
It's interesting to see the amount of display behaviour by the Sparrows
at the moment. I watched as a male spent a prolonged period clearly
displaying to a female in our Hawthorn. Also. over the last week they
have taken to stripping pieces of thin outer bark off our Birch tree.
30 December - As the year draws to an end we are stuck with pretty
miserable weather. We need lots of rain to reduce the threat of drought
next summer but we are getting very little. Instead, we have dull grey
skies and damp conditions with poor light levels for photography -
horrible!
I
have been out in the garden a few times today, firstly doing some pond
clearing and then some clearing of the area under the Hawthorn.
Here we have some of the early signs of the new year to come in the form
of Snowdrop shoots popping up in clumps, and some Bluebell plants which
are right on schedule (last year I photographed them on 26 December). The
Snowdrop shoots are a bit shorter that they were at this time last year.
There have been no 'different' bird visitors in the last few days. The
Blackcap is still about, if not feeding here as often as before
Christmas. This is also true of the Coal Tits. I see a wren at least once
each day. The Blue Tits continue to visit, and are often seen in the
Birch tree, but there has been no sign of one visiting the box so far.
Last year the first visit took place on 28 December. |
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