Osgood
Western Thunderer
"This Monastral Blue, wot I purchased not 'arf an hour ago from this very boutique, is dead."
"Nah, it's still knocked out from the fumes after I resprayed its full yellow end".
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Wildlife in the garden - at any time of year
- Thread starter Dog Star
- Start date
"This Monastral Blue, wot I purchased not 'arf an hour ago from this very boutique, is dead."
"Nah, it's still knocked out from the fumes after I resprayed its full yellow end".
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Wildlife in the garden ? well this little one was wild in our garden !
My wife Bett spotted this little kitten at the top of our garden about 2 months ago right at the end of the warm weather we eventually managed to catch her after we discovered her the following day curled up in the hedge hog house, she was so small no bigger than my hand and well under weight, as the vet later confirmed. We couldn't understand initially were she'd come from as our neighbours didn't have or had homed a cat.
We later discovered she had come from the farm about a 1/4 of a mile away who's feral cat ( the farms official rat catcher) had a litter. She is identical to the other's that reside there.
We have had quite a few cats over the last 29 years with the last passing away 18 months ago so we homed ' little Lola' ( as Bett named her) and she has now doubled her size and is a fit and healthy cat in a cozy house.
My wife Bett spotted this little kitten at the top of our garden about 2 months ago right at the end of the warm weather we eventually managed to catch her after we discovered her the following day curled up in the hedge hog house, she was so small no bigger than my hand and well under weight, as the vet later confirmed. We couldn't understand initially were she'd come from as our neighbours didn't have or had homed a cat.
We later discovered she had come from the farm about a 1/4 of a mile away who's feral cat ( the farms official rat catcher) had a litter. She is identical to the other's that reside there.
We have had quite a few cats over the last 29 years with the last passing away 18 months ago so we homed ' little Lola' ( as Bett named her) and she has now doubled her size and is a fit and healthy cat in a cozy house.
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Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Well call me a liar after saying in post #855 that we've not seen Blackbirds a pair turn up this morning !
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
....and to add to post #862, Saturday saw us rescue this little fella who has made good friends with Lola already, the rescue centre had called him squeak as he is very small so we've named him Pip 
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Here we are in the cold end of December and the wrong side of several zero degree nights... and no hedgehog sightings since last week of November. Until last night when a large Hog was seen hunting under the hedges. Quick clean and fill of the food bowl just about 10.00pm Wednesday and at 6.00am Thursday I noticed that the bowl was empty.
We have no cats in the vicinity - our garden is, after all, Smudges domain... too early for either Magpies or Pigeons (both known to take Hedgehog food)... No rats seen since summer.... So conclusion is that some of the local Hogs have yet to hibernate and that is why we saw one last night.
Rgds, Graham
We have no cats in the vicinity - our garden is, after all, Smudges domain... too early for either Magpies or Pigeons (both known to take Hedgehog food)... No rats seen since summer.... So conclusion is that some of the local Hogs have yet to hibernate and that is why we saw one last night.
Rgds, Graham
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
So far a very odd winter. We have narcissus blooming and have been for the last two weeks. Today there was a blue tit in and out of the nesting box. If it is in preparation for nesting it's at least 2 months - in fact probably three months - early.
Brian
Brian
Ressaldar
Western Thunderer
Hi Brian,
It saw the interest rate reduction and decided to get in quick before the mortgage rate drops and there is a flurry of house buyers looking for des. res’s
cheers
Mike
steve50
Western Thunderer
I've been hearing Song Thrushes and Woodpeckers drumming, I don't normally hear them until Mid Jan around hear.
They’re back in my garden as well. Many happy returns to them. Saw a flock of 40+ Fieldfare as well.
Yes, the same here. I often get up very early to get a proper walk in before my dear one wakes up and have been hearing lots of birds singing - song thrushes especially. I also snapped these narcissi near us a few days ago - they always flower incredibly early every year - must be a nice little microclimate there.
richard carr
Western Thunderer
Loads of these in our garden
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Yes, when we lived in Kingston upon Thames there was a large flock of parakeets constantly flying around. We moved down the A3 almost twenty years ago and this year began to get some sightings here so they obviously feel at home and are breeding successfully.
Nigel
SimonT
Western Thunderer
Au contraire Black Adder. BTO data has been tracking the move forward of nesting for something like the last ten years. Most of these birds will be winter population that have come here from Northern Europe; our summer population are in Southern France/Iberia. The nesters are taking advantage of our mild conditions to get in an extra brood. We offer lots of food and shelter in our gardens. It is now considered normal for Blackbirds to be on the nest at this time.
These conditions are only temporary as when the AMOC fails we will loose the warm bath of the Gulf Stream and temperatures will drop - the time scale is in discussion. If you want to look at what could replace our climate, look at similar latitiudes. How about Hudson's Bay? The South-Eastern coast of Alaska for maritime modification to climate?
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Interesting, Simo. I was aware that the population changes summer to winter but certainly have seen no evidence here of birds nesting earlier/later until just now. As far as the gulf stream situation is concerned I'm aware of that as well... Scary! Having lived on the East Coast of Canada for a while I found the winters brutal and the summers hot and humid. (But the people are wonderful!)
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
We've noticed Blackbirds digging in the snow on the lawn in various places.
Jon Nazareth
Western Thunderer
Lots back in the summer but, none this winter in the garden here in West Sussex. I have a very large cotoneaster tree in the garden absolutely covered in berries. Normally, the blackbirds would be there each day feeding on the berries but, the tree is still covered with them. I thought that the mild weather had kept them in the woods and that as soon as it became colder with a few frosts that the birds would return to the garden to feed. Sadly, no visitors so far. Blackbirds, that it is.
Jon
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Jon Nazareth
Western Thunderer
You,d think that the birds would love all of this easy food!
Jon