1st Red Admiral

A very fresh Red Admiral butterfly appeared in the garden this morning. It was very docile and even climbed onto my finger briefly.

Plight of Magpie vs Crow

After about 3 or four years of futile argument between a pair of Crows and a pair of Magpies. The nest site at the top of my Hawthorn tree has been ignored. Both paired birds have found sites elsewhere and can be seen in the neighborhood collecting bits of twigs straw and flying to another destination, not yet located by me.

Peacock sighted

A butterfly flew into the garden this morning, identified by Katherine as a Peacock.

Life in Cold Blood

The first spawn has arrived in the garden pond. Two batches have been deposited overnight.
Until now I had not seen any activity.

A count of Frogs during darkness of Saturday night made a total of just four.
Another batch of spawn appeared by morning.

Peacock Butterfly

The first Peacock butterfly of the year briefly paused in the North Farm Road front garden, and then continued along the row of south facing gardens all bathed in warm sunshine.

Birdwatching

1000 on Sun 27 Jan 2008

Temp:6.1 ° C

Wind:SW 3 mph

Pressure:1034 hPa
Tendency:Rising
(met office)
bright and calm, blue sky.

A first for our garden is a pair of Chaffinch, the male and female are taking some seed from a table placed a couple of feet from the ground.
Blackbirds and Starlings are pecking and prodding at the discarded Apples on the ground.
The Blackbird seems to enjoy the seed as well.
Blue tits make occasional forays to the peanut baskets and carry the nuts to the security of a tree nearby.
Sparrows arrive and depart in small parties for snack at the hanging feeder or a forage around the shrubbery.
A lurking cat sends all the birds off in a panicked retreat.

The Bumblebees are at work again

In warming sun a Bumblebee came to rest on the white wall of my south facing house close to the flowering Euryops shrub.

Chaffinch

The first Chaffinch of 2008 came to the garden and ate a little seed from a table.
Apparently one of our most common birds I have only seen about a handful in gardens locally.

Magpies and Crows

Back to the gloomy grey skies today.
The conflicting pair of Magpies and pair of Crows have begun their annual competition for control of the nest site at the top of the garden Hawthorn tree. As soon as one pair has taken up residence the competitor will come in and evict them or make such a fuss that they force the opponent to leave.
This will go on all day and probably for the next few weeks until both end up giving up and stalemate is achieved.

A bright day between the gloom

For one day only the clouds part, the wind calms and the sun shines although with a little less enthusiasm by afternoon.
In the garden Blue Tits and Great Tits hop around the feeding area grabbing a seed or two and take it to a safe place for consumption.
They are vocal now, the first time I have heard them this year. Their familiar squeeks and chirps are a sure sign spring is coming.
A small Moth fluttered into the garden, paused on the warm woodwork of the shed and then continued it's journey.

Squirrel nuts

If you want a Squirrel proof nut feeder, don't bother with the plastic type.
This one was no obstacle to the resident Mr Nutkin

Weather

Shoreham Weather:0900 8/1/2008
Met Office

Temp:9.1 ° C
Wind:SSW 14 mph
Gust:0
Visibility:N/A
Pressure:1015 hPa
Tendency:Falling

Peanuts

The old wire constructed peanut bird feeder has broken and I went and bought a couple of cheap plastic mesh nut feeders.
There has been little activity on them so far, it will take a little while until the birds accept them.

Stonechat

A single Stonechat spotted on the top branches of the Hawthorn tree

Birds

A single Redwing seen at the top of the garden Hawthorn tree around mid morning.
Two Great Tits visited the garden and a single Goldfinch took a few nibbles of the Nyger seed.

winter birds

A pair of Redwing spent a few minutes in the Hawthorn tree taking a breakfast snack on the ripe Haws.

Long-tailed Tits

A small group of four Long-tailed Tits spent about half an hour of the morning scouting through the shrubs in the garden and the Hawthorn tree.

Gold Finches

Refilled the Niger seed feeder tube today. Niger seed is derived from a relative of the the sunflower and is prefered by Goldfinches. It is a small black elongated seed that requires a special feeder with pairs of small slits in the tube.

Buddleia

A dark mauve Buddleia is attracting local butterflies. There have been three Red Admirals on the bush at one time. Other visitors have been individual Comma and Peacock.

Update

The dark mauve Buddleia flowers atract a lot of flying insects, including Hoverflies, Moths and Butterflies. Today I observed a Peacock and a Red Admiral talking nectar from it.
early this morning a Vollucella hoverfly was seen warming up on the bare branch of a Box tree.
Recent rain has kept insect activity down, it is good to get some interesting wildlife into the garden!
There has been no shortage of Mollusc activity, slugs and snails have been very busy!