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Happy gardening!

Saturday 6 June 2009

Birding news from Brittany

Many thanks to all of you who've left postings and comments on my blog these last few weeks have really appreciated the contact - it's been very busy with work, leaving little time for blogging... but looking at the forecast this coming week you may see a bit more activity on here and with any luck will give me the chance to catch up on what's going on with your own blogs...
There's been all sorts of things going on on the bird front in our own garden as some of you may know... some really good and some not so good....

The first bit of great news is that all 5 of the blue tit chicks fledged last weekend - they've been spotted along with Mum in the oak trees in the main since then feeding on all the green caterpillars - particularly after the episode with the Great Spotted Woodpecker attacking the nesting box.


News on the Woodpeckers which have been nesting in our woodland somewhere - a young male was spotted on the bird table this morning - these pictures were taken through the bedroom window, so not bad I guess!


I was devastated about 2 weeks ago to discover one of the female swallows had died - she was the second female to set up nest in our stable - I have a nasty suspicion that it was one of our cats. Noticing that none of the swallows were on any of the nests following this incident and fearing that we'd not have any swallow babies this year, did my best to make the openings into the stable as cat-proof as possible - since then Mummy Swallow No. 1 has returned to her nest of eggs and has been sitting tight since then.... so watch this space...


Out in the garden this week we appear to have a pair of Wrens nesting somewhere as they have been incredibly noisy and mouthy whilst I've been outside... hopefully there'll be more news on them too...

I wonder what news anyone else has on the bird front - they play a vital part in the garden so are worthy of more than a mention on here...

Hope the weather is a bit more cheery where you are... bon weekend!

4 comments:

Cheryl said...

Hi Miranda....I do hope that the swallows manage to rear their fledglings this time. My neighbour had to do the same thing on her stables, to keep her cat out. It worked......

I love your borders with the woodpecker....such a delightful and charming scene.....


Our blue tits managed to rear their your and like yours, are feeding in the old oaks at the back of the garden....

Have a good week......

Miranda Bell said...

Thanks Cheryl... what a wet day we've had here - good for the garden and for catching up indoors but not good for work!! Glad you liked the woodpecker - it really was a beautiful sight and he's been around with his Mum this afternoon feeding on the bird table again - he's also enthralled with the washing line posts!

Will pop over and visit your blog again v. soon - have a good week too Miranda x

Joe said...

Hi Miranda,

Great news with the Blue Tits and great to see those woodpeckers too. Really nice photos there. We haven't seen a woodpecker in our garden for a while now.

Miranda Bell said...

Thanks Joe - I was delighted with the Blue Tits - the Woodpeckers are loving the fat blocks I've got in the garden - maybe it would be worth putting these out - I know there are various schools of thought on feeding birds at this time of year... this is our first year with them feeding from the table... it's great!