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Happy gardening!

Sunday 12 June 2011

Our garden in Brittany - a sanctuary for birds...

Wow - what an amazing weekend for bird spotting here - I wonder what other people have experienced this year in terms of numbers of fleged birds around, as there seems to be an increasing amount of both Blue and Great Tit fledglings but yesterday was a real treat... whilst taking a break from some gardening I was sat on the grass below our Walnut tree with my camera and within the space of a couple of minutes had the wonderful company of a young family of Blackcaps, followed by an adult Nuthatch and two very fluffy babies, then a couple of newly fledged Robins (they have no colour on their breast but can be identified by the characterstic "bobbing" action that Robins do so well).  All quite gorgeous and if that wasn't enough well, a Tree Creeper arrived - it wasn't the time to start trying to get them on film but a time just to enjoy.... The female Blackbird in the photo was definately enjoying the cherries :-)

I did manage a photo of the baby Robin but not v. clear. 

The Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been very active in the garden and gobbling up all the peanuts that I've put in the feeders - more expensive than during the winter!!  The baby is rather cute don't you think!





























I spent most of the day gardening yesterday especially in the light of today's forecasted (correct this time!!) rain, and rain it has done... but to be honest it's great news for the garden as it is desperately needing it and the rain is still pelting down now.



























Hope you enjoy the photos of some of the plants out in our garden at the moment which I'm sure will benefit from a really welcome soak today - sadly - I'm sure the weeds will also benefit :-(


Have a fun filled week!




16 comments:

debsgarden said...

It's great to see your lovely plants! I am sure the birds appreciate them as well. We have lots of birds here, too, and they are a source of joy. One particular robin is not shy but will come within a few feet of me while hunting for worms. I love all your photos. Have a great week!

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

What lucky birds, and gorgeous blooms. :)

Sandra said...

Lovely photographs, Miranda and good to see you posting again. What a year so far weatherwise. Everything is so far ahead and so thirsty. There seem to be more jays and rabbits around than I ever remember before. Catch up with my blog if you get a mo. Sandra x

easygardener said...

Lovely to see the birds and the flowers. The recent rain here has caused the garden to burst into more vigorous growth - the recent drought had certainly slowed things down.

Midmarsh John said...

Great to see the juvenile birds Miranda. Most here are Starlings though I did see some young Jackdaws and the fledgeling Great Tits from the nest box.

ShySongbird said...

Hi Miranda, I am so pleased to have caught up with you again. Your garden looks beautiful and your photos are too!

I loved the photos of the young GSWs on the last post, how wonderful to have them feeding in your garden!! I have had a couple of brief visits from an adult over the last few months which was a very nice surprise.

Loved the photo of the Toad too :)

Sorry to read somewhere in an earlier post that you had been suffering back problems. I know just how painful that can be!

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Debs - sorry it's taken me a few days to reply to your v. kind comments - I love the birds outside and as you say they bring a lot of joy - yesterday was pouring with rain and huddled in the roses over hanging our dining room window was a whole brood of fledged Great Tits - quite gorgeous... enjoy your weekend and I'll visit your blog v. soon - Miranda x

Miranda Bell said...

Rebecca - thanks so much for popping in for a "visit" really glad you liked the pics and the posting - it's a lovely time of year with so much out and so many birds - will pop over for visit to your blog v.soon Miranda x

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Sandra - many thanks for your lovely comments and I expect you'll have had quite a bit of rain as we have had here this weekend - I think you misunderstood what I said in my message to you - don't get me wrong at all - lots of rain is great but with a few gaps in between to cut my clients' grass!! The plants and wildlife are certainly benefitting from the recent downpours - take care and will visit again soon... maybe one of these days I'll get to pop up for a proper visit! Miranda x

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Easygardener - you're completely right - we've had quite a good amount this weekend and good at last to see the level of our stream start to rise a little - still no where near the level that it is at this time of year though. Have a good weekend Miranda x

Miranda Bell said...

Hi MM John - thanks so much for your comments and glad you liked the posting - it really has been an amazing year for all the Blue and Great Tits here especially - we've got a small area of woodland below our garden - a mix of Oak and Hazel with the odd mature Poplar and Alder and the Oak Trees yesterday with teaming with young birds - great to see! Bon weekend Miranda

Miranda Bell said...

Dear Shysongbird - you're very kind and am really touched by all the visits from people to my blog considering how long it is since I did a decent posting - sometimes it's really hard finding the time and energy in the day to keep up with my blog let alone anyone elses but I actually miss it! My back is so much better thanks - a badly slipped disc and time in hospital was not really great but at least they didn't have to operate (a relief!). The GSW have been such a joy this year - with parents and baby all visiting the garden everyday and costing me a fortune on bird nuts - mind you the Blue Tits, Great Tits and Nuthatch have also had their fair share... will pop over to your blog v. soon - enjoy your weekend Miranda x

Elizabethd said...

Came over from Sandra's blog to visit you! We too are in Brittany, and the garden, like yours, is a delight at the moment. We too ahve a family of Greater Spotted woodpeckers and waste hours watching them!

K said...

Wonderful garden, love those woodpeckers. You are lucky to have so many birds in the garden :)
Have a nice weekend.
K

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Elizabeth D - thank you so much for visiting my blog and I'm so sorry that it's taken me this long to get back to you - a busy time with work! I wonder where abouts in Brittany you are - I will pop over to your own blog and take a longer look v. soon - hope you're enjoying the glorious weather... do visit again - Miranda

Miranda Bell said...

Hi K - so sorry it's taken me this long to thank you for your kind comments - thanks so much for visiting and glad you enjoyed the birds! I've just posted some more.. take care.