Tittivating

My wife Gail reckons I spend too much time 'tittivating the garden'. She's probably right (she normally is) but the local wildlife seems pleased.

The colony of Tree Sparrows in my garden, which was just one pair in a hole in the house wall two years ago, is now, with the addition of a few nest boxes,  seven pairs producing at least sixty young!

Taking a break from raising a third brood!

Another 10 boxes have gone up on my neighbour's stable wall, and another 10 will go here and there ready for next spring. Maybe 20 :)

The right plants in the right places have also brought an abundance of invertebrates, especially in my 'untidy' garden. Gives the Tree Sparrows plenty of food for their young.

Yarrow Plume moth, likes the Yarrow :)

And the butterflies are loving the nectar bar in the front garden.

Small Tortoiseshell

Wall

Time for some more gardening....

Unbridled Terns

Artic Terns

A trip to the Farne Islands is great with or without rarities, and the fact that a Bridled Tern was reported on Inner Farne was coincidental to our trip. Just as well as it had 'gone fishing' when we were there.

Still, plenty of fine feathered friends to provide one of natures great shows.....

Guillemots

Guilletmots with young

Bridled Guillimot

Kittiwake

Puffins

And boat loads of people

Monumental Anteater

A Wryneck at Whitley Bay Cemetery today showed well, hunting for ants amongst the gravestones.

Willow Warbler - Snapped!

Outside our holiday cottage in Pembrokeshire was a large Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum). This North American shrub was literally buzzing with bees, and flies, the latter proving rather palatable for a Willow Warbler.

Blue skies, sunshine, a light breeze, and the sound of a Willow Warbler snapping at flies - now that's spring!

Hopping along...

According to the national news, frogs have been in a spawning frenzy for the last week, everywhere, except here!

Not a single sighting of a frog or toad in mine or my neighbours pond.

Conspiracy theories began to be concocted; a mystery disease, maybe some nasty spray used by the farmer....but then today, while doing a spot of gardening........

Meanwhile, the Blue Tits have some competition for their nest box...

And in the moth trap, a new species for the garden....

Oak Beauty

Sprung!

Last week saw some spring arrivals to the garden, and some preparations for those to come.

First off was a very aptly named Spring Usher, a new moth for the garden, and for me.

Spring Usher

Next was a March Moth, right on cue.

March Moth

And the crocuses provided a welcome source of nectar for a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

A queen Common Wasp was out sunning herself, demonised by most, but a great garden pest controller for those who understand these valuable, voracious predators.

Common Wasp

In preparation for the Swallows arriving back in April, I've completed building a log store for them to nest in. Hope they appreciated it!

Swallow Hut

Tynemouth Glossy Ibis Overshadowed

A very tame Glossy Ibis turned up in Tynemouth a few days ago, and this morning was taking a paddle in a small flooded are at Beaconsfield.

A first for Tynemouth, only to be overshadowed, by an over flying Buzzard, possibly another first!
The Ibis was quite upset.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

A quick twitch to County Durham and the Yellow-rumped Warbler was quickly located, though only a poor, brief sighting, but with yellow rump conspicuous as it flew deeper into the housing estate.

After an hour we called it quits and headed back to the car, only to relocate the bird sitting out in the open. Record shot captured :)

Treemendous

Tree Sparrows

This afternoon, I set-up my camera trap to check on visiting rats to my feeding station. Their numbers have been dwindling thanks to my aim improving of late :). 

Clearly my vermin eradication is succeeding as the only creatures were a good number of Tree Sparrows.

East Chevington Murmuration

At about 3 30pm the first starlings appear, just a few small flocks of ten or more, then the numbers build. Eventually about 15,000 gather, putting on quite a show as they fly very low over our heads. By 4pm they drop into the southern reed bed to roost. Next time I'll make sure my video camera batteries are charged!