Garden wildlife..

I had quite a busy day in the garden yesterday including cutting the grass...which was getting quite long. On the previous occasion I'd disturbed some Grasshoppers as they leapt ahead of the lawnmower and the same thing happened again yesterday.

So today with the sun shining brilliantly and the temperature soaring, I went down the garden to get some pictures.

I suspect they're juveniles and came in varying sizes!

Oh and a bee didn't want to be left out

Young Jays..

The day started with a resolution. The ironing had to be done!! If it wasn't I was in serious danger of running out of clean clothes!! I don't like ironing! In fact I don't like housework of any kind..... ;)

However, I stationed myself by the window so I could birdwatch while undertaking this horrendous chore. I was well rewarded.

Lots of squabbling amongst some Greenfinch little ones. A couple of young Goldfinch then joined the crowd under the apple tree.

BUT... there was loud screeching and calling from high up in the Holly Tree (this must be about 40 feet high). At the top of said tree were three Jays (Garrulus glandarius). One a parent and two youngsters.

The parent left and...

a young one dozed..

one opened a sleepy eye..

and decided to have a wash and brush up

its sibling at the top wouldn't come into view for quite some time..

but then gazed around looking bleary-eyed

In the lower branch again, the first youngster was having a look around

After a while, it moved to a higher branch. By this time its sibling had gone to join Mum in one of the tall oaks nearby.. she'd been calling.

After a while, it had another preen; showing off its colourful plumage.

And then it helped itself to one of the many green holly berries. I was interested to note, that having collected the berry in its beak it then placed the berry on the branch and held it between its two feet whilst it pecked at it to eat.

And yet another youngster. This Great Spotted Woodpecker has been coming every day for over a week now and often comes several times a day. The peanuts are disappearing quite fast.



And after all that excitement and taking loads of pictures it was back to the chores. But they got finished in double time after that;)

Wild in the garden.

I'm still trying to sort through pictures taken over the last week or so. I've deleted a great many ;)

The other morning, I had a visit from one of the local foxes again. He wandered around; paid the greenhouse a visit...

then spotted me and the camera as he walked through the plants... and didn't break any of them!

And today - in the sun and strange new warmth :D, the Red Damselflies started to emerge from the garden pond.

I'm still not very happy with my macro lens and this is the best I could do without falling in the pond! There were at least 5 flying about and of these, definitely 2 pairs.... great stuff. I shall be keeping my eyes open for Dragons every day now!

And a hover fly had a rest on a lily leaf.

Just a short post today.... back to the picture sorting now...

Visitors to my garden

I've been fairly heavily occupied these last couple of days helping my daughter prepare for, and, move. And there's more tomorrow! Needless to say, this has left little time for blogging.

However, if there's been anything of interest in the garden over the last couple of days, and the light's been good enough, I've taken a few pics.

I've moved a couple of the feeders out into a less shaded area - it seems to have worked!

This fox is a frequent visitor but wouldn't turn around to pose for the camera


The Ring-necked Parakeets are driving me mad at the moment. It's always the same every June/July when the young are begging for food - at about 5.00 a.m. onwards in the Eucalyptus tree in the garden. Then again, the same things happens from early evening until they go off to roost.

Now - talking of roosts - I've noticed large flocks of them (largest was about 50) flying west over the house; they may be invaders but it's quite a spectacular sight!) This is the direction of Esher Rugby Club where the roost used to be until it broke up in Autumn last year. Many of the Poplar Trees were felled (Health & Safety don't yer know) and the roost disbanded. I shall have to go and have a look at dusk one evening to see if they're back on the remaining trees.

Youngster being fed

Having a preen..

The Grey Squirrel numbers have dropped this year and the most I've had is three. Here's one eyeing out the feeding potential..

And another having a drink

The bird bath is popular and this Magpie had just had a bath before preening up in the Eucalyptus..

In the garden pond, one of the frogs had come up for air. It wasn't until I processed these pictures that I noticed the tiny tiny froglet on the pond lining. It can only have just stopped being a tadpole!


And as I type this in the early evening of Saturday, the thunder clouds have gathered and it's tipping it down.

My daughter is still packing up and loading the van for the last trip of the day - she then has to bring the van back tonight and return southwards!!!!!!! Fortunately she has some help......and the final journey she will be driven rather than having to do the driving! Good luck SPD - thinking of you.

And I'm off back down again to the south coast tomorrow - complete with my Marigolds :)

I'm now going to expire in the heat and humidity.....that's all for the moment folks......

A Grand day

This morning we had homework to do. Grandson J did the clever stuff - Maths - and I had the easy bit - clearing out blanket weed from the pond. Well - I did do some but then got side-tracked watching the birds in the garden.

I still have families of Great and Blue Tits visiting. Today I had two Greenfinch youngsters, a visit from a Nuthatch (lovely) and, being a warm day, a Banded Demoisoille flew across the pond - great surprise!

When I got back to looking at the pond, the wildlife there was interesting too.
Frogs (three in all) were using the Lily leaves as sunshades from the warm sun.


Blue and Large Red Damselflies flitted busily about looking for an egg-laying site.

This hover fly (I think?) was one of about four that stopped on the lily leaves to drink


And this wonderful moth landed on something J was using, in the garden.
(This picture really benefits from being enlarged by clicking on it - its markings are interesting)
If anyone can identify this, I would be grateful. I can't find it in my rather limited moth book!)

Edited:
Maurice has kindly suggested that this is a "Crambus lathoniellus" moth and I'm inclined to agree with him based on the visual comparison, the time of year when found, and the location - the grass in my back garden!

Homework was done and dusted so after an early lunch we headed off for the London Wetland Centre at Barnes.

Birds were scarce and what was about was quiet in the afternoon sun.
Orchids abounded


Grey Herons everywhere but this one was walking about and fishing

Coots seem to be everywhere you look these days and this Mother and Child were no exception

A Black Tailed Skimmer landed on the path in front of us so I grabbed a quick shot.
(EDIT: I'd originally identified this as a Broad Bodied Chaser and thanks to Maurice for his correction. It's really obvious when you look at the book and ID it correctly! Thanks Maurice :)

A female mallard - the markings always delight me, was sunning herself

with her partner next to her

These two captive cranes came through the enclosure to have a drink. There are now two areas where these are and these are the most recent additions.

And sculptures were everywhere it seemed. All of the following have been made from recycled materials.

Entitled "The Twitcher"

"Redshank" made from various bits and ieces including Venetian Blinds!

"Cycling fish" fashioned from bicycles and cogs



Not sure what this was made from!

and this bird - all plastic bags and bicycle wheel rims!

A "Swanbrella" made from white plastic bags and an umbrella handle!

and finally - a Grey Heron

Another lovely day in the sun. And tomorrow - is Monday!