Dorset News. (1 Viewer)

[Nina P]

There have been no swifts for two days now, but the it has been raining shed loads and the wind really bent the ancient oaks outside, there were quite a few branches scattered over the road and all the birds seemed to hunker down out of the wind, and went very quiet, so this moprning with a sunny break they have come out searching for food, and even the front birdtable has seen birds, (not squirrells) hopping about robin and chaffinch mainly and greenfinch on the hanging feeders. When I went out I heard the Greater Spotted Woodpecker shouting from the oak nest site opposite, but Do they raise more than one brood in a year? If the sky remains clear I wonder if the buzzards will be up and visible, as I have only heard them calling for the last week, and I'm itching to see the young riding the thermals to guage how many have been successfully reared. Nina.

 

[rdspalm]

Hi Nina,

We still have Swifts here in Northern Ireland. I saw and heard a large flock in Limavady, Co Derry last week.

I've never seen a smooth snake, St Partick fixed them a few years ago!

Best wishes,

Richard

 

[Nina P]

St Patrick, saint or sinner?

Some peolpe would have been sad at the loss of snakes, but more would be glad, personally I like snakes, so I'm glad I live here in one of the few southern counties that do have the smooth snake, giving us the bonus of three snakes, with the common grass snake, and slightly less common adder, and the pretty rare smooth snake, hence the surprise on seeing one in my garden, and I think I have located it's nest, or burrow, or whatever you call its home, beneath the apricot tree, behind the bench arbour.
I had an old school friend and her sister pop in today, and as the weather was really good, we sat out on the patio, had a cuppa tea, and watched the swallows, housemartins and yes the swifts came back over, and the swallows were really skimming our heads, swooping low over the pond beside us, catching the flies that were annoying us, seven of them sat on the electric cable that crosses the garden, and the spotted fly catcher appeared, flitting up into the air then returning to its station. The birds did their best to show off, and then little "madam" streaked in the swallows, housemartins and swifts, took umbridge and dive bombed her into the ground almost.
The woodpeckers, green and greater spotteds were all around, and both friends saw several greens, but only one saw the greater spotted, but we could hear them all around, and there were too many clouds to see the buzzards but we could hear them calling. My friends didn't want to go home but they had to, but they will be returning fairly soon as they really enjoyed the peace, and the birds, and the tremendous ammount of butterflies, and today there were thousands, I had so many land on me at one time, that I thought I might get lifted off the ground, and I was trying to tidy up the climbing roses that now reach at least twelve foot high, so I was disobeying Drs orders and reaching up wilst trying to stand on steps, and steady myself with the walking stick, I reckon I must look funny, but where there is a will, there will be a way, at least in Nina's book of wisdom!!!
:cat: B

 

[Andrew]

I have missed this thread for some strange reason. I like local patches and will read it properly later tonight and comment.

 

[bristolbirder]

Wow Nina! When I pop in for a cuppa next week my expectations will be high! I have never seen an Adder or Smooth Snake in the wild. With so much to see you better get a tea urn in! My camera is at the ready.

No Swifts here at all now, having left a week or so ago although I do get the odd one passing over in a southerly direction.

House Sparrow and Greenfinches seem to have increased in numbers since last year, hopefully as a result of my year round feeding. I like to think so anyway. :t:

 

[Nina P]

At the moment it's butterflies galore!!!

I will have to go out there for some time today and see if I can Identify all the different butterflies, but yesterday as I walked under the arch the air turned black all around me from the peacock butterflies, as there are plenty of flowers on the budlleija bushes, and the pink hebe, all designed to encourage insects, therefore to encourage wildlife, such as birds and bats, and frogs and toads, which then become food in the chain of life, so in eight years my garden has become an Eden for nature, and I'm rather impressed with the results. The new life to my garden this year has been the arrival of Greater Spotteds three youngsters all over the garden, and the smooth snake, not to mention the increases of all the regular birds, and some not so regular ones. If the increases are from what I have done then I must continue, as life is just one long birdwatch nowadays, Yes BB. I'll put the urn on specially for you and yours, and you bring the bottles and camp out one night, but be prepared for the nocturnal visitors, namely one fox and at least one hedgehog, and the early morning dawn chorus with blackbirds and thrushes giving their all with the tapping of snails on paths and stones all over the garden. and the children can search for the hidden ornaments, and see how many they can find, that's a good tip for all adults, as the little ones then become more observant. My granddaughter surprised me by getting out my big bird book to pointout the bird she had seen the other day, and guess what, she had seen a male Hen Harrier, and where she had seen it was where I also have seen one, and I was not with her when she saw it, but had remembered where and what it looked like, even the flight pattern it made!!! She isn't even six yet!!!! I was gobsmacked to say the least!!, better go now as I am on call today and really mustn't block the 'phone line too long. I'll try to log on later Nina.:cat: :t:

 

[Nina P]

Well today,I had to go to Cranborne,so spent a good half hour looking out for the swifts, and they duly put in an appearance, screaming for my granddaughter to hear, so she now knows what they sound like, and now I also know that they haven't left yet( phew) we have seen the Dorset heather looking great with their purple flowers setting the moorland on fire with its brilliant glow, I was rather amused to see the electric cable full of swallows and housemartins yesterday in the pouring rain, until "little Madam" swept over the garden, then they zapped her until she left again, she is really pushing her luck now, as the hirundines are well aware of her nowadays, I think she is really pushing her luck, and they are not going to be her next meal. I am so glad, as she has wiped out so many of the housemartins, that they now have her taped!!!! She did try again today, but they are on to her now, well before I see her, their buzzing is very spectacular. Bristolbirder, hope you see what I mean!! By the way, Looks l,ike you picked the right week for weather, as it's supposed to be fine, but humid, bodes well for the nightjars!!! Nina.

 

[Karl J]

Nice photo of your area Nina.

A veritable nature reserve in your own back garden .... with snakes as well, ... it makes really interesting reading .... do you get many lizards ?

Don't get too many Green & Gt Spotted Woodpeckers round here, though across the river from me ( on the southern shore) they're a bit more common I believe. Probably as there are lots more trees over there !

The foxes are interesting to see - there are sometimes 1 or 2 about in the fields on the way to work in the mornings.

 

[Nina P]

Lizards?

Not in my nature reserve yet, at least I haven't seen them yet other than the slowworms Carlos, but I do know where to find some, and the funny thing is that they are in a car park, that was recently smartened up and then they appeared, I was seen coaxing this sand lizard to safety, and helped to remove it to safety by a wee lass with cool hands, bless her, as my dammies are furnace heat to an herpetological creature, and I wouldn't wish to scorch it now would I. Nina.3 :cat:

 

[Nina P]

I feel so sad today, bristol birder missed something rather special today, he arrived last night with the family, and what a pleasure it was to meet them and for them to see in a very short time, several green woodpeckers (announcing the onset of rain) it was very humid so I do hope he was lucky enough to see the nightjars squatting in the road to cool down, or whatever it is they do that for.
This morning I saw a sparrowhawk/goshawk land behind the hedge with the arch, I couldn't say which for certain as it was too fast, and then I never saw it again, but when I got outside there was a pile of feathers, possibly a blackbird or pigeon, just dark grey mass of very soft feathers, much the same as a week ago when collared dove was killed and partly plucked. the previous kill I'd put down to a fox as the head of the first collared dove had been left, now I'm beginning to wonder? This sultry sticky weather leaves the feeders rather quiet, and not much happening until dusk and dawn, when everything is go... the housemartins seem to have decided to have another brood, so the children did see them wiggling in and out of the nest, and the false comma took a liking to the youngest by landing on his hat and flitting on and off, what lovely children, credit to you both. Nina.

 

[jayhunter]

Well Nina,
A super read as with some of the other comments you have done a really good job with your garden. I lived for years in Hampshire and saw Slow worms, Grass snakes and Adders but never a Smooth snake. Also dying to see a Green Woodpecker close up, only time I have seen them is when I have been driving, and had to keep one eye on the road. Keep up the good work with your grandaughter, sounds like a similar job I have set myself with my two Grandsons aged 5 and 6 they are keen to borrow my binoculars, and try to recognise birds and flowers.

 

[cuddy]

Sounds like you have a wonderful garden Nina thanks for sharing your sightings, i have seen a slow worm only once up here but never a grass snake adders are not uncommon though.

 

[Karl J]

Yes, more super stuff Nina.

What sort of numbers are there and how often do you see the false comma ? .......... I was looking at a link ( from another thread somewhere) and it seems they're quite a find

 

[StevieEvans]

Must be nice Nina, having your very own Nature reserve...

Still got Swifts here, but not for too much longer.

Whats the current total of bird species for the reserve/garden ?

Stevie

 

[Nina P]

Let's see if I can recall, Tree sparrows at least three pairs nested, dunnocks at least three pairs, housesparrows, at least ten nests close by, starlings, thirty or more descend amid their raucous chattering. three pairs of green woodpeckers, one pair of greater spotted woodpeckers,(who raised three young successfully this year) there have been about twenty pairs of nuthatches breeding this season, two pairs of bullfinches, thirty pairs of greenfinches, blackbirds a plenty, two pairs of thrushes at least, long tailed tits three nesting pairs this year,blue tits,great tits,coaltits, the odd marsh tit,
There are hundreds of corvids flying about, ravens, jackdaws, rooks, crows, and magpies, also plenty of gulls, but as they don't land I don't regard them.
Then there are the housemartins, who are now well on with their second brood, swallows, the occasional swift has appeared this year.
Raptors, sparrowhawk,goshawk, kestrel, Buzzard, and a fleeting visit from a peregrine early this year.
Owls, we've got the lot, barn, tawny, long eared, short eared, and not far away little owl.
Within my walking distance, just, we have yellowhammers, chiffchaffs, willow warbler, and several little birds that I'm sure belong to the warbler family, but I have been unable to clearly identify, so I don't claim them.
No doubt I'll remember those not listed after I post.

 

[Nina P]

Carlos, the false comma landed five or six times on bristolbirders sons hat, whilst sat in my garden having a drink of squash, so he can verify, I think the children also enjoyed their visit, as I have some little ornaments dotted around the garden, like pixies, snails, tortoises, frogs, faries and cats, they can spend up to two hours hunting, but depends on how sharp their spotting is and how well I've hidden them.
I have just realised that I forgot the game birds on the former list, like Pheasants, partridges, pigeons, collared doves. And there are likely to be more later.

 

[Karl J]

Nina, you certainly don't need to verify it ! (the false comma) ..... just keep this thread going, it's fascinating.

 

[Nina P]

I'd really like to say thank you to the five stars presenter/s makes me feel that my love of this tiny patch, and the sharing of it with all avid followers is well worth it. I have always lived in the Dorset/ Hampshire border region, but I have never been happier than I am now, I may have lost a lot of mobility, but I really make the most of the good days, and curse the days when I'm unable to even get out of bed without medication, and an hour of physio excercises, that is just to stand up, and if my dear Graham isn't about then I don't manage to put on my bra, but then I say I am what I am and if you don't like it, don't look. I feel a right Charlie, but if she can get away with it so can I...
the nuthatch has started to visit the front table again, but the feeding stations have gone rather slow, apart from the ones furthest from the house, which are still going great guns, mainly the passerines, with much noisiness, but their chatter reminds you that this is a garden not a reserve, and every day life goes on all around. Nina.

 

[Gerry Hooper]

Had to write a quick post to say what a lovely garden you have Nina.Enjoy the sunshine today.
p.s. Couple of things about Slow Worms:

1. They're not slow

2.They're not worms

 

[Nina P]

Quite right Gerry, whoever decided to call them that must have found a cold one as when they are up to temperature, they are like rockets, my dear Graham and our friend Mervyn were tidying up the bank behind the greenhouse, and disturbed them quite by accident, so they left the area until the following week to clear up the rest.
It reminds me of the splitting up of the bamboos earlier in the year, they had been in tubs burried in the border and got dry by being pot bound, so when they lifted the black bamboo mr vole shot out and away, but mrs vole had six babies hanging on to her teats, and she bolted up the escape tunnel, but left one baby behind, so everyone backed away and left them to sort themselves out, returning later when they had gone, to finish off.
Nina.