Wild Wanderings

Diary Entry 19th August 2018

The weather has almost turned back to normal for this time of year. We have had rain at last but not very prolonged. Sudden downpours that have lasted twenty minutes or so. The paddock has been hard work this year with the heatwave. It is bone dry and the ground is rock hard so digging and planting have been out of the question.

I have managed to strim the islands and have only needed to mow it once in the past few weeks and that was to control the weeds which always seem to survive no matter what the weather.

The wildlife has been very scarce particularly the birds but there are signs that they are starting to return.

This year I have seen very few House Martins or Swallows or for that matter Swifts. On Thursday I was very surprised to see about 40/50 House Martins playing around the Horse Chestnut Trees that line the far boundary of the paddock. They were diving and tumbling around in and out of the branches. Through the binoculars I could see what was attracting them. There were hundreds or maybe thousands of small flies and Mosquitoes which had obviously hatched during the hot muggy periods in between the rain showers. They were providing a welcome harvest for the birds.

They are a wonderful sight with their great aviation skills and chirping calls. I stood and watched them for about twenty minutes or so but when I returned in the afternoon there had disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. Before this sighting I can only recall about half a dozen or so this year. A few Swifts have also been on the river but not in high numbers.

Butterflies have also disappeared from the paddock. I have only Whites and an occasional Speckled Wood. I am hoping for a second flight later this month.

This week I have had a lot of fledgling Blue Tits which are probably from second clutches. Beautiful gregarious little birds which I can’t help photographing at every opportunity. They are so greedy and demanding on their poor parents. Woodpeckers have also been visiting again. Greater Spotted being the usual variety but I have also heard the laughing of the Green Woodpecker close by. I think they have been attracted to the Ants which are also thriving in these dry conditions. I have only caught a quick glimpse of the Green Woodpecker on the ground once, but he soon took flight when he saw me.

The farm walk has also not provided any sightings of anything of note. The Hares and Foxes all seem to have gone to ground although I have seen several piles of Pigeon feathers which usually indicates the presence of a fox or two.

The new saplings trees that I have planted all seem to have survived. I think my watering of them helped. They have all lost a few leaves, but all seem to be showing signs of new growth. Let’s hope we have a bit more rain and things can get back to normal soon.

Till tomorrow