Todays daily wildlife moment arrived with a thump against the kitchen window. Despite losing a few feathers and looking a bit embarrased the baby blackbird seemed fine and dad came to take it off to safety soon enough. I didn't get too close and the dad pretty much stands on my feet as I fill the feeders so I didn't cause him any stress either.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I was pressure washing the steps in front of the house this morning which attracted the attention of a thrush. It came right up to me, within a couple of feet, so I stopped blasting to see what it wanted. I thought it was after dislodged insects and worms but no, it was after clumps of moss I was blasting off. It came back repeatedly to fill its beak then fly off to build a nest under my big apple tree. It wasn't at all fazed by me or the pressure washer but I guess they get very focused when building a nest.
Went out to get the washing in yesterday afternoon and theee was a red kite wheeling and swooping above the garden, here on the edge of Norwich. We’re used to a pair of buzzards circling high above this garden ... but it’s the first time we’ve seen a kite here ... I’ve seen them up near the coast but they’re definitely spreading about a bit 😃
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A grasshopper warbler, how cool is that - never seen or heard one here as far as I know. I'm ashamed to say I used to collect caterpillars in jars too, beetles and ladybirds - I can hardly remember a time when I have seen more than 2 or 3 ladybirds, beetles or caterpillars in a day since then. (I did release the poor insects at the end of the day.)
You may not wish to look at my picture - the Kestrels have to eat too. Our owl box hasn't had an owl visitor for a few years now (as far as we know), however this year a pigeon decided to use it as a nesting box. All was going well until the frequent visitor to our garden - a kestrel decided to fly in this morning - you can probably guess the rest.
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We’re used to a pair of buzzards circling high above this garden ... but it’s the first time we’ve seen a kite here ... I’ve seen them up near the coast but they’re definitely spreading about a bit 😃
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
no idea what variety this is but almost stepped on it as it had ended up on the steps! Moved it on to a plant to find a better route!