Post Springwatch - Juvenile delight

Whether you’re an avid fan or casual observer of the Springwatch programme, one can’t fail to be impressed with the display and variety nature provides. But getting in amongst it and witnessing nature first hand, even the most simplest of wildlife, is a must if you're to appreciate the 3D package. Sadly many of us are too busy, relying solely on the media to uncover worlds on our doorsteps, let alone reveal nature's secrets further afield.

Without such documentary type entertainment we’d be left more ignorant and arrogant. Thanks to the BBC & others, we're kept in touch with our surroundings; more educated and informed, in this is my licence fee justified.

One more note about Springwatch, regarding the discussion threads. What a fantastic community of interesting people; educating, helping one another, having fun, and from time to time the odd pop or two. Every family's bound to have a few squabbles (like goldfinch), over differing opinions & points of view. Such diversity of itself is an accepted part of life's rich tapestry.

It would actually be a terrible world if everyone thought the same. But here and there emotions spill over and people get hurt. Most of it builds character, prevents a degree of dumbing down, blinkered vision and intolerance, as such we've more in common with nature than we'd perhaps like.

Looks like we've got to the 'bottom', so to speak, of the funny Dunnock story, thanks to the bulletin boards who enlightened me to a very rarely seen, but not uncommon behaviour. The aloft derrière most likely belonged to a recently impregnated female; her promiscuous behaviour was offering another male opportunity to mate with her. Only if he can dislodge the sperm packet she's carrying, and rams his own home, as yours truly probably witnessed! Well I never.

I've just added a fancy flag counter to record my growing number of global visitors, more the merrier, and welcome to you.

Blackbirds are doing just great with second broods front and back gardens, and are making the most of the additional food put out during this breeding season, including an indulgence of re-hydrated mealworms. Their pierce-perfect alarm-calls, inform all, when the Kestrel, Sparrowhawk or other threat descends from airspace, immediately reinforced by dispersal & silence! Males don’t take kindly to Starling competition either, providing fascinating displays of scrap & flight. Amazingly they fledged as I wrote this, c/w parental black-alarm!

BUT the stars of my garden show this spring must be the Yellow Hammers or as we sometimes refer to them as, the Scots canary. You've got to love the yellow humbug face of the male; slightly more discrete in female & juveniles. And their song; 'Little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese' or Scottish; 'deil-deil-deil-tak ye'. As these buntings are rarely seen in gardens they're all the more welcome.

Flowering foxgloves are feeding a number of different bumble. My Leafcutter bees were much later to emerge than I’d expected, but did. So I'm keen to double the holes for this years egg cells and hopefully capture their emergence next spring.

Roses are always delightful in June, but they've done much better this year as the menacing aphids were less abundant to nip off new buds. Thank you long harsh winter, late spring, stuttering start to summer and hungry juveniles.


Of late, I've been monitoring a common seven spot ladybird, who's egg laying/brooding, on my young grapevine and hardly moved these three weeks. There's little fear of the hundred plus daily bird visitors touching it with such a clear message on its wings. Not sure which team colours it represents, but it’s about as iconic a British insect as you can get, unlike the European Harlequin invader.

Want to understanding more about the 26 recognised species of UK ladybird, check out the downloadable guide via this link, or even help with the survey. http://www.ladybird-survey.org/ladybirds.aspx.

That’s it for another fortnight, though with so much going on I often want to post weekly. Next time I hope to get a little further afield than my garden boundaries. On tour – TPH