Let different areas
go wild around the garden, with these natural weeds (Buttercups) which will entice many amazing
species.
'Holly Blue'
Foxy left an early message via ‘poo’ whilst we were in woods, obviously trying to
tell us that ‘he’ can observe us but we can't see him.
Friday 18th May
- We travelled back from
Haverfordwest via the scenic route and came across an ‘Ancient Oak Woodland’ in
‘Cwm Gaun’. , Trees with stunted growth..due to the impoverished soil. Picture below...
Saturday 19th May
- Was kind of warm with a heavy
sky full of rain.
Someone didn't make the rest of their day, a tiny mouse
carried by a Crow "oh dear" :(( I was walking back to the ‘camp’ and spotted the
early morning tactics, antics of ‘wildlife’
Sunday 20th May
- A Young Male Fox trying to
recover from a possible bang on the head, dribbling with no other injuries., looks to
be breathing - good/hopefull ‘Himself’ found him lying by the side of a busy road.
11.20 a.m Good news,
he just lifted his head and looked at me with both eyes....knows we're not
going to harm him..so sweet *
I don't know about joining the 'wildlife' outside, it's All arriving indoors.
The dogs /Sneg are
away from him until Foxy recovers ~ will require peace whilst getting over his
problem. Named already ‘Bedw Bach’ meaning (little birch.) in Welsh.
So very excited now that he's looking inquisitively at
everything around the room and lugs twitching for sounds.... so cool... Dogs water bowl snatched away for ‘Bedw Bach’
(little fox) so are now left to share ‘Sneg’s’ Water lid.........mmmm find more
bowls or keep filling up.
8.29 p.m I joined the
early morning glory 'outside' to take those sips of coffee, ohhhh how it made that moment
even better *
Wednesday 23rd May -
Great improvements from ‘Bedw Bach’ , walking into kitchen with a bounce
but still very weak.
We've moved Bedw (fox) into dining-room and separated Sneg
from him. Sneg is exactly where he wants
to be, watching T.V , even though Son’s playing an X-box game ....seems to like the warm fire.
Thursday 24th May
- We woke by the sounds of
scratching at 3.08 a.m, it was ‘Bedw’ trying to get out where he can smell
‘fresh-air’ through a hole from our ‘boiler’., at least he’s exercising his
limbs.
Bedw Bach has just had some food and slinking around, looking
around each nook and cranny (escape) not a good idea just yet.....first vocals today !
We've a room upstairs available , if you have any other
‘wildlife’ teeheee 'not quite full yet'...all systems go, In one end and out
the other :)))
"Yes"..... little Bedw is gaining agility and has
been viewing the cupboards above with ideas .......? he is well on his way to feeling better after
the jump on our Dresser full of china....didn't expect so soon!
‘Bedw Bach’s’ speedy recovery has meant that he’ll have to go in our Woodland.....
3.25 p.m arrived home from Woodland having done some lifting
and shifting of a huge ‘Hen house’ given to us from a good friend....whilst
‘Bedw Bach’ recovers in their old house.
He had been lying in full sunshine when he decided to lift himself off the ground and stand in the ‘water trough’ to cool his pads down.
...........he was desperate to escape and did so L( We
were’nt prepared for such a quick recovery!
If only he'd stayed to eat another portion of food....
We walked every inch of the wood thursday night and
yesterday, not a whiff of anything.....so sad but he knew how he felt....and yearned for his 'freedom'.
We now know he was suffering from exhaustion
and dehydration......his ‘eye’ became better, although smaller than other.
I feel confident that if he could escape he'll be fine, ~ he'd eaten well and will be remembered, even if for a brief moment, especially when he stood bathing his feet in a trough to cool them
down. A beautiful species and so soft to touch.........a privilege to of known, so close.
Saturday 26th May -
just melted away..... I thought we lived in the Countryside but am beginning
to differ with amount of noise pollution
from Ride-on Mowers ! urgh
When will they ever learn, now I heard that phrase within a
melody.......Peter Paul and Mary sang this>
Sunday 27th May
- Early morning....watered All vegetables and
fruit within garden and Nippy the cat tagged alongside....before the Sun burned
it all off.
'A little 'Carder Bee' which I took on 20th May'12'
Tuesday 3rd April
- Loved the Rain we received , fantastic as it thrashed against the windows....filling up the Ponds and listening to all the trickles flowing in all directions.
'Common Dog-Violet' ~ Viola riviniana
Wednesday 4th April - I presume most of Wales is receiving this Rainy-snow brought in by strong gusts......freezin brrrrr! “What could be blown about the garden”, “Was”.......so tried to rescue them.
GOOD FRIDAY
Friday 6th April - A very cold start to a bright early morning.
Sometimes its good to stay in from outdoors, we then
appreciate whats out there and just sometimes notice different Wildlife antics.... 'looking out of window ~ was
raining......
Tuesday 10th April - Weather
is good, although a little rain at first but I've been outside to look at the
Pond and it's Full, Whey...hey !
We're receiving the occasional peep from the Sun amongst
light showers – so a definite good day as can dodge these spots!
Wednesday 11th April
- Even though we received rain, new life forms emerge and spring into
action - two 'Blackbirds' were competing their Notes of Joy ! almost like another World has opened it's
corridor of lively, frisky species of every kind !
7.30 p.m Good day by
all....birds singing in tune and winter coats loosening - both horse/pony 'lazy-eyed' for sun-bathed days.
'Bracken' & our young 'Cockerel' with his lady
Thursday 12th April - I
should have been up sooner to greet the morning Sun it was streaming through the
curtains and smiling all the way, because now grey drapes are floating.
12.29 p.m A narrow
slice of sunshine bathes the dining-room floor......”problem, Bird and dogs
trying to share same patch”
7.28 p.m A solitary
‘Blackbird’ was casually walking the lines within one of our vegetable
patches, late night snacking......picking
and selecting the best as he combed the rows.
I had almost finished clearing some over hanging brambles
into the lane, to make it easier for the vehicle to drive down, when three Male Great Tits squabbling and dog
fighting in mid-air, this a way and that, then a tiny female watched from other
side of a bush (almost like peeking.)....checking who won.
Friday 13th April
- A dry start to the day with
good intentions of staying that way until later in the afternoon when we were
busying ourselves with our animals, just typical :(( We
had let 'Bracken' out of his paddock to join 'Jack' the horse who runs freely around
the Woodland..........this is what happened......
Saturday 14th April - Fine
rain amongst a grey sky......love that rain !
We had a visitor at our house, not long ago and he called 'Sneg' (vermin) -I
said "he's Not, he's Sneg" horrible man:(Sneg has the cleanest home
of all birds! and I was glad he didn’t stay long.
The ‘Blackbird’ was showing his authority standing on top of
the Bird house whilst others of smaller size
protest from afar.........and within a few moments he’s flown off and
the others can breath out with ‘stomachs stuck-out’.
‘Sneg’ He seems to have
acquired a skipping action to zoom about the place.......he needs to when
outside- up against steps etc.. although..now he has his very own ‘Run-way’. Link>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUFTpYXqBSQ&feature=g-upl
Caught 'Sneg' with eyes half shut !
Sunday 15th
April -
Early rise but soon went back to the warm covers of the bed, it was grey
and dull outside at 5.35a.m ...... the Sun shone it’s best at 8a.m
‘Speedy gonzales’, the second Male hanging around Woods darted
upon a Female Pheasant only to be beaten down by 'Blondie' - with a Sting in tail
leaving a trail of dust.....and 'Blondie' with a limp.
This pheasant was skinny and lean looking but fast......only
name that suits I guess but not strong enough to cope with Blondie...is named this because of the fair streak of colouring on top of his head.
Arrived back from a two mile walk along the road with ‘Bracken’ to get him used to..... traffic... ,
we let him have some pickings of grass on the way back as a treat....he’d
behaved marvellously and considering a ‘manatou’ took majority of the road up
(a few small steps of panic but still well behaved.) the drivers slowed right down....thankfully.
Monday 16th April
- As it’s such a beautiful
morning ‘Sneg’ was keen to join in and so off he went down his ‘Pigeon Runway’
to his world of delightful friends.
As we’re not out I’ve just asked
‘Chuckie’ to go on patrol for a few minutes whilst I write this paragraph, he’s
wanting to come in now by barking quietly........I went out to steer ‘Sneg’ to
the back door and he detoured off in another direction, “am going to grow
longer arms” ha haaa.........arrived in with great speed and agility....phew ! (as above video)
Spring arrived a little too early and now returned to the
brrrrrrr with wood stove giving it's best..
Tuesday 17th April - Had
a tremendous storm last night, thought the roof was leaving us, horrifying and
no sleepL ~ the morning has given us a peaceful silent breeze with a sparkle of
sunshine.
Wednesday 18th April -
Little Hen died...:(( We had a
little 'hen' she was so very friendly and then her years of 3 + told her
'slow down' its time for shut-eye. She passed away peacefully... We made a fuss
of her, she wanted to be aloan and so put her in the stable where she enjoyed
her last hours..died in 'Himself's' arms.......best place to of been for last moments.
@waterwytche "Its always a sad moment when your friends are
gone"..reply...The new cockerel is her Son so she'll live on and on......thankfully
and massive thanks to @woadworks @PermaGoddess
also for kind messages.
As they turn ‘Senior’ they should be taken away from the
‘Cockerel’ and left to enjoy what’s left of their life in peace.
IN EVERY WALK WITH
NATURE ONE RECEIVES FAR MORE THAN HE SEEKS !
Thursday 19th April - Chronic
weather changes.......freezing gusts blowing in :(( just hope the warm patch we recieved earlier this
year wasn't it !
3.07 p.m On way home
in car,"is that your nose making that noise"? , I asked....to 'Himself' he says
"No", "its the Birds outside".....my hearings gone AWOL !
:))
Friday 20th April
- Rain was heavy and the
temperature of the bedroom was “oh so cold” brrr....I didn’t want to rise but
knew I had to do the early breakfast.
I believe the planet has a virus and it's throwing everything it can at us, in different directions!
Saturday 21st April - The
beginning of the day was dull and cold but by 10 ish a.m that special glow
arrived.
11.46 a.m decided to
fix the fence that ‘Bracken’ had pushed over and trodden down into the
mud, we are never without a job.
Whilst the other two were just finishing off,
I took the ‘three legged welsh stool’ (that ‘Himself’ had made) and plonked it down
beside an Oak tree.....where I could observe a ‘Female Nuthatch’ . She entered her front door at 1.50p.m and by
2.45p.m had left.....perhaps sitting eggs?
Can’t imagine for one minute it was anything else at this time of year.
A late afternoon saunter for ‘Sneg’ until I notice the
‘Crows’ swooping down at him.......he quickly ran indoors. We gave him a present today, a beautiful log
to stand on.......and very pleased he is too.
EARTH DAY
Sunday 22nd April
- We have been given Rain and
quite heavy - so the 'amphibians' will be happy!
Good job the back door was open this morning as ‘Himself’
heard ‘Sneg’ a-calling and sounded in distress......he was lying on his back
with a large ‘Crow’ stood over him.....I had a feeling the ‘Corvids’ were up to
something.....the past week they were
circling the garden area....I just thought they were friends of the ‘Jackdaw’
we rescued last year and the grapevine had told them a message of kindness,
sadly Not ! “They were after the large tit-bit Sneg” !!!
A trip to recycle is worth a forage around - old telly died and a carpet rolled-up in return to use on veg.patch...... I wondered where everyone had gone off
to......., this helps to keep the weeds down.
3.10 p.m Was sat
outside taking in the gorgeous wildlife when a very small ‘Bee’ was looking for
a home......there were a few with the same thing in mind. I searched the internet for clues to whom
they were... ‘Solitary Bees’ each one
found an old screw hole in which to house itself on our old shed.......
Monday 23rd April
- It was dull with a fall of fine
mist (rain) the kind that gets you very wet!
7.27 a.m As our Son
entered the kitchen, all dressed ready for School, he noticed a ‘Crow’.... he thought it to be a ‘Raven’ because of it’s size and as it took
off to land on our other shed across to the other side of our garden......it’s
‘wing-span’ appeared vast! And hid
behind some tall shrubs that gave cover to watch over the bottom half of the
garden. The size of it’s beak must have
been frightening to a small ‘pigeon’,
Sneg , as they could rip a bird to pieces in minutes! (Corvids tactics)
Arrived home 3.07 p.m
Been collecting fallen wood for wood stove, Ash but no willow this time.
Tuesday 24th April - A
little Sun later on....mid afternoon it warmed up until it rained heavy and by
the time our Son and his friend were on their way to see ‘Bracken’ the heavens
opened with ‘Hail ’ for a good ten
minutes! ‘Hail’ of every size came down......dangerous if walking or cycling.
Have been watching a pair of 'Nuthatches' and just maybe catch a glimpse of the
fledglings....perhaps next week?
Whilst the Sun shone for it’s few moments the Wildlife also
appeared in abundance, here’s one...Bombus Bee...
Think this is Bombus Pascuorum
Wednesday 25th
April -
And the days seem to leave us speedily as we busy ourselves.....taken
another photo this afternoon...Red Mason
(Osmia rufa) Solitary Bee.
Thursday 26th
April -
Wet wet wet.......
‘Himself’ had been to a
‘Horse Sale’ and telling us about the Auctioneer and this is what he said: "well then, we'r gonna have to trip'em
all up now price has shot op" ! (horse+rider slipped and got up o.k)
phew! ‘Sold at unexpected high price’ ~ the tricks of selling.
When your Son's School bag is full of discarded sweet and
sandwich wrappers, you know you've taught them Well *smiles.........x When I was young my School blazer pockets were bursting to let
them out, looked as though I'd grown wings until mum said "time to
empty" .
BARLEY SATURDAY
Saturday 28th April -
Barley Saturday and the weather has been kind to us, it’s DRY but still
some
Wild west winds.....
It is a celebration of the end of the 'Spring' sowing season, barley being the last cereal to be sown after wheat and oats. The Show began 1871 and by 1877 there are records of hundreds of horses parading around 'Victoria Gardens' Cardigan.
'Derwen' Cob ~ section C
Sunday disappeared......
Monday 30th April
- A biting wind as I trudge
against it’s strong gusts to post a letter....phew thats cold brrrrr ! Cold
with biting gusts, icy cold thats painful against the skin :((
MAY
Tuesday 1st May
- Dark clouds had
filled the sky and 7.08 a.m with the lights on........so dark and dismal!
By late afternoon around 5 p.m the Sun had shone a warm beam
so ‘Sneg’ and I took a wander amongst those glows of delight!
After Tea the three of us trundled down to the Woodland
where the ground was all squelchy under-foot, where you slid and had to go
steady........
I was most interested to see if the ‘Nuthatches’ were still
going strong with their family developments “they were”!
Wednesday 2nd May
- Woke up to a brilliant sky, so
bright it streamed in through the curtains !
Today the Wildlife rejoiced with the early morn glows from
the Sun and the Birds flew in pairs busying themselves .....creating New Life !
Thursday 3rd May
- Was Rain stop Play !
NUTHATCH ~ Nuthatchescollect various nuts and wedge them into tree
bark or in holes in walls and will even cover secret larders with bark or moss.
Friday 4th May
- Wide awake this morning with
the Sound of ‘Blackbird’ song and ready for lifes gifts of the day. An early song of hope for the day ahead as dawn awakes.....he never runs out of
notes...........x He was singing into the late hours.
Very much a family
affair with the Nuthatches, Male helps out quite a bit , they both sit inside the box, with their pantry of food . They
also sense when it may rain and collect more food supplies for that moment, thats
why their movements are less and speed-up during the dry.
Sunday 6th May
- We're still slipping and a
sliding around in wellies but first light gave way to a good start, so cleaned
out the three Hen huts and blocked-up a ‘Rats’ trail to the nest boxes (where
eggs were being found with scratch marks on.) ‘Ratty’ had been leaving evidence of feasting
them next to the hen’s nest boxes., the eggs were too heavy to roll
away.....as he had been doing and left a smelly mess.
Monday Bank Holls ~ You
know you've been 'Slimed' when it's running along side of thumb 'Sneg's'
deposit....' yuck'
3.p.m We've just
arrived back from Woodland and it was certainly brisk out in the cold wind
brrrrr !
Tuesday 8th May
- The Sun doth glisten amongst
the dew dredged hedge, a ‘Spider’s’ web gently moves with the breeze to catch
the colourful rays......And the ‘Blackbird’ sings his Songs all day long with
perfect pitch., he never fails to give a splendid sound.
Wednesday 9th May
- The Sun peeped-out but only for
a moment until........
Rain rain all the
way, across the land it's so widespread, a needy drink for all of nature's
species !
Thurs went....know not where ?
Friday 10th May
- Blackbird singing his
'feathers-off' he thought no one was listening so he did a archhhkkk
sound!
The afternoon was taken up by clearing our Son’s patch of
land,.......a ‘north wind’
was thrusting it’s way through the trees, there was “no” escape! I walked back to the camp to collect two
other jackets ......with a scarf wrapped around my head.....,my ears were
frozen stiff !
The strong chilling ‘North wind’ has 't o r n' the 'apple blossom' this-way-and-that
~.......
“I don’t bother to get the camera out as a split second of
neglect and I would have missed this memory of a ‘pair of Buzzards’ flying
directly overhead....with the streams of sunshine showing off their full colour
of feathers.
It’s nice to hear the natural sounds of ‘woodland’
acoustics..........the drilling of a ‘Woodpecker’ far off in the distance, the
parents of ‘young birds’ communicating their messages, a chattering sound from
the ‘Magpies’ from over by the ‘top field’ and the ‘Swallows’ choosing a place
to live, who ventured inside the
‘stable’. This was a day packaged full
of delights to remember.
NUTHATCH ~ The ‘Female’ adult communicates with high pitch sounds ~ more
frequent ‘feeds’ this afternoon with three ‘Spring’ cleans! During the time we spent here > arrived at
9.50a.m – we left at around 4.00ish p.m
On one occasion a dried ‘leaf’ was quite plainly in the way of the entrance.....being very
particular one of the ‘parents’ removed this fairly soon, whilst the other had chosen to shake-off all
pests and give an airing for itself, just outside the entrance. I asked myself “why they chose a ‘nest box’
so close to our camp” ~ they can use you for ‘cover’ from ‘predators’.
Sunday 13th May
- And the day is a good
start.........with the ‘Swallows’ viewing the possibilities of setting up home
in the ‘Stable’, then one went through the other end of building and thought it
could get through a ‘window’ and spanked itself twice.......it was o.k and flew
immediately off with it’s mate and didn’t return (their choice was quite clear.)
I repotted twenty ‘Purple Sprouting Brocs’ and made paper
discs from an old animal feed bag to prevent the ‘Root fly larvae’
attacking.....they can give you two hits, one in May and other in September.
3.01 p.m Saw my first
‘Orange Tip Butterfly’ ~ was long gone before I had set the camera ready.
Returned home to a ‘baby
Sparrow’ lying on our path, just infront
of our back door....... "didn't make it".....
was very tiny and still wearing it's yolk - horrible to see., poor thing.
Monday 14th May
- Through the night it poured
with rain, so the weather has changed for the worst but around 8.30a.m it
altered for the better........The ‘Nest boxes’ attached to the trees filled by
the silence of young families.... grim weather, then after about five minutes
or so the ‘Sun’ appeared from nowhere and the day’s ‘activities’ of Life joined
in.
Red tailed bumblebee ~ Bombus lapidarius
9.20 a.m The early morning Sunshine running along the
‘Rockery’ in our garden had convinced a huge ‘Queen Bee’ that this was going to
be her home, she disappeared into a hole under a large log of oak ....fab! B rupestris ...cuckoo bumblebee of B
lapidarius. Link> http://www.bumblebee.org/lap.htm
These are all the lovely People that helped I.D this
beautiful Bee: @BeeStrawbridge @Bombusbohemicus @RichardComont @Bombusbohemicus
@SarahReesTV @TWBC_Museum Many many
thank you's for help,appreciate immensely.....x
Bee ~ Surprising what you can get inside a camera .......
B rupestris Queen may come and go once she's established
herself in nest...will be interesting for you to watch comings and goings!
From @BeeStrawbridge
Am really excited now you've mentioned the 'comings and
goings'
Tuesday 15th May
- A blustery day of mixed
givings....rain....hail.....sunshine, what more could we want.
Bees cannot afford to lose any energy, so
on dull cold days have noticed their buzzing’s under the new grown brambles and
nettles....until the ‘Sunshine’ appears and it’s all systems go !
On our return home we had the pleasure of some ‘Goldfinch’
10.34 a.mI have a
'gathering' of little faces watching me eat my early lunch 'Sneg' Snooty and
chuckie are hopeful *smiles..........x
Wednesday 16th May - Although
it was a bright sunny morning it was still quite cold.
Down in the ‘Wood’ mucking out the stable and the ‘celery’
that we repotted has a healthy out-look.....the celery we grew last year ( in our
garden patch) has regrown and tastes gorgeous!
Quite cold in parts of the wood with the sounds of different
insects and bees taking cover....until the warmth from the sunshine reappears
and they all arrive at once!
11.32 a.m A
‘Woodlark’ calls out aloud.......sadly I couldn’t see this species......but I
did see the ‘Mistle thrush’ today through the binoculars.....wonderful species
and slightly larger than a ‘blackbird’.,
I love the way they bounce upon the ground, obviously to mimic the rain
and encourage the worms to the surface for a snack.
1.45 p.m A ‘Blue-tit’
flew against the window inside the stable and slid down into a thick mass of
‘cob-webs’ , poor wee thing was all bedraggled and forlorn L( “It knew it had made a complete ‘error’”.......and
flew off onto a ‘sycamore tree’, with it’s head bowed down.
We were collecting fallen logs for the stove at home and I
heard a ‘Bee’ ....it was a ‘Red-tailed bumblebee’ buzzing amongst the banking,
next to the road.
Around 4.30 p.m another ‘Red-tailed bumblebee’
arrived...then went and then arrived a second time on the ‘Cornflowers’.
The evening is still light so we take our ‘ramblings’ down
in the Woodland ~ We enjoyed our time and was good to see the Woodland
's wildlife's clock change around.
Thursday 17th May
- Another day of mixed skies but at just gone ten O'clock in the morning had already been and dug over a plot for the 'Purple Brocs'.
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