Bin's Diary !: ‘Frogs’ , there weren’t so many this year

‘Frogs’ , there weren’t so many this year, unlike last year who were leaping in masses every time we walked the garden. I’d say 75% down from previous year. And, those who ‘are’, enjoy the many ‘Oak logs’ within our garden rockery, hiding in their nooks and crannies. They leap-aside when one of our Ponies shortens the unkempt lawn. A kinder approach to life.

Ianto with one thing on his mind, 'food' & Suki you'll see her later.

Although a few hot days, none could compare with an early morning of Monday 26^th August “Just like Summer should be with a stillness of joyous scents that stay with you forever and should be ‘bottled-up’.

Previous years I’d noticed the usual species, this year’s was void of one or two, like the ‘Ladybird’ who didn’t come to light in her favourite place in our front garden, nor in our Woodland ( blackfly had arrived which they like.) And the ‘Burnet Moth’ wasn’t either......... but other species came forth and made-up for their loss. Juvenile ‘Willow Warbler’ and ‘TreeCreeper’ ....only by accidental mishaps on their part.

Very good at 'climbing-up' but so very bad at flying these juvenile 'TreeCreepers' ......T'was still breathing so placed upon a large log next to our hedge, giving cover from predators.

'Clever' comes in all sizes..... so good at disguising themselves, just look at this, appears to have 'no' head...can just make out the beak as turned it's head to one side having fluffed-up like a duvet. Little mite flew off soon after.

Someone I hadn’t noticed before upon our hedge mid morning, a ‘Grey Wagtail’ sifting it’s pickings through the damp., who like scrubland, rivers, marshes and lakes to find their choice of insects. A ‘Chaser’ did chance a visit to our garden pond, who I’ve never seen in the real. (sorry, no photos.)

Juvenile Willow Warbler

Twice we rescued the same juvenile 'Willow Warbler' from off the road where moments later a fast van drove and wouldn't have seen such a tiny bird...was sure to be squashed. I heard the mother calling so tiddler was put back safe. Phewwww... the risks they take...& nearly always carry my trustee camera......so captured the safe return.

Our resident ‘Thrush’ was cleaning it’s beak from the remnants of eating a snail, under a shady tree. Half an hour later t’was smashing the living daylights out of another from it’s shell.

Please click on photos to enlarge....

Summer rain.... falls gently whilst sunlight crosses the valley, showing off it’s varied colours of green, so refreshing and new growth for all. Where a female ‘Meadow Brown’ butterfly was enjoying the young shoots of grass upon our one and only lawn.

A few days later an electrified ‘storm’ went off with sheets of rain you couldn’t see through!

One evening a beautiful brown ‘Patterdale’ arrived, we didn’t know her name, only age, seven. The previous owner had young children and couldn’t find the time for her so we took her on. We allowed her time to settle in our home (giving her the chance to size us up first, ) then went through various names......of which she responded to ‘Suki’ which means ‘love’ or ‘like’ in Japanese., and quite honestly suits the name., so she chose well.

'I trust you'

'Finally I can laugh

A rustling sound was heard by our Son, with a quick response grabbed whatever it was... a ‘Mole’..... so sweet and cute. He released it to the ground where ‘unfortunately’ our new rescue dog had already crushed it to death. “Never saw that coming” !

Tuesday 13^th Aug’13 12.30p.m

Exhausted by the mid-day sun sat down upon a sand-filled builder’s bag, when ‘Bob’ came around from behind the hydrangea and cheered me on to dig some more. With keen eyes the mighty feast began from a juvenile ‘Robin’ whilst I rested and captured him within my little black box. I spoke throughout our connection and now seems to be a partnership born.

'Bob'

The ‘One and Only’ Painted Lady butterfly came by, so continued the captures........whilst our Son was digging an area for a greenhouse where ‘Bob’ the young robin was joining in also.

Painted Lady

Wednesday 21^st Aug’13

A dark sky shadowed the land where a ‘Raven’ of some size sat in a distant tree, then ‘Bob’ appeared from beneath a Hebe shrub next to our old shed enjoying the early morning riches.

Saturday 24^th August’13

Lots of tut tut tutting sounds going on in our garden and woodland, the males have started their fight for territory, youngsters brave the scene with tails up and down, red waistcoats forming on some already, a Robin’s life can be tough for some.