May is the month of flowers and birds, my favourite month. I like it as the temperature rises and winter is over.
My Dad had his birthday in May so the month has special memories. The Lilac is out and the scent in the garden especially in the evening is like a soft blanket.
Wallflowers have always been special to me, reminds me of the flower beds at Chester zoo.
Bluebells speak for themselves, blue as the sky and the scent is beautiful. What better that a carpet of Bluebells in a wood.
1st April The Chiffchaff has to be the first on the list.
4th " Sand Martin
5th " Swallow
5th " Wheatear
7th " Willow Warbler
8th " Blackcap
15th " Willow Warbler
16th " Common Sandpiper
17th " Sandwich Terns
21st " White Wagtail
22nd " Common Whitethroat
King and Queen of the woods, the drumming echos round the trees. The quickest way to attract attention to other woodpeckers.
The sound is different to the normal tapping for insects, drummimg is a Spring thing.
I was so lucky that a female found my tasty treats specially left out for the smaller birds and it certainly was a treat to capture on camera such a wonderful bird.
In the deciduous wood that I visit there are many old branches and dead trees suitable for the woodpeckers. Recently I noticed one drinking from a hole on the side of a 30feet tree, clinging on and looking from side to side and enjoying a drink.
Super bird for a bird watcher like myself, I watch them for hours.
The rain still falls and raindrops hang onto the new Catkins, The Alder trees have many Catkins. I love to see the sun shining through the water droplets.
The temperature is rising slowly but its still chilly, cold enough for a morning frost.
Visiting a garden centre where Daffodils are on mass, a few are out in the garden, the double ones come first.
7th March 2015
Tide out in the harbour and a smart sub species Cormorant fishing along side a pair of Red-brested Mergansers.
Flocks of Dunlin feeding, Redshank peeling their feet out of the mud yet finding feed as well. Two Little Egrets flying across the water and being mobbed by a Black-headed Gull. Herring Gulls already paired up sheltering from the gale amongst the seaweed, one or two juvenile BBGulls still showing their first feathers.
The Kingfisher missing from its tree and no sign of it on the large pipe by the bridge, I will be looking again soon.
Blue skies to-day and what better bird in flight than a Sparrowhawk, it was being mobbed by a Carrion Crow. At the top of Larch trees were a flock of Finches busy feeding until the Sparrowhawk landed not far.
Siskin, Goldfinches, BlueTits and a Common Redpoll. Yellowhammers in short supply to-day.
Stormy waves with a touch of sun.
