Skycaptain Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 First dandelion flower of spring, and first bumble bee on the wing 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LVG Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 I had a dream that our backyard looked like a wild meadow full of wildflowers and enormous bumble bees. It was beautiful. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
teatree Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 10 hours ago, Skycaptain said: First dandelion flower of spring, and first bumble bee on the wing What????? I'm envious. Here it is snowing. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 7 hours ago, teatree said: What????? I'm envious. Here it is snowing. We had snow on the ground Monday, so I was rather surprised 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myssterry Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Two squirrels were right on top of the very tall fir tree in the neighbouring garden. I see birds perched up there, but not seen squirrels before. Were they enjoying the view? 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LVG Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 The birds are starting sing. They're confused by the mild weather. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myssterry Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Freezing weather here when it should be starting to warm up is tough for wildlife. I have put extra food out for the birds, and am trying to keep fresh water available too. The bird bath and the pond are frozen. Nijer seed is attracting sparrows back into the garden. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tanwen Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 On 2/17/2018 at 4:02 PM, Skycaptain said: First dandelion flower of spring, and first bumble bee on the wing Oh no!! The 'beast from the east' is here. *Cold weather from Siberia * 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LVG Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 16 hours ago, Mz Terry said: Freezing weather here when it should be starting to warm up is tough for wildlife. I have put extra food out for the birds, and am trying to keep fresh water available too. The bird bath and the pond are frozen. Nijer seed is attracting sparrows back into the garden. I'm worried we're going to get another cold spell next month. Not only does it confuse wildlife, it really has a harsh effect on newly budding trees. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 @LVG, late frosts can be devastating if they kill off flower buds. Gulls around here have moved inland because of the cold snap 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LVG Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 So far I've just seen some bud swelling on a few trees. As long as they don't break, the buds will survive. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iff Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 From the kitchen, I was looking out at the birds. I feel sorry for them. There are apples for them on top of our shed. One bird is very vicious, sitting on surrounding trees, sweeping into action if it sees another bird approach and protecting the apples against any other bird going for it, particularly getting physical with black bird. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myssterry Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Had an amazing sighting, looking out of the kitchen window. The bird bath is very popular with the birds, I get many species using it for bathing and drinking, but a first was a male sparrowhawk. He was sitting looking slowly round and then I realised he had another bird in his talons. I guess a blackbird, which had probably been using the bird bath when he swooped. Before I could get my camera he flew off carrying his victim with him. Sad for the little bird, but the sparrowhawk has to eat too. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackthorn Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 More snow here again today after all that we had last week! I have been out and replenished all the feeders and the garden is busy with birds - goldfinches, tits, blackbirds, starlings and so on... 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 I saw an owl 🦉 which had lost an argument with a vehicle today 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myssterry Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 Was it a barn owl, @Skycaptain? I think they hunt along road verges and can get hit by vehicles. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 @Mz Terry, I'm not certain, ornithologicy isn't my strongest point 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LVG Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 I saw a cooper's hawk prowling the neighborhood. It must have the rest of the birds spooked because none of them will go to my freshly filled feeders. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myssterry Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 It is too muddy to do much gardening at the moment, but I cut a few dead stems back so I got a better view of the daffodils as they come into bloom. A tiny wren creeping about the mossy old apple trees kept me company. I was glad to see it after the cold winter and recent snow - tiny though it is, it had survived. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJS05 Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 Spring comes early in sunny Florida. Already the sandhill cranes have passed us on their way back north. I hear a lot of owls at night, as I live in rural north Florida. When summer arrives I will sit outside at night and listen to the owls and whiporwills while stargazing. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 This rather damp weather is appreciated by ducks 🦆 🦆 Twice in different places this morning traffic has come to a halt whilst a troupe of Mallards cross the road 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LVG Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 There was a pair of head-tailed hawks soaring overhead while I was at a job. One was even screeching, which is an amazing sound. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
daveb Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Apparently there was blue heron making a brief visit to the artificial pond in my backyard this morning (I didn't see it; my sister said she did). 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 In the last 110 miles of driving I have seen three dead badgers on the road 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myssterry Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 That's sad, @Skycaptain , as is the totally senseless badger cull. I looked out of the window today to see both a male and female bullfinch in the garden. Stunning. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LVG Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 The birds continue to eat me out of house and home. It's amazing how such tiny creatures can have such voracious appetites. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myssterry Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Excited and pleased to find the newts have survived the disruption of the pond being relined. The frogs have not laid any spawn this year, but hopefully they will return some time. I saw newt tadpoles in the pond, and also a nice male common newt. He looks silver grey as he turns in the water, with orange from the belly showing briefly. (Not my pic, needless to say.) 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I don't blame the frogs for not spawning yet with this weather , likewise its not surprising that I haven't seen a single butterfly yet. On a happier note the cherry blossom is out, along with haw flowers so spring is starting 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tunhope Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 10 hours ago, Skycaptain said: not surprising that I haven't seen a single butterfly yet. There was a brimstone butterfly in my garden yesterday ( not too far from you - Medway) but all back to normal today ( that is, rain) and no doubt the brimstones are biding their time. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tja Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 The Daffodils look amazing this year! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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