creatures in my garden

[naturelover]

just sitting in my conservatory this morning, with my coffee and a fag looking out of the patio doors,first two blackbirds were hunting around for scraps,then a wren hopping along the brick wall,a squirrel sitting on top of the avery,a robin on my garden table,then a big fat rat skurried across the patio,i was thinking ok i dont get hedgies frogs or newts but i get a lot of every thing else,including heron,i even had a wild rabbit in the summer ,he shot under the decking never to be seen again,and as i have said before masses of dragon flys and butterflys in the summer so i dont do too bad do i.

[jdurbo]

I'd say you dont do to bad at all naturelover, im sure some people dont get half that!!

jen xxx

[ron1863]

I love sitting on the decking in my back garden and looking out over the small river, which runs past our back garden, I regularly see herons, dippers, wagtails, mallards and the usual assortment of wrens, blackbirds and especially wood pigeons.
The only two birds I would really like to see are Woodpeckers and Jays, and though I know they are in my region I very rarely see them.

[Linda frost]

Yes i agree, i love sitting in my garden watching, waiting and feeling at peace, the country walks are also very interesting but i have been amazed what is actually right under your nose on your doorstep.

[SweetRocket]

I so agree. I can sit in my back room looking out at the patio doors to my little wildlife haven at the bottom of the garden. The times I have been late going out because of all the birds that visit the feeders. There has been lots of activity this morning with Wood Pigeons, Sparrows, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Doves, Robins, lots of finches including the one Chaffinch feeding on the ground.
The good news is that the Squirrels are nowhere to be seen (I wonder why) so the little birds have the garden all to themselves and making good use of the feeders.

[The Black Rabbit]

I agree.
I have a 6' square piece of "wild meadow" at one end of my manky vegetable plot in the back garden, and am constantly in it, looking at the wee beasties etc..
Even my Blue Tit box is hanging from the lavatory waste pipe next to the flue, but it didn't bother them, and we had 5 successful fledglings in May this year.
I have ONE feeder over a smelly compost heap - which the Goldfinches (and occ. Bullfinch) adore, and thats about it.

Who needs "my space"? My tiny little garden is my space! I'm in it constantly! (Neighbours are very concerned I'm sure!)


That said, the garden does border onto a rec with a stream along the edge, near the Thames and just by looking over the fence I've seen Buzzard, Peregrine (Yep), Kite, Sparrowhawk, Heron, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Mallard, and Swans, Geese, Terns and Cormorants flying over plus a Roe Deer!

I'm never happier though when standing over my 6' square plot (I call it the "Lower Paddock" (tongue in cheek)) peering at the bugs etc...


Doug

[Wild-Woman]

Some really valuable records come from folks back gardens Naturelover, have you thought about sending your sightings to the county recorder. Even the really common ones add value to records, filling in gaps in the map and certainly giving biodiversity of the area a much needed profile.

[mh68]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

I agree.
I have a 6' square piece of "wild meadow" at one end of my manky vegetable plot in the back garden, and am constantly in it, looking at the wee beasties etc..
Even my Blue Tit box is hanging from the lavatory waste pipe next to the flue, but it didn't bother them, and we had 5 successful fledglings in May this year.
I have ONE feeder over a smelly compost heap - which the Goldfinches (and occ. Bullfinch) adore, and thats about it.

Who needs "my space"? My tiny little garden is my space! I'm in it constantly! (Neighbours are very concerned I'm sure!)


That said, the garden does border onto a rec with a stream along the edge, near the Thames and just by looking over the fence I've seen Buzzard, Peregrine (Yep), Kite, Sparrowhawk, Heron, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Mallard, and Swans, Geese, Terns and Cormorants flying over plus a Roe Deer!

I'm never happier though when standing over my 6' square plot (I call it the "Lower Paddock" (tongue in cheek)) peering at the bugs etc...


Doug

I can relate to that Doug, my gardens tiny compared to many, but especially through the summer i`m out there all the time looking for insects etc, its amazing how many species inhabit such a small area (well over 100 species noted so far in a 40ft square garden).In fact, of all the macro pics I took this year, I bet 80% of them were within 20ft of the house

Mark H

[SweetRocket]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Some really valuable records come from folks back gardens Naturelover, have you thought about sending your sightings to the county recorder. Even the really common ones add value to records, filling in gaps in the map and certainly giving biodiversity of the area a much needed profile.

Thats exactly what I do. I send off my butterfly sightings to our local butterfly conservation group. I also make notes of any sightings when out and about. For instance a huge surprise in December last year at Kew Gardens spotting a Red Admiral, with climate change they seem to be around all year, so important I think to get such sightings on record.

[big bill]

Its great sitting in the garden watching all the birds and listening to them singing in the trees so peaceful trying to improve a patch at the back of feeding station into sort of wild flower habitat but after seeing foreecast for the next few days will have to put plans on hold storm force gales and snow.