No signs of stopping

Twenty two days into December and I've seen Hedgehogs, at the feeding station, on every night of the month. It would appear that, at least, three animals are still active at this moment. Two are large adults, yet the third individual is a youngster and by far the most regular visitor. Two of my neighbours are also putting out food bowls and both have also seen Hedgehogs this month. It was during the five "added minutes" of the Spurs vs Liverpool game when the little 'un first appeared tonight. I had to wait over an hour for it to return as I needed to place the match result under the food bowl to counter those sceptics who think I'm making this stuff up!

It's so windy that I had to place a piece of wood on the A4 paper
to prevent it blowing about and deterring the Hedgehogs from visiting.

A 2024 garden review

21st December is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day(light) of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of the winter according to those folk involved in such seasonal scientific stuff. This past year has been a real roller coaster ride for Bev and I, as the saga of her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent medical treatment unfolded. For me, as an individual, the experience provided focus and a realisation of what is, and isn't, important in life. My blogging has allowed me to share my thoughts about the situation, as it evolved, plus also an avenue of distraction when things got a bit fraught. My enjoyment of the outdoors hasn't diminished, yet has been tempered during this period. I have found myself becoming quite insular with our bungalow, and the garden, taking centre stage within my wildlife encounters. Obviously I still get out with the rods, binoculars and/or camera kit, yet the garden has taken on a very high profile role during 2024.

Birds

Whilst 2024 hasn't been a "classic" year there have certainly been a few special encounters along the way. One thing which has been a very positive part of my blogging is the investment in some new camera and lens equipment. Image stabilization and 20 million pixels is a vast improvement on my previous kit and, hopefully, has added to the visitor experience?

What a sad reflection upon the current status of the species? A January Greenfinch!
The female Brambling showed up in February

A crazy fifteen minutes in May - the first Ring Ouzel actually in the garden

August Pied Flycatcher - more regular than Song Thrushes in the garden!

A September Common Redstart

The garden year list hasn't reached eighty species, but I really don't care about what I haven't recorded, it's the birds which have showed up that matter!

Moths

I'm probably going to upset a few folk here. My mothing was nothing more than a way to keep my mind distracted from the harsh reality of the situation Bev and I were embroiled within. I kept no records and certainly wasn't bothered if I encountered species beyond my id capabilities. The ability to share my captures with the neighbours provided the major highlights and also allowed me to spread the message of how important pesticide free gardening is to the ecosystem. Although I appreciate how fortunate I am, living where we do, there were very few species which stood out from those being recorded by other local moffas! However, there was one individual which stands head and shoulders above everything else attracted to the Robinson MV Trap this year.

Portland Moth - less than ten Kent records since the start of the millenium.
There have been more Oleander Hawk-moths during this same period.

One real positive that I've derived from the Covid pandemic has been my involvement with maintaining our garden beyond simply cutting the lawn. I have gotten involved with building, and maintaining, garden planters which are filled with plants specifically chosen due their attractiveness to insects, moths being a priority, although bees feature  prominently in the process. Nicotiana (Tobacco Plants) are a mainstay of the flowers in my boxes and I have enjoyed many a night watching, and photographing, Convolvulus Hawk-moths feeding on these, highly scented, blooms right outside my study doorway.

Other stuff

If you only visit this blog on a monthly basis, you'll still be aware of how often Hedgehogs feature in my daily routine. Their presence around the garden is a real positive in such a negative period for the species within a UK context. 

Foxes are also regularly encountered around the Dumpton area, yet due to "pest control" half-wits, seem to be loathe to visit the garden feeding bowl with any regularity. Plenty of inverts have crossed my path during this past twelve months, most of which would be considered very common by those who spend time looking at such life forms. I think that the most notable sighting I had was that of a Willow Emerald Damselfly sunbathing on a metal rod right outside my study doorway.

We're still not sure if Bev's cancer ordeal has ended yet, so I make no promises about where the blog will go as we head towards 2025 and that fresh start it heralds. It's certainly not all doom and gloom, we've got so much to be grateful about, and there's still plenty more for me to say before January arrives.

Sprawk take two

It was only a week, or so, ago when I posted an image of the, regular, male Sparrowhawk perched on the framework of my old aviary flight. I was very happy with the images captured through the double glazing of my back door and actually received a comment complimenting the photo on the blog. This morning saw a repeat performance but, this time around, the back door was wide open due to the tumble drier being in use. Almost in exactly the same position, although facing away from me, the bird allowed me to grab just four shots before departing the scene. 

Bev and I then took a drive, via the scenic route, across to The Elham Valley Garden Centre to pick up a supply of logs which should see us through the festive period? It is an amazing place and home to The Fifth Trust charity. They exist to help adults with learning difficulties and/or mental health issues. Coffee and cake (the menu is far more extensive) in the cafe facility is a very rewarding experience for any visitor, thus, highly recommended if ever you're in the vicinity. Plus you will also be supporting a very worthy cause.

Our drive back home followed the scenic option and we managed to count ten egrets alongside the cattle where I'd spotted them yesterday. I made no attempt to get better views, thus am unable to say if they were all Cattle Egrets or not? 

Struggling on

My quest for a still water Pike continues and, this morning, I opted to try another venue where I'd seen quite a lot of Cormorant activity last Friday. Still part of the same complex, this particular lake has far more features and much more depth in certain areas. Being situated in The Stour Valley, it is a stunningly beautiful fishery with everything I seek from my angling at this stage of my journey. The scenery is absolutely stunning, whilst the diversity of the birdlife does nothing but add to the experience of being there. 

I had two baits out in the fishery, for nearly four hours, yet the bite alarms remained silent once again! I did get a chance to have a chat with a few fellow club members, three of whom were lure fishing for Pike. Like me, they were also struggling, yet did provide me with some info which should assist my efforts going forward. I was back at the van by 11.30 hrs and decided to take the scenic route back to Thanet. It proved to be a good decision as I stumbled upon a group of egrets out with a herd of cattle beside a very quiet lane. I was able to park up, grab the camera kit, and take a walk back along the lane to grab a few shots. There were eight birds in total, four of which spooked as I got closer, but I'd obviously guessed that they were Cattle Egrets and it wasn't so. At least one of the group was a Little Egret which, thankfully, stayed put and allowed me to get a record shot. 

There were certainly several Cattle Egrets present and, given the situation and light levels, I am happy enough with the results obtained. I might just try to get back for another attempt, if the weather allows later in the week.

As Christmas fast approaches, there are loads of "last minute" things which need tending to, but I am hopeful that I'll manage to get a couple more sessions down at the still waters before Santa calls?

First impressions

 I had my first session down on the still water that Benno and Luke had recommended. What an absolutely beautiful place. Peace and quiet, I only saw three other people all the time I was there, none of them doing anything to detract from the experience. It will come as no surprise, to those regular blog visitors, that I blanked. Not a single bleep from an alarm in three and a half hours! To be fair, what did I expect? It's Friday 13th, after all.

It's not a big venue, I'd guess four or five acres at the max. Today was about getting a feel for the place and looking for signs. The only fish activity I noted was that of Carp. A couple "boshed" out and several patches of bubbles suggested unseen fish feeding on baited spots?  The birdlife kept me well entertained and it was very interesting to note that no Cormorants were hunting the lake, although they were present on the two others within the complex. Way too soon to start making assumptions, but knowing that Cormorants preferred prey size range is similar to that of Pike, I will keep an eye on this activity. Absolutely no shortage of Great Crested Grebes, Coots and Tufted Ducks, so the signs are positive that there is a healthy population of prey fish, but are they of a stamp which can sustain "big" Pike?

I suppose that the highlight of this first visit was the number of egrets active around the complex. I saw two Great White and five Little Egrets whilst in my chosen swim. Odd Grey Herons were also present along with a pair of Egyptian Geese, so there was always something to point the binos at. The most unexpected event was when one of the Great White Egrets flew over, calling as it did so. I've never previously heard these birds make a sound. I find it difficult to use the written word to describe noise but, to my ears, it was a rattling chatter of short, sharp, grunting notes. 

I will get back down there, after the weekend, and am hopeful that I can tweak my tactics to encourage a feeding reaction from my target fish? 

Mordor murk, memories and mirth (plus Hedgehog up-date)

 Another gloomy morning of thick cloud cover and subsequent low light levels did nothing to suggest that anything exciting was going to happen. I'd made the first coffee and topped up the garden bird feeders prior to getting a load of washing into the tumble drier. A quick look outside revealed a male Blackcap on the fat ball feeder and I quickly grabbed the camera kit to get some record images. This individual has been hanging around the neighbouring gardens for a couple of weeks, yet this was my first chance at pointing the long lens at it. 

As the tumble drier is situated in my study, the back door was kept wide open to avoid the condensation build up on the windows. I'd just downloaded the Blackcap efforts when I was drawn to some movement above the same feeder and was totally "gob smacked" to see a Song Thrush perched in the Buddleia. This species is proper "rocking horse manure" around Dumpton, I see more Greenfinches which is a very sad summary of the population crashes experienced by both. I did manage to grab a quick shot, as it perched, but was absolutely delighted when it flew down onto the lawn in search of some food. It probably stayed no longer than a couple of minutes, yet I was made up by this unexpected encounter.

Garden gold dust 

The rest of my day has been spent sorting through several hundred slide images that I have just transferred into digital format via a very old device. Obviously, the quality of the copy is directly linked to that of the original slide, so let's just say that they're not all perfect and leave it there. I have just over a month before I make the presentation, so time is on my side. One thing that I had overlooked was the number of images, from this crazy period, which are in printed format and stored within a couple of photo albums (remember them?) and I will actually have to make copies using my digital camera if they are to be used in the final offering.  Whilst searching through these images I found myself revisiting so many crazy times, spent in the company of some wonderful characters. Many a wry smile as I gazed upon pictures from a time when selfish obsession ruled my world and that of the others involved!

The above images are not required for the presentation, therefore I am happy to upload them on the blog, just to accompany the written stuff. I chose Wels Catfish as they were catalyst to me, and the gang, crossing swords with a certain Kevin Maddocks - happy days indeed (for us!)

Up-date

Man Utd have just drawn level with Victoria Plzen as I post this image. I am seeing this particular individual every night, so am duty bound to keep the food bowl on offer as it might be helping this hoglet build fat reserves?

Out of the gloom

 Storm Darragh might well have passed, yet there remains a blasting NE wind which despite the thermometer registering 8C, with the wind chill factored in, ensures it feels bloody freezing! Grey skies and intermittent, heavy, showers quickly put pay to  any thoughts of walking around that new still water, this morning, and a trip to Tesco proved to be a far better option. It's not often you'll hear me say that! The garden continues to provide me with my daily wildlife fix as the feeding stations do their thing. Hedgehogs remain very active, although it does appear that they are not over enamoured by the high winds. There have also been a couple of sightings of a Fox, which is very encouraging. The bird feeders remain a great source of entertainment and it was a very pleasant surprise to spot an adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker on the fat-ball feeder. My first garden sighting in six weeks.

House Sparrows, Blue & Great Tits dominate the seed feeders, although there have been occasions when double figure counts of Rose-ringed Parakeets have taken over the scene. A couple of Robins seem happy to squabble over the territorial rites and there are a regular group of four female Chaffinches that search for scraps beneath the sunflower heart feeders. With all this activity it is no surprise that the local Sparrowhawks make regular visits and I was really happy to grab a few images of an adult male perched on the framework of the derelict aviary yesterday morning.

Really looking forward to tonight's PAC social, confident that there will be some top class banter whilst consuming our Christmas meals. Quite a bit to talk about, in relation to the John Roberts Memorial event, which takes place in early January, so I am hopeful that the evening will be a very productive, yet entertaining, gathering.