If the morons and idiots hadn't got it before; what Bojo had to say at 20.30 hrs this evening should put them straight? Social isolation, keeping 2 m apart from everyone but those who share your home. Not a particularly difficult concept, it will be a very interesting test of the UK's population and their, collective, ability to comprehend the enormity of the situation we now face. However, it was not my intention to get embroiled in politics, instead I wanted to say a big thanks to Steve Gale for allowing me to enter into the #BWKm0 "laid back" garden challenge. It would appear that nineteen of us cyber inhabitants wish to "compete" in this challenge which has few rules and certainly no finish date, at present. What I'm hoping for is some very friendly competition, with a positive spin placed upon the situation we now find ourselves in. Obviously, there might be some data created that will be of use by third parties, ie RSPB, who will be able to extrapolate various trends from what is nothing more than a way of keeping us actively looking.
So what has been happening around the Dumpton garden which will be my focus for the foreseeable future? This game kicked off on 20th March, yet it wasn't until Saturday 21st, that I got started. No worries, it will be a marathon, not a sprint, so "slowly, slowly catchee monkey!" Here's my list so far.
1- House Sparrow - up to 50 birds present around the feeding station and that of my neighbours
2- Starling - max 15 attracted by the meal worms
3 - Collared Dove - 2 pairs around the gardens
4 - Wren - a singing male
5 - Robin - two, possibly a breeding pair?
6 - Blackbird - two males singing
7 - Wood Pigeon - still large numbers (100's) feeding on the newly planted fields beyond the garden hedge.
8 - Carrion Crow - numerous
9 - Herring Gull - several hundred prospecting nest sites around the housing estate and Pyson's Rd Ind Est. beyond Newlands Farm
10 - Lesser Black-backed Gull - up to eight pairs present at Pyson's Rd. Seen daily from the garden.
11 - Black-headed Gull - four went east early Sunday morning.
12 - Magpie - several pairs present
13 - Rose - ringed Parakeet - three individuals visiting the feeding station
14 - Stock Dove - seen with Wood Pigeons in flight
15 - Dunnock - up to five birds around the feeding station. Quite a lot of displaying - Spring is here!
16 - Blue Tit - at least three birds visiting the sunflower heart feeders
17 - Great Tit - two pairs, visiting the feeding station from opposite directions - can get feisty if all four are present at the same time.
18 - Kestrel - one went east over the bungalow early Saturday morning
19 - Chiffchaff - one fly catching from the rear hedge late on Saturday afternoon.
20 - Green Woodpecker - calling male over at Newlands Farm
21 - Great Spotted Woodpecker - drumming over at Newlands Farm
That's it for now but, my first decent session in the garden tomorrow, so I'm hopeful of a few additions (and photos!)
Who am I?
- Dylan Wrathall
- An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!
Yes Dyl, these are troubling times. Though I can't say I'm affected a huge amount. All the things we have been advised to do, I've been doing by habit for years.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone noticed that any activities which involve outdoors and the natural world are currently safe and sustainable while all forms of synthetic entertainment and mass socialising are considered high risk?
I wouldn't say around here we are all loners, we're more like people who live by the adage that he who travels alone travels furthest and fastest.
What transpires from that is that individually we strike out alone, cover the ground extensively and every so often report back to base. The like minds then have a brief meet up, exchange experiences, occasional common ground and then set off again, to find something else to talk about at the next meet up.
We have purpose. We don't get bored. And lets face it, when we have something new to deliver, we're buzzing.
You can't get that occupying the same spot in a pub night after night.