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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!

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Tuesday 27 December 2022

Garden encounters

Benno and I spent Boxing Day morning at the C&DAA Trenley Park fishery where, as is par for the course, we enjoyed a brilliant social session without being troubled by any hooked fish! Having already got plans in place for a return to the Stour, in the New Year, I am quite happy to leave it until the holiday period is over before getting the kit back in the van. So it is rather fortunate that the garden feeding stations are able to provide ample entertainment whilst I wait. Foxes have returned to the garden, although haven't got into any specific pattern of visiting. They (it?) certainly aren't as confiding as my previous regular client. It was 17.30 hrs, yesterday, when it was first seen yet it has not returned tonight and it's well after 22.00 hrs. Probably the most interesting, nocturnal, sighting was of a Hedgehog at the fox bowl on 23rd December, although not since.

Birds provide the bulk of my wildlife fix with good numbers of House Sparrows (50+), Goldfinches (20 - ish) and Rose-ringed Parakeets (max count of 14) all visiting the hanging feeders on a daily basis. The back-up crew are an odd mix of Blackbirds (including a couple of "continental" types), Great & Blue Tits, a male Chaffinch, a Robin, several Dunnocks, Collared Doves and, of course, the ubiquitous Herring Gulls. 

The Robin feeding under the sunflower heart feeder, a Hedgehog house behind.

"Continental" Blackbird - a first year male with typical dark bill and contrasting
greater coverts above un-moulted primaries & secondaries.

There seems to be a young Common Buzzard hanging around the Newlands area and I'm fairly sure it is roosting in Ramsgate Cemetery? Good numbers of mixed "corvids" and Woodpigeons are scattered around the adjacent farmland with odd Stock Doves and Starlings for company.

Goldfinches are one of those species which have that "ooh!" appeal. Butter wouldn't melt in their beaks? They arrive at the feeding station in tight groups, constantly calling to each other as they pitch down into the top of my garden Elder and Buddleia trees (big bushes). Only when they're on the feeders do you actually see what aggressive little sods they can be. Obviously a self preservation trait, they are constantly bickering whilst at the feeders. With nothing better to do, I spent some time, this morning, attempting to capture some images of the squabbling antics.




My photos won't win any prizes, yet I certainly enjoyed the time spent watching this behaviour. By comparison, the House Sparrows were very sociable when tucking into their grub.

The camera kit is set up at the study doorway in the hope of grabbing some images of the nocturnal visitors. One definite issue is due to the fact that I'm not currently running the MV moth trap and, as a result, can't spot any approaching critters prior to their arrival at the food bowls. A work in progress which will help me through to the New Year, that's for sure.

10 comments:

  1. Great work Dyl. I'm getting set to fish down the local river myself once I get a combination of non freezing/no rain conditions. That's for my benefit and comfort entirely. In mitigation I'll probably be fishing in the dark. I'm not completely soft. My garden wildlife gets a daily feed or three and the Fox count is now around six! with the odd Badger joining the munch fest. Good luck with future projects.

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    1. Hi Ric, at our stage in life any angling should be about enjoyment, not endurance? I'm fully behind your thinking as to when conditions are suitable to visit the bankside. At present it is very difficult to know how many foxes are visiting the garden; certainly only ever seen singles when I've been watching. A badger in the garden is just about as likely as a beaver or an otter! One thing which is nice is the lack of Brown Rats this year. I've only seen one this winter period and shot it at the hedgehog bowl (killing it stone dead and smashing the bowl in the process)
      Hoping all is well with you and Bronwyn - take care & tight lines - Dyl

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  2. Thanks for these Dylan , very nice . Re unusual sightings ( hedgehog in the freeze up) A toad suddenly appeared in my pond one night fit and well and dived away when saw me , pond had been frozen for over a week previously.

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    1. With the increased regularity of crazy weather patterns it's of little surprise that our native fauna have become somewhat confused? Since the 2020 lockdown, thus the start of my own garden hedgehog feeding campaign, I've managed to photograph them in each of the twelve months, although not in a single calendar year. Thanks for taking time to comment - cheers - Dylan

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  3. We had the same winter hedgehog sightings last winter, believed due to our continued winter feeding them . Since ceased as a brown rat also got into the scene ! Perhaps if your continuing feeding that’s why still there ? No explanation for the toad though should have been on land hibernating .

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    1. I've heard the continued feeding theory, from several sources, being a very likely reason behind Hedgehog activity during the traditional (expected?) hibernation period. As for your toad sighting - maybe it's the simple fact that we'd experienced a severe freeze up which wouldn't usually happen until February that confused our amphibian chum? During the 2021/22 Pike season, on the RMC, it wasn't too unusual to see Marsh Frogs, even when it was frosty! - Dylan

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    2. So much we don’t know even nowdays . Annoys me that the experts assume they know all and quote their assumptions as facts

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    3. Probably part of an apprenticeship for becoming a politician?

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  4. Hi all. I was intrigued by the hibernation discussion concerning Toads, Frogs and Hedgehogs. Just googled the what's and ifs. Male frogs winter in ponds mainly. Hedgehogs hibernate when they have to unless being given a regular feed. As for the Toad? That probably should have been under a log away from water. I guess it didn't know that. Must have lost its phone or something 🙄

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    1. Cheers for this input Ric, the more folk involved the more rounded the opinions - Dyl

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