Hoggers

[Padfield]

I'm looking forward to watching your blue tits raise a family, Hoggers! That's a great bit of equipment you have there.

Guy

[Hoggers]

It's a clever piece of kit Guy (it's also wired for sound) and certainly robust as it's been in the garden for five years and still works.
The Blue Tits have been back today at least three times. We've watched the female scurrying about in the box, flattening down the moss brought in over the last two days. It will be fascinating to watch them rear a brood. All of us in the House of Hoggers have everything crossed for them.

Today we visited Dungeness Beach

Lots of most welcome sunshine but Brrrrr! Cold!

The warmest spot was along by the Power Station wall, so I took a stroll there looking out for flowers. I managed to find only one: Danish Scurvy Grass

But weird place that it is, Dungeness had lots of peculiar things to offer, such as purple Sea-Kale emerging from the shingle

This cactus-like plant (which I think is a Glasswort)

And another succulent-like creation which may or may not be a Stonecrop

(If anyone out there knows exactly what these are I'd love to know!)

That was about it really, apart from a Dandelion and several flowers in the cottage gardens. Although it wouldn't be right to ignore the Gorse which, as everyone who visits Dungeness will know, is almost everywhere. On a day like this it seems to soak up the sun and radiate warmth, together with a delicious Marzipan odour

It made me think of all the Small Coppers that I see around these bushes and along the paths of this estate. Hopefully there's not too much longer to wait.

[Hoggers]

A busy morning for the Blue Tits. I've read that it's the female that makes the nest, so here she is arriving with a beak full of moss

Then into the box

And getting things nice and cosy inside

The male takes a more leisurely approach to home-making,supervising proceedings from a distance

We are obviously rather alike because I spent most of the morning sitting around gazing out of the window while Notable Others in the Household of Hoggers got on with the daily chores.

All did not go quite as smoothly for the Blue Tits as I might have hoped. We had a few seconds of high drama when a burglar appeared

Both Tits were close by and for the 5 or so seconds that this unwanted intruder clung on to the box I feared it would mean the end of their plans to nest here. Fortunately, straight after it had gone the female returned to the box and continued with nest building. Nevertheless, it's a worry,even though the box is sturdy and I don't think there's anyway a Starling could get in.

My Tadpoles had a quieter day. The spawn jelly has almost dissolved while the embryos begin to show definite heads and tails. They are now gathered into groups and although they are generally immobile, I have seen one or two give a slight twitch

It's great fun to be able to watch Nature at work without even having to leave home. I did however take the dogs out and while over the fields I heard and then saw my first Chiffchaff of the year. Edward Thomas said that every note of the Chiffchaff's song is a tiny nail in Winter's coffin. Alleluia to that!

[David M]

All did not go quite as smoothly for the Blue Tits as I might have hoped. We had a few seconds of high drama when a burglar appeared

Surely, even if that Starling coveted the Blue Tits' nest, it was too big to get through the hole?

I look forward to seeing more images as the birds raise their brood.

[Hoggers]

I took the dogs for a long walk this morning. I noticed them both giving me queer looks while we battled against the perishing wind and there came a time when I too began questioning my sanity at choosing to be out there when we could all have been at home by the fire. My goodness it was cold! But there's something rather curious about this extended Winter or Late Spring that I find rather enjoyable. Things are happening, albeit happening slowly and perhaps it's that sense of Slow Motion, of things not rushing past but lingering, that I'm enjoying.
The Lesser Celandines, for example, have yet to come through in strength. Some are battered and on their way out

Which may be a sad sight, but I know there are many more waiting in the wings

And although most of the Snowdrops have finished

I still found many clusters in fine fettle

It feels as if the Celandines and Snowdrops have been around this year for ages. I like that.

Polar though it was this morning, by afternoon the sun had emerged and in sheltered spots it grew pleasantly warm. Out of the wind at the top of my garden I was joined by this Solitary Bee ( I think it's an Early Mining Bee ) which was making the most both of the sunshine and my own Celandines.

It's the only Bee of any sort that I've seen in about three weeks.

The Blue Tits keep an eye on me as I potter about in the garden. I don't appear to trouble them at all. And I'm happy to report,nor do they seem at all perturbed by attentions of the Gate Crashing Starling. It hasn't put them off nesting here, they have been to-ing and fro-ing all morning.

[Hoggers]

Blackthorn bushes in flower are still few and far between around here so I was happy to find one on my morning walk with the dogs

Most of the flowers have yet to unfurl

But some had plucked up enough courage to face the bitter wind

Certainly brightened up a cold and dreary day.

[Hoggers]

This Spring I've seen many more Chiffchaffs than I've heard; it's normally the other way around. I think they haven't the time to sing because as it's been so cold all their energy is being spent in finding what little food they can. It was warmer here today than it has been for weeks. I noticed an increase in insect numbers on my walk with the dogs, so hopefully the Chiffchaffs larder is on the increase.

I didn't see any butterflies but came across several bees

I was pleased to see more Blackthorn in flower

Some wild growing Daffs

And that the Marsh Marigolds are almost coming into flower

I found a fresh batch of frogspawn in my pond this morning which prompted me to take a look at my Tadpoles. As you can see I discovered that they have been busy.

Most are like this one, rather slug-like but with gills

They don't do much, just hang around in the jelly (which has formed a sort of matrix in the tank.)

Others however are much further along the road to Full Frogdom

These characters are active wrigglers, whizzing about like Higgs bosons.

The Blue Tits visit the nest daily although have not been as active with nest building as a week or so ago,but I think they, like the Chiffchaffs, have had to devote all their time to finding food during the cold spell.

I read a lovely quote from Mark Beltaire in today's Times (Weather Eye):" The nicest thing about the promise of Spring is that sooner or later she'll have to keep it."

I can't wait!

[Hoggers]

Spring kept her promise:I had the first visitors to my Butterfly Garden, on a glorious warm and sunny afternoon. There I was, on my knees, rooting about in the flowerbeds when a Peacock, hotly pursued by a Comma came winging in at speed. The Peacock didn't attempt to land but flew away quickly. The Comma however,settled on the ground next to one of my Wall Flowers, to bask in the sun. I was armed not with my camera but with my trusty trowel, so I nipped indoors but by the time I'd returned to take its photograph the Comma had gone. Nevertheless, not one but two butterflies in amongst the flowers I've planted specially for them. A Red Letter Day.

I took a couple of pictures of where the butterflies had been, just to show how I'm getting on with the planting

I was in Ashford town this morning and saw a Cherry tree in full blossom, so took a picture on my mobile 'phone because it looked so pretty

Conditions looked good for a butterfly hunt this afternoon. I headed down to the river where I thought I'd be in with a chance of a Small Tortoiseshell

Within minutes I had not one but two, gadding about in a sprightly dance. Fortunately for me, they settled

The one in the rear was fluttering his wings whilst getting up close and personal

And all the while this was going on I could hear a Chiffchaff in full song, chiming away in the tree-tops, each and every note "a tiny nail in Winter's coffin".

I hope all other UKBers have enjoyed as nice a day today as we have down in Kent.

[David M]

Lovely to see you've already been rewarded for your work, Hoggers. What have you got for the Whites that'll be emerging soon?

[Hoggers]

I'm glad you mentioned that David: honest answer is Nothing, unless they like Garlic Mustard? But a few weeks ago I thought about Nasturtiums, although I haven't got around to doing anything about them. However, I planned on dropping in to the nursery after work tomorrow, so there's another one for my basket!

[David M]

I'm glad you mentioned that David: honest answer is Nothing, unless they like Garlic Mustard? But a few weeks ago I thought about Nasturtiums, although I haven't got around to doing anything about them. However, I planned on dropping in to the nursery after work tomorrow, so there's another one for my basket!

How about Honesty? Even if they don't lay eggs on it they seem to be attracted to the flowers.

Perhaps you could 'purloin' a little cuckoo flower growing wild and plant it near to your pond where the grass is that bit boggier?

Nasturtiums are a good idea for later in the year, but if Large Whites spot them the plants will basically be dismembered by the caterpillars.

[ChrisC]

Green veined will lay on the garlic mustard, and honesty is a good call for both orange-tip and have had large white lay eggs on it. you cold always plant a couple of cabbages, I've had moths lay on them too.

Chris

[Hoggers]

Ah! If it's Cuckoo Flowers that they like they're catered for as I have them already (although they look a long way off from flowering.) Cabbages, I'd like to think about but I like the Honesty suggestion - I'll see what I can find in the nursery

[Hoggers]

A friend who lives on the other side of Ashford mentioned that over the last fortnight Blue Tits had begun to nest in her tit box. This roughly coincides with my own. She also said that she has noticed more green caterpillars in her garden recently.

Nest building continues here

Today I noticed that she is bringing in woolly material, then scuttling about at the bottom to press it down

Before zipping off to get some more

I went up to the wood this morning. It was damp and misty after last night's rain. In all the time I was there I heard only one Chiffchaff but I get the feeling that the the bulk of the migrants will arrive with the promised fine weather over the coming few days.

The woodland floor is now a refreshingly cool green and white mix of Bluebell leaves and Wood Anemones

I also saw a few Hawthorns just coming into leaf as well as some Primroses.

[David M]

Uplifting stuff, Hoggers. I do hope your Blue Tits go on to raise a successful brood. So many seem to fall foul of Magpies these days - a real scourge of the garden.

[Hoggers]

They have a lot to contend with here David: Magpies, Jays, Sparrow Hawks , squirrels, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and my neighbour's three cats, to name a few immediate hazards. We have everything crossed for them. So much can go wrong.
They've started to nest in "our" box and so naturally enough, they've become "our" Blue Tits. I don't suppose we mean anything to the birds, but that doesn't stop us adopting them, emotionally at least. When we watch them making their brave attempt at raising a family it's impossible not to get emotionally involved. I'll let you know how it goes for them. Cheers.

[Hoggers]

The wood near to my home was ringing with the sound of Chiffchaffs this morning, as the arrival of Spring migrants gathers pace. Whilst not able to reproduce their sound for my diary I was able to get a picture of one (well, sort of... ) as it sang

Hardly a single tree has yet to show any sign of coming into leaf,but with surprising suddenness, the woodland floor has become a carpet of beautiful white Wood Anemones which hold their heads up to follow the sun

The Anemones are joined by Lesser Celandines and Primroses

And now Ground Ivy too

All of which makes for a stunning Spring bouquet.

Later, as I walked along by the river, I saw my Spaniel do a very good impression of a Pointer: he stopped dead and stared intently at a clump of grass. When I went over to look I saw he'd found a Grass Snake

I had a dog once that was expert at sniffing them out (and their sloughed off skins) so I guess that Grass Snakes must have a distinctive odour. But I never did understand quite why he was so keen on finding them (although he was always mightily pleased with himself when he did.)

[Hoggers]

Although mild this morning it was also wet and windy. I didn't think there was much chance of seeing a butterfly on my walk with the dog but took my camera along anyway. I'm glad I did because settled out of the wind on the riverbank was this Small Tortoiseshell

At around 2pm the sky cleared allowing the sun to get through. Very soon it became gloriously warm. I decided to get back into practice with my deckchair skills (which have been sadly under used since last July). It wasn't long before I'd got myself comfortably ensconced at the top of the garden in full Vitamin D generating sunshine. I'd almost describe it as hot.

The garden is coming along nicely: the Fruits of my Labour!

And I was pleased to see that my first batch of Tadpoles were,like me, taking things easy.

Their content due,no doubt,to the sunny weather and in part at least, to the fact that there are no Killer Goldfish to gobble them up.

I then saw this chap: a Dark-edged Bee-Fly (according to my copy of Richard Lewington's "Guide to Garden Wildlife")

Then to my delight a gorgeous male Brimstone flew the length of my garden before disappearing next-door. Stunning!

As it grew warmer things started to liven up even more. This Peacock landed in the flowerbed

A Brimstone again flew up and down the garden and a Comma paid me a visit too

So that's four species of butterfly for me today, three in my garden. I'm happy with that.

[Hoggers]

I heard my first Nightingale of the year this evening on my walk with the dogs. A welcome return.

[Hoggers]

There's been a definite change in the behaviour of my Blue Tits this evening. For the first time since she began to build her nest the female visited the box without carrying anything and has stayed inside. She began by settling herself down

There then followed a prolonged preening session

Which ended in her tucking her head in her feathers and nodding off to sleep

This is the first time that she has stayed in the box at night. I think she's getting ready to lay her eggs!