| Psilo Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 10:46 am: |   
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As many of you may remember I used to have 2 large allotments. Then a couple of years ago along came the council and destroyed pretty much all of them leaving me with very little left but alot of grief and devastation. In the year that followed I did not want to return to the plots and indeed one of them I did give up to someone else. my best plot I did keep on as I was unwilling to lose the site but it took me until late autumn of 2006 before I felt fit enough to return to it. October 2006 and what a sight met my eyes!! 125 square feet of jungle! The paths were gone under 5 feet of dense weeds and goodness knows if there were any plants still left alive in there.
Slowly since then I have been onsite a number of times and slowly claimed back some of the land. I then left it for a couple of months over winter and was delighted to see that the weeds had not grown back and my work had not been in vain. This week I have started again. I had previously set up a feeding station for the birds and it is being visited often now by all kinds of species. I still have along way to go to make this plot look how it used to but as i was starting afresh I thuoght I would start a new fresh journal too :) |
| Psilo Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 10:59 am: |
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THURSDAY MARCH 8TH
This week the weather has turned sunny and so I felt inspired to go and tackle my allotment once again. There are many beds on the plot but they are ll badly overgrown so am slowly taking them one at a time. This morning I did alot of digging and clearing and made good progress. One border down the side still has alot of hardy geraniums and aquilegias in it and surprisingly they are still doing very well. So after a thorough tidy the border soon looked well again.
Today the sun has also brought out all the birds and they are singing merrily. My feeding station is busy today and I am delighted to see a new visitor. The nuthatch is quite rare here in the northwest but in my woods they have a stronghold. I often hear them calling but it is rare you see them out in the open so I was so excited to see one visiting my bird table. In the short time I watched him he called in regularly and each time made off with a beak stuffed full of sunflower hearts.
The nuthatch
Another common visitor to the table is the coal tit. There seems to be at least two pairs around and they are busy taking nuts to store for eating later. When in each others company, unlike the blue and great tits these birds can be quite quarrelsome and seem ot spend alot of time and energy chasing each other round and round.
Coaltit
Other birds at the feeder today were 3 dunnocks (more on their strange life style later) 3 robins, all of whom are very territorial, a pair of wrens and several female chaffinches. Usually there are plenty of jays and woodpeckers around but they were very quiet today and I did not see them.
Two hours of digging and I was very tired. Hopefully the weather will be good so that I can return tomorrow. |
| Psilo Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 11:16 am: |
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This morning it was bright and sunny again but there was a very cold wind and the forecast threatened hail. Yesterday I got quite hot in the sun as my plot is south facing and warms up very quickly but today the cool breeze kept me from getting too warm. Today my back ached somewhat from the digging I did yesterday so decided to change jobs today and tackle all the old raspberry and dock canes that needed cutting down. Worked really hard and was pleased when three hours later my plot really did look quite spruce once more. There may still be plenty of weeds but at least now they are all at ground level!
Had worked for 3 hours solid today so eventually took a well deserved break and watched the birds at the table. The nuthatch is back though isnt as regular as he was yesterday. There are also lots of coal, blue, great and my favourite long tailed tits. The long tails were absent yesterday so it was great to see them on the feeder today.
Long tailed tit
A pair of magpies that nest near by also came in. They are always together and always leave together.
There are still also 3 robins hanging around. At this time of year they are very territorial and will fight to the death if necessary over breeding and territory rights.
Territorial display of robin
In the distance I could hear the jingle of the goldcrest and was delighted when from 5 feet away a little wren popped out and I was able to enjoy his mouselike beauty before he flew back into the dense undergrowth and out of sight.
Didnt have as long to watch the birds today. I thought i heard a woodpecker in the distance int he woods but I never saw him and the jays are still absent today as well. One last gem as I left and a sparrowhawk flew high over the trees.
Sparrowhawk
Have a fairly busy weekend planned so dont think i will get on the allotment in the next few days but I am very happy with the good start I have made and hopefully the weather will be kind next week. |
| Psilo Posted on Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 04:59 pm: |
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Today the forecast was for light rain but happily it was wrong and although it was grey and largely overcast it did remain dry. Didn’t expect to go on the allotment today so decided to go on and only do some light digging and mainly watch the birds. Sadly though when you have many beds full of dock and nettles there is no such thing as light digging and I quickly worked up a sweat. Didn’t clear such a lot of ground today but I am in no real hurry and am happy to take my time.
Greater spotted woodpecker (male) watching me
Decided to improve some of the perches at the feeding station. Found a small tree trunk about 7 feet high and dug it vertically into the ground. My plan is to gouge out holes in which I can pack fat and seeds for the nuthatches and woodpeckers to eat.. Also found some branches on which I can hang fat balls for the long tailed tits.
Chaffinch (female)
Bird numbers were quite low today. No long tailed tits today but there were plenty of chaffinches including a few males that had been absent before. Saw the male greater spotted woodpecker a couple of times but he didn’t come onto the feeders. Three jays also appeared and created an unholy noise as they screeched at each other in the bushes on the edge of the wood. Sadly they also didn’t come onto the plot.
Blackbird (female)
My greatest delight today was in seeing a pair of nuthatches together. Had only seen one bird at a time before today so was wonderful to see both birds together. Sadly at the time I didn’t have my camera to hand and of course when I did have it they never appeared. Oh well there is always another day!
Robin at the bird table.
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| Psilo Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 02:10 pm: |
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Yesterday I didnt want to do any work on the plot and so I just sat and watched the birds. I finally managed to photograph the visitng nuthatch in good light.
Also got another thrill today in the form of a pair of Bramblings. These are winter birds and there have been so few nt he county that very few have seen any this year. I am therefore very lucky that they have showed up on my plot.
Sadly though I couldnt get a decent shot of one and this shot was taken through the car windscreen.The photo below shows a male bird.
The brambling is related to the chaffinch seen below and are often found in flocks of chaffinches. This is the female and she was one of the bravest of the flock today.
Today was the opposite of yesterday. I decided to work solid and not be destracted by taking photographs. The day started out beautiful but it quickly clouded over which was fine as it kept me cool. Spent a couple of hours digging and made very good progress. I am now much enthused by my efforts on the plot.
Planted some Epimediums (Asian hybrids) that I grew from seed two years ago) some foxgloves and moved a few hardy geraniums to new homes.
As I was digging I could hear this bird calling. I am familiar with most UK woodland bird calls but this one I didnt know and it kept bugging me that I couldnt find the bird making the noise. Eventually I found it. It was a male brambling and I had never heard one call before so it was little wonder I didnt know it. The nuthatches are in regularly as always. I also saw a jay, a treecreeper (which was another first for the plot) mistlethrush, greenfinch, goldfinch, coal tits. lots of greattits, robins, dunnocks, wrens, blackbirds and two canada geese flew over head honking loudy.
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| Psilo Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 07:19 am: |
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Yesterday was a mixed sort of day. The sun was gorgeous and the birds were busy singing so digging was very pleasant. Started on a new patch and found it easy going as there werent too many pernicious weeds to clear. Found a few hardy geraniums that had survived the neglect and were just starting to wake up. So dug them up and moved them to a clearer bed where I could keep an eye on them. There are alot of Aquilegia seedlins popping up too so I carefully transplanted them to a special bed I am making for them. Lots of bees around today and I also saw my first butterfly, a beautiful Peacock.
Coal tit
Lots of coal tits busy in and out today and plenty of chaffinches too but no sign of any bramblings this morning. My tree trunk did pay dividends today though as the male greater spotted woodpecker showed up. The first time I saw him land in a tree close to my car and he sat and waited for a while. Then he swooped down to the trunk but at the last minute he veered away and off back into the woods. Approx fifteen minutes later he was back. I held my breatha nd tried not to move. I had positioned my camera ready so as not to move and startle him when he came in. This time he flew down and landed but only for a split second. I think he saw me and was off without trying to feed. Sadly for the rest of the time I was there he didnot return. Our woodpeckers are very wary birds, but no matter now he knows it is there he will return and it can only be a matter of time before he gets used to me.
The pair of nuthatches were also once again regular visitors to the feeders. I was also able to follow them in trees around the edges. At one point they checked out the nest box at the back of the plot where the great tits have been nesting.
Nuthatches are cavity nesters but there isnt much chance they will nest in a regular nestbox but we can all dream! Today I was trying to get photos of the nuthatch as they flew away fromt he bird table but I wasnt having much luck as the sun would always go in at the most inconvenient times thus lowering my shutter speed too much. the photo below shows just how near I did or rather didnt get to achieving my goal. At least with that shot you can see the bird disappearing. Usually all you get in frame is a shower of seeds!
Today I only achieved one shot in the sort of light I wanted (below)
The wren also kept me on my toes today. He kept coming very close as he is nesting in a laurel bush close by but he is always hiding behind twigs and grass. One day I will get a close up clear shot of him sigh....
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| Psilo Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 01:39 pm: |
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As usual the morning started off with blue skies but by mid morning rain clouds were rolling in and it was grey and overcast. Worked on the plot for about an hour digging out some space so that I could move some more geraniums but my heart wasnt really in it today and I soon retreated to the car to watch the birds.
Today the weather is really frustrating. I live in the wettest county in the UK and it seems that Bolton sits under a perpetual raincloud. When it comes to photography this is really frustrating. For the first ten minutes there was barely a bird to be seen and then it all happened at once.!
The pair of nuthatches were very active today. These two birds alone are costing me a fortune in peanuts. Backwards and forwards they go calling repeatedly as they search out suitable hiding places to stash their booty. At one point I saw the male feed the female. I sure wish I could get a photo of that.
The male woodpeker is constantly around. He landed once on my stump and ate alittle of the fat but I only have to blink the wrong way and he flies off. Taking photographs of him at the moment is impossible. The photo above shows him lurking on the trees around the edge of the plot.
Had a better crack at the wren (above) when he flew up onto the bird table. Sadly the light is so poor that I am far from happy with the photo quality.
Alot of Chaffinches around today with more males (above) being around too. Was delighted to see several bramblings once again mixed in with them too.
The magpies showed more courage today too. One bird flew down onto the bird table and stuffed his beak full of nuts before flying off. Jay numbers are high today too with half a dozen birds being seen around the plots. Somehow though I doubt these birds will ever come close when I am around.
Tried again to get some flight shots but my shutterspeeds were pathetically slow and so a greattit with its wings up was the best action I could manage. The weather forecast for the weekend is poor so doubt I will be out with my camera for a while now. I sure hope the sun shines soon! |
| Psilo Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 11:13 am: |
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This weekend the weather has roared in like a lion and what did feel like spring feels very much like winter now. This is a repeat of weather from last March. All winter we have mild weather and then it is as if it wants to give us one last reminder of what it could be like if it so chose. Heavy sleet showers have made the ground cold and wet and I need little excuse not to have to do any real work.
My goal for Mondays photography is to create perches that have a more natural feel to them. I therefore had a good hunt around for some moss and lined the stumps I already have with it. I then settled down to wait for the nuthatches to arrive. The sun this morning is shining really brightly despite a cold wind and it should make for some good photographs.
Robin
Sadly though the nuthatches had other ideas and did not turn up for three hours. By this time the sun had gotten fed up as well and was hiding behind a growing bank of sleet clouds. The nuthatch obliged by landing on the perch I had made for them but the quality was not good so I will have to try again on another day when the birds are more obliging.
Nuthatch
One bird that did oblige me however was the female Greater spotted woodpecker. Holding my breath I saw her come in. The male is incredibly wary and will not land if I am there so I decided to sit as still as I could and just watch and let her get used to my being there. Flying down she landed on the trunk and immediately started to eat the fat. She didn’t seem to mind me at all. So after a minute, very, very slowly I brought my camera up and started to click away. Still she did not mind. She was a real beauty and these are my favourite of all birds. To be so close is an honour indeed. In the end a magpie came along and scared her off but I am so pleased that she accepted me and look forward to more of her visits. Maybe the male will get to accept me too but for now he continues to avoid me and just shouts when I am near.
Female Greater spotted Woodpecker
Everyday on the allotment I see different birds and love to watch their habits and behaviour. Female chaffinches are very common here and the last week I have barely seen any male birds. Today that changed and the males certainly ruled. They are also very much bolder than the females and they readily came very close to feed. I think the cold weather must have made them very hungry. Chaffinches are a very underrated bird but the males when in full breeding plumage are a whole pallette of colours and are very beautiful.
Male Chaffinch
One other encounter I had today was with a wren. Skulking in the grass I saw it go inside a hole in one of my rotten border planks. Knowing that it could only come out that way I waited for it to come back. Wrens are constantly active birds, they never stop moving but this bird totally surprised me. Suddenly his head appeared from the hole and he just sat there looking, not moving, perfectly still. I think he sensed that I was close by and was listening for danger. For both of us time seemed to stand still, neither moving just watching. He must have sat like that for a full two minutes before my hand felt it was going to drop off holding up my camera and my movement startled him into flying away. That must have been the longest time I have ever seen these little birds sit still for, quite amazing.
Wren
All in all a mixed kind of day. For a change the sun shined and the birds looked wonderful in such lovely light. I didn’t really get the shots I wanted but that is bird photography for you. A journey that never ends for there is always tomorrow….
Female Chaffinch
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| Psilo Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 02:19 pm: |
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Today the sun is shining brightly but the wind is very cold. The ground still looks wet and uninviting so I guess I will just have to spend all my time with the birds instead. Have brought some of the perches closer to see just how close some of the bolder birds will get and of course for variation changed some of the perches around. Thankfully today the nuthatches didn’t keep my waiting very long and to my amazement one swooped in and landed on my closest perch a mere ten feet from where I was sitting. Such courageous birds they do not seem to fear me at all. Loaded up with nuts he flies off to his favourite tree and I can hear him tap tapping as he hammers his prize into an available crack on the branch. I have no idea just how much of these stashed nuts these birds actually eat but I do so hope that when the time comes that they really need it it is there for them.
Bird numbers are actually quite low today. Bluetit numbers are high but it is a while before the coal tits put in an appearance. The rhythmic wheelbarrow wheel call of the greattit can be heard everywhere signalling despite the cold that spring is finally here. Twice long tailed tits fly overhead calling but sadly they do not come onto the feeders.
Coaltit
Other birds to be heard around the plot include a pair of mistlethrush who are continuously fighting with the magpies and a particularly raucous jay. I can see this bird flitting through the trees, his blue wing feathers flashing blue, giving tantalizing glimpses of his beauty but he is not going to let me ever get close. The woodpeckers are sadly missing today. No calls and no sightings.
Another bird that has my heart beating faster and my teeth gnashing is the brambling. This morning there are large numbers of chaffinch on the plot and as I look around I notice several bramblings sitting on the fence that borders the wood. Several more are feeding on the floor on the other side just ten feet away! The males look stunning as they are starting to get their summer plumage. I hold my breath and pray that some of them will come over onto my plot as the chaffinches do but sadly they dont. So near and yet so far. Then something frightens them and they fly away and I do not see them again but lets hope they return before they are due to fly back north.
Female Chaffinch
My disappointment was quickly forgotten however when a female sparrow hawk swooped in and landed high up in a nearby tree. I have no luck with sparrow hawks and have never photographed one in a sitting position. Over the last week she has taken particular interest in my feeding station and as she sat, her piercing yellow eyes swivelled in my direction it felt like she was checking me out too. I love all raptors and she is welcome as long as she doesn’t make off with any of my nuthatches!
Female Sparrowhawk
I didn’t stay so long today as I felt very cold but the sun gave out some lovely light and I was happy with the photographs I eventually produced.
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