Thursday 26 April 2012

When I left for work this morning my garden looked like a herd of Elephants had rampaged through it, after a night of heavy rain and gales, there were snapped off Elder branches, Lilac Blossoms, leaves and various other debris scattered about the garden, and worse of all the portable greenhouse which held all the Tomato and cucumber seedlings as well as lots of other just germinating seeds, was found in bits along the side passage  :-(.

One cheery but brief bit of relief from the wind and rain, was hearing my first YELLOW WAGTAIL ( 86,66) of the year flyover Migrant Alley as I walked into work, it's arrival over my patch comes just one day later than the 11 year median average date.

The rain had mostly cleared for this afternoons walk, but the wind was still almost gale force, blowing in some light squally showers. I made a visit to the Lakes and Scrubby Woods area, but in the wind little was noted, as I passed through the Small Holding two MISTLE THRUSHES gathered food for their nestlings, and at at the entrance of the Wet Woods both CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP were heard singing.

Over on the lakes 17 CANADA GEESE, were seen, along with the feral BARNACLE GOOSE, but just two drake MALLARDS, one MOORHEN and the COOTS were the only other birds there, the Coots look to be down to two chicks now, but I was looking from a distance and may of missed the third  :-)

In the Scrubby Woods it was too noisy with the wind gusting through the trees to hear anything except only the closest Blackcap and Chiffchaff, the only other thing of note seen here were both Orange Tip, and Speckled Wood Butterflies.

A shortened visit to Migrant Alley for a sky watch didn't excite at all, just the KESTRELS were seen, ....................the disappointing month continues  :-(

The camera stayed at home today, but here are the last of the photo's I took on Sunday......
Robin
This is a typical Blackcap effort, nice and close, but obscured by twigs  :-)
Blackcap
 Then if you do find one out in the open, it's too distant, the frustrations of bird photography :-)
Blackcap, male in full song
Blackcap


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

We haven`t had the wind, but we`ve had more rain up here, Warren.

Shame about your seedlings.

kirstallcreatures said...

A big :( for your loss of the seedlings but a jolly good :) for the blackcap. Ive never knowingly seen one but have been told they're heard each year they in the woodland near work, so am hoping for a sighting this year.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
If you're intending to put the box back up , assuming it isn't damaged , let us know , and I'll give you a hand .
Is there a less rotten tree that it could be bolted to ?

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Greenie,
Left message on your blog :-)

Rohrerbot said...

Sounds like a rough night. Hopefully you'll be able to salvage some it. That's happened to me before and it can be a bummer after all the effort and work you put into all. As for your shots.....they are great...even the one with the twig involved:)

ShySongbird said...

What weather we're all having Warren! What a shame about all your seedlings etc. it sounds like the wind was worse there than here although it has been pretty wild here at times.

Great photos again and I like your 'too distant' Blackcap...not too distant at all!