Last week, on a very rainy day before it got so warm and when it was impossible to either go for a walk or sit in the garden, we decided to tackle a job that has wanted doing for ages. It didn't take as long as I thought it might, especially with a lunch break in between sessions. It was so satisfying when it was completed.
We have a wall in the
living room which is full of book cases. We took off all the books,
moved the book cases and cleaned and dusted behind them.
All the books were then dusted and put back in place on the shelves.
A job well done.
We spotted this frog in the pond. We haven't seen many frogs this year so it was good to see one keeping cool as the weather got warmer and dryer.
Our weekend newspaper had a free RSPB poster of garden birds. We discovered that there were only a few birds that we had never seen in our garden. We've never had visits from a Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Rook or Jackdaw. All the rest we've seen either regularly or occasionally in the garden. Birds are quiet at the moment as they are moulting feathers and need energy to do this. Also food is abundant elsewhere in the natural world. They will be back at the feeders in the Autumn and Winter. We still see Robins and Dunnocks. A couple of days ago I saw two Chaffinches feeding on the lawn and at the same time a Thrush popped out of the hedge and into the bird bath. I didn't have a camera handy but it was lovely to see them.
There are berries on the Juniper tree, I expect the birds will find them soon.
Meanwhile over the last couple of nights we have set up the wildlife camera to watch for garden visitors. It's amazing on the actual films how many moths, beetles and craneflies are flitting about whilst owls hoot in the background, but of course the main attraction is the foxes and badgers.
Badgers eat steadily whilst foxes have a tendancy to grab and run.
Foxes also cache food. A few nights ago whilst we were sitting watching the vixen through the conservtory window she came close to us in order to bury a dog biscuit in a plant pot under the kitchen window.
Nothing seems to bother a badger and certainly not a young, upstart fox. I must find out how I can put some of the films on here.
I've noticed how the light is fading earlier. Last week it was still fairly light at nearly 10p.m. Last night it was almost dark around 9.30p.m.
As I type this the rain is pouring down whilst the sun is still shinning. A short sharp shower which has stopped in the length of time it has taken me to write this sentence.
Did you know you had that many animals roaming around your yard at night? Those are wonderful pictures! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteWe knew we had foxes, they have been around for a few years now. A neighbour thought she had seen a badger but wasn't sure, we hadn't seen any although they had left evidence behind. Last year we saw a whole family arrive in the garden late one evening and so we treated ourselves to the camera and we have certainly seen quite a few since then, this year there is a family of five badgers:)
DeleteOh Rosie, how wonderful to see Mr Tod and Mr Brock in your garden! We are fairly sure that a fox has been visiting us, we haven't seen it but it has left us some stinky deposits. I was much happier to find hedgehog deposits on the patio as they are much easier to clean up. Well done on the bookcase job, that must have seemed quite daunting but there are few things more enjoyable than replacing books on shelves in a proper order (at least, I think so). x
ReplyDeleteHello Mrs Tiggywinkle. I'm glad you have your own Mr Todd visit your garden and it is wonderful to have a hedgehog, we haven't had any for years but they will be keeping out of the way of the badgers I expect. We have to go around with a plastic bag to pick up both fox and cat deposits as most of the neighbouring cats sem to spend ages in our garden. I was hoping to weed out some books as we tdied but they all got put back on the shelves for now until we can safely go to a charity shop:)
DeleteAlways satisfying to get those jobs done that one has been putting off; they never take as long as you feared.
ReplyDeleteI'd be lacking Nuthatch, Siskin and Tree Sparrow from that poster. A badger would be nice too!
I think the worst part about a job like that is actually getting motivated to start it. Thank goodness we did it before it got too warm. We had a little group of Siskins visit a few years ago during a very cold winter, that year a Jay visited too:)
DeleteBookcases look good :) I keep saying I must do the same with mine but I may just do a shelf a week. Really a job better done with two of you!
ReplyDeleteNot so many birds here either although I have not been feeding as much as the washing line is right by the feeders!
Super pics of the fox and badger. Just delightful :)
Yes indeed a job for two. I couldn't have moved the bookcases myself as they are bracketed to the wall. They did come away quite easily though and the wall and floor soon dusted and washed down. Glad to have it done, the next big job is cleaning behind the wardrobes, it may have to wait for cooler, autumnal weather:)
DeleteI love the pics of the fox & badger together, whoever would have thought. Well done on the bookcase job. Mine probably need doing too. Have you a spare minute or two?(giggle) The bird poster is a brilliant idea & wish we had similar sort of things over here for identifying birds easier. I have to get out a book then try & find what I may have seen, though I do know the majority of our birds. It is just when you see something more unusual. We hear frogs in our garden, but rarely spot them. Take care, stay safe & huggles.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to see the fox and badger together sometimes they do chase each other off though and the fox soon disappears if there is more than one badger. The bookcase cleaning kept getting put off but there is nothing much else to do on a rainy day in the time of Covid. We don't seem to have as many frogs as used to, perhaps because there are more garden ponds or maybe because we have a lot of newts which can eat the tadpoles. You too take care:)
DeleteHow fantastic to have all this wildlife in your pretty garden and be able to catch it on film at night too. Sometimes you can put up a camera and they all manage to avoid it but you get really good close-ups. I wonder if those juniper berries are poisonous like the yew berries they look a bit similar. I should think you were delighted to get the last book back on the shelf all dusted and sparkly. 😊
ReplyDeleteIt's funny but the garden looks completely different on the night camera, hard to believe it is the same place. Some juniper beries are poisonous apparently, I've just 'googled' them. I expect those on our tree are as they are red, but the birds love them. Some of the other varieties are used to make gin. It was great to get the bookcase sorted and find books I'd not seen for ages:)
DeleteThere is something very satisfying about tidying cupboards and shelves. Too hot to tidy anything here at the moment. I’m just sitting looking at it all! Love to read about the wildlife in your garden. Have a lovely day. B x
ReplyDeleteNext big job is to get behind the wardrobes, I think that can wait for colder weather. Too hot for anything here too at the moment, I feel as if days are going by so quickly with not much if anything done except reading:)
DeleteI've been doing a few similar tasks over the last few weeks. It's satisfying when you've finished some dusting and cleaning. The wildlife you see with the special camera that you've set up must keep you entertained as you look to see what has been going on in your garden overnight.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, getting those kind of jobs done fills in a few hours of the day when nothing much else can be done. We are so pleased we treated ourselves to the wildlife camera and it is amazing to see what happens in the garden when we aren't there:)
DeleteA lovely post Rosie. You have reminded me that my bookshelves need 'doing'! I've not seen many frogs/toads this year either. Your wildlife camera must be such a joy to have. I am sure I would spend ages watching the activity on it! Hope the weather is cooling down where you are. I can't wait for the rain! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone. Books are so heavy and get quite dusty so it seemed such a big undertaking to think about, I'm glad it is done now. We've loved having the camera as it shows us what actually happens in some of the garden overnight. We must put it out during the day and train it on the bird feeders for a change. So hot here today and yesterday it made me feel quite lethargic and uncomfortable, a bit better today, we do need some rain:)
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