Springwatch survey

I don't know if you are aware, but the Springwatch TV series have got together with the Woodland Trust to encourage people to fill in a survey noting the dates when they first saw certain birds, butterflies and budding trees. You can find it here, if you'd like to take part.

www.naturescalendar@woodlandtrust.org.uk

So far this year, I've seen a Comma, a Small White, lots of Holly Blues and this slightly tatty Peacock, fresh out of hibernation and sunning itself on a garden chair.

Pasta-eating vixen

What? I haven't posted since December? I don't believe it! It's now April, Springing is springing in all its glory and there seem to be more birds in the garden than ever before. Pride of place has to go to the nightingales. For the very first time, we heard one in the garden during the last week in March. A couple of nights later, there were two. I thought it was a pair and I emailed the RSPB, to be told something I never knew, that only the male birds sing. So what I heard was two male nightingales, either calling for mates or trying to win the territory. It was thrilling to hear them.

We also had rather a cute black backed gull who came down a few times to see what food was on offer. He took rather a liking to a piece of chicken. But isn't bird eating bird cannibalism?

It's good to hear a song thrush warbling away for the first time in a couple of years. I haven't managed to get a picture yet.

We have obviously lost 'our' vixen, but there's a new one on the scene and she's lactating. I can't wait to see her cubs. Here is a video of her eating spaghetti off the lawn.