March 2008

Weather Stats This Month

Max Temp =  12.3 deg C               Min Temp =   -3.5 deg C            

 Max Wind  34.8 mph              Max Rain in 24 hr Period = 26.4 mm

 Max Rain in 1 hr Period = 9.3 mm          Total Rain For Month = 183.4 mm

Diary

23rd. Wow the weather again never fails to surprise as having strong winds replaced by heavy snow fall overnight. A quick picture of the garden at 10:26 when already the snow had started to melt as the sun shone.

The pond has finally produced the much anticipated frog spawn with at least one clump being produced on the 21st and three more on the 22nd. One seems to have been dislodged and fallen into the deep end of the pond but the others are all snug in the shallow end of the pond.

I was out early this morning after Mandy told me of the snow as I cleared a patch of snow to put out mealworm and sultanas. by the time I reached to office upstairs a Song Thrush and a pr of Mistle Thrush were tucking into the sultanas.

16th. It feels like I am waiting for the garden to irrupt but as yet no frog spawn, no nesting activity and no sun! I tried for a picture of the two Long Tailed Tits that are now regulars that only travel in this pair, which is strange for these lovely little chaps as they are really associated with small flocks even when nesting. They are well known for each member to assist in the "extended" family duties incuding nesting and feeding of new born. It is thought that individuls on there own have been cast out for some reason to fend on there own. Looking at these two butter would not melt what do you think?

They, along with many others have now found mealworm goes down a treat and as I throw some amongst the shrubs they activly search it out although it does look such a struggle for such a dinky bird.

The House Sparrow is still visiting and many sightings were noted today as he even found time to feed on occasion from the feeders and from the ground where again mealworm was gobbled up.

As mentioned earlier in the diary I am waiting on the change in the life of the Bamboo in the garden as the flowers continue to bloom. I got chance to take a few pics of this as chances are I will never have another flowering Bamboo in the garden. It is a real shame to be honest that this plant will most likely die as it was just starting to fill out nice.

10th.  I finally got chance to have a look at the Great Grey Shrike that has been hanging around Burnley/Padiham near Gawthorpe Hall. I chanced it with the weather being very changeable but I thought I might give it a go. Soon found the spot and located it in a plantation of trees some distance away. It was quite mobile within a small area so i set up my digiscoping gear although I knew this would only count as a record shot but it is a bird I have only encountered now and again. I could not get any closer than this shot allowed, which was about 100' away due to it being what I felt was a private track leading up to a farm. Once again the 'special' people of Burnly made me feel welcome as the abuse from some 14 year olds made me wonder about the need for culling of over subscribed species. My second trip to Burnley in as many months, that also accompanied by abuse, makes me wonder if Burnley is a town in need of some old fashioned work mills and industry that it once had.

Back in the garden where I have failed to mention that the earthquake that parts of Britain experienced was well and truly felt in the this part of the world. Mandy and I both awoke at 01:00 along with the cat with the cats eyes ressembling saucers. It seemed to last for some time and was an odd feeling as the wardrobe doors rattled and the bed juddered. 

The garden also will soon be a plant down shortly as the bamboo plant that we have had for about 3 years has flowered!! This seemigly is the start of the end as the energy expendid in flowering weakens the plant so much that death is the only outcome. If your plant only flowers partly it can recover but this bugger has flowered on all it's columns....so I think it curtains!

Good news in the garden though as the House Sparrow that visited a few weeks ago id hanging around the vicinity chirupping at various times. I have not seen it in the garden since but it does keep singing from rooftops and such. I would love to have a colony of these in the garden and it has always been my aim to attract a House Sparrow colony to the garden. I shall keep the fingers crossed. 

2nd.  The month started as the last finished very windy with squally, some times heavy, showers although today it remains windy the sun is showing it's face amongst the cloud.

I have many jobs in the garden waiting to be done but I just can't motivate myself at the moment. I have a lot of feeders to clean, sweeping up, planting up, reapir jobs and the biggest task of all I will have to re-work the pond I have in the garden. I made mistakes when I put the pond in 3 years ago but considering it was my first attempt at a pond I guess mistakes would be shown. I am alos sure a leak has occured as it remains difficult to keep the pond at a good level. I would also like to make the pond larger with more gently slopping sides all round as the liner has become impossible to cover with the shear sides I have at the back of the pond. This task will be left to later in the year as the frogs and other mini beasts awaken from the winter slumber. Last night I watched the pond in the dark and counted at least 12 frogs moving around. No spawn as yet but I am sure once the temps lift a little we will have this years batch.

Birdlife in the garden is still minimal with only a few Goldfinches remaining along with a pr of Woodpigeon and several prs of Blackbird. I have not seen the Siskin for a while so i wonder if that is it for this year. If this is the case they will be missed as it always seem such a flying visit.