January 09'

Weather This Month

Max Temp =  8.5 deg C                 Min Temp = -6.8 deg C

Max Wind=   22.5 mph              Max Rain in 24 hr Period = 35.2 mm

Max Rain in 1 hr Period =  6.2 mm          Total Rain For Month =  152.2 mm

Diary

29th.  Another month comes to a close shortly and it was certainly an overall cool one with most of the temps barely staying above 2-3C. As I write this at 18:50 the temps are only at 0.7C although at 17:00 it dipped to 0.3C. If my weather forecaster is correct we are soon to be thrown back to Decembers snowfall although if I am truthful I also think a warm spell for a limited few is on the cards! So for next week get those woollies out and get that sledge to the front of the shed....can't wait.

25th.  I took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this morning counting the visitors from 09:00-10:00. A fair representation of the normal visitors were noted as the results below show

Common Birds
Blackbird 4
Blue tit 2
Chaffinch 8
Coal tit 2
Collared dove 2
Dunnock 2
Feral pigeon 3
Goldfinch 8
Great tit 2
Greenfinch 5
Robin 2
Song thrush 1
Starling 5
Woodpigeon 2

Scarcer Birds
Great spotted woodpecker 1
Mistle thrush 2

Not to late to take part just click the logo above and get started.....go on....GO....WILD!

19th.  Wow the weather just keeps on throwing up something to talk about as the rain of the morning turned to sleet and then by 14:30 this afternoon a heavy snow fall occurred which has just stopped as I type this at 16:10. It has put down at least 2" of snow, which I really was not expecting as the usual weather forecasters were stating a bright and possibly sunny afternoon. I should have taken notice of my own weather station and what that was telling me, as this morning at 07:00 it stated heavy rain and storm! It still shows rain and with the temps tumbling from 3C at 12:00 to 0C at 15:00 it could only mean one thing.....and so it did. A few quick pictures were taken with our little Nikon P&S camera as I liked the look of the "Silver Birch" as it really lived up to it's name although my landscape photography leave a lot to be desired

The other thing of note was after the snow began to slow a little at 15:45 I could here a songbird through the outside microphone I use, which is played through the computers speakers. I turned the volume up  to be serenaded quietly by a young male Blackbird!(first of the year for me) Perfect, absolutely perfect as the snow and song gave a real slice of nature at it's finest...although the birds would probably rather not have the snow. The sultanas and feeders were kept busy with 45 Goldfinches taking it in turn to feed on the sunflower hearts. Chaffinch have been numerous as well, and against the pale of the snow on the trees  gave a wonderful backdrop to the smart uniform of orange the Chaffinch wears.

18th.  The weather is once again the main focus in the garden as you could not fail to notice it! It started on Saturday a quite nice day with good long clear sunny spells but as the day ended so did the clear skies. By tea the clouds were rolling in and the wind picked up. By 17:00 the wind was very blustery rather than gale force but I noted it was coming from the East which is not all that common in the garden when the winds are high. It continued it's blustery edge where a maximum wind speed of 22.5mph were recorded at about 17:30. Then the rain began lashing against the windows and I could see the feeders through the glass of the door as they were flung around. Later in the evening I was on the computer when a flash of lightning very quickly followed by a clap of thunder made me reach for the off button on the computer as well as pulling the plug on the router at the wall as I have had damage this way before! One more repeat showing of thunder and lightning and it seemed to pass fairly quickly with the wind and rain calming. Today it's the usual calm after the storm and the sky is quite nice with a few clouds present with a temp of 4.3c

A very rare and unusual visitor returned yesterday as it shinned it's way up a Sycamore in next door's garden. I was not quick enough to get the camera up and running but I shall be ready if a return visit is on the cards. A Treecreeper ,up until the last few weeks, has never been in the garden before and considering it's habitat you would normally see them in I can only wonder why this has visited again today. Not that I mind as it really is an attractive and charismatic bird.

13th.  The weather has turned warmer with high of over 8C being reached on several occasions. It has brought with it rain and at times a blustery wind. I much prefer the freezing temps but clear days that have stretched on for weeks although I am not sure half the nation or indeed half the garden visitors would agree!

I have the roving outdoor camera back up and running but it is difficult to get a decent image of the still visiting Common Shrew which is still loving the peanuts put out. Another few visitors that have been seen after a little time away from the garden are the Great Spotted Woodpecker and a couple of Song Thrush.

6th.  BBBBrrrrrr describes the weather in the garden of late. A record low for the garden of any month since I began keeping records of the weather from Sept 2004. The low set in Feb 2008 was minus 6.7 but last night beat that marginally as at 08:49 it registered minus 6.8 Deg C. The temps have not been above minus 1.5 all day but as I write this it has started to warm a little as it has risen to minus 1.7.

It has led to a smattering of snow and a large amount of freezing ice yet this has not deterred some of our smaller residents as I checked the roving outside camera at night and noticed that a fast moving critter was darting around under the decking and poking it's snout up between a gap in the beds and decking. A first for a camera catch in the garden in the shape of a Common Shrew. This took several peanuts away with it but soon disappeared when a Wood Mouse turned up to carry on the peanut snaffling. I have put out some mealworm and peanuts tonight but due to technical problems I will not be able to check on the visitors as the camera is out of action. The shrew has an action packed if not short life with a span of about 2 years. Shrews are insectivorous and carnivorous so the mealworm will be a welcome food. They are mainly solitary outside of the breeding season and this held true as only one was noted, as aggression to same species is strong. I hope to have the camera up and running again shortly as this little beauty is a new and welcome visitor.

4th.  A belated Happy New Year to all the visitors to the website. Mandy and myself have returned from a short trip up Scotland over the New Year but unfortunately I was not able to do as much birding on Loch Ryan as I would have liked. Some great birds are present in the area but I only managed one quick visit which turned up a great sight in the shape of over 1000 Pink Feet taking to the air as their cries filled the air. Great Crested Grebe, Brent Goose, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Goldeneye, Curlew and Turnstone were just a few of the birds but I am sure that if I had my scope other birds would have been spotted. Non the less it's a place we may well return to in the future as although over 20 Buzzards were seen not a single Red Kite was present which was in part due to the colder overcast weather.

It takes a while to re-shuffle the pages for the new year ahead but I think it should all be in order although if anybody finds any problems I would appreciate an email.