July 2008

Weather This Month

Max Temp =  26.3 deg C               Min Temp =   8.5 deg C           

 Max Wind  21.4 mph              Max Rain in 24 hr Period = 26.4 mm

 Max Rain in 1 hr Period = 13.4 mm          Total Rain For Month = 190.1 mm

Diary

31st.  Another twist in the weather with the return of the wet weather. The worst of it is not the rain but the high humidity that is still making it very uncomfortable during the day and night. If you remember the floods of July last year the garden recorded 219.1mm of rain over that period. Whilst this amount came quickly and in bursts it is quite remarkable to think that in a repeat of lasts years weather pattern we have seen 190.1mm of rain again this month yet we have not seen any flooding due to it being spread out during the month with some good dry spells. It is rather tiresome with all the rain we are now seeing in the summer months...I just hope this is not a prelude to what the future is to be.

Birds are still collecting food in the garden with several still feeding young although I would imagine that nesting is coming to a close. The bird song in mornings and evenings is muted and even the constant overture of the Song Thrush has fallen silent. It always seems to be over before you can get time to really enjoy the season, in part over the last few years due to the mentioned bad weather which has limited us to days in the garden and trips out birding.

One of my neighbours informed me that the troublesome cat has been seen several times with birds in it's mouth. I have already began next years plan of making the ambush area cat proof with chicken mesh. I am reluctant to do this as it's spoils the look of the gardens natural appearance but I am hoping that if I take my time I can lessen the look of the wire as new growth covers it.

This young Robin has been seen quite regularly in the garden of late as it searches for mealworm

27th.  Phew! a real scorcher of a weekend has been enjoyed and not just for the high temp reached of 26.4 degC. The high dewpoint of over 17 deg at night meant that in the early hours of Sunday morning at around 04:00 I could no longer sleep so I got up and waited for the day to awaken. What a great decision as at around 05:45 3 juvenile Woodpigeons were all perched in several areas around the garden watching there parents take food. Not long after that a bird came zipping low through the length of the garden and carried on into other gardens. I thought that it looked like a Woodpecker and after a few minutes my suspicion was correct as a Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was soon swinging from a basket of peanuts. It was a little edgy and soon flew back into a neighbours tree where a Magpie saw it off. It returned not long after and spent at least five minutes on the peanut feeder before disappearing with no further sightings. I really hope that it returns as they are always a real pleasure to see, but sadly I normally only ever get a maximum of two visits over the course of a year.

Later on in the day I was sat enjoying the sun when high up I spotted a bird of prey. Binoculars at the ready it was clear I was watching a light phase Common Buzzard as it gained height and moved on in a North Easterly direction. Not often witnessed by me over the years but sightings have been more in the last couple of years. It can't be too long before they are common once again surely.

24th. The sun has been treating us to some well over due rays with the last three days reaching 22 deg although at times it has remained cloudy but....dry! It's funny how the garden responds after the ongoing rotten weather that has been wet and cool. Dahlias have come out along with the meadowsweet and Bats in the Belfry. The Buddleia that I am waiting to see which was planted last year has yet to flower but I can't wait to see it's excellent colour of the variety Royal Red.

Bad news also in the garden as the pest Cat was observed taking a young Blue Tit from the garden as it waited in ambush. I try my best to clear the garden with a jug of water but on this occasion this swine beat me. I often wonder what the owners are thinking as it must bring in a lot of kill. Why can't they keep it in during early mornings?

A few pictures I managed with the digiscoping setup tonight before the clouds started rolling in. The Wren is a group of three young birds that is resident in the garden. You can see his yellow gape at the base of the bill. The young Starling also shows a slight change in costume as his moult to winter clothes is well under way.

Other news is that two Hedgehogs are regulars to the garden. I am feeding them with crushed peanut and dried mealworm in the hope that this is a pair ready to show us this years young.

14th. Well it's rain all the way with only the odd day that is anything like warm and sunny. As you can see above the rain count so far this month for July.......is 120mm which is rather disappointing considering this follows the weather pattern from last year that left us with 219mm of rain for the same month. I hope this starts to improve as I may well have to book another holiday!

A regular to the garden turned up a little surprise for us over the weekend as we know that the male Grey Wagtail had lost his partner at the beginning of the breeding season. It has taken a while but he showed us his new partner as she sat in next doors garden whilst he showed her where the mealworm was! I have not seen the happy couple since that visit but I would imagine that the business of nest building will be taking precedence. Lets hope I am right and that this year may yet bring us some young Grey Wagtails.

6th. I am still struggling to get some pictures of the youngsters around the garden as the weather again is hampering my chances and when the sun does shine I seem to be doing something else. I have though found the time to update to "Holiday Reports" section for those interested and I shall promise to spend more time on the Lesvos report for those whom have mentioned this to me.