September '11

Weather This Month

Max Temp = 26.4°C   Min Temp = 4.2°C  Mean Temp = 12.9°C 

Max Wind = 20mph   

Day's Of Rain Over 2mm =18  Rain 24hr Max =  31.6mm   Rain For Month =  186.6mm

Diary

30th.  PPPhhhheeewwwww...another hot temp today with another record temp for the garden being recorded, that's the third in 3 days! Today it took an extra hour to get to the new record of 26.4C at 16:27. The really interesting thing will be that October is only a day away and that could signal record highs recorded for October also. We shall see.

29th.  A scorcher again today and yes a record temp for Sept with it sneaking past the old record of24.2ºC, from 2006, and carrying on until at 15:37 it topped 25.6ºC. It felt lovely indeed. The other interesting thing is that it shows just how poor this year has been on the whole as it also is the second highest temp the garden has reached all year with only June's 27.7ºC topping it.

I note that things will start to slide ever so slightly as we head to weekend....forgive me but with our upcoming hol I hope we see no rain until then!

28th.  Yikes...they got it right. The hottest day of the month and it felt quite sticky at times due to the mercury rising to 23.7ºC at 16:47 today. It's supposed to carry on for a few more days yet so who knows we may see a record temp for the month being recorded, if that has not happened already, I shall have to check back.

Not had much time to notice the birds but I again cleaned the feeders replacing all the feeder trays that are contaminated with droppings etc.

25th.  It seems that we may get a mini Indian summer after all as the weather forecast is suggesting highs of 22ºC by late next week with a slow improvement as at this afternoon. Well it's not happening as I write this at midday. The 13.7ºC at present is so far the highest temp for today and we have had 3mm of rain.

Birds are still quality rather than quantity at the moment as the lack of common birds like Blackbirds are a missed visitor. We have Bullfinch young and adults along with several Goldfinch, chaffinch and
Greenfinch, some of which are diseased most probably with Trichomonosis. This is sadly becoming ever more present each year and I would urge anybody that feeds garden birds to take a moment to read through the following information

About Trichomonosis HERE

GBHi website HERE

I have so far noted 3 adult Greenfinch and 1 juvenile Bullfinch showing signs of this parasite.

In line with what is advised I have cleaned my feeders and most likely will be stopping feeding for a few weeks.

19th.  Mandy and I spent a little time away at Spurn over the weekend and on return I wondered what may have visited the garden so yesterday I checked the trail cam. I had noted that there were remnants of feathers in the garden so I wondered what had happened. I was hoping that the culprit would be revealed as how many times does something occur leaving us wondering what had really happened and was it that pesky cat again? As normal a few birds, a lot of Squirrel photos and then something of a surprise as i searched for the photos pertaining to the feathers.

It started with a nice shot of the usual Jays that are now regularly coming for monkey nuts.

Later on it came clear whom was to blame for the feathers

Taken at 16:27 ( the prey is under the Sparrowhawk)

Taken 16:27

Taken 16:33

Taken 16:34

Taken 16:54

Wow.....I knew a couple of Sparrowhawks were busy at the moment as I have noted quite a few attacks but this is the first I have captured. It was all over in 20mins but I am not sure if the body was carried away of eaten on the spot. I changed the settings of the camera to take fewer pictures and with longer gaps between triggers which seems a shame now. I am certain it is a Starling that has been killed on this occasion.

12th. Mandy and I braved the gusty winds this evening for our walk out round our local res. As we reached about 1000ft above sea level and reached flat land it became fun as the wind made it difficult to keep your balance. Did not seem to much trouble for the many House Martins, Swallows and Carrion Crows that seem almost to be enjoying the gusts.

I hope other people have not been seriously affected by the strong winds as it seems Scotland in particular may have seen some rather bad weather. I hope all are safe.

My hospital visit is on my mind at present and I will be glad to ask about a strange thing that has come up on my hand over the last week or so.

11th.  Today is a day the world stopped for a large proportion of the world in some form or another ten years ago. It's still a very surreal event that took place at the twin towers and in the end all the talking seems distracting. I thought the following track I have used elsewhere on the website was also a respectful contemplation on an event that often leaves you speechless.

Back to the diary and today Mandy, my Dad and Myself were treated to a new bird for Rossendale. A beauty that sadly cannot be disclosed due to any disruption possibilities from unscrupulous people.

All the talk about Tropical Storm Katia seems to have died down fortunately as it seems to have faded away having read only last night how 80mph were headed for North West Scotland. The wind was supposed to hit later today and carrying on through Monday. The wind in the garden has certainly increased with gusts up to 15-17mph being recorded and the main feature is the constant blustery wind that is present. Quite a few people will be pleased if Katia has decided to diminish no doubt.

4th.  This year has built on the last few years that Bullfinch have been visiting and breeding near to the garden. We have had at least 3 adult pair visit us this year and a minimum of 8 youngsters over several broods which are no doubt from several if not all of the pairs visiting. I notice that Bullfinch can have up to two broods a year. The latest young visiting are three individuals which have now become more or less independent of mum and dad although this picture did have mum visit with them but out of shot of the camera.

One notable ommision from the garden over the last 3 weeks or so are the Lesser Redpolls. They are no longer visiting and neither have we heard them whilst out walking close to there local breeding sites. I am not sure where they go at this time of year but they often return later in the season.....well I hope for that!

The Jays are making the most of the monkey nuts that I have been putting out with up to three visiting at once. I love their raucous calls yet I have also noticed a very subdued cat come whine sort of contact call between them. I had me what it was at first as it seems anything but bird like.

3rd.  We have had a cracking female Sparrowhawk visiting the garden of late and as I peered out the office window at 14:00 today I witnessed her grab a Feral Pigeon but sadly even though she got it to the ground it managed to evade her. Mandy managed a few pictures of her rueing the opportunity.

You can make out that in her right talon shows evidence of the strike.

1st. An afternoon at home and of all things.....the sun shone and it felt half warm! I did a lot of tidying in the garden and I was not the only one making the most of the long forgotten summer sun. I eventually got my new camera the superb Panasonic TZ20 and I made use of it. It most certainly a better macro camera then my last TZ7 camera as it's focus was a lot more accurate.

As soon as I looked out into the garden I recognised a welcome visitor and one that we have not seen for a few seasons. The other strange thing was that I was telling a customer about my lack of sightings of this beauty so it was strange to have one turn up.

We also had numerous other butterflies make a dash for the flowers soaked in sunshine and one of my favourite plants also suited the butterflies, Verbena Bonariensis.

I also forgot to mention that last month I noted the first Willow Warbler of the the season slip through the garden.

I note the weathermen are suggesting that September is going to be cool and stormy.....is that any different from now I ask......on the quiet I am hoping for a super Indian summer though.