Nature diary... Sunshine Shadows

After many grey days of rain, wind, and unfriendly chilling weather it was wonderful to see blue sky and to feel the warmth of the June sunshine.

The wild weather hasn’t stopped the birds from flocking to the feeders and currently they’re enjoying 3kg a week of bird suet pellets, endless handfuls of dried mealworm, 1.5kg of so called ‘No Mess’ Complete Seed and Nut Mix, about 400g of sunflower hearts, about 800g of either dried sultanas or dried cake fruit mix, and a mug full of dried oats. All this is either in feeders hanging on hooks on the bird feeder or in neat little piles in mesh bird feed dishes either hooked onto the bird feeder pole or placed in a sheltered spot under a tall planter out of the rain.

Each morning there are 3 or 4 mesh dishes each with a helping of all the above food, laid out like a proper breakfast :-) and the hanging feeders are all topped up. The water bowl is filled with fresh water while nearby Sparrows wait in the Buddleia, Starlings are on the rooftops, a male Blackbird sits about 6ft away watching from atop a piece of trellis, and a couple of female Blackbirds arrive when the initial feeding frenzy has died down. Two Magpies join in the feast and have never, ever shown any aggression to any of the other birds.

It’s quite a pantomime and a wonderful way to start my day while I sit and watch and enjoy my morning cup of tea.