Heatwave

After May's blog post of thunderstorms and heavy rain, we have since been graced with two months of extremely dry weather. In fact, the south east has not reached even 10% of the average rain seen in June and July. Temperatures have been lingering around 25-30°C for a couple of weeks, but it looks like that is set to change over the weekend with rain expected in the coming days and day time temperatures dropping in to the low 20s.

What this has all meant for July, particularly the latter half, is a lack of activity on the feeders, with most customers noticing a trend of 'disappearing' birds. Our feeders have almost come to a halt, and both the number of species and overall number of birds dropping significantly. Blue tits, great tits and sparrows are still regular, with the occasional visit from a coal tit, robin, dunnock, blackbird, goldfinch or chaffinch. Not forgetting of course the dozen or more white doves which have taken up residence all over the farm, while the tame, scruffy pheasant has taken to coming in to the shop to eat in peace. A few hirundines still grace the sky, but even they seem to be quieter in this particularly hot weather.

The biggest factor for this? Birds eat to sustain energy, a bit like us (although they have faster metabolisms), so when temperatures are like this, they lose less energy and therefore don't have to eat so much to survive. Also, unsurprisingly, there is more natural food around at this time of year. Although the rate at which the feeders have slowed this year is more dramatic than previous, it is an annual trend for July to tail off and activity to remain quiet for August and September.

We've had no notable sightings here recently, apart from irregular visits from a hobby.

While the birds quieten down, butterflies become more active. Our buddleias outside the shop are a big draw, attracting quite a few different species.

Painted lady

Meadow brown

Large white

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Winter roundup and signs of Spring

Weather wise, winter 2016/17 was fairly typical, with mostly average temperatures throughout. The feeders have remained fairly active until just recently as we now move in to the breeding season, with temperatures on the rise (though still mostly average at 10-12°). We have certainly experienced more frosts than in recent winters, though the only snow (although nothing to shout about) arrived in January. Unlike winter 2015/16, the daffodils started emerging just on time and have been in bloom in Feb and March, rather than December!

The biggest disappointment has been the shortage of winter visitors. Apart from redwings and fieldfares, which were in good numbers early on in the winter feeding on the yew trees, we have had little else to shout about. One brambling sighting in november, no redpolls and our first siskins of the year arrived in very late February. There had been 1 male and 1 female siskin until this morning when 2 females were present, though no sign of the male. Hopefully they may stay on and breed this year.

There has been lots of 'flirting' and territorial behaviour, with even some early breeders already on eggs (as per local reports). In the garden at home, a robin is nest building in a coniferous shrub out the front. At feathers there is no evidence of any tits taking up residency in our nest boxes but there may still be time.

With spells of warmer weather in the past couple of weeks, a few butterflies have been spotted here including brimstone, small tortoiseshell and peacock.

In time for summer, I completed a new insect hotel to place on the shop wall next to the lavender. This latest design is 1.2m tall and features a terraced nest box (ideal for roosting in this case), drilled wood for the solitary bees, a lacewing house, butterfly house and other bits and bobs for sheltering insects.

July Birding and other wildlife

Following on from a quiet June, July hasn't been particularly busy for bird feeding either. Still, the nice weather has been good for photography and many of the birds can be found enjoying the sun too. A family of Wrens fledgled the nest just under the roof at the back of the shop next to the road, the youngsters were regularly over by the log pile near the hide, one evidently finding the sun a bit tiring!

Juvenile Wren

Yellowhammers and Whitethroats can be heard calling from down on the farm, only a short walk to where they are singing but not easy to get close to photograph!

Whitethroat

We never had Siskins visit the Nature Area this winter, though I had them visit on a few occassions at home. For some reason, they are now visiting at home much more regularly, though just a male and female still. Allan has a whole family visiting his garden at the minute and has been watching the fledglings being fed by the adults.

Male Siskin

When the birds are quiet, it's quite nice to search for and photograph other wildlife. A dock leaf plant just outside the shop was covered in Blackfly (Black aphids) which are a favourite food of the Ladybird and ladybird larvae, though the Ants provide some protection for the aphids as they former feed off the 'honeydew' the aphids produce.

Seven-spot Ladybird larvae

Seven-spot Ladybird

There are a few more butterflies around now too, though they are still not in abundance. Large and Small Whites, Large and Small Skippers, Red Admirals, Meadow Browns, Small Tortoiseshells and Commas.

Comma

Comma Butterfly underwing, showing the 'comma' it gets its name from.

Our resident Pied Wagtails are doing well with their nest in the pallets, the eggs have hatched and the adult(s) are now bringing food in. I question whether there are two adults left as a Sparrowhawk flew off with a bird in its talons and one of the Wagtails in pursuit, and I've only seen one adult bird since...

Pied Wagtail

The Nature Area needed a bit of tending; some light gardening, a few feeders needed cleaning and a few things moving around. Overall, there's now a better view of the feeders from the hide and better opportunities for photography.

Juvenile Great Tit

(Crested) Blue Tit

Great Tit and Goldfinch

Robin

We are well prepared for our Owl Display & Barbecue on Saturday, the forecast for 20° and sunny spells promising a fine day. You can find out more about the event on our previous blog post here: www.blog.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk/2015/06/owl-display-beer-bbq-sat-18th-july.html

Hawke and Vanguard Optics will both be here on the day displaying their range of binoculars, in the meantime you can browse our entire range of binoculars online here: www.shop.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk

Visting Treecreepers

Every February for the past few years we have visiting Treecreepers to the area outside the shop and low and behold they have turned up again. Late in January we spotted one high up in the oak tree in the car park (the first sighting in months), then yesterday one with a ring on turned up on the wall outside the shop. Though I couldn't get the ring number, we've only ever had one ringed here (2 years ago) so it's almost certainly the same bird, though there have been more ringed within the village a few miles away. Today, what we initially presumed was the same bird arrived again, spending the best part of the early afternoon in between the shrubs and the wall outside, though we soon realised this bird didn't have a ring, confirming we have at least 2 of these beauties visiting.

30/01/15

Ringed Bird - 03/02/15

04/02/15

04/02/15

04/02/15

The Long-tailed Tits are also visiting regularly as are the Bullfinches, which are spending most of their time on the flowering cherry. The latter is quite a unusual bird for us here, though it's certainly a good time of year to spot them.

We often get Buzzards here as they breed in the woods of the house up the road, though most of the time we spot them high up in the thermals. On the 29th January I spotted one in the far field in front of the hide, not the usual 'mewing' call but rather a different call that I have heard in the past. This bird was searching for insects on the ground, occasionally picking up before coming back down again. A bit far away for decent shots but still interesting to watch!

Finally a couple more notable sightings, both on the 27th January, a Red Admiral butterfly on the roof and a Blue Tit with an elongated lower mandible in the Nature Area.

Winter Sale on Binoculars!

It seems crazy to think it's November tomorrow yet parts of Kent have reached 23° today - officially the hottest Halloween on record. None-the-less, in keeping with this time of year, we have started our 'winter sale' on binoculars. As a small business, we appreciate all the orders we receive as each one really counts, but it's tough to compete against the likes of Amazon. We endeavour to offer exceptional service, coupled with great prices, often same day despatch and next day delivery. Do check us out if you're looking to buy for yourself or, seeing as it's less than 8 weeks away, a Christmas pressie for someone else.

The last week has been quiet for birds - now the clocks have gone back it's getting dark by the time we leave at 5pm. A pair of Kestrels were here yesterday after dark, briefly inspecting the church where they nested this year and previous years. There are many Pied Wagtails about, the Grey is becoming less frequent however. Today's blue skies brought about a few Buzzards, though that is now not an uncommon sight! A group of 4 (not 100% sure about this) Skylarks went over this morning, the photos weren't great and certainly not worth sharing. Late afternoon brought a large flock of Lapwing flying over too. There are still a few Butterflies around, namely Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals, a photo of the former below, taken on the 30th October basking in the afternoon sun.

 Don't forget Autumnwatch is on BBC2 at the minute, another great series, certainly worth watching.