Bird, wildlife and flower log, 22-28 July 2013

Firstly an update on the missing food tray.  I found it!  Somehow it was moved about about 12 meters away (direct route, through a large flower bed and up a stepped part of the garden) to under the acer tree.  Or further if whatever it was went via the path around the flower bed, but still had to get it up the stepped part.  So who knows!  The good thing is it has returned.

However, today has been a very quiet day for blackbirds, who usually eat from the tray (replaced with a spare one!).  They have hardly been around and I've not seen our usual Mr Blackbird.  I hope he is okay as he is still feeding his little ones.  I get used to him being around when I am outside, he comes in as soon as I put food down for him in the morning, and a top up in the evening.  He is there when I'm out gardening, and most of the time when I look out of the window.  I've really missed him.

Honey bee and majoram gold tipped © 2013 Natasha Forder

Today a quick trip to the garden centre to buy some flowering plants, I don't have that many now out in flower and I'd like to attract more bees and butterflies.  They'll be planted in the week when I've decided where to put them!  I prepared the patch this afternoon, so all ready to go.

This week has been good for butterflies.  As you can see from the list below I've seen more than just the large white one!  And a few of each as well, which is good news as usually I only see a couple each week.

Also this week I've finally seen what I've identified to be white-tailed bumblebees.  There have been a few different bees around the last couple of days and as well as the white-tailed I've identified a male red-tailed.  Previously I've only seen the workers.  They are making the most of the lavender and flowers on the herbs.

Birds	Wildlife and Insects	Flowers
Blackbird – male, female, juvenile	Grey squirrels	African daisy
Great spotted woodpecker - male, female, juvenile	Snail	Geranium
Chaffinch - male, female, juvenile	Slug	Rose
Greenfinch - male, female	Backswimmer	Lavender
Blue tit - adult, juvenile	Bees - various	Daisy
Great tit - adult, juvenile	Large white butterfly	Lily
Dunnock - adult, juvenile	Red admiral butterfly	Hostas
Robin - adult, juvenile	Common blue	Honeysuckle
Jay - adult	Yellow butterfly - brimstone I think	Birdsfoot trefoil
Magpie - adult	Tortoiseshell butterfly	Hemerocallis
Crow - adult		Cats Ear
Collared dove - adult		Oregano
Woodpigeon - adult, juvenile		Marjoram
Nuthatch - adult		Thyme
Goldfinch		Montbretia
		Ragwort