The Nest Box

Have had a fairly hectic couple of weeks and have only looked in at my blog a few times, in an attempt to keep up to date with fellow bloggers. Later today we are off to Stratford for a few days to stay with DD and GD so will be out of touch again.

I have had several birthday and celebration cakes to make and decorate and that has kept me very busy and then of course I have to catch up with housework etc.

I have also been keeping my eye on the garden and our nest box and the blue tits have been extremely busy feeding their young ones.



On a few occasions lately I have seen a little face at the opening and guessed that the little ones would be fledging very soon. On Tuesday I was out most of the morning and on returning home soon realised that there was no activity around the nest box - they had already departed the nest! No sign anywhere of any blue tits, adult or baby. Later that afternoon I found a minute little blue tit on the ground looking very lost! What should I do. I know we are told to leave them alone and the parent will find them but next door lives a cat who loves to patrol our garden and is a demon for the birds. I rang Secret World who advised just putting it up into a tree; the parent would find it but also said if I was worried I could take it to them as they have several baby blue tits there already. The car wasn't available as OH was out so I took the tiny, tiny baby and put him back into the tree. It immediately began cheeping and making its way up into the branches. A little later I became aware of a blue tit feeding a baby but again almost at ground level. Was it the same little one - I'll never know but I do hope that parent and baby found each other and that both will survive.

I love cats but do get cross when they catch the birds. At the moment there are so many vulnerable young about and the parent birds are working so hard to feed them. I keep the garden hose ready and every now and then go out and hose the shrubs that the feline from next door favours. Occasionally he leaps out and runs off, indignant. Sorry puss.

Hopefully up and running again!

Many of you know I have been having difficulties with my computer for some time now and comments on my last post advised me that Firefox was the way to go! A big thank you to all of you. I have now downloaded Firefox and - so far, so good!

I have really missed blogging and visiting blogworld friends so I'm hoping that in future I won't be having the trouble encountered recently. I know too that some of you have been having problems with my site. I honestly don't know if things will improve for you now - I do hope so.

Anyway - I have been taking some photos in the garden recently so here is a photographic update. Don't forget you can enlarge any photo by clicking on it.


There has been a lot of activity in and around this nest box and we are very hopeful of seeing some baby blue tits any time soon.




The beautiful goldfinches are still visiting although this picture is a few weeks old (the tree is still in bud in the photo)



Here a pair of young blackbirds are sharing some apple - I always feel sorry for the young birds when they first visit the garden as they stand around, seemingly wondering what to do next!




squirrel tries to get his balance




before getting into the birdhouse for breakfast



but sometimes just likes to sit in the basket




In the pond the tadpoles are doing well



and the kingcups put on a wonderful display




We have had some primula




some orange flowers (don't know what these are called) and in the winter lovely orange berries



and this flower is always lovely - I think it is called ajuga (bugle) - an excellent ground cover plant




these little roses have a delicate scent and are so pretty



For me seeing aquilegia in flower is a real sign of summer on its way



With a bank holiday looming again and an assurance from the weather man of some sunshine I am hoping to get some more work done in the garden this weekend. Next week I have two celebration cakes to ice and decorate so then any work outside will have to wait.