Found a few bird chicks on the floor today. Managed to get the swallow chick back in its nest, but too late for the sparrows. They seem to be getting out of the nests to cool down. Even after putting the swalliw chick back, one was out on a rafter. Nowhere near fledging yet. This weather us no good for wildlife.
The birds are feeding regularly from our garden feeders. Probably have young in the woods. Regulars are blue tits, great tits (not friends of Masky), starlings (greedy buggers), blackbirds, robins, jays, wood pigeons, a nuthatch and a black and white woodpecker. Buzzards circling above. Plus a swan couple with 5 cygnets, moor hen, coots, ducks and others on near bye ponds. Also we have a common toad in the garden. Good for eating grubs and other insects who want to munch on the wife's bushes and flowers. He's not that common. Only one of him. Used to get hedgehogs (loved them) until a mean spirited neighbour filled in the gap under his fence.
Our terrier was nose to nose with a hedgehog the other night. He's got rats and rabbits sorted, but hasn't worked hedgehogs out. He was barking his heas off out the window at a fox the other night. Nice to have wildlife on your doorstep. Sounds like you have a nice variety.
The swallow saga continues. Spotted up to 5 chicks in the nest. After mrs SC calling me to the stable when a chick was on the floor, the following day, 4 chicks on the floor. No sign of another in the nest, so 5 become 4. A bit more balancing and all back, safe and sound. Its getting very hot In the roof space. The chicks are getting out on the rafters to cool down. Today, 2 on the floor and one in the nest. 4 become 3. A couple hours later and one on the floor again. Adults keep coming back, but its worrying they keep ending up on the floor.
I think I remember a nature TV program that same thing happening at lots of Swallow nests. Nature doing what nature does I guess and it's not always that nice.
I think it was a nest of 6 last year with most fledging. The same seems to be happening with sparrows as well. Dont seem to be many flies about since the heat started. Maybe not enough to support the full brood. As you say, nature doing what nature does.
Don't know what it was like with you guys, but we had a pretty spectacular light show about 2.30am. The flashing through closed eyelids woke me up. Not long after the storm went overhead. Loud and bright. For half an hour, rain came down like someone had turned a tap on. All dry out there now. Barely softened the top eighth of an inch of the lawn. Need steady rain for a week to get the grass growing.
They've forecast 16mm of rain falling between 3pm and 10pm in my part of cheshire. Then a few spits and spots on the next 4 days. Cooler and fresher today at least. Think more than 16mm was put on our pitch by spinklers in the last 5 weeks. Going to need plenty more before the season starts.
Funilly enough, the 4 litres in the cupboard under the stairs (cwtch) was ready at the end of May. Not bottled it yet. Always have to do some quality assurance first.
We had a bit of a drizzle here in East Cardiff on Friday night but apart from that zilch, zero, no rain for five weeks! The only moisture is me sweating in bed every night from the heat!
