Beckenham nature and garden watch

[Hefty]

Hi everyone, im new here

MAJOR nature lover 🙂 so i hope you dont mind me sharing my pics etc

first off heres my little Robin buddy Bird Raymond – https://www.facebook.com/heftysgarden/videos/1664437380547306/

and then a picture from my own back garden a few days ago

and 1 of my many videos with Beeeeeeees!! – https://www.facebook.com/heftysgarden/videos/1664437380547306/

i look forward to reading more about everyones encounters with nature etc 🙂

for more pics and stuff please check http://www.facebook.com/heftysgarden

 

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[dickensman]

The swifts are back, they arrive about the 10th May above my house each year and it is a pleasure to see and hear them.

The neighbours have just had their huge sycamore cut back substantially and gives me more sunlight, which is nice.

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[dickensman]

We have had a shower, enough to wet the ground but we need a day of rain.
My water tanks are low and we have had barely an inch since the beginning of April.

Spain cannot produce their tomatoes because of the dry weather.

Female blackbird was discovered collecting nesting material today, so must be on her second brood at this time of the year.

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[dickensman]

Bank holiday Monday and it is raining, though not for long which is the way of scattered showers.

I would have expected more rain for a bank holiday.

Purchased 3 Lithodora’s from Columbia road market yesterday for a fiver, good value!

Bees seem to love them so they must produce lots of nectar from their electric blue flowers.

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[dickensman]

I have never known an April as dry as this one, nothing’s registered in the rain gauge.

Should rain on Monday as it’s a bank holiday!

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[dickensman]

My central heating and hot water manager John Powers dropped in to sort out the problem of heating being on whilst being asleep in bed and the programmer all in the off position.
He determined the problem in minutes as a sticky motorized valve which he will replace, everything is working so it is not really urgent but of course it is better for ones mental health to have a new reliable one installed.
John also brought up the idea of adding new inhibitor which is good thinking, because I hadn’t given it a thought.

John Powers 07977 909 339 central heating and plumbing.

I put a sticky pad down in the garden to catch mice and took out three.
I have seen more mice since too, so I will put another in place tonight to see if I can thin out a few more.
They all run through the gap between the two walls to escape predators so I will place one on or near that run first.

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[dickensman]

I drove through Borough High st yesterday to be surprised by hefty, metal, hinged barriers, which have been placed either side of the road.
When one considers the pace of crawling traffic on this thoroughfare would one need barriers to form a full stop?

No sign of rain around, so I’m watering daily everything newly planted.

The stainless steel roasting pan I use to create a bird-bath is tilted so one end is three inches deep the other end about half that depth.
Sometimes little birds get it wrong and go in the deep end by mistake.
They puzzle at their buddies having a great time splashing in the shallows whilst they are standing rigid and motionless in the deeps.

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[dickensman]

Watering fruit trees is a part-time job at the moment, the ground is dry and no sign of rain which is vital to it all.

The mower took some starting for the first time this year this, thought I might need it repaired but it did finally start up and run once the old petrol had burned off.

I do not have much grass now but it always looks more pleasing to see it cut, all neat and tidy.

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[dickensman]

Sitting on a friends balcony in full sunlight yesterday, both of us found it too hot, and at the beginning of April with the sun described as "the ray of death" drilling through dark trousers this must be a record.

After a few minutes we gave up and went inside to escape the heat.

Will this year overtake 1976 as the hottest, longest summer in my lifetime.

Anything newly planted will need watering everyday it does not rain.

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[dickensman]

Something of a scuffle caught my attention yesterday on my patio.

A sparrow hawk was on the ground beneath the patio door as I looked out it promptly gathered itself together and flew off.

I had to get down on all fours to see what the fuss was about and found a well concealed mouse-hole, where they had gnawed right through the hard wood frame.

I had been wondering and searching for the way-in of these pesky rodents but it took a sparrow hawk to show me.
That hole is now a home for a stainless-steel abrasive pad or a non rotting brillo without the soap.

The apricot trees are in, they had to be enveloped in John Innes no.3 because anything else is too acid.

I have to thank Nigel and Olly for their quick response they planted them the next day after I phoned.

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[dickensman]

The blossom on the greengage and some of the plum trees is all wide open and drinking in life.

If I get as many plums as blossoms on the tree, I am in for a glut.

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[dickensman]

The pair of blackbirds are building in the thorny evergreen, a pyracantha I think, so they must have been disturbed from their nest building next door.

My good fortune being honored by their choice of nesting site.

I do throw half a dozen grapes out for them most days so not just good fortune!

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[beckenhamlife]

Your garden sounds delightful. I think we have a couple of handy men under the business section on here – do please give one a go as be great if we can help generate some work for the trades people posting on here.

Many thanks and enjoy the sunshine today

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[dickensman]

I have noticed a pair of hedge sparrows hopping and pecking around under the peanut feeders.

When the bird population increases in the garden it always cheers me up.

The apricot trees arrive this week I have a few bags of John Innes no.3 to bury them in and give them a good start in life.

I need to hire a handyman/joiner to replace one or two rotting boards around the base of the big shed.

New low wattage outside lights are replacing the existing ones today.

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[dickensman]

Mrs blackbird has just been spotted collecting nesting material but sadly not building in my garden, so a near neighbour has that honour and privilege.

The greengage has a few blossoms out already, it is lovely to see spring sweeping in on the back of "Doris".
The gage races along at it’s own peril, there is plenty of time for frosts which stop or stunt growth.

The white blossom bushes are blackthorn….

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