In My May Garden

Like much of the country it has been lovely sunshine here for the last week or so and the birds have been enjoying it as much as we humans.

Collared Dove

'The greenfinch on the apple bough
Could make my enemies tremble.'

(George Orwell)

Greenfinches

The Starlings have been using their usual bully boy tactics and coming to the garden in gangs, they seem to gobble all the food in moments, squabbling among themselves all the time. I do think though, that when they come in singly, it is possible to appreciate that they are really very attractive birds and their lovely colours glisten like jewels in the sunlight.

'The starling in the ivy now,
For to amuse his dear,
Mimics the dog, the cat, the cow,
Blackbird and Chanticleer.'

(Katharine Tynan)

Starlings

The colours of the Goldfinch always brighten the garden and in the sunlight look even more vivid.


I have been very pleased to see a pair of House Sparrows on the feeders this last week or two, they really have become very rare visitors to my garden in the last few years. I managed to photograph both male and female but unfortunately the male one came out very blurred, so I have only been able to use two photos of the female.

'But 'mong thy creatures that do sing
Perhaps of all I likest am to the housetop-haunting sparrow,
That flies brief, sudden flights upon a dumpy, fluttering wing,
And chirps thy praises from a throat that's very short and narrow.'

(George MacDonald)

House Sparrow

The Dunnock is still busy scurrying around, I hope there may be a nest in the garden and that I will see youngsters eventually.

Dunnock

I purposely use the smallest hanging seed feeders I can find so that the bigger birds are prevented from using them, as there is plenty of provision for them elsewhere in the garden. Generally this works well and the smaller birds are left to feed in peace although there have been some memorable exceptions, for instance on this occasion. But what I saw one day last week took the biscuit, or in this case the seed! I had wondered why this particular feeder kept emptying so quickly, and here is the reason, caught in the act on camera! You have to admire its ingenuity!

Wood Pigeon

There are always plenty of Blackbirds in my garden. Last year there were several successful broods raised, so I suspect there will be more this time although I was talking to someone today who said the pair of Blackbird's nesting in his garden have had two clutches of eggs taken by Magpies already this season.


Of course even during nesting time there is always time for a spot of sunbathing.


Talking of nests, when we took the shed down last week I was dismayed to find a nest wedged amongst the Holly and Ivy at the side of the shed, there was no sign of inhabitants or eggs and it may be an old nest but I think it could be one which had just been constructed and abandoned when the shed was demolished. It was such a clever and safe place to build it and would normally have been undisturbed. I do hope if it was an abandoned one that the occupants have built somewhere else nearby.


Of course the sunshine has also brought the flowers out as well.

Clematis Pink Perfection



Deutzia


Laburnum

Every year I am thrilled to see the wild Cowslip growing in my lawn, we think it came in the turf when it was originally laid some years ago, either that or it was seeded by a bird. We are careful to mow round it until it has gone over and it seems quite happy to come back year after year.

'In the cowslip pips I lie,

Hidden from the buzzing fly,
While green grass beneath me lies,
Pearled with dew like fishes' eyes,
Here I lie, a clock-o'-clay,
Waiting for the time o' day.'

(John Clare)

My very old Paeony which originated from my mother and father-in-law's garden is in full bud.

Paeony

While my miniature Rhododendron is now in full flower.

Rhododendron


Icelandic Poppy

This London Pride, or Pretty Betty as I have always known it, is a favourite which I remember was always in my mother's garden, it is quite an unassuming little plant but is easy to grow and provides good ground cover.

'London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
London Pride is a flower that's free.'

(Noel Coward)

London Pride

Finally these Aquilegia or Columbine seed themselves readily round the garden and produce some interesting colours and shapes when they cross pollinate.

'Bring cornflag, tulip and Adonis flower,

Fair Oxeye, goldylocks and columbine.'

'Ben Johnson'

Aquilegia

All photographs taken by me in the garden.

Close Encounters of a Bird (and Bloom) Kind

Louis relaxing in the garden while we worked!

I was hoping to get a posting out before now but have only had an intermittent broadband connection over the last few days. I have also been desperately trying to catch up with some much needed gardening and unfortunately when HLH mowed the lawn a few days ago the mower finally succumbed to old age and died and as it would have been silly to buy a new one and store it in the wood pile, which was previously a shack but started out as a garden shed, it became apparent it was finally time to do something about it! So this weekend saw us clearing everything out and dismantling it. What a lovely way to spend a Bank holiday weekend! Anyway due to all that I haven't had much time for watching the birds or taking photos. So most of the pictures on this post were taken within the last three weeks.



While enjoying one of our regular dog walks a couple of weeks ago I stopped to look at the Canada Geese on the local fishing lake.



I took a couple of photos but as it was late and the light was going I switched the camera off and put it in the bag. As soon as I did and started to move away I became aware of a huge kerfuffle going on and hurriedly got the camera out again. Someone was clearly not happy!


Indeed, getting quite stroppy!


Time to up the ante!


and get a little more forceful!


Mission accomplished!


Just after that encounter as the light was getting even dimmer I saw these Wood Pigeons enjoying an encounter of a different kind, but which seemed to deteriorate slightly!

How about a little kiss and cuddle.


Just a little peck!


Oh go on then.


Just one more please?


What do you mean this is boring.


Don't you dare walk away when I'm talking to you!


That's it then I'm not speaking to you!

Wood Pigeons always seem very comical birds to me, I photographed these in the garden.

This Blackbird looked me in the eye.


Down to business, it's lunchtime.



The Speckled Wood butterfly below flatly refused to spread its wings for me!


All of the photos below were taken over the last couple of weeks by HLH while giving the dog his lunchtime stroll.

White Bluebells


Cherry Blossom


Red Campion


Dandelion Clock


Gorse