A new first for the garden

July was quiet in the garden, we were away for a bit and the nesting birds slowly disappeared. I thought we had seen the last of this year's fledglings but just happened to glance out of the window the other morning to see a male green woodpecker and a young one feeding off the ants in the grass. I have to admit I looked twice, I've never seen a green woodpecker around the gardens or in the scrubland at the back. The parents split up when the young leave the nest and share the duties. This youngster was having a go at catching the ants but dad was still feeding. They stopped for a few minutes and I was able to grab some shots (laying on the kitchen floor and shooting through the conservatory door!) before they took flight. I haven't seen them since but fantastic to know they must have been nesting nearby.

The friendly robin

The robins nested again somewhere outside of the garden but still came for food. The hand-feeding became such that I only had to open the door to go outside and I would be aware of a fluttering of wings nearby. This lasted until he disappeared for a week or so to moult. He has been back the last few weeks but was reluctant to come to my hand. We have been tempting him with the suet which he loves and once again as soon as we appear in the garden he turns up, often taking bits from right by us, and today he took from my hand. These photos are from earlier, he was looking a little tired and bedraggled at this point although still better than his mate who was nearly bald.

Field vole

We often get mice and voles in the garden, clearing up the spilt seed from under the bird feeders. This vole spent quite a while hoovering up the left overs but I think I was spotted!

Woodpecker Return

I haven't posted for a few months so need to do a little catching up! Firstly, we had two visits from the greater-spotted woodpecker at the beginning of June.

30 Days Wild

30 Days Wild is The Wildlife Trust's June campaign to get people more involved with nature. From feeling the grass under bare feet to volunteering with your local Trust, anything that encourages interaction with the great outdoors. I am signed up and will be posting my updates here and on my Twitter account - #30dayswild. It's not too late, follow the link above :)

It's all about the bugs!

Summer and bugs are sometimes an unwanted partnership but they do make great photos! If you take the time to study them rather than swat them away, or worse squish them, they are fascinating and beautiful. 

I was actually photographing the buttercups in our local meadow when this soldier beetle landed right by me. They come in many black and red colour combinations and markings - this one is Cantharis rustic identifiable by its black spot.

Greater spotted woodpecker

I happened to look out of the kitchen window the other day and was pleased to see a greater spotted woodpecker on the feeders. We have had woodpeckers in the garden before they seem to come in each day for a week or so and then disappear for a while. It had been quite some time since I'd seen one on the peanuts though so it was lovely to spot one again.  They are always very nervous of any movement though so I took this photo through the kitchen window which is then behind the conservatory. I knew I hadn't got much time so couldn't fiddle but just hope it would auto-focus through two panes of glass - or four if you could the double glazing!