Wildlife on your doorstep.

[TheDweezil]

I love wildlife. I consider myself as a conservationist. I used to be a falconer. Unfortunately as the years rolled by there was less places to fly a bird.

What wildlife do you get in your area ?

Here's a few of my local wildlife pics...

Fox on my Hawthorn hedgeYoung Common BuzzardSparrowhawk On PidgeonKestrelGoldfinchSparrowhawk with Pidgeon (1)Sparrowhawk with Pidgeon (2)Sparrowhawk with Pidgeon (3)Sparrowhawk with Pidgeon (4)Sparrowhawk with Pidgeon (5)Long Eared OwlHarris Hawk

[TheHornedOne]

You are right about the long grass, @TallTrees, but then, it is 'No Mow May', so we need not feel too guilty about not cutting it right now, eh!

Fortunately, the garden here also has plenty of approach cover, so the birds are usually pretty relaxed about their comings and goings!

That said, a couple of weeks back, there was a brief, but unsuccessful attack, by a Sparrowhawk, on a Pigeon ......... a Peregrine would not have failed though!

You are also so right about the bathing, but that unfortunately is not good news for your Red Masons is it; with the weather generally continuing to be unsettled, and unseasonal.

~R.

PS ~ What species ARE the Tall Trees, TallTrees?

[TallTrees]

Didn't really stop raining yesterday 16th May. Checking red mason bees in afternoon.  Many in tubes sheltering. Took this photo of them.

 They have been trying, it has been so difficult. 

Hoping for better days.  This morning is good chilly at 6am but no rain. Sun up. 

[TallTrees]

There are definitely ups .. birds are doing well lots of Dunnocks too. Blackbirds singing always look forward to that...usually summery ! 

@TheHornedOne 

Bees are not happy, have got Bumblebees on large cotoneaster unfortunately the flowers aren't open yet but they love these flowers.  

Like the bird bath photo,  birds seem to like bathing even when it's raining. 

Garden is really liking the rain though.  No mowing the lawn grass is too wet so it is long, suits the wild life.  Before long small birds will disappear in the grass!

[TheHornedOne]

Thanks for the Red Mason update @TallTrees.

Back when I posted in early April, the Cherry, and the Ribes, were flowering well, the weather was on the up, and the bees were working well.

Just now however, the weather is as unsettled, as unpredictable and as un-springlike as I can recall ............ and the bees just ain't turning in for work; which isn't good is it?

On the positive side, Blackbird song is presently outstanding, and Starling and Dunnock fledgings abound, which is some compensation - but the Tulip are loitering, ha!

 ©  SJS ~ May 2021

~R.

[TallTrees]

May 16th 

Been awful day especially for bees.  

They are quite slow so able to photo them coming in and out of nesting tube boxes.

 

[TallTrees]

Well it's May 14th and the weather has been terrible for bees. Red Mason like it sunny and warm.  I photographed the nesting tubes and could see a grumpy face 😠 where's the sun I'm waiting there were other bees in the tubes but they were further down in the tubes...so funny.

 

[TallTrees]

That's a beautiful blackbird @TheHornedOne 

Listening to them singing is wonderful. A robin I  call "beaky" has been around for about 2 years, she has a deformed beak they don't close together hence the name, doesn't bother her. She pops into the outside hallway she knows I keep the bird feed in a dish there ready to put out and helps herself, she loves that treat. She's nesting at the moment so only see her sometimes. 

More bees emerging every day now. This photo isn't good but so difficult to take the bees never stop. This one flying towards me, I think.

 

[TheHornedOne]

Thanks for the post @TallTrees, and I have to say,  I am not too surprised that your boys and girls are a little reluctant to turn out presently ................... so am I, ha! There was actually a light frost here again this morning!

When I attend the bird feeders, at around 08:00 daily, I work beneath a Cherry tree, and adjacent to a Ribes shrub - both of which are currently in flower.

Recently, I have been regularly watched by two particularly friendly birds, a Blackbird, and a Robin, but any Bees that are around simply ignore me, they just keep working - athough the sound of them doing so is really quite euphoric!

 © SJS ~ May 2012

~R.

[TallTrees]

Sweet photo @TheHornedOne 

My red mason bees emerging at last cold spring so hatch delayed.  Best photo I could get because the boys wouldn't stand still, girls emerge 2 weeks later.

 

[TheHornedOne]

Supper Time!

 © SJS ~ April 2021

~R.

[TheHornedOne]

  © SJS 2012

~R.

[TallTrees]

I have cleaned about 1000 red mason bees in my colony. They are now ready to be put out into their release boxes for their March/April adventures. 

Photo of bees in their silk cocoons.

 

[TheHornedOne]

  © SJS 2012

[TallTrees]

That's a great tree ~ they will be on that.  

Feeding and nesting somewhere around.

[TheHornedOne]

I do have this ...................

..................... [Prunus avium Wild Cherry 'Plena'] at the bottom of the garden @TallTrees, so I guess I'm in with a chance of spotting some!

~R.

[TallTrees]

Lovely photograph. 

Yes they should everywhere. Very early little bee feeding on apple trees pear trees crab  apple trees cherry trees. 

Nesting in holes in trees and brickwork. I think roaming ones join my colony and some of mine buzz off somewhere. 

[TheHornedOne]

Is the Red Mason Bee inclined to roam @TallTrees; might I get them around my garden?

This clearly isn't a Red Mason; but it was working in my garden ......................

© SJS 2013

~R.

[TallTrees]

They are amazing  @TheHornedOne 

these are not like  honey bees so mostly look after themselves..I  have made the decision to clean them which is quite a job then put them back out at the right time, they nearly always catch me out. 

You are right though they need lots of pollen and nectar plants being early bees mainly orchard pollinators I am always worried not enough around.  I have grown my bee colony to over 700. 

I absolutely adore them though and they do not sting sometimes when  I put them out in their release box they walk on my hand  adorable. Thank you for your interest

[TheHornedOne]

I toyed with the idea of keeping bees myself at one time, @TallTrees - a colleague of mine was a beekeeper - but realistically, I resided in an unacceptable environment for the purpose at the time.  Facinating creatures!

~R.

[TallTrees]

Hi @TheDweezil 

A lovely subject.

I  breed Red Mason Bees. I  love the garden and feed the little birds put up nest boxes for them. Feed the fox some little nibbles she passes through every night not greedy.  

My photos are just snaps from my phone. 

The bees are sleeping in their silk cocoons until March. 

BEES IN THEIR SILK COCOONS  

 bee tubes on wall facing South