Frogs predated in my garden.

Just over a week ago I found 5 frogs dead in my garden, 2 during the week and then on a Saturday morning 3 were found on a lawn in separate areas. They had had their head and legs  bitten off in all but one frog. My thoughts were that maybe the foxes that visit almost nightly were the predators or maybe Hedgehogs, Crows or Magpies that is until I set the camera trap in the garden.
I had a surprise to see a Tawny Owl had paid a visit. So the Owl is the prime suspect!

One of two foxes that have been visiting most nights.

 The perched Tawny Owl was a nice surprise and quite unexpected. I have brightened the image as on the original unedited image just two eyes were visible!

 

I have since found out that my neighbour had also found a single frog in the same state as those in my garden. I wonder if the Owl will be back for more?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A temporary blip!

 

The snow has mostly thawed now and despite the bitterly cold wind it is almost looking though certainly not feeling like a Spring day! ;-)

The 'Beast from the East' returns!

Hopefully just a 'mini' beast if the weather forecasters have it right!
My garden is blanketed with snow, to say it is a 'mini' return it dropped a lot of snow in the process!

To think that on Friday I saw my first Ladybird of the year and earlier in the week a Bumblebee was dotting around the pansy flower pots!

I have had  a sad sight the last few days. During the last week 2 frogs were found dead in my garden and on Saturday (17th) 3 dead frogs found in different areas of a lawn. I wonder if it is one of the foxes that visit, a cat, rat or maybe one of the corvids!
I am setting the camera trap down by the fish pond to see if the 'species' can be caught on camera! No tracks visible this morning due to the snow cover but I doubt much was about with the snow falling throughout the night. The fish pond has never attracted many frogs, maybe that is just as well.

 

                                                          Not a happy gnome!

I cleared an area for ground food, guess which was the first bird to take advantage?

 

Snow, snow go away, Spring is on it's way!

(hopefully) ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gates closed for one day, I now know why!

I had read that Hawfinches had been seen frequenting a park not too far away from my home, so a visit was made to Seth Somers Park in Halesowen.

Seth Somers was the son of an industrialist and he decided that the house, known as the Grange, that he had lived in at various times should be put to a good purpose, he decided that the 25 acre site should be split with 14 acres be made over as a public park and recreation site for all time and the house and remaining land in the hands of Trustees would become a Sports and Social Club.

 

Why was the park closed on the 2nd January each year? I emailed the Trust and received a kind reply to my question.

 

' Seth Somers Park is private land and the way of protecting its right of way to the  public is to lock the gates for one day a year, the Trust chose the 2nd January as families love to walk on New Years Day the 1st.'

 

Now that is good news for local Birders who wish to get out and begin their listing for the year on New Years Day in numerous 'local' areas!

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I have now visited the park twice, once with snow/slush on the ground and the visit on Sunday (11th) in sunshine for the most part.

 

Bird species seen on my first visit were in no particular order:

Blue & Great Tit, L T Tit, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song & Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Siskin, Fieldfare, Redwing, Stock Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Common Buzzard x3.

On my second visit the highlights were numerous Blackbirds, Redwings and Great and Blue Tits. L T Tits, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker x2, Green woodpecker heard only, a Kingfisher that took flight along the brook, though not seen by me unfortunately. A Kestrel and 6 Common Buzzards circling above were the remaining highlights! Unfortunately I didn't connect with any Hawfinches that I see are still being reported there.

 

The Pine trees were at times producing dust clouds of pollen when disturbed by squirrels, birds and me shaking a branch or two! Lovely to see Lesser Celandine in flower, Spring is trying to spring!

 

Good to have a new area to explore throughout the changing seasons.

 

 

    NB .....Permissive footpath – this footpath takes you over private land and isn’t a right of way. The landowner has granted permission for the route to be used by the public but they also have the right to withdraw that permission if they choose. The path will often be closed for one day a year in order to protect the landowner against any future claims of continuous public right of way. The date(s) the path is closed for should be well signed in the area.                 

 

This information was taken from https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2011/08/rights-of-way/

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new 'bird' on the block!

The Fieldfare that has been resident for the last 3 days in my garden was joined early this morning by what I first thought to be another Fieldfare. This was clearly not to be a friendly meeting as they had a mid-air combat and eventually both ending up in the lying snow beneath the apple tree! Looking through my bins I could see it was a Thrush but not a Fieldfare, it was a Mistle Thrush! As you can see in the images it has an unusual colouration in that it has a few white (leucistic) feathers.

Well, let battle commence! The Mistle Thrush has ended up the victor. The Fieldfare is now, along with the Blackbirds, eating the almost spent apples that have fallen on the ground, that is when the Mistle Thrush allows them to! I thought Fieldfares were aggressive but the Mistle Thrush has taken it's crown for defending food territory!

I have to admit to feeling just a little sorry for the Fieldfare.


                                                 The 'mighty' Mistle Thrush.

 

I wonder if we will have another new 'bird' on the block tomorrow. :-)

Fieldfare frenzy!

You would think reading the title that I had had a flock of Fieldfares in my garden, well I have not...just the one! This one is more than enough in my garden though of course whatever species and quantities that wish to feed in the garden are more than  welcome. The trouble with Fieldfares is that they are so territorial with the food on offer, I can't blame them especially so in the weather conditions we are experiencing. I do feel sorry for the regular Blackbirds that visit the garden as they are not getting a look in, that is until this morning! I have scattered and spiked apples in several places around the garden, the Fieldfare can only be in one place at a time, I have foxed it! ;-)
A lovely bird to see in all seriousness, I shall make the most of this one as they will soon be on their way

My apples were from a local farm shop. They were in a crate marked 'half price', some were a little soft and some just bruised slightly, I asked how much and mentioned they were for the birds. I was told I could take the lot for free, I emptied the crate and  filled 2 carrier bags.How kind was that, it pays you to ask. :-)

Whilst I had a break from writing my post (making a cuppa) a Redwing arrived in the garden though it did not stay for long, maybe it will return. We are having prolonged heavy snow showers and strong winds again this afternoon.

When I see Fieldfares for some reason the film 'Angry Birds' springs to my mind!

 

If you go out walking please remember the wildlife and place a little food here and there.

 

 

The North wind doth blow.....

......and it freezes up my garden pond! The 'Beast from the East' in reality is the culprit.;-)

 

Stay safe out there folks!