Here we are nearly into May and boy is it still cold? In fact we have had a couple of snow showers and plenty of snow on the peaks, temperature going down to minus five overnight, which after last weeks spring sunshine was a bit of a shock to the system. To add to the mix the wind has turned to the North so the saying ” when the North wind doth blow, we shall have snow”. The long daylight hours are cracking and it means that the nights are shorter giving the Pine Martins less time to eat during darkness. An added bonus for us as they feel comfortable and safe enough to come to us around sunset. So below are two of the three we have had in the last few days.
23rd.
We think this is the mum of the two youngsters we have, she has a much brown coloured coat and is a lot bigger than the next one.
This is one of the youngsters in fact the bolder of the two and really a dark brown.
Our village hall has been out of action for six months being refurbished and it is so good to see it looking really great , new floor, new paint job and even bespoke lighting . it officially opens Wednesday but the table tennis club had the use of it tonight and we had a good turnout of loyal members. The above shots show the hall from each end, the first from the stage looking towards the entrance and kitchen, the second to the stage.
25th.
Showed you earlier this Martin coming to the garden before dark and thought it was a bit unusual, though the mother had come as well so it seemed okay. Well this morning at eight forty five it turned up and was starving hungry sniffing around for food, it was then that we noticed (as can be seen in this shot) it was resting it’s back end on the ground every few steps. It then tried to climb on the log feeder about a foot of the ground and promptly fell off, it was then that we realised that it’s left rear leg it couldn’t take any weight on. We therefore assume it is either broken or injured in some way. For a Pine martin this will be terribly restrictive as most of the time it is up in the trees but this one just cannot climb. Such a shame so it has lost its climbing and speed advantage when hunting. I shall of course keep you up to date with it’s progress or decline.
28th.
A miserable damp day so decided to sit at the dining room table and take some shots of the birds coming to the feeders below the window. They tend to sit in the trees/shrub first before descending onto the feeder when one of the perches becomes free. This gives me the chance to film them in a more natural setting. Just this week we have had a large influx of Siskins that have migrated in for the summer and the first two shots so different males . Followed by a Greenfinch, which I am glad to say seem to be making a recovery since the canker deaths four or five years ago. Last shot is of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker which I think is a male , though from this angle you cannot see the red stripe on the back of its neck.
For the short while I sat by the window birds were coming and going on a regular basis, but suddenly all went quiet so I stood up to get on with some work (before I was “encouraged” to) and on looking down onto the feeders I knew the reason why, as can be seen sitting next to said feeders.
Beautiful bird is the Sparrowhawk, but not welcome at the feeding station, look at those claws.