LOVE IS IN THE AIR

After getting back from a couple of weeks away I was looking forward to seeing some changes in the gaden. We arrived back on friday 18th March and were met by cold wind and rain. It was all change on Saturday though and warmer conditions bought the first butterfly of the year, a Peacock, into the garden.

A quick look at the pond revealed a couple of good clumps of Frog spawn, despite the water having taken on a distinctly green tinge, presumably due to algae growing in the warmth. It was nice to hear increased birdsong as well, not least from the Dunnocks, a threesome of whom were chasing each other around the garden absolutely shamelessly.

Disappointingly there was no evidence of occupation in the Blue Tit camera box. There was plenty of activity in the one down the bottom of the garden and I felt sad that I would have to wait a whole year for another chance to be a fly on the wall of a Blue Tit family. However, last night I switched on the TV and flicked over to the 'Blue Channel' and was amazed to see a Blue Tit roosting in the box (below), fluffed up to the size of a tennis ball and sitting on a bed of moss. Carol and I were absolutely delighted and continued to watch it as it occasionally woke up and moved around the box. Absolutely mesmerising!

Today we have watched both birds toing and froing, gradually building the nest and Carol has just told me that a single bird is in situ as I write this at 7pm.

Because the images are taken at night they are infra red and therefore black and white. Hopefully i'll be able to get some daytime pictures in colour as things (hopefully) progress.