wildlife in the garden

Saw my first ever Small Copper last year but haven,t seen one this year. Loads of ringlets and white ones though, probably green-veined whites and small whites mainly. Oh, and Meadow Browns. Fewer peacocks than usual, but still some.

Not seen any Commas this year. Butterflies are so lovely to watch.

There must have been a hatching of commas I've seen several this evening!

A red kite (loads round here in Oxford) sits in the large ash tree just beyond my garden, calling loudly. It would be wonderful if a pair nested there next year. Once or twice, for GCs' amusement, I have put out some raw meat on a table to watch the kites swoop down, they are so fast and accurate - impossible to catch on camera. I know feeding them is not advised as they have plenty of natural food in the area, but I thought the odd occasion would do no harm.

I was fixing the garden hose when I heard sounds in the tree branch above my head. It was a pair of wood pigeons courting. Then they flew down and started cavorting with each other near my feet - totally fearless. Never seen them do that before. They only flew away when next door's cat came visiting.

Loads of bats here. We actually had the visit of a bat specialist recently. He had spotted that we have a wildlife pond at the bottom of the garden (Google earth). Apparently bats need drinking areas where they can scoop water on the wing- and our pond is the only one in the whole valley.

I had red admirals, tortoiseshell peacock and a COMMA (my first one) and numerous whites on mine yesterday in the sun. It's just outside my window so I watch them from my chair!
BTW I haven't seen any bats this year!

Oh, how lucky you are Butty. There's not much going on in my garden, except for flies and bumble bees. Lots of my flowers and bushes are getting a second wind, though, so I hope to see more wildlife soon. I have another glut of strawberries turning red and will be on patrol this time for the squirrel vandals who swiped the lot a few weeks ago!

On a small, stubby bit of common Buddlia, growing out of the corner from some old steps, I have just counted 7 Peacock butterflies, 1 Swallowtail and 2 hummingbird moths.

Sorry, should that be wane?

The swifts have gone. Summer's on the wain.

Hearing a beautiful song, I looked towards the electricity wires, that looked silver in the evening sun, and there sat a pretty goldfinch, singing his heart out.

jeni I'm not telling you

What happened to Donald? I'm worried about him?]

Fledgling buzzard, still a bit fluffy and quite small, being chased by gulls. They left it alone when it landed on a post and looked around as if to say "Who? Me?"

The cat seems to be very wary of it, anyway, whitewave!

I expect that your frog may wonder about a bit at night. But will probably make your garden his home for the duration. I have frogs in the pond who come out for a wonder around until they see my terrier Duncan (not Donald) and panic and fly back (well hop) to the pond for safety.

We've got a frog that lives in our tiny pond. It does come out sometimes, but spends a lot of time just staring out! He's been there for weeks - does anyone have an idea of whether he (or she) will move on?

PS 21°C sounds like a pretty good summer temperature to me. We rarely get that.

And I LOVE crisp, sunshiny mornings . Miised them in Thailand . The two very cold winters we had recently (not the last one which was dull and damp) were lovely and sunny and everyone was more cheerful in spite of all the ice.

You could get a peahen instead, joan.

You should hear sulphur crested cockatoos flying overhead - worse even than crows. Never heard a peacock though - I don't think I want to!!

A peacock that escaped from a local pub terrorised our street a few years back. The lady whose garage roof he had taken up residence on was scared to leave her house. Had to get an expert to come and catch him eventually. They do sound like the wailing of lost souls, don't they.

I do have a peacock - well, a visiting one, anyway. He came to see me a short while ago when I was putting out the washing. (He loves sunflower hearts). Yes, he is noisy occasionally, but only at the time that he has his tail. His feathers will soon start falling out and then his voice goes - and doesn't come back until February when he starts growing his tail again.

For the first time for a couple of years we have seen a red squirrel in the garden - cue my making sure that the cat (even though he is now 14) is in.

Someone mentioned a sparrowhawk a little while ago. I was in the conservatory with my GS a couple of weeks ago and one swooped down and took a blue tit - very upsetting for us both.

This year I have had siskins in the garden for the first time for ages, too; everything seems to love the sunflower hearts - bullfinches, goldcrests, chaffinches, greenfinches, etc., and the blackbirds pick up the remains from underneath. One of my robins also tries to eat at the feeder - he's getting better at it!

Oh dear - how awful. Not to worry - no chance of getting one!!

Have you heard peacocks, Joan? We once left a camp site because of the din they made as soon as it was light! Don't wish that upon yourself.