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| << September 2024 | October 2024 | November 2024 >> |
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1st: Dandelions    |
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2nd: Activity at the feeding station The birds are beginning to come back to the feeders after a bit of an absence. It's actually good news as it means for the last few weeks, they have been able to find other things to eat, berries and seeds in particular. Just adore seeing them tucking into our seeds, peanuts, mealworms and fat balls. The activity in the garden is increasing too. Had the total joy of watching a goldfinch jump to pin a dandelion stalk to the ground before then tucking into the scores of seeds on the seed head!! What a privilege to have all these beauties on our doorstep.     |
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3rd: Butterflies in October Didn't expect our first sighting of a comma this year to be October 3rd!! Brings the total butterfly species seen at Cadbury Cottage this year to 13. This week has also seen Painted Ladies and lots of Red Admirals and Large Whites. Need a butterfly count in Sept/ October too - we have seen loads compared to July/ August!! Still, compared to just three years ago when we had Painted Ladies and Tortoiseshells numbering 30/40, number are still very low. We have so many buddleia cuttings ready to plant for next year - here's hoping they do their job!!    |
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4th: Starlings Not the best photo but it's great to see the starlings back again - we only now get the migrants each winter as opposed to all year round residents (this lot have been around a week or so now) - we'd love that to change but are not optimistic that it will.... And talking of birds: today we left the Merlin App running for 20 minutes whilst we were poo-picking first thing (around 7.30am). It picked up no less than NINETEEN species!! We have seen these species in the garden/ on our land over the years (although some not recently) so feel this 'could' be an accurate. Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Crow, Dunnock, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, House Sparrow, Bullfinch, Jackdaw, Song Thrush, Firecrest, Magpie, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch. Wow!!  |
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5th: Pied Wagtail in the 'pond'!!    |
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6th: Mushroom in Oak field Fabulous contrast: white against the green  |
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7th: Definitely getting fuller We have been getting a lot of rain and the water from the roofs has been pouring in.   |
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8th: Beautiful male House sparrow in Oak field's bottom hedge |
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9th: Telephoto and Macro We were a long way off from this rook but very close to the wasp feeding on the ivy!.   |
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10th: Never tire of the views from our land |
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11th: Feeding the birds Delighted to see a male and female woodpecker feeding at the bird station, followed by a cheeky female pheasant!! No wonder our mealworms disappear so quickly!! |
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12th: Some better views of the Marsh Tit today  |
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13th: Very engaged - and the whistle with a gravy bone at the end of it, did not cut the mustard!!  |
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14th: A very obliging spider This is a Marbled Orbweaver (Araneus marmoreus var. pyramidatus). Not that common a spider according to the British Arachnological Society, although found in various locations in England. It was amongst the raspberries and we only noticed it because as Jack reached to pick a fruit, her hand came away with very sticky, thick threads attached to it. We then went looking for the 'owner' and found it hiding on the underside of a curled leaf - curled because of the sticky web keeping it that way. S/he is quite beautiful (albeit missing a leg) ... and very cooperative when it came to being photographed - although the light was fading and we didn't have the tripod (excuses, excuses... 🤣)    |
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15th: Blackbirds We must have a good half dozen individual blackbirds feasting on the mealworms each day - they are not into sharing mind you - especially not with other blackbirds! |
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16th: Busy busy |
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17th: Chili    |
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18th: Definitely over half full... |
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19th: Invertebrates and hedgehogs The weather is mild and we are still seeing a fair few invertebrates around - both these came into the house today. An Ichneumon wasp, possibly Pimpla rufipes and a Needlefly, possibly Leuctra fusca. AND.... What a joy to see these three hedgehogs rummaging around under the bird feeders last night.... so lucky! The rich pickings are quite a draw and we are seeing hedgehogs most nights at the moment.   |
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20th: The absolute end of an era Today the last of our sheep and alpacas went to live down the road at Blackpool Farm - they will be reunited with the ones we sold in the Spring!! It has been a tough call but we have decided to concentrate our efforts on rewilding as much as the land as we can now. Lemon and Lime   Whalsay and Master Muckle   Chips  Neptune and Hegemone   |
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21st: 1st June till today - and that doesn't include the ones we have been eating since August... The power of muck and microbes, water and sunshine!!! Growing one's own food doesn't get much better....   |
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22nd: Colour and shape     |
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23rd: Bird in the bush    |
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24th: Milking it Kite had to have the remains of a baby canine removed today - first thing she did when she got home was head to our friend Nadja for some serious cuddles. 'Look what they let happen to me' she wailed.... (before then heading over to me, doing her best sit and asking for a treat...) Talk about milking it!!   |
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25th: Fungi |
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26th: Braunton Countryside Centre Festival of Nature    |
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27th: Stonechat pair Delighted to see our male Stonechat again, and this time with his other half. We first saw him last month in the bottom hedge in Oak field, and then again in the allotment area, which is where we spied them both today. They were a fair way off so not great photos we are afraid. But a fabulous sight!   |
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28th: Through the window PIed wagtails are a regular feature on our decking at the moment. We are seeing them far more this year than previous years. And sparrows - we have loads - adore them - they are so pretty, chatty and socialable.   |
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29th: At last!! We see goldfinches a fair amount but not, until today, on the feeders... three/ four weeks ago, we spied one as it fleetingly took a look at the seeds on offer and then flew off. We dutifully bought a niger feeder and seeds and fully expected our finch to come back with all his/ her mates. Well, yesterday they finally did, and today we caught them on the Trail Cam - adorable little things. Our list for being on or under the actual feeders is now: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, GS Woodpecker, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Wren and Starling (the later just a couple of times so far). We have seen the Long Tailed Tits behind the feeders but they have not yet ventured on to them... fingers crossed they will!! |
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30th: Wow We could absolutely not believe it today when at the end of our morning walk round the fields we spied this Grey Heron on the top of the Oak Tree just beyond our garden hedge. Has it found our pond and is keeping an eye on it already!! How utterly wonderful. We really hope we see it again soon.  |
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31st: Blue skies and sunshine Such a beautiful day - this Robin singing its heart out sums it all up!!!    |