GARDEN BLOG: 2020 LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN BLOG
We are still living in strange circumstances whilst the covid-19 virus continues to spread globally. One positive outcome has been the increase in interest by people in the local wildlife especially in their gardens.
Not so many garden butterflies this year although the number of bumble and honey bees has increased. Red Admiral butterflies have definItely reduced but I believe this may be due to the the fact that (sadly) out Victoria Plum tree appears to be dying from a fungal infection. Fewer over ripe plums has meant fewer butterflies to feast on them.
An unusual visitor to our plot this summer was a Lesser White Throat. It arrived early one morning amongst a mixed flock of tits and finches. (I apologise for the quality of the image!) I understand that it is very rare for them to visit gardens so feel very privileged that it graced ours with it’s presence.
Autumn is “knocking on the door” bringing colder nights and shorter days. This has resulted in the Rowan and Hawthorn berries keenly being consumed by Thrushes and Blackbirds.
STOP PRESS: A Yellow Browed Warbler - a rare winter migrant - visited our Milton Keynes garden on the 12th October and caused a bit of a stir locally. (See the image on this page.)
Birds seen recently include:
Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Chiff Chaff, Collared Dove, Common Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Feral/white Pigeon, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser White Throat, Magpie, Robin, Starling, Sparrowhawk, Willow Warbler, Wren & Yellow Browed Warbler.
Mammals and Reptiles: Common Toad, Common Frog, Bank Vole and Long-Tailed Fieldmouse.
Insects seen: Holly and Common Blue, Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral, Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White, Large and Small White butterflies. Common Field Grasshopper, Brimstone Moth, Mint Moth, Speckled Bush Cricket, Sawfly -Rhogogaster viridis.
