The last two weeks have seen me spending almost all day,
every day in my North Kent garden. The lock down
has pushed me into giving my patch a facelift and I have got on and done jobs
that I had been making excuses about for years.
It has given me lots of time to come up with blog ideas and
other social media videos and posts to share with the RSPB Rainham Marshes family, who,
like us are sorely missing the place especially after the truly abysmal wet,
dank and windy winter that we have all endured.
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| Primroses |
Trying to do a people engagement job from home has been
interesting and I have turned my garden jobs not into chores but projects and
challenges for people stuck at home to apply to their own green space be it a
garden, patio or balcony window box The
whole process has been cathartic for me too. I am calmer and more relaxed. I am
sleeping better. I am enjoying myself.
Someone pointed out to me today that that is what retirement feels like
but I have a long way to go yet before that becomes a reality.
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| Two wildlife refuges... |
I have encountered a wealth of wildlife along the way and
our Dressing Gown Lock Down Birders WhatsApp group has spurred us all to get
outside (or open a window in some cases) and look up and listen. I suspect that
between the 39 of us taking part we have amassed over a hundred species and most
of us have had new additions to our lists from doing so.
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| One of the daily Buzzards |
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| Woodpigeon in the Crabapple |
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| Glossy Starling |
As of today I am on a 49 with a distant Chiffchaff added
just after breakfast. We have all been trying after dark too, (and I do not
mean Noc Mig with all the gear) simply listening and hoping for a strange night
time call.
Most people have had
Fieldfare and Redwing but not me but
last night was dead calm and in a fairly short time between nine and ten, I
heard several Coots, a Moorhen, Snipe and flock of piping Common Scoters as
they whirred over in the darkness on their way back to the high Arctic to
breed. Others have been similarly lucky.
Med Gulls are a daily feature for me here in Strood but not
for anyone else and I have had Raven and displaying Buzzards and Sparrowhawks
but not a Red Kite (ever) as yet. Who
knows how long this will go on for but I suspect that the list will still have
opportunities to grow as the spring progresses.
Being outside has allowed me to actually watch what is in my
garden for a change rather than a quick pop out to feed the birds. There are two pairs of Goldcrests utilising
the Firs, the same of tinkling Goldfinches and wheezing Greenfinches and I have
found Robin and Blue Tit nests so far.
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| Robin on my new fence stockade |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Goldfinch |
It has been a little cool until today for many insects but I
have had Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies and plenty of
Honey Bees, Red-tailed and Buff-tailed Bumblebees visiting the Crab Apple, Primroses
and Mahonia. Smaller bees are starting
to appear but the male Andrena species
are tricky and I need a female to give me a chance at an ID while a russet male
Osmia bicornis – the Red Mason Bee
was seen basking in the Ivy today
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| Honey Bee |
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| Andrena sp |
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| Osmia bicornis – the Red Mason Bee |
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| Mahonia |
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Hoverflies have appeared too with Eristalis tenax, Eristalis pertinax, Epistrophe eligans, Episyrphus
balteatus, Syrphus ribesii, Myathropa florea, Dasysyrphus albostriatus and Eupeodes luniger all seen in the last
couple of day. I have been making lots of new Hoverquariums so some of these
species that like muddy water in which to lay their eggs should be very happy.
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| Myathropa florea |
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| Myathropa florea |
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| Epistrophe eligans |
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| Eristalis pertinax |
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| Eupeodes luniger |
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| Dasysyrphus albostriatus |
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| High Rise Hoverquarium |
A few other flies are now around and Phil C helped with the ID of these three...
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| Calliphora vicina |
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Fannia sp
|
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| Anthomyiidae sp |
While Annie J was able to sort out this impressive Honeysuckle Sawfly for me - a new one for the garden.
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| Honeysuckle Sawfly |
I planted potatoes, beetroot and broad beans for the first time in ten years, have half cleared out my detritus filled pond and it is already
healthier with Ramshorn Snails, Smooth Newts and Common Frogs and by delving into wood and
rubbish piles I have found the chrysalises of butterflies and moths
and the larders of several hazelnut loving Wood Mice.
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| Common Frog |
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| Smooth Newt |
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| Ramshorn Snail |
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| Marsh Marigold |
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| Butterfly Chrysalis? |
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| Drinker Moth Chrysalis |
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| Hazelnut gnawedby Wood Mouse |
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| Rhopalus subrufus - thanks to Yvonne C |
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| Harlequin Ladybird |
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| A Velvet Man - ok Velvet Spider Mite |
These are exceptional times, well outside of the experiences of
almost everyone but although we are being rightly encouraged to hide ourselves away
from friends, family and colleagues it is not a communication dead zone.
Isolating ourselves means staying indoors and being sensible. It does not mean
that we can’t share, via the multitude of channels at our fingertips, our feelings, experiences and our discoveries, that we can ask questions of those who may know the answers and throw ourselves into that neglected garden or indoor hobby
that you never had time for any more.
Many people are thankfully still out there keeping the world
moving around us for which we are all very grateful but now is the chance for many of us to become bigger and
better, to self improve, to challenge ourselves and perhaps most importanly to recharge our depleted batteries.
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