ED Nature Watch

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Run outside and look at th'inconstant moon.

Full. Beautiful.

[Siduhe]

What PGC said - also responsible for me learning a great new word: "perigee", as in "The moon is so bright because it's at its closest perigee to earth"...

[SteveT]

I have had a pair of coal tits visit the peanut feeder for the last two days, they are the size of a great tit but with heavier black markings.

I feel honoured.

[SimonM]

Hmmm...are you sure these were coal tits? They are smaller than great tits, roughly the size of blue tits...

[SteveT]

I must check in my bird book, I certainly did not intend to mislead anyone least of all myself. Thanks for pointing that out SimonM.

[steveo]

Here's a piece about teh wildlife what I wrote for Dulwich on View if anyone's bored

[Sue]

Can't remember if I've said this before, but standing near Sainsbury's about 2am the bird song is incredible. Jaw-droppingly incredible in fact. OH thinks it's because of all the lights and they think it is still day, and of course there is little traffic noise at that time. But surely they must sleep some time?

[Ann]

I saw today for the first time this year at Goose Green, the early shoots from this year's daffodils. What a pleasant sight!

[Sue]

I've got some in a pot outside that are about to flower :)

[SteveT]

Should be snowdrops, then crocuses followed by daffs.

Of course this all means nought if they haven't been planted!

[womanofdulwich]

I had 2 green woodpeckers in my garden this morning- never seen them in 17 years! They are beautiful

[Sue]

SteveT Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Should be snowdrops, then crocuses followed by

> daffs.

>

xxxxxxx

Should be, SteveT, but flowering periods are all to pot these days, presumably due to climate change.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

There are some beautiful Camellias around at the moment - don't know when they are supposed to bloom.

[Sue]

They flower around this time, in the Winter, I remember the first time I saw a Camellia, in the seventies, I was working in the city, went out for a walk one lunchtime in January/February and was gobsmacked to see a shrub in full bloom somewhere around the Guildhall, 'twas a Camellia I subsequently discovered and have had a soft spot for them ever since :)

[SteveT]

The pied blackbird is pecking away at a pear (conference) they seem to prefer them to apples for some reason.

[SimonM]

How nice at last to be able to admire again the views from the bridge in the Japanese Garden). I don't know when it was actually repaired but it's nice to be able to watch the waterfowl there. I suspect the restoration might attract some criticism though, as the gaps along the sides of the bridge are quite wide...certainly wide enough to let a small child through.

[thexwinglessxbird]

Our garden is filled with blue tits every morning & throughout the day. Lovely red robins too. I was rather filled with joy to see them return a couple of weeks ago & ever since - This weather has been harsh but happy to see that it hasn't effected them. I think they are a pair & together were building a nest in the Autumn. One particular is always around to watch me gardening. I leave suet, nuts & fruit out for them.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Midges. I hate spring.

[SteveT]

PGC wrote:- Midges. I hate spring.

Try Scotland in the summer,

it's surprising how something as small as a speck of dust, has such a large painful bite.

[SteveT]

A pair of blue tits have been exploring a box in the garden today, so now is the time to fix your bird boxes up on a wall facing north-ish so it doesn't cook the fledglings in the sun.

[Sue]

Yeh, seen crows and blackbirds gathering materials for their nests :)

[The Minkey]

Noooo - they haven't started nesting yet, have they? Haven't seen any twig gatherers in my neck of the woods - relying on them not having started as I have grand designs to reduce the height and depth of the hedge out back favoured by the robins, dunnocks and wrens. But if they've started, then it's a no go..

Last year we collected some sheep wool, while out walking one day, and put it into what was supposed to be a globular peanut feeder. It went down extremely well with the coal tits - their chicks must have had really cosy nests :-)

[Sue]

Sorry but some at least of the birds seem to be building their nests, unless they have taken to flying off with twigs to eat them later :))

[American Robin]

Yes nest building is definitely happening. Two collared doves collecting grasses in their beaks. And a pair of coal tits checking out the nesting box on the back wall. Also, the greater spotted woodpecker appears to have found a mate. He's been hammering on all the TV ariels in the road, broadcasting for company ? Never seen this behaviour before. Has anybody else ?

[Sue]

I'm finding it a bit odd seeing snowdrops, species crocuses, large crocuses and daffs all in flower at the same time - anyone else?