ED Nature Watch

[philosophie]

I saw what looked like a black bee in my garden yesterday - has anyone here spotted an insect like this before? It was definitely enjoying the nectar from my borage!

[Chocky]

Ooh I've not seen any black bees, but I just had my first sighting of a swift for 2014! I don't recall seeing one in April before.

[Sue]

tomdhu Wrote:

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

> There seems to be a whole lot more chaffinches

> around this year, or is it just me? Having not

> seen one in our garden in almost 20 years, we see

> 2 in one day!

> Tom

xxxxx

Haven't seen any, lucky you!

[BrandNewGuy]

Chocky Wrote:

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

> Ooh I've not seen any black bees, but I just had

> my first sighting of a swift for 2014! I don't

> recall seeing one in April before.

Wow! I thought I might have heard one this morning, but it is very early. It might be a bird that's still on migration further north rather than one of 'our' local ones. Just checked and my first sighting in ED last year was May 15th.

[BrandNewGuy]

tomdhu Wrote:

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

> There seems to be a whole lot more chaffinches

> around this year, or is it just me? Having not

> seen one in our garden in almost 20 years, we see

> 2 in one day!

> Tom

Yes, I've seen and heard more than ever. Before a couple of years ago, you'd only really see them in the woods or occasionally the park. The goldfinches have made a comeback too, as have the sparrows. It must have been a good (mild) winter for the small songbirds.

[henryb]

I saw some goldfinches at the weekend. I tried to snap a picture but they flew off as soon as they saw the camera. I haven't seen any in London for years. Apparently they like thistle and dandelion seeds - so my half-arsed weeding is all for the better.

[Sue]

I tried to attract goldfinches with nigella (niger) seed for ages, and in the end gave up.

Maybe I'll try again! Not going to encourage dandelions and thistles in my tiny garden, I'm afraid, though may plant some nigella flowers :)

[Sue]

Somebody is selling a garden mirror on here.

I posted (politely) advice from the RSPB about the dangers of garden mirrors to birds - who obviously don't realise they are mirrors and fly into them - and my post has been removed.

Great.

ETA: Just noticed that in fact the original thread with my posts on is still there, but the seller has started a new one.

So apologies to admin for my thinking that it was admin who didn't care about birds, and bad thoughts about the mirror seller :(

[Laddy Muck]

You are right re. mirrors, Sue...sadly the little birdies tend to fly into glass too - so I try not to clean my windows during the breeding season.

Anyway, "my" newts are bonking like mad again...rabbits appear celibate by comparison! :))

[Sue]

Laddy Muck Wrote:

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

> You are right re. mirrors, Sue...sadly the little

> birdies tend to fly into glass too - so I try not

> to clean my windows during the breeding season.

>

> Anyway, "my" newts are bonking like mad

> again...rabbits appear celibate by comparison! :))

xxxxxxx

I've heard if you put stickers on glass windows it deters the birds. Especially if they're in the shape of a bird of prey silhouette!

Good news about "your" newts. My tub has had no frog visits this Spring :( So no spawn, and no tadpoles :(

[louisemurray]

I have zillions of toadpoles if you wnat some Sue pM me

[Sue]

louisemurray you're a star. I will PM you!

I'm slightly worried there might be something wrong with the water in my tub, as although it's not stagnant there doesn't seem to be anything at all living in it at the moment, ie no little pond creatures that I can see. Is that normal for this time of year? I wouldn't have thought so.

I have had builders next door who have showered sawdust all over the garden, and I wonder if anything could have got into my tub?

The mirror thread person has PMed me to tell me that I am a busybody with too much time on my hands. This for politely suggesting that the purchaser of a garden mirror should site it carefully to avoid stunning or killing birds. Charming.

ETA: Oh, I see she's called me a "stalker" (???) and a busybody on her thread, as well.

[henryb]

I can take a while. You should have midge larva at least. Does it have oxygenator plants in it?

[Sue]

henryb Wrote:

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

> I can take a while. You should have midge larva at

> least. Does it have oxygenator plants in it?

xxxxxx

Yes, I get them from The Goldfish Bowl in Oxford when I'm in Oxford. Can't remember what kind they were, but they were OK for outdoor ponds.

But I did also have a solar-powered fountain to help with oxygenation. Sadly late last Summer something (I presume a fox) dragged the floating bit out of the tub, together with the pump, if memory serves, and ate a huge chunk of the floating foam pad!

So I think it's probably (bad word meaning ruined). I may be able to get a replacement pad, but I think the pump gets wrecked if it's out of water :(

ETA: It's the second one I've had, so I'm not too keen to spend money on another one. The first one, something also removed the pump during the Winter, and unfortunately I didn't notice until Spring.

[jimmah]

My pond is full of small bugs, shrimplike things but I haven't seen any decent sized creatures in there.

I did see two chaffinches though

[Sue]

jimmah Wrote:

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

> My pond is full of small bugs, shrimplike things

xxxxxx

Yes, my tub has been in previous years, that's why I'm a bit concerned.

I've just acquired an old butler sink, maybe I will use that as my pond instead and put fresh water in it :(

But then water from the tap isn't good either because of the chlorine, oh dear :(

[kiera]

Sue, I'm sure it's okay to use tap water to start a pond, as long as you don't put live creatures in it straightaway. The chlorine evaporates.

[louisemurray]

Sue, Keira is quite right.

If you fill whatever you are going to use today and let it settle/evaporate. By Tues/Weds when you get some toadpoles and plants they will be just fine.

Louise

[Sue]

louisemurray Wrote:

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

> Sue, Keira is quite right.

> If you fill whatever you are going to use today

> and let it settle/evaporate. By Tues/Weds when

> you get some toadpoles and plants they will be

> just fine.

> Louise

xxxxxx

Oh dear, I was away and only just seen this :(

Only just going to move the sink into position and fill it :(

I do have some stuff somewhere which is supposed to sort the chlorine though, will try to find it.

[kiera]

Sue, the chlorine evaporates quite quickly.

I wouldn't advise that you add anything to the water. There's no hurry anyway - you can take your time setting up a nice home, with stepping stones and oxygenating plants for aeration and protection from predators for the new arrivals - toads?

[Sue]

Thanks kiera, in fact I've just investigated further in my existing tub and there are some small creatures alive in it, so what I think I will do is temporarily put the new tadpoles in there until the water in the new-to-me Belfast sink has had time to settle.

I can't remember what I put at the bottom of my tub, I think it was just gravel. Should I be using clean sand, or garden soil in the sink? Instead of or as well as? I've googled but that has just confused me further :)

[kiera]

Sue, That sounds like a good idea - much more satisfying to take the time to create a wildlife pond to be pleased with. There are no hard-and-fast rules - soil, gravel, sand ( as long as it's pure) are all o.k..Or you might prefer to just put in some plants in pots, using gravel on top of the soil to stop it muddying the water. If your sink is big enough, you may find this guidance helpful -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/ponds_minipond1.shtml

You'll need to ensure the froglets will be able to get out and to get back in again, remembering that they are very vulnerable to predators, usually birds, at that stage, so need some cover round the edges. Have fun!

[Sue]

Thanks kiera :)

[BrandNewGuy]

East Dulwich's swifts have definitely returned. I just heard some 'screaming' as they raced through the air. They're always a welcome harbinger of summer - and a week earlier than last year.

[Jenny1]

I just want to agree with BrandNewGuy that it's great to see - and hear - the swifts again. There were six screeching and reeling high above my garden this morning.