ED Nature Watch

[Karrie]

[Deleted] Safety reasons

[SteveT]

One has to feed these fruit bearing plants too.

They need top dressing each year at the beginning of the season, a mulch covering around the base of the plants,

and an ounce or half a handful of growmore each month until the fruits have formed.

They also need as you have suggested Karrie, a sunny spot.

Water regularly especially after a day of 28 degrees like today,

late evening, when the birds have finished feeding themselves and their young, is the preferred time.

[Karrie]

[Deleted] Safety reasons

[SteveT]

You do not get the most productive cropping for the first couple of years, as the plant is still establishing itself.

[jimmy two times]

Today I observed the bizarre self destructive behaviour, which is witnessed once every 4 years, of the Domestic England fan (Domesticusstupidkuntias) who organises street partys, BBQs and garden partys all in the vain hope that the national football team will do well at the world cup despite being absolutely sh1te. It's almost akin to Lemmings who hurl themselves off cliffs once a year.

[SteveT]

The great tits have chosen another box for their second family rearing.

They are close to fledging time judging by the amount of noise they're making.

[jam]

Anyone see the Heron today in Peckham Rye? The Duck was desperately fighting off the Heron who managed to grab the duckling and had the poor little thing for breakfast:(

[Sue]

Oh no :-S

[SteveT]

Last time I was round the lake and the heron moved a step towards the ducklings, mum let out a quack and they all instantly went under water until the heron had gone.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

My mother said the Ducks were quacking like mad to deter the Heron but it did not work. She said it was awful because the Heron kept ducking ( pardon the pun!) the duckling under water and shaking it, and then it just swallowed it whole.

She said it was rather upsetting because the Duck was really putting up a fight but lost the battle to save her duckling.

I am glad I didn't have to witness this!

SteveT Wrote:

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> Last time I was round the lake and the heron moved

> a step towards the ducklings, mum let out a quack

> and they all instantly went under water until the

> heron had gone.

[LadyTaTa]

Oh that is so awful, I wish I hadn't read it!

[SimonM]

In Peckham Rye Park this morning and saw Ms Mallard swimming around the island with her ten (count 'em, ten!) fluffy ducklings. They are cute but of course she will be lucky if 3 or 4 make it to maturity. Mother Nature can be one hard-faced bitch sometimes...There was a heron at each end of the island but neither at that time showed any interest. Interestingly, 9 of the ducklings were the usual dark brown shade, but the 10th was more a golden brown, cafe-au-lait..

[chichirara]

Saw a Bullfinch in my garden today ! First spotting in 18 years any one else seen one?

[LadyTaTa]

I saw a pair of bullfinches recently (a couple of months back), but down in Winchester. Still, I'd never even seen one before - amazing sight! I had to look them up on the RSPB birdfinder to figure out what they were - they hung out there for most of the afternoon, but my parents haven't seen them since.

[reetpetite]

SimonM Wrote:

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

> In Peckham Rye Park this morning and saw Ms

> Mallard swimming around the island with her ten

> (count 'em, ten!) fluffy ducklings. They are cute

> but of course she will be lucky if 3 or 4 make it

> to maturity. Mother Nature can be one hard-faced

> bitch sometimes...There was a heron at each end of

> the island but neither at that time showed any

> interest. Interestingly, 9 of the ducklings were

> the usual dark brown shade, but the 10th was more

> a golden brown, cafe-au-lait..

Only 9 today:(

[Penguin68]

And only 8 tomorrow yum yum (posted on behalf of my cousin The Heron)

[SteveT]

Saw a Bullfinch in my garden today ! First spotting in 18 years anyone else seen one? wrote chichirara.

I love their looks they are a very pretty bird,

but anyone with fruit trees doesn't,

as they attack the buds of the forthcoming fruits

which can seriously damage your crop.

They are hunted by farmers in the orchards of Kent, or used to be.

[LadyTaTa]

Oh no! We're having pigeon babies!!

Actually, despite being revolted by pigeons I have to say I'm getting fond of the parents of these two. They look clean, no gammy legs, don't poo all over my balcony, and share the parenting responsibility. Which is more than can be said of some of my house guests...

[SteveT]

They really know how to build a good quality, well padded nest those pigeons.

Harvesting the blackcurrants today so jam making is imminent.

I was away at the weekend so everything has drooped missing their ration of water.

[Karrie]

[Deleted] Safety reasons

[Sue]

You will have to post a pic of your sunflower up here once it stops growing :)

[SteveT]

We have finally had a drop of rain, sadly it is only a drop, it barely wetted the ground so we need a good deal more to help the fruits and veg along and the sooner the better.

[cate]

Little birds from probably the same family are flying all over my garden, perching on my hedge and even sitting on the top of an opened back room window! I really thought they were going to come in. They were even clinging to the brickwork outside the window. I don't know what kind they are but the one seemed to have black marking around the face and neck. I am thinking they are fledglings. The one sitting on the window kept teetering back and forth and I thought he would fall in. I gave a bit of a shout and he flew away.

[The Minkey]

Could be Great Tits, Cate. I'm getting flurries of Green and Goldfinch fledgies, with the odd Blue & Great Tit, on the feeders.

The large plastic plant pot saucer I use as a bird bath has been extremely popular in the hot weather with all kinds of wildlife. I've just been watching a male blackbird defending his right to bathe first from a juvenile. The juvenile had a beak full of worms which it promptly dropped into the water once it managed to get its turn. Still a lot to learn.. In the background I spotted a new bird to my garden, a nuthatch - very pretty.

Meanwhile, I've been slow on the planting front. The toms are only just starting to fruit. A few butternut squash have self-seeded again and have started to rocket away. The biggest success of the month has to be the blueberries which have produced for the first time this year. Lovely.

[cate]

Just looked up the Tit family and it could be either Great or Blue, although didn't really see the head. Did you know that the Great Tit eats bats?