Great Spotted Woodpecker …

Over the last few weeks, I have been watching the comings & goings of Woodpeckers to the feeders.
Definitely 2 different lots nesting, perhaps even 3!

Anyhoo, this mornings coffee rewarded me with such a treat.
Hearing a sound, I follow it and see we have a juvenile in the garden.
He hopped onto the birdbath, called out for feeding (He best make on, as the parents only feed them for approx a week after fledging) and then he decided to take a wee bath, before popping up a tree.
A true delight to watch!

Down in Yorkshire, in my parents garden, they too have had W,oodpeckers visiting the garden, but they raided the nearby nesting boxes and mum & dad witnessed the new hatched young been pulled out by Woody.
They are known for doing this and will raid boxes for eggs too, all to feed.
You can get metal rings for your nest box entrance holes and its a good idea to do so, will help stop Woody taking other chicks!

Will be keeping a look out to see if more juveniles appear
– Karen – x

Watching & Waiting

Breakfast Time

Having a Drink

Red Top

Having a wee bath & joined by a Siskin

Away up a Tree

Two Wee Wrens …

Today I have discovered that we have two Wrens nesting at Tulloch.
One in the log shed, the other by the garden pond.
We are blessed!
– Karen – x

Wren

The Badger tit …

After the Siskins and Chaffinch dominated the garden here in Spring and Summer, September, October & November heralded a new leader and that was the Coal tit – Parus ater.
I have never seen as many together in one place and there could be up to 2 dozen in the garden at once!

The Coal tit, is one of Europes smallest Birds and is the smallest of the British tits.
It is easily recognisable due to its black head and white nape patch.
And I was told the other day, that in Lincolnshire, it is known as the Badger tit, which really does suit this wee character.

The hierarchy, is changing yet again in the garden here at Tulloch and I am really looking forward to see what birds winter will bring us.
– Karen- x

On Top of the World

Loves Suet Feeders

Coal tit on Fir

Watching the snow

Dining Together

Compare its size to the Chaffinch & Great tit

A Wee Beak-full

With the Greenfinch

With Female Chaffinch

Coming into feed

The Bee Cycle…

I love this time of year, you can literally feel a change in the air and we see mother nature’s magic at work, it truly is wonderful.

What is not so wonderful though, is seeing the dieing Bees. Someone commented on this to me and said there wasn’t enough food for them.

Well, this in places is partly true and is one of the reasons why we are planning and trying to establish the Tulloch Meadow.

But another reason why you may be coming across a lot of lethargic or dead Bees at the moment, is because of their life cycle. And instead of me explaining, am enclosing this link from the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust… https://bumblebeeconservation.org/news/anthonys-blog/what-happens-to-bumblebees-in-autumn

Keep a look out on the remaining flowers and plants for this behaviour from our precious and beloved Bees and see nature at work.

The images, I have just taken in this last hour with my phone and shows the Bumble Bees on the Autumn Crocus here at Tulloch.

– Karen – x