A Happy Event - Day 1

Yes, we have a happy event. When I checked the nest this morning I saw a hungry little head on a very long neck making his need for food plainly clear. Though already late for the office, I grabbed my camera and rushed up to my perch. By then Mum had half-covered him with her wing and it was hard to see anything other than her sitting on her nest as usual. Light was awful and focusing is difficult at the best of times, so I failed to get a good photo, however, enlarging one of my shots did reveal the first evidence of a fledgling.

ANY TIME NOW!!!

Though I don't know how old the eggs were when I first discovered them, that was on Aug 16th .... 18 days ago. According to most references I've found, the incubation period is around 17/18 days. Even assuming the eggs had only just been laid moments before I found them, we have to be right on the brink of a happy event. I'd like to report that I'm pacing up and down my perch like a pregnant dad, but one step in either direction isn't a very recommendable move.

Stand by for an announcement very soon.

Not long to go.

I've learned that the average incubation period for Pigeons is in the order of 17/18 days. I have no idea how old the egss were when I first discoveed them but that was 10 days ago. I have to assume that they will hatch any day now and certainly within the week.

Whichever of the two Pigeons is sitting on the eggs (because I believe the two partners share the role), the other is never far away and being extremely vigilant.
A few yards from the Laburnum tree that holds the nest is a huge Pine tree that commands a masterful view of the surrounding area. The non-sitting partner can usually be seen there, standing guard .... day and night.

An Egg-citing Discovery

A few days ago, on 16th August, I tackled cutting down a 20 foot conifer that has seen better days. Apart from only being green at the top, it was growing up into a Laburnum tree and the whole thing looked a mess. I hadn't cut very much off it when a Wood Pigeon fluttered away with a squawk and much flapping and was obviously in a bit of a hurry. This happened to me once before when I was climbing my parents Rowan tree to do some pruning. On that occassion, I discovered a nest just above my head. I climbed back down immediately and, thankfully, the Pigeon soon returned. So, I looked around carefully and, sure enough there was a nest in the adjacent Laburnum tree just inches from the part of the conifer that I had just cut off. The nest was now much more exposed to the elements than it had been previously and I took seriously the distressed manner in which the Pigeon had flown away.

Without wishing to get too close, but also wanting to know what I was now dealing with, I grabbed my camera (which is never very far away), went back up the ladder and held the camera high above my head while I fired off a couple of shots into the nest. Thank goodness for a swivel LCD screen which makes overhead shots a cinch. The resulting photo's showed me what I had feared ... two eggs in the nest.

All I could think of was to back away to a safe distance and wait. Thankfully, after a few minutes the Wood Pigeon returned. I pottered around within view but never getting too close as I tried to educate her to the notion that I meant no harm. Once she'd settled on her eggs and I'd given her enough time to get used to the idea of having me 'in the neighbourhood', I carried on with the job of digging out the old tree ... and she seemed quite happy to sit and watch.

Then I had a thought and climbed to the top of another large conifer about 20 feet away. I took my secateurs with me and trimmed away just enough of the foliage to be able to peek through at the nest a few yards away.
I dare say the Pigeon knew I was there as I'm not the most nimble of climbers, but if she did, she didn't let on. I was thrilled to now have a first rate view down into the nest. I'm far from sure I will be fortunate enough to see the chicks when they hatch, but my vantage point is prepared and I shall climb up there whenever I can to see what's going on. Fingers crossed and watch this space!!!

Having a break.

My camera is still very much a 'new toy' and I like to seize every opportunity to take some photographs. Since the first butterfly of the year, I have been trying to get a close up of one. I've often been seen chasing a butterfly around the garden with my camera in my hand, ready to call out 'say cheese' as soon as the little blighter lands on a flower. I've even tried waiting close to a butterfly-friendly bush such as Hebe or Buddleia, but always without success. Yesterday, to my huge delight, this wonderful Red Admiral fluttered past all the tempting flowers in the garden and settled on a rock. I ran indoors to grab my trusty camera and, to my amazement on my return, the little chappy was still there obviously enjoying a short break from his daily toil. I fired off a couple of shots on full zoom and then started to close in for something better. That was when he decided he'd rested enough and took to the air once more. I followed him hopefully across my garden but nothing would tempt him to settle again. Still, I got this shot so I'm not displeased, and maybe he'll came back to pose again one day. I hope so.

The Cavalry

A week or two ago I noticed a very large number of Black Fly colonising on my Runner Beans, Peas and few plants around the garden. I haven't had the time to do anything about it, but even if I had, I am reluctant to spray chemicals, even 'safe' ones.

Yesterday I went to inspect my 'veg' and the Black Fly didn't seem quite as bad as it had been. Then I saw the reason. As I watched, a 'Ladybird' appeared from beneath a leaf. A moment later, another one. When I inspected the plants more closely I found many Ladybirds munching away on those horrible little black flies. Hurray, the cavalry had arrived.

Now, being a complete ignoramus in such matters, I do need to look up why Ladybirds come in different colours and varieties. Most of mine are orange with black spots, there are a few of the traditional red with black spots, and just the odd one of the black with orange spot variety. I seem to recall reading somewhere that there is a variety of Ladybird that is not so nice and not so beneficial in the garden, but I can't recall the details now. I'll go and do some research as soon as I can but, in the meantime, if you know more about this then please leave a comment.

Year round garden

There is no way I could ever call myself a 'gardener' as I don't have a great deal of knowledge of plants or the conditions they all require, however, I do appreciate having a garden that always looks nice and always looks cared for. Since purchasing my current property, which already had a nicely laid-out garden, I have looked for ways to give it year round interest but with minimum effort. As a very busy working man I have too little time for tending to a garden and I quickly realised that summer bedding plants, as nice as they are, only fill the garden during the summer.

As a result, I started to take cuttings from shrubs to increase their numbers, and also purchased a new shrub from time to time. Over the last few years, the space for bedding plants has reduced dramatically, and now I have very few empty places for the scores of annuals I used to put out every June. This has a number of advantages. Firstly the garden never looks empty even in the winter. Secondly, where there's a plant there can't be a weed. Thirdly, maintenance is reduced quite considerably. And finally, there is always something going on to look at and be interested in. It is this last point that has formed the focus of my latest web page ... "My Garden". The page shows flowers from every month of the year and there is no part of the year where there isn't something going on.

With my trusty new camera I am having great fun taking photo's of the ever changing display of colour in my garden and I will continue to post my latest photo's on my web page. Since my main passion are Fuchsia's and since they are beginning to flower about now, I am really looking forward to snapping lots of Fuchsia photo's over the next few months. I may even make a web page specifically for them especially since my pages about Fuchsia Cuttings and Fuchsia Care seem to be so popular.