Its been another busy month at the wildlife reserve. Flowers are still flourishing in the front garden (above). Almost all of the poppies have finished flowering, but the cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) and rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) provide colour and texture.
Although the first clutch of starling chicks have now moved on, a second [smaller] brood have just materialised. The sparrow chicks are now making more of an appearance as well, proving they too can be just as noisy and clumsy/curious as the starlings! What with the weather being [unnaturally] warm we've had the windows open more, and this, along with the knowledge that sparrows now not only nest in the roof adjacent to our bathroom; but also in the neighbouring roofspace - has made for some very loud dawn choruses.
Another noise that becomes apparent when the windows are left open is the now regular occurence of the local fox to our squirrel peanut feeder. This possibly started as one of our neighbours encourages the local foxes to her back porch with a pile of peanuts...and she has been on holiday lately....so this is the next best thing....
Its really interesting to watch the fox move through the front garden, I may have been premature in blaming the postman for making some of the paths! [although hopefully not using this one!] The only downside to all the fox activity is that it seems to have detered the hedgehogs, I've only had a couple of sightings this month.
Instead of hedgehogs we've been having trouble with gulls. Recent research suggests that gulls love peanuts, hedgehog kibble and tinned food...and will fight other gulls for it! This trail cam footage shows two Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fucus) [identified by the yellow legs and darker plumage] having somesort of domination struggle (below).
As if this invasion wasn't enough they're now trying to come inside... by banging on the French windows with their beaks. Several individuals did this days in a row; I'm unsure whether they were trying to attack their own reflection in the glass or had seen the squirrels being fed through the door and were trying their luck! Now we have to worry about gull-proof glass...
In other news, I've now got three trial clover plots in the back garden (the aim is to eventually have only clover in the lawn).
The first (below, left) was started last year, by directly planting a single plug plant into a mossy section with no protection or extra care.
The second (below, middle), involved covering a patch of grass/moss with a sheet for a month, after which the top layer of lawn/moss was removed. Clover (white, red and crimson) plugs and seeds were scattered/planted and covered in an old guinea pig run for protection. Naturally some baby sparrows managed to get stuck inside...they had been dust-bathing just next to the cage, creating a small gap which somehow they slipped under.
The third (below, right) involved letting an area of grass completely die back during the 6 weeks of warm weather. Just before the rain was due I quickly planted several clover plugs, with the hope that they will establish faster than the dying grass. Watch this space!
If you've got this far and are still wondering about the 'Fermentation' in the title - I've been experimenting with a first attempt batch at elderflower champagne. This involved a bit of foraging for elderflower florets (as our elderflower is still a little on the small side to produce them); but its been a fabulous year for them. My dad used to make this when I was younger, so it envokes a sense of nostalgia...with the long sunny days of June, birthdays and summer holidays. I've got about 8 litres in various bottles - so if you're passing anytime come in and have a sample!
Post-script:
Met this little number on the garden fence tonight...appears to be a Grey Dagger moth (Acronicta psi)
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