Much has happened since last I updated this blog. Let me try to bring you guys up to speed!
The Grey Wagtail that has been visiting our garden pond since she was a juvenile way back in 2011 is still here. "Waggy", as we have affectionately called her, still arrives in the garden each autumn/winter until the following spring when she moves away to find a mate and raise a brood.
Over the successive seasons, she has matured into an adult Grey Wagtail, capable of evading threats from aggressively territorial Robins and hunting Sparrowhawks. She continues to spend the winter months on the garden pond, coming to the back door to accept live mealworms and spending the daylight hours in our garden.
Forward to 22nd March 2014, out of the blue sky, a male Grey Wagtail appeared on the garden lawn. Larger and with bolder colouring, the male departed and returned each day with the female over successive days until April 17th, which turned-out to be the last day that they spent time here. After that we have to assume that they flew to the summer breeding grounds to raise a brood.
December 3rd 2014 saw the female Grey Wagtail return to our garden pond and to be fed a regular intake of live mealworms. As of writing this account (Sunday 8th March 2015), "Waggy" is still here, but last Wednesday 4th, a male Grey Wagtail landed in the garden.
It too accepts live mealworms and will walk right up to the back door to accept a meaty morsel. As the male has arrived early, you will notice that his black bib has not fully developed compared to last year.
Now there are two Grey Wagtails in residence, this has given the resident male Robin much to think about. Whereas before, both the Robins (there is a resident pair) would continually chase the female Wagtail, now both species are evenly matched! The male Robin will still vent his spleen at any and all House Sparrows but particularly hates the resident Dunnock!
While all this is going on around us, the daily comings and goings of the Wren, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, and occasionally the Sparrowhawk, makes for intriguing observations.
Last Summer, our garden hosted the regular visits from two Hedgehogs. Each night both Hogs would spend time in the garden and share a bowl of live mealworms. Through May to October, the two Hedgehogs would eat and spend their nights in our garden. We purchased a couple of Hog-Houses, Mel fitted them out with hay and dried leaves. Both Hogs, for a few weeks, spent the days in the houses. This year we're hoping that one of them will return.
