Friday 22 March 2013

Some of the wildlife I have seen in my little garden..........................................

I have had some lovely visitors to my garden over the years.

My bird count is now 36 species seen in or flying over my garden.

My little garden is only about 34ft x 22ft but it is my little bit of private outdoor space.

I have been here for almost nine years (it seems like a few weeks) and during that time I have seen 28 different birds actually in my garden plus another seven overhead... a Grey Heron just a few weeks ago on my neigbours roof and a Buzzard that flew just over my head below the roof-line of my house a couple of days ago. 
The other bird species I have put on my list is the Tawny Owl... I have yet to see one but I hear them calling  quite often at night.

I often see a Wood Mouse dashing around the garden but normally it's just one...
... a couple of years ago I did see an adult with two youngsters for a few days but it wasn't for long.
 I love to see them and they are not a pest unlike the House Mouse which I haven't seen around here.

One rat in nine years isn't bad going and that was one morning last year.

...my eccentric old neighbour (86 and yes she was a Vogue Magazine model back in the day) used to say she saw them all the time.
 We got the "pest controller" out but he caught nothing.

A frog just the once...again that was last year.
I don't have a pond so he was just passing through.




I see plenty of butterflies,bees and other flying insects.

I have had problems with flying ants a couple of times over the years and wasps trying to build nests in my shed.
I see the odd domestic cat... I love cats but the road through the estate is quite close and I lost mine just short of a year from moving in... I still miss Billy.

I once saw a dead Badger (roadkill) just up the road but I have yet to see a Fox on the estate.

 I bet you thought I had forgotten about my small cute little tormentors... but no I haven't.

Grey Squirrels you either love em or hate em... I have both emotions.
They really are fun to watch and so cute when sat up feeding you sometimes just have to go awwww!
Then when I total up how much they have cost me over the years... Grrrr!

More birds soon... many thanks for your visit.

Linking to Camera Critters and Weekly Top Shot 

26 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i have to like the squirrels - no matter. :)

genie said...

Oh, Andrew...This was a great post. I looked at each picture and read the story accompanying it. I felt like I was actually there is your beautiful little garden. It is so full of color and pretty blooms. We have gobs of frogs here...it is frog paradise. My favorite shot has to be your last...Mr. Squirrel and the apple. It is wonderful. genie

Maya said...

Thank you for the lovely tour of your beautiful garden!! The wood mouse is so cute :)

Laloofah said...

Your garden is absolutely beautiful! What a lovely oasis you've created! It's easy to understand why you get so many visitors. :-) I love all the critters who have come calling (and am glad the "pest" controller went away empty-handed!) They make your garden a lively community. Yes, the ever-resourceful and hungry squirrels too. :-)

Bird feed - £150
Squirrel-proof feeders - £85
Squirrel photos like the ones on this post - priceless. :-)

Dave Wenning said...

Enjoyed the post immensely. We have much in common. Does anyone know how the Eastern Gray Squirrel got to Britain? Could it have been revenge for the European Starling? ;-)

Dave said...

Great shots. I love and hate our grey squirrels. They are fun to watch & I do not mind feeding them, but... They are very destructive to the trees bird feeders etc.

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

That is an amazing amount of animal life you have in your private outdoor space, which you have made lovely with all those beautiful flowers. Well done Andrew.

Cezar and Léia said...

Thanks for sharing these adorable pictures, your garden is wonderful, colorful flowers, lights, good energies and I love squirrels! :)
I wish you a lovely weekend,
hugs
Léia

Unknown said...

What a beautiful garden and so much life in there. I love the mouse and the squirrel.
Enjoy your weekend.

Pantherka said...

Andrew, you have a beautiful garden. It's fantastic! As well as all of your visitors. It's amazing to observe.

holdingmoments said...

Some good visitors there Andrew; apart from the Squirrel. Not my favourite animal lol
Beautiful colour in your garden too.

MadSnapper said...

your garden is paradise on earth as are all the critters there.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

awesome shots Andrew. love the field mouse. too cool!! ( :

Brian King said...

You have a beautiful garden, Andrew! I love those photos of the Wood Mouse!

Scriptor Senex said...

Your garden is almost perfect. The 'almost' being because I couldn't live without my little pond (only three foot by a foot and a half) which gives me so much extra wildlife.
If my flowers loooked a tenth as good as yours I'd be happy.

Kerri Farley said...

These are wonderful!

DeniseinVA said...

You have a lovely garden Andrew, so much color, a great attraction for all the interesting critters in your photos.

VioletSky said...

What a beautiful garden you have created! No wonder so many critters stop by to visit.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Your little garden is so beautiful! An enchanted land! And enjoyed all your critter visitors! But I am rather partial to that squirrel! He could melt a heart!

Bob Bushell said...

Andrew, you showed us so many that lived with you. Lovely.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

It's a wonderful wildlife park in your backyard Andrew! Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures of it. (I love the squirrel...and the field mice. Not sure about the rat. But hey, I post alligator pictures and people hate those!)

Karen said...

Beautiful shots, and you have such a gorgeous flower garden.

Unknown said...

Wonderful visitors! The little mouse is so adorable.

eileeninmd said...

Andrew , your garden is beautiful. Wonderful yard visitors, the wood mouse is my favorite, such a cutie.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful garden you have! I love the cute little wood mouse.

Karen said...

What a lovely garden. Cute mouse, and I love squirrels of any colour!