Garden Wildlife UK

SnappyMac wrote: Tue May 05, 2026 6:31 pm Looks a great place to visit Caroline

They have a great farm shop and cafe as well - heritage/old breed. I might have bought quite a bit of extras

Open garden on Bank Holiday Monday was Oteley, Ellesmere - the gardens have opened for the NGS since 1927. Some beautiful specimen trees and the gardens run down to the mere. I think most note worthy were the Tulip trees, Judas tree and a lovely bed of mature fragrant Azalea.
I'm also going to ...

Wood Whites courting

Those in the South and SE keep your eyes open - It sounds like there might be an influx of Painted Ladies - reports of lots on the Island yesterday

I had the first of the speed merchants wizz past me today - heard it shouting before I saw it. Just a solitary bird so I won't declare summer yet. Also at about 10ft so either going to feed over the ponds or looking to rest for bit, fingers crossed it is a local swallow and more to come.

Yesterday I drove across to Builth Wells - it's mostly B roads, uphill down dale and wriggly and I don't ever remember seeing quite as many Blackbirds as I did - nipping in and out of hedges, along road edges - mostly males being busy -I hope its a good sign along with hedges being cut differently ...

Todays appearances were 2 spiralling Speckled Wood in daughters garden. I then took the dogs for a walk at the local community woods and counted 1 Small White, 3 Orange Tip females, 1Peacock and 4 Brimstone

Looking at the temp on the first few birds no wonder so many were coming in for a dip and drink. Love how the Blackbird uses the hose as a perch. The little Goldcrest. That's a special pond.

PimperneBloke wrote: Wed Apr 08, 2026 12:38 pm Settled or flying? I've still only seen a couple of peacock settled this year

Male - flying strongly - also spotted another today when I was in a traffic jam

Yipee - saw my first Brimstone of the year yesterday while I was working on my daughters garden