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   December wildlife in our Shropshire garden                                                          

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The last month of 2011 began with freezing cold weather, a little snow on the hills around us and masses of birds feeding in the garden.  Most were using the feeders but some, especially the goldfinches and house sparrows, were working their way through the lavender bed finding as many remaining seeds as they could.  The usefulness of this plant as a natural source of winter seeds for goldfinches is the main reason I am creating another small lavender area close to the house.  Other natural berries  that disappeared fast were those of our hawthorn trees - mainly as a result of some quite acrobatic blackbirds - and the rose hips in the hedge, eaten in the space of one day by a very active grey squirrel!

Birds roosting around the house were also a feature of this month, especially wrens and dunnocks which made their way into the woodpile at the back of the house.  It is likely that the nestboxes were also being used in this way but our only nest cam has been disabled by the afore mentioned squirrel!  Repairs are needed before the nesting season begins.   Late in the afternoon of the 28th, four wrens flew out of the swallow nest cup in the front porch, so hopefully that is being used on a regular basis.

Later in the month we had a little snow in the garden which brought in the local buzzard to the shelter of our small copse, but as the weather grew milder with it came some very welcome rain which filled the Big Pond for the first time in 18 months or more.  A colder snap again meant that we had both redwings and fieldfares around in some numbers.  Our now 'local' red kite was seen on a regular basis.

The mostly mild weather last month meant a complete lack of our usual winter visitors - siskins and bramblings.  Only one brambling was seen, and just for one visit.  The month ended with many signs of the approaching spring as the days visibly lengthened and a pair of sparrowhawks displayed over the garden.

 

goldfinch feeding on lavender seeds

greenfinch

grey squirrel eating rose hips


  

To see more garden wildlife pictures, click here             

Over time we hope to monitor as much of the wildlife here as we can. New records will be added to this site as we identify the wildlife that lives in or visits our garden.  To see some of what we have recorded so far, click here.

 © Text and photographs Jenny Steel 2012