Wildbirds seen in my garden

Many species of bird are seen in my garden. The largest seen so far is the pheasant, the male is the most colourful, he usually calls for his daily feed early morning and evening, sometimes bringing with him the hen birds. During the mating season, the cock pheasant has been known to chase the cat away.
Red-legged partridge have been seen, mainly in the winter months, they usually feed early morning or late in the day. They make a strange chuffing noise.
Occasionally a green woodpecker flies in, pecking holes in old tree trunks, making a drumming sound; they are also ground feeders. They love pecking at ant mounds.
Song Thrushes are seen occasionaly, tidying away the snail population.
Blackbirds have been spotted stealing food put out for the cat, they seem to prefer this to their natural diet, or perhaps it is just easy pickings.
The Cuckoo can be heard making the characteristic sound, although this sound is only made by the male, the female makes a babbling call. This bird is hard to spot in the garden.
At dusk a little owl perches on a nearby power supply pole looking for a meal, swooping off after spotting his prey.
Tits and Finches feed on the bird feeder, I usually put sunflower seeds and nuts out for them. Sparrows and even doves love nuts and always take what the tits leave.
Doves perch on my roof waiting for a feed but recently have experienced blocked guttering from their droppings.
I have placed a nesting box for the tits and is used by them to raise a brood most years.
Very occasionally a male sparrowhawk swoops down and takes a dove, killing and begining to pluck the prey before devouring on the ground. The hen Sparrowhawk being smaller will sometimes take a blackbird, about the largest of their prey.
Canada geese are sometimes seen, flying over in a v shape. They can be seen in huge numbers on the lakes and wetlands near the river.
Swallows, house martins and swifts can be seen in the spring, building their nests under the eaves of the house. They stay throughout the summer before making the long journey back to Africa.

Tame wildlife.

Geese and Family.

Shrubs to attract wildlife.

Garden hedges can provide a very efficient windbreak, as well as giving privacy, and reducing unwanted noise. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is used today as a hedging plant, and will make a thick hedge if planted twelve to eighteen inches apart. After first two years, clip annually. Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is similar to hornbeam, but has smoother leaves, it is cared for in the same way. The best evergreen hedge is provided by the common box, (Buxus sempervirens) planted eighteen inches apart, does well on any soil, and makes a dense hedge that will stand clipping well.
Another plant suitable for a dense impenetrable evergreen hedge, is the Ilex (Holly). Planted one and a half feet apart. They can be clipped in August or September. Will grow up to twenty feet tall.
Laurels are evergreen, and can be used for hedging or providing a screen. Care must be taken when clipping and this is best done with secateurs during the spring.
The fastest growing hedging plant is the Leyland cypress. It is evergreen. And will provide a good screen but needs to be kept under control, with clipping two or even three times in the summer.
Many other shrubs can be used for hedging; Berberis and Pyracantha make thick thorny evergreen hedges, also coteneaster is very useful for boundaries. All produce berries, upon which birds feed.
A hedge needs to be clipped regularly to maintain its shape. Which should be narrower at the top. Most hedges should be clipped twice a year once in spring and again in summer.

Woodlands Wildlife.

Recently, a heron was seen raiding my neighbour’s fishpond, first making a flyover to spot his lunch, then after evading the protective nets, devouring the fish. The heron later spent some time standing on one leg, in the middle of the field opposite, digesting his meal.
I try to dissuade large birds coming in to my garden, pheasant, partridge and pigeon seem to think I grow vegetables for their consumption, but I grow more than I need because of this.
Smaller birds are encouraged; a bird table has been placed for their use, replenished with seed frequently. I put out nuts daily and make nesting boxes for the tits. If you are making a nesting box remember tits need a 28mm hole, (any larger or smaller and they will not use the box).
I have recently made a dovecote, and erected it in a suitable spot. Doves are a favourite prey for sparrow hawks, they occasionally swoop down and take one; the sparrowhawk kills and even starts to pluck his catch in flight, bevore ripping the dove apart and devouring on the ground. The male hawk can take a pigeon but the hen sparrowhawk, being much smaller, will only tackle easier prey.
Buzzards can sometimes be seen, circling around their nesting site on a thermal current, but never come too close to humans.
Often a kestrel hovers overhead, looking for food; they occasionally, eat small birds.
Another bird sometimes seen, in the spring is the lapwing; they make the characteristic peewee sound, even making this noise at night. Marshy fields is their habitat, as most farmland is now drained, they are in decline.
Swifts and house martins can be seen during the summer, making screaming noises as they search for insects, they make their home under the eaves of houses.

Wildlife in my garden.

An unwelcome visitor to my garden, is the mole; they spend their whole life in tunnels. When digging, they leave mounds of earth on my lawn.
If you are observant in the evening you may see or hear a hedgehog they make a grunting sound as they forage for slugs and worms. The hedgehog is the gardener’s friend; I try to encourage them.
Another rare nocturnal visitor is the badger they make a scoop shape with their claws, on my lawn, searching for earthworms, they are discouraged, by ensuring fences are kept in good order.
Good barriers are also required to keep out another pest, the rabbit they will play havoc on the vegetable plot if you let them.
A fox has been seen in the garden, but they will do little damage, a fence is no obstacle to him.
Any garden with a varied range of plants will attract wildlife. A good hawthorn hedge will provide a nesting place for birds. And berried shrubs, like cotoneaster and berberis, provide food, in the winter. Another good shrub to plant is the buddlia these attract butterflies. Also try nectar rich plants like the ice plant.
Making a shallow pond is well worthwhile; it will provide a home for frog’s newts and even dragonflies, also giving the birds and hedgehogs a place to drink.
Finally I always leave piles of logs around to allow small creatures to hibernate.

Consider yourself very lucky if you live in the country, as a vast amount of wildlife will visit your garden,
First invest in a strong bird table, (preferably roofed)
Birds of all kinds will fly in to feed, if you put out wild birdseed for them, but don�t forget the ground feeders.
In our garden we have pheasants, partridge, crows, pigeons, and all kinds of smaller birds. Occasionally we may see a sparrow hawk looking for his lunch.
During the summer we always leave a bowl of clean water for them, as sometimes this can be in short supply.
Hedgehogs can be another visitor to your garden, they are the gardeners friend, as they eat all garden pests. You can encourage them by leaving a dish of dog food in the evening.
Another visitor in our garden is a fox, if you have chicken for dinner leave the carcass in a quiet spot for him, and he will dispose of it.
A squirrel will sometimes come looking for food, they eat nuts, so if you put nuts out for the tits, make sure they are hung out of reach and you may see squirrel acrobatics in action.

Plant to encourage wildlife.

These shrubs help to encourage birds, butterflies, and bees.
Cotoneaster, pyracanther, hebe, potentilla, ribes, spirea, vibunam, weiglia, buddlia,.
Try and leave a rough area in a corner of the garden, let the grass and weeds grow, this will encourage a host of wildlife.

Wildlife in your Worcestershire garden. Johns Elaborate Birdtable next to pump.

John spent a few hours and odd pieces of timber to contruct this superb birdtable. The disused pump used to have bluetits nesting under the cap, the way into nest was up the spout.Consider yourself very lucky if you live in the country, as a vast amount of wildlife will visit your garden,

First invest in a strong bird table, (preferably roofed)
Birds of all kinds will fly in to feed, if you put out wild birdseed for them, but don?t forget the ground feeders.

In our garden we have pheasants, partridge, crows, pigeons, and all kinds of smaller birds. Occasionally we may see a sparrow hawk looking for his lunch.

During the summer we always leave a bowl of clean water for them, as sometimes this can be in short supply

Hedgehogs can be another visitor to your garden, they are the gardeners friend, as they eat all garden pests. You can encourage them by leaving a dish of dog food in the evening

Another visitor in our garden is a fox, if you have chicken for dinner leave the carcass in a quiet spot for him, and he will dispose of it

A squirrel will sometimes come looking for food, they eat nuts, so if you put nuts out for the tits, make sure they are hung out of reach and you may see squirrel acrobatics in action.

Try and leave a rough area in a corner of the garden, let the grass and weeds grow, this will encourage a host of wildlife.

Plant Shrubs to Attract Worcestershire Wildlife.

Wildlife will be attracted to a pond in your garden, including birds frog’s newts even dragonfly’s and insects.
Shrubs in your garden can help to attract and encourage wildlife, as well as providing colour and fragrance.
With careful selection your garden can have a shrub in bloom during every month of the year, attracting birds, butterflies and bees, throughout the summer.

Some shrubs will grow in any soil, but most are sensitive to conditions. Most garden soil is satisfactory, chalky soil can be a problem. But there are shrubs that will tolerate lime.
Most shrubs are unaffected by frost, and are perfectly hardy in the British Isles. But some will not survive the colder north.

Shrubs can be planted in mixed borders but plan carefully. Evergreen and deciduous types should be used.

Plant these shrubs to attract butterfly’s and birds,
Buddlia, (Butterfly Bush) Hebe, (Veronica) Lavandula, (Lavender) Ligustrum, (Privet)

Common Shrubs to attract birds.
Aucuba, Berberis, Chaenomeles, (Japonica) Cotoneaster, Daphne, Euonymus, Hypericum, Ilex, (Holly) Mahonia, Pyracantha, Rhus, (Sumach) Ribes, (Ornamental Currant) Skimmia, Syringa, (Lilac) Viburnum,

When planting a container grown shrub, dig a hole twice the width of the root ball, make sure it is at the required depth, (look for the soil mark on the stem) mix the removed soil, with peat and fertiliser, if planting in the autumn add a handful of bonemeal.
Tap the shrub carefully from its container, place in hole and refill around shrub with mixed soil, firm soil gently, with heel and top up, finally fork around, and give a good soaking.
During dry spells water daily.

Worcestershire Hedgerows.

Hedges were originally planted to divide land, used for grazing and growing crops. Usually of Hawthorne, with Elm incorporated at intervals. The Saxons planted the first hedges; some thousand year-old hedges still remain today. The number of different species contained can roughly date hedges. For instance a Saxon hedge has about ten different species of shrubs per thirty yard’s.

In the eighteenth century open land was divided by enclosure act of Parliament, hedges were cheaper than building walls or fences.

After the Second World War, farmers began uprooting and destroying hedges, at an alarming rate, in order to allow bigger machinery on to the land. Since this time the rate of removal has declined.
When a hedge is uprooted, a wildlife haven is lost. Foxes, rabbits, badgers, mice and hedgehogs make their home in hedges. Many different species of birds live in hedges.

Garden hedges can provide a very efficient windbreak, as well as giving privacy, and reducing unwanted noise. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is used today as a hedging plant, and will make a thick hedge if planted twelve to eighteen inches apart. After first two years, clip annually. Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is similar to hornbeam, but has smoother leaves, it is cared for in the same way. The best evergreen hedge is provided by the common box, (Buxus sempervirens) planted eighteen inches apart, does well on any soil, and makes a dense hedge that will stand clipping well.
Another plant suitable for a dense impenetrable evergreen hedge, is the Ilex (Holly). Planted one and a half feet apart. They can be clipped in August or September. Will grow up to twenty feet tall.
Laurels are evergreen, and can be used for hedging or providing a screen. Care must be taken when clipping and this is best done with secateurs during the spring.
The fastest growing hedging plant is the Leyland cypress. It is evergreen. And will provide a good screen but needs to be kept under control, with clipping two or even three times in the summer.

Many other shrubs can be used for hedging; Berberis and Pyracantha make thick thorny evergreen hedges, also coteneaster is very useful for boundaries. All produce berries, upon which birds feed.
A hedge needs to be clipped regularly to maintain its shape. Which should be narrower at the top. Most hedges should be clipped twice a year once in spring and again in summer.