NatureBoy

A lot of birds will eat fresh putty. Especially in Autumn/Winter. After the linseed oil. Snails to, along with the paint. Dogs will have it away to. NB

Robins on 4th attempt and still feeding young. Blackbirds 4th attempt fledged 4 last Thursday and had started building a 5th nest Monday. Coal tits nesting in a box. A first for my garden. 🙂 Didn't realise until they hatched and started feeding young Monday. Goldfinches feeding nest of 5. Garden full of fledglings. Dunnocks everywhere. 2 pairs of greenfinches bringing young to feeder. Both cock birds have rings. Pressure off these late nesters and fledglings a bit now, as most corvids have now fledged grass has been cut and cattle on pasture for them to feed on. Fly catchers still about locally and nightingale's also nesting near by. Turtle doves doing ok. Calling less but seeing more youngster's about and all still coming to supp feed. Had new pair in my deaks other week when shooting over cover crop drillings. Found their nest site.🙂 seem to be less warblers about. Not looking good for wild english broods since we had heavy rain. 2 lots of barn owl and kestrel chicks been ringed from boxes. Smaller broods this year. Absolutely loads of stock doves about. 40+ 0n one drilled cover. Found a reed buntings nest with 5 young in a wheat crop. Looked so vulnerable. Still to many corvids about locally? Maybe the knock on from WJ meddling with GL? NB

Just small areas of ivy valuable for wildlife if controlled regularly. Careful how i keep on top of it on my house. I experiment and manage different areas in different ways yearly. Others i know do the same. Always leaving some food and cover. Think hummingbird hawk moths also over winter in mine. Imagine very hard to control on stone walls, they another habitat in themselves. It has taken over my own panel fence and now protects it. Farmer has painting of lane i mentioned done in 1870, ivy looked about the same height 30-40ft on the old oaks then. Same on lot of old pics. We thought maybe it gets scorched back in winter or just a certain height it can pull nutrients. NB

See where you coming from John. Would do same If thought dangerous or a problem depending on tree. As you may of sussed i am a big fan of ivy generally. . . Shame to see so many ashe's dying or woodland they are in being trashed. Cheers. NB

WHY??? Kill ivy? Unless it is on dangerous trees? It's amazing habitat for so many birds and other critters. Few old trees near me being held up by ivy. Loads of wildlife on them. Have loads of different managed ivy on my house, sheds and fence. It's where many of the birds in my garden nest, provides food and cover all round. Plenty of info out there on the benefits of. . . Has there been a move again recently against ivy? We have had a random ivy assassin/s locally the past few years. Taking it apon themselves to roam and cut ivy that had been established on mature healthy trees for generations, by roadsides, footpaths, woods and in hedges. One lot both sides all along an old sunken lane with many ancient oaks. Completly destroying a very unique special habitat that many of us had known all our lives. Land owners not happy and now looks a mess with little wildlife or cover for livestock. We could only think by the evidence it was ignorant incomers who thought they could go anywhere and do as they liked. Or thought they were doing good. But no one ever saw them. Pun not intended. . . How many times has ivy given us cover, shelter or place to put a hide along a bare hedge in winter or roost wood. NB

Bicarb mixed in to any left over fishing ground bait also works. Or in just bit of brown or white crumb Squirt of fish/ hemp oil, molasses or bit of additive masks bicarb the same and attracts them to it. Any non maze based livestock meal to. Still keep it covered and inacessable to any other critters pets and livestock. Ants don't like bicarb either. NB

Saw a hoopoe and green woodpecker having a brief scrap Friday. It been around for about a week. Turtle doves have settled in on few sites. Purring away. Better late than never. Some had to find new nest sites as lost fare bit of good habitat due to change of ownership/ management/contractors and ignorance. Greenfinches doing well this year. Just the one pair of nightingales about. No sign of english partridge broods yet. Most early pheasant broods a wash out and lot of nest/egg predation. Same with blue tits. little food about, lack of caterpillars. Great tits just started sitting on eggs in one of my boxes. Very late for them. Robin has just started building a third nest in ivy by back door. Three weeks after second attempt fledged 5. Still seeing lot more grass snakes about, slow worms to. Counted 21 hare in one field that had been pushed around by grass cutting. Few more swifts turned up and sum in boxes. Few martins about. Swallow numbers down. Less whitethroats, i wonder if it down to less rape being grown in the area? NB

Good man! Hope you enjoy it and find it usefully. I think it will be a very usefully book that a lot will refer to on both sides even if you don't agree with some of it. Avery and co know this! He and his mob still getting grief from their attack on it and Mary Colwell and so they should be! . . . . . Another couple of of good on it wildlife, environmental educator authors worth a read are James Rebanks (English Pastoral) and Melissa Harrison's books. Let's get the info out there and educate a wider public and let them decide. . . . . . Heard and of the not so fun WJ 3 were local in Suffolk last weekend (Fressingfield) with their legal teams. Expect they planning how to get their hands an some of the extra 47% funding NE going to be getting. Seem to be trying anything at mo. NB

Well done. Amazing bird, very eerie call. Think they gona struggle this year. Several nest on Dunwich and Westleton heath in Suffolk. It was absolutley heaving with walkers, dog walkers and camper vans sneaking on in evening. Folk don't care! And what's with these birder folk playing bird calls on a phone app just so they can see/photo/tick a red lister. Seen lot more of it lately. Grim to see footage on news of quad bikers ripping up the beach where birds trying to nest near Wild Ken Hill. NB

Anyone else seen the cam footage of a hobby attempting to predate a kestrel nest in Essex. Amazing! Didn't go well for the hobby. fed to the 6 surviving chicks and remains used to keep them warm and a pillow for mum. NB

As shooters and conservationists we may not agree with some of what she says, but have to remember it's a book aimed at and to inform and educate a wider audience. She has done a good job in doing that. . . . Own goal for Avery and co for attacking it and her like they have. . . . Be interesting to hear what others think of it? NB

Same here. Seems strange no blue or great tits nesting. They were roosting in boxes all winter to. It will be grim, as it seems weather has caused them to abandon nest attempts this year. Predator pressure is off a bit my way since we have had some much needed rain and got better leaf cover. Lot of the corvids have nested and left nest early to may help. Only 3 nests in rookery near mine this year. . . I have cut back on feeders at mine, instead encouraged/educated others nearby to feed more better and same mix to spread birds out a bit. Less disease, predator pressure and it all help educate folk. Though some still say we shouldn't feed at all? . . . Every one feeds different in garden and field. I keep it simple for both. Use and adapt a wildbird mix called No waste from Charnwood Milling Company. Great mix and genuinely no waste. Lot of small seeds in it. Turtle doves yellow hammers and english parts like it so it'l do me. £18.00 for 20kg less if you buy more than 10 bags. Just that and peanut feeder generally. Never been big fan of meal worms or fat balls. Especially in warm wet weather. Great when fresh. . . . . Do you like jackdaws? Characters but major predator my way and nest and garden raider. Regardless what "experts" say. They big threat to any turtle dove success. Control them where and when i can. Noticing far to many big gulls in land at mo. Covid or WJ effect? Or both? Certainly noticing less skylarks about because of. . . . Good to see Martin Down Farm Super Cluster on Countryfile last week. Bit of proper conservation success. They even spoke of GWCT. NB

Living with predators in Britain. A new book by Mary Colwell. She who is heading up save the curlew campaign. Thought provoking and well worth a read. Just finished reading it, some of it twice. Well written, researched and informative. Don't agree with it all but plenty of great gritty information and questions asked leaving the reader to make up their own mind depending on if/how they really care about the natural world. Also well worth supporting/reading because Mark Avery gave it a really cutting bad review on his blog. Saying he felt like throwing it across the room several times. Maybe because the BTO, RSPB praised it! He and his followers ( most having not even read it) attacking both the book and Mary. Some (60) comments down right nasty! Really showing their true colours and how little their agenda has nothing to do with nature or conservation! Bullying cowards hiding behind key boards attacking a former guest blogger of his! Packham promoting Avery's view to. Just do nothing's trying to take down any of us trying to make a difference! Be it curlews on the moors or turtle doves in East Anglia we are all wrong. Especially if you shoot and can show targeted pest control works. They sad bunch trying to cause yet more division who can not be involved in any conservation efforts going forward!! . . . . Book is also now available from GWCT. . . . .Her previous book Curlew Moon a good read to. . . . Through your words and action well done for trying to make a difference Mary! NB

Have wrote about my robins before. I think they think they own me/ are family/imprinted linage. Been resident and nest in my garden ever since i have lived here,28yrs. Nest close as possible, usually in ivy on house, window reveal or by soil pipe. So close, them and their young can see hear and watch me all the time. They can even watch and hear TV Sometimes. Great for educating folk as can often see in nest and sit within six feet, watch them raise young and see what they bring to nest. They got the hump with me this year as i had trimmed ivy and it didn't grow back quick enough because of cold and frosts. So they nested in an old rotten nest box i had chucked on top of a stack of flower pots intending to repair. Got to chick stage and was predated by jackdaws (almost like corvids learn to harvest chicks to maximise food source/predation?) that were raiding garden in dry weather. Robins on second attempt now nesting tucked well back up near soffit in ivy on a shed. Them and blackbirds both started their second attempts nesting there after they were both predated at chick stage same day, but now were nesting within 3ft of each other. I didn't think they would tolerate each other and both started sitting. But blackbirds abandoned after 3 of 5 eggs disappeared. I wonder if it was the robins? Their nest still within 10ft of back door but they acting different, like i have let them down. Or maybe because i have male sparrow hawk visiting garden? Them or their parents successfully raised 3 broods last year. At times building and laying in second nest while still feeding young. Sitting again 3 days after young fledging. Leaving fledglings to be fed mainly by male. So they are way behind this year, like many other garden birds seem to be. Dunnocks just keep banging them out though. Another pair of blackbirds have young about to fledge nest on front porch. . . . Last year was a record year in my garden for nesting birds. 11 species successfully raised at least one brood, some a third. I am wondering if it was down to covid? I and other folk nearby at home more so fewer predators dare visit gardens or for so long? . . . . My garden nowt special. Sheds, shrubs, ivy and 12 "boxes". . . . I feed all year round while birds take it. They really hammering it at mo. Again many be covid effect? I am thinking it because many folk have stopped feeding/caring because they are allowed out again? It still hunger gap and unusual Spring! Important to keep feeding if you are! Plus plenty of clean water important to. A little bit of the right habit, in right place can do a lot for nature. . . . Single turtle dove, pair of blackcaps and a spotted flycatcher visited/about this week. Interesting peps still reporting seeing yellow hammers flocked up. NB

When poo is art? I have a book called Cacas, The Encyclopaedia of Poo. "Tasteful" pics by famous controversial Italian photographer Oliviero Toscarni. It's full of ..it! I wonder if that's where the phrase "to cac yaself comes from"? 🙂 Strangely, i no longer with the gal that gave it me. . . . . I say young rabbit or leveret. NB

Got a pair nesting on a pool on one of the farms for second year running. Have learnt to nest in flooded ditch running in to it to avoid preds people and dogs. Single male turtle dove came to feed in my garden last two days. Purring nearby tonight. 🙂 Fresh back i think by it's behaviour and way it's feeding. Pair of blackcap mouching about this week in garden to. Robins and one lot blackbirds on second nesting attempt after predation. Both feeding young. Only dunnocks have managed to get a brood off this year so far. Got a tawny owl visiting garden at dusk/night. . . A strange Spring. Can't remember seeing rooks/branchers out of nest (last Tuesday} before leaves on trees before. Looked really exposed. Were still redwings and fieldfares about last Thursday. Rain has helped but i think a lot of birds are struggling.. Lot of early nest attempts failing. Especially blue and great tits. Seen several grass snakes and slow worms about. Nightingale back in usual spot.

Like my dirty old 05 wlldtrack. Simple, practical, basic and no frills. Truckman hardtop fitted, modified front arches to squeeze BFG A/T's on. More stable on and off road, will go anywhere, plenty of room for shooting and fishing gear. Not fan of quirky dashboard hand break tho. Bit different to my old Chevy Blazer 4.3L V6 shooting truck i had before for 11yrs. Miss having auto off road. . . . Finally sold Chevy last week for £500.00 more than i paid for it. Don't really get attached to motors, it wasn't practical, a blacked out, bad handling beast (nick named the pimp mobile) and really thirsty. But quick, a talking piece, always reliable, sounded great and was a lot of fun n smiles per miles. Lot of good memories in it of shooting, fishing, camping and conquests. 😉 Was strange ragging it around for the last time last weekend. NB

If you are going to do it, commit to it! Especially if you feeding for wild birds to. Don't stop/start. Birds are struggling, still in the hunger gap. Keeping a close on on feed will tell you where, when, if they need it. Feeing will help laying hens stay in condition and new arrivals get into condition. Pairs of english will adopt/defend a feeder/feed area and nest near by. Supplying water and predator control just as important as feeding. If you got turtle doves make sure your supp feed is near cover/habitat. NB

Nicely done! What did you have them on Muncher? NB

Turtle doves are back early! 🙂 Pair on one site and 2 singles on others. Fieldfares late leaving. Saw 40+ feeding locally at weekend. Latest i can remember seeing them in Spring. NB

Saw a little owl take a duckling yesterday. Nature always surprises. NB

My first cuckoo of year in Mid Suffolk yesterday. Stone curlew on drillings next to where i was shooting Sunday. Saw one on that same field 4 years ago. NB

One turned up in Suffolk last week. Twitchers everywhere Blocked single track road by parking in only passing places. Farmers not happy. Ignorance. Great looking bird. NB

Norfolk& Suffolk Sabs now actively targeting, encouraging their lot to destroy mink traps. Including on WT sites and reserves. Saying mink have been with us for so long now they have naturalised and become part of our ecology like other natural predators. Yeah right! Tell that to water voles, moorhens, grebes and ducks etc. They certainly spreading. Shot 3 in last year or so where i had previously seen none and that's without seeking them out. . . . . . Otters seem to be everywhere. I wonder if it's them pushing mink about and away from hunting on rivers? . . . . Otters regularly patrol gardens in my village well away from any significant water cause. Been found laying up in straw stacks and pig arc's. At one time dogs in village started repeatedly kicking off barking in middle of night and trail cams showed it to be otters visiting gardens/ponds. Been a lot of pics this Spring of piles of dead/half eaten frogs and some toads by some waters. Said to be otters and so many just left it looked like they just catching and killing for fun. WT said several years back Suffolk rivers had reached their carrying compacity for otters. On a recent program on the River Deben Suffolk WT said they had trapped over 20,000 mink themselves. Imagine that number would be higher in Norfolk? Strange mink not mentioned in RSPB pest control figures!? NB

What a great vid! That's a new British record (curranty 8lb 5oz for a Stillwater variant) for a natural Ide right there if submitted and accepted and his scales accurate. An unusual record to hold at that. What a cracking fish and session. Others were quality fish to. Never caught a river Ide. Had them to 4lb from still water. Interesting fishing on just a roaming lobworm in a river that size. Also his comments on predation and otters killing his sport. Well done that man! Must be well chuffed to get a lifetime PB/record fish on film. Thanks for posting JDog. NB