Plenty of flowers but everything is parched and is growing very low in response to the long dry spell / drought. In a first for garden I spotted a Goldcrest foraging amongst the leaves in the Winter Cherry from the sunroom window! Very chufted as it was good sighting and I've only seen them a few times in my life! They are resident and often hang out with Blue tits. Numbers increase in winter due to an influx of Scandinavian migrants.
Blog
I blog about nature in the Norfolk countryside and about my wildlife garden. My blog blends digital photos with an analogue nature journal.
Nature journalling blends nature observation and citizen science with a written diariy or art journal to build a deeper connection with nature and cultivate curiosity, creativity and flow.
Bullfinch and Thrush Visit In Cold Snap
A very cold snap from 4th to 6th January brought a lot of visitor birds into the garden foraging for food, including this song thrush on 5th that I watched work his way along the hedgerow.
On 6th I had my best ever sighting of a male Bullfirich who perched on the hedgrow for some time, occasionally taking a blackberry or ivy fruit or seeds. Overnight on 5th we recorded -8.7°c ! That's the coldest temperature since we first got the weather station in December 2020.
Red Kite
Coincidentally, the longest day also proved to be the hottest of the year so far, peaking at 33.8°c!
We sat outside as the stifling heat began to ease and watched peacefully as the light falling upon the high, dappled clouds gradually transitioned from piercing white to a soft, luminous, lemon-yellow. Barely had we sat down, when the Red Kite graced the scene, cruising effortlessly along our hedgerow. This, the third show in a week, made us wonder if they have set up home nearby?
As we skygazed, a family of House Martins swirled in great arcs up high, hunting for insects. We rejoiced when John spotted our Linnets flying down to drink at our wildlife pond. They have been here since we first moved in. Our hearts were lifted by the sweet peeping calls of a flock of Long-tailed Tits drifting loosely across the garden shrubbery.
The balmy breeze slowly stilled as the evening progressed. I breathed out a slow sigh, feeling present in that very moment and at peace with the world on this, the longest day of the year.
Jenny Wren and Meadow Brown
Garden safari sightings in early to mid June
7/6/25
Eurasian Wren
11/6/25
Red Kite
Seagulls
Rooks
Wood Pigeons
Collared Doves
Meadow Brown (butterflies)
Small Copper
Small White
Cinnabar
Four-spotted
Chaser dragonkly
Grasshopper