First orange tip butterfly of the year in the garden today.
Steve Christmas said
Mon Aug 3 3:02 PM, 2020
A female Volucella inanis was in my Swinton garden this pm. If there are any experts on the blog who could confirm it, I got some reasonable shots of it. This seems to be right at the extreme north of its range in the UK.
Steve
Steve Christmas said
Sat Jun 17 8:51 PM, 2017
The hoverfly Xylota sylvarum appeared in my bathroom this morning. First I have seen in Swinton or GM.
Steve
Dave Thacker said
Wed Dec 11 8:07 PM, 2013
Roe deer roadkill on the A580/M61 slip road near Wardley woods this morning. Also I checked the CCTV footage from the past week of a couple of cameras that I have put up on my house and a Fox has visited twice in the night to drink from my small garden pond. If it turns up tonight it will find a large chicken breast beside the pond.
gary mills said
Sun Aug 4 7:33 PM, 2013
My wifes perserverance in leaving scraps of food out for the foxes has finally paid off with at least one regularly turning up for the food. There must be a good supply of food in the area as sometimes it will take a mouthful of food then disappear with the rest of the food still being there in the morning. Last Tuesday at 5am there was a bit of a stand off with one in the corner of the garden eating the remains of a lamb chop whilst growling at a second that was stood on the driveway.
Steve Christmas said
Sat Jul 27 10:18 PM, 2013
Grey Scalloped Bar in my Swinton moth trap on 20th July. Only about the sixth record for GM of this heathland species.
Dave Thacker said
Mon Jun 3 4:21 AM, 2013
Gary I've seen a vixen carrying food a couple of times over the last month on Partington lane and Lawn Drive. I'll check her out for trainers next time I see her. Also I'm certain that a Fox dug out two of my Tomato plants from their pots last week then left a little deposit on my patio.
gary mills said
Sun Jun 2 11:39 PM, 2013
Not exactly a sighting but 2 summers ago there were a couple of days when one of my trainers was taken from by the front door by local foxes. On both occasions i retrieved the slightly chewed shoe from down the road. Came out today to find another trainer has gone only this one has disappeared.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Mar 9 5:35 AM, 2013
I have had to relocate over 90 adult frogs in the last week due to having to drain one of my ponds. Last night in the rain I counted 65 Frogs in the garden and another 36 in my smaller pond, plenty were females ready to spawn. As I have raised some of my fence base panels up by a couple of inches many of the Frogs have come from my neighbours gardens just to mate and spawn in my pond.
Dave Thacker said
Sun Feb 17 4:46 AM, 2013
I found a small amount of Frog spawn in my main pond this afternoon, its a bit early considering the cold nights and the low water temperature but there were at least 15 Frogs active in the pond. My garden should get a lot more busier as more Frogs return to breed in the next couple of weeks.
Also a lone Fox has been calling each night around the Partington lane area since Thursday.
Dave Thacker said
Mon Jan 28 4:46 AM, 2013
On my walk around Swinton today I found three fresh Hedgehog road kill from last night. With the weather being mild last night it was probably a good chance for them to top up their fat supplies but it ended with them being killed on the roads. No wonder that these little hogs are getting so rare.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Dec 27 5:37 AM, 2012
A Fox has just been digging for worms beside the A580 just past the turning for Lancaster road.
Dave Thacker said
Tue Oct 23 3:46 AM, 2012
Two Pipistrelle bats over my garden last night and sadly no Hedgehogs have visited my hog boxes in the last two weeks and none of the food that I put out for them each evening has been touched.
Dave Thacker said
Wed Oct 17 6:14 PM, 2012
A large road kill Mink was on the M61 slip road off the A580 this morning. A Buzzard was sat on post nearby and another was flying overhead weighing up dinner.
Dave Thacker said
Tue Oct 2 3:08 AM, 2012
Only one Hedgehog has been visiting my garden in the past month eating the food that I put out for it. A bit on the small size but I should be able to fatten it up before hibernation. It has probably been the worst year for hog visits in my garden since I moved into my house in 1997. Hog numbers have fallen all around the country and they could do with a little help. Most large supermarkets sell Hedgehog food, it costs £1.50-£2.00, if more people put some of this food out at night especially at this important time of the year before hibernation then we may see more visiting our gardens next Spring.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Aug 16 3:38 AM, 2012
Over 30 Pipistrelle bats [ max of 9 seen at the same time] over my Swinton garden last night. Thats the best count that I have had since 1997 over my garden, its normally 2-3 most nights
Dave Thacker said
Mon Aug 6 2:46 AM, 2012
I did a bit of a tidy up around the smaller of my two ponds this afternoon before the rain. In the undergrowth I found two small Toads and about 20 tiny Froglets, some still with their tails attached. In the pond were 9 adult Frogs and a tiny Water boatman which was the first that I have seen for over 12 months.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Jul 26 4:29 AM, 2012
A young Fox was sat beside the pavement alongside Shield drive this evening at 18.45. A very dark coloured fox but it looked in great condition and it was not bothered about me parking up very close to as it was distracted by a large bee buzzing around its head
Dave Thacker said
Thu Jun 21 4:01 AM, 2012
About 40 tiny Froglets have emerged from my garden pond over the last two evenings, some have been eaten by a Magpie. Also last night 7 Pipistrelle bats were flying over my garden for over an hour feeding on the mass of insects in the air.
Dave Thacker said
Fri Jun 15 3:31 AM, 2012
A male Fox was drinking from my garden pond late last night. It poked his nose into a large Sedge plant and pushed it over into the water.
gary mills said
Sat May 19 6:48 AM, 2012
Just had 10 minutes of horrendous screaming from the passageway near to home. Went to investigate and found a fox walking off along the passageway wondering what all the fuss was about !!
Dave Thacker said
Fri May 11 4:11 AM, 2012
A young Fox cub was seen by my Mother last night on Moorside road opposite the Holy Rood Church. It attempted to cross the road a couple of times before giving up and trotting down the path of one of the houses which backs on to Nevitts field.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Mar 29 3:07 AM, 2012
A Hedgehog surprised me by leaving its box in my garden rather early this evening at 18.05. It walked over to where I was sitting while eating my tea and had a drink out of the cats old water bowl. I shared some of my meal and it ate a good amount of chicken, bacon and pasta and then turned its nose up at some peanuts that I put out
Also seen; 2 Peacock butterflies Large Bumble Bee checking out one of my old bird boxes which I leave on the patio for them. Wasp Lacewing Mining bee [ I think] Usual frogs and one Toad around the pond.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Mar 24 3:42 AM, 2012
Two Pipistrelle bats over and a Hedgehog in my garden this evening. Also 3 Pipistrelle bats seen flying around Deans pond on Deans road Swinton at 19.30.
Dave Thacker said
Tue Mar 13 3:11 AM, 2012
Two Hedgehogs visited my garden earlier this evening, probably the two that survived Winter by staying in my garden hog boxes. They have both started to put some weight back on especially the smaller one which was all skin and spikes when it first emerged from the box.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Mar 8 4:08 AM, 2012
Hi Melanie
It was very upsetting about losing my little mate, she is now buried in the garden along with all the other wildlife that I have found injured or dying over the years.
There are a couple of exits from my pond of which I have seen Hedgehogs use when they have fallen in. Mice always seem to drown or succumb to the cold.
I have had to remove more frog spawn this evening as both ponds are full of the stuff. The cats old water bowl, 2 water filled flower pots and a waterlogged area of my garden were also full of spawn. As there are at least 12 females still to deposit their eggs it looks like I will be taking another load to the local pond this weekend.
The good news is that I have two large female Toads and one small male in the garden tonight. So he is going to have to work hard over the next couple of evenings.
Joe Wynn said
Wed Mar 7 8:25 PM, 2012
Dave Thacker wrote:
I have had to remove more frog spawn this evening as both ponds are full of the stuff. The cats old water bowl, 2 water filled flower pots and a waterlogged area of my garden were also full of spawn. As there are at least 12 females still to deposit their eggs it looks like I will be taking another load to the local pond this weekend. .
I found two in my bird bath today! I'll let them finish then put it in the pond.
-- Edited by Joe Wynn on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 08:26:22 PM
Melanie Beckford said
Mon Mar 5 4:22 AM, 2012
Dave Thacker wrote:
Sadly my 17 year old cat had to be put to sleep a couple of weeks ago so the Mice in my garden think that all their birthdays have come at once, there were 3 under the feeders and 2 more under the bird table picking up any dropped seeds and taking them back to the hog boxes where they have took up residence this Winter. One mouse has fallen in the pond and drowned, this also happened about 8 years ago and my large Koi swallowed it whole.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your pet Dave...
Regarding the Mice, have you something in your pond ? That a Mouse or Hedgehog could crawl up and out to freedom, should they fall in ?? Plank of wood eg...
Dave Thacker said
Sat Mar 3 5:20 AM, 2012
Buff tailed Bumble Bee in my garden this afternoon.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Mar 1 4:59 AM, 2012
Over 100 frogs in my pond earlier this evening with at least 30 females full of spawn. No Toads or Newts seen. I removed nearly 30l of spawn and relocated it to a local pond nearby
Dave Thacker said
Thu Feb 23 4:53 AM, 2012
I've just spent a good hour earlier this evening standing in my garden getting as wet as the Frogs. Over 70 counted in my main fish pond and also11 more in the smaller wildlife pond. There are many more frogs, mainly young males out hunting in the garden or going under the fence visiting the neighbours frogs next door. I found a female Smooth newt walking in the grass heading towards the main pond. This is the only time of the year when I'm lucky enough to find a newt in my garden they just seem to disappear for the rest of the year. The fish are in a state of panic as the frogs tend to grab anything that moves while in their amorous state.
One of the Hedgehogs went on walkabout last night and did not come back while the other hog came out of its box and ignored the peanuts that I had put out and went foraging in the undergrowth and is now in another neighbours garden.
Sadly my 17 year old cat had to be put to sleep a couple of weeks ago so the Mice in my garden think that all their birthdays have come at once, there were 3 under the feeders and 2 more under the bird table picking up any dropped seeds and taking them back to the hog boxes where they have took up residence this Winter. One other mouse has fallen in the pond and drowned, this also happened about 8 years ago and my large Koi swallowed it whole.
Dave Thacker said
Tue Feb 21 3:59 AM, 2012
Total of 46 Frogs with their heads up and splashing about my garden pond this evening including 11 pairs coupled up. Numbers should increase now that I have lifted some of my fence base panels up an inch so frogs in the surrounding gardens can visit through the gap.
Dave Thacker said
Tue Feb 14 3:17 AM, 2012
A Fox was seen by my neighbour this afternoon. He found it sleeping under some rigid plastic panels in the small gap between his shed and fence. It was last seen jumping into my garden but there is no sign of it now
Also I have just noticed at least 6 pairs of frogs coupled up at the bottom of my pond Not long now to Spring.
Dave Thacker said
Wed Feb 8 3:28 PM, 2012
A Fox was very vocal last night, calling from one of my neighbours gardens. I put some food out hoping that it would come into my garden but the food was still there this morning.
Dave Thacker said
Tue Jan 10 9:55 PM, 2012
The Frogs in my garden pond are starting to get more active now, I have just counted 11 moving about on the bottom and 2 more sticking their heads out on the surface. One of the Hedgehogs has gone on a walkabout, either last night or earlier this evening leaving the 4 Mice also in the box to fend for themselves. The hog in the other box is still asleep with 5 mice for company happily eating his peanuts.
The colder weather due this weekend will probably stop this activity for a while but Spring is not far off
gary mills said
Tue Dec 27 10:17 PM, 2011
Just been informed by my wife that she saw a butterfly possibly a Red Admiral or Painted Lady today outside her dads in Swinton.
Dave Thacker said
Wed Dec 21 9:40 PM, 2011
Interesting to find four Slugs around my garden tonight. Also one of the Hedgehogs has woke up and had a meal of Cat food and sunflower hearts, its not moved out of the box but is just peeping out of the entrance
John Vennard said
Sun Dec 18 4:08 PM, 2011
Had a pair of foxes in the front garden on Friday night/ Saturday morning about 2.30am. We were disturbed by the security light being activated. The foxes didn't seem to be upset by the light.
Dave Thacker said
Sun Dec 18 3:52 PM, 2011
I checked both Hedgehog boxes in my garden this afternoon. One hog in each box and they were both fast asleep. Also in each box was a family of Mice, 6 in one box and 4 in the other.
gary mills said
Sun Dec 4 4:55 PM, 2011
Last thursday morning at 6am had a fox came out of the passageway at the top of the drive and strolled casually down the middle of the road towards the dell.
gary mills said
Sat Nov 26 6:32 PM, 2011
Had a Hedgehog wandering around the road at the front of the house at 11pm last night (25/11). Seemed perfectly well.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Nov 12 9:28 PM, 2011
I now have two Hedgehogs staying in my garden, one in each hog box. The Hedgehog I mentioned in my previous post is doing OK, I am putting food in the entrance to its box and it has been eating it mainly early evening then going back to sleep.
The second hog is a bit on the small size and is possibly one of this years young. It also tends to stay in the box only coming to the entrance to have a meal. When I got home from work this afternoon at 4.30pm it was eating fallen Sunflower hearts from under my bird feeders so I gave it a quick check up and a meal.
As the evenings get colder I will be making sure that both hogs are not disturbed as I want them settled before they hibernate. Its still a good idea to make sure that there is always some food just placed inside the entrance hole which I will check or replace each day over Winter.
I just hope that both survive the coming months.
Dave Thacker said
Tue Nov 1 8:37 PM, 2011
The hedgehog that I mentioned in my last post has been visiting my garden most nights so it has given me a chance to fatten it up before hibernation. At 4pm this afternoon it was collecting leaves and grass and was enlarging an old nest in one of my hog boxes. I gave the hog a meal and also checked its weight [ 805gms] so it should have enough fat reserves to survive Winter.
If your having a bonfire over the next couple of days please check it over first before lighting it, many hogs use woodpiles for shelter.
Dave Thacker said
Mon Oct 10 9:20 PM, 2011
A very wet and hungry Hedgehog in my garden tonight at 7.05pm. A bit on the small size so I picked it up and gave it a check up. Its face and teeth were ok and its spines seemed in good condition. Apart from missing a toe on one of its rear feet it looked happy enough.
I gave it some cat food, cooked chicken and peanuts which it spent 10 minutes eating. I also found a couple of large worms on the path which I cut up into smaller pieces but the hog totally ignored them so my Koi have had a snack instead
The hog also ignored both my Hedgehog boxes and it is now resting in a hole under my patio
Dave Thacker said
Mon Oct 3 7:43 PM, 2011
Up to 5 Pipistrelle Bats over my Swinton garden last night and a single Hedgehog visited for its usual meal of peanuts, raisins and meal worms
A rather unwelcome moth tick in my Swinton garden last week: Box-tree Moth. We have a single box bush.
Steve
Hii steve if i,m not mistaken it,s a brown silverhorn
A striking black and white caddis fly in the garden moth trap this morning. Can anyone help with its i/d please? Google doesn't help.
Many thanks!
First orange tip butterfly of the year in the garden today.
A female Volucella inanis was in my Swinton garden this pm. If there are any experts on the blog who could confirm it, I got some reasonable shots of it. This seems to be right at the extreme north of its range in the UK.
Steve
The hoverfly Xylota sylvarum appeared in my bathroom this morning. First I have seen in Swinton or GM.
Steve
I've seen a vixen carrying food a couple of times over the last month on Partington lane and Lawn Drive. I'll check her out for trainers next time I see her
Also a lone Fox has been calling each night around the Partington lane area since Thursday.
Also seen;
2 Peacock butterflies
Large Bumble Bee checking out one of my old bird boxes which I leave on the patio for them.
Wasp
Lacewing
Mining bee [ I think]
Usual frogs and one Toad around the pond.
It was very upsetting about losing my little mate, she is now buried in the garden along with all the other wildlife that I have found injured or dying over the years.
There are a couple of exits from my pond of which I have seen Hedgehogs use when they have fallen in. Mice always seem to drown or succumb to the cold.
I have had to remove more frog spawn this evening as both ponds are full of the stuff. The cats old water bowl, 2 water filled flower pots and a waterlogged area of my garden were also full of spawn. As there are at least 12 females still to deposit their eggs it looks like I will be taking another load to the local pond this weekend.
The good news is that I have two large female Toads and one small male in the garden tonight. So he is going to have to work hard over the next couple of evenings.
I found two in my bird bath today! I'll let them finish then put it in the pond.
-- Edited by Joe Wynn on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 08:26:22 PM
Sorry to hear about the loss of your pet Dave...
Regarding the Mice, have you something in your pond ? That a Mouse or Hedgehog could crawl up and out to freedom, should they fall in ?? Plank of wood eg...
I removed nearly 30l of spawn and relocated it to a local pond nearby
Over 70 counted in my main fish pond and also11 more in the smaller wildlife pond. There are many more frogs, mainly young males out hunting in the garden or going under the fence visiting the neighbours frogs next door. I found a female Smooth newt walking in the grass heading towards the main pond
One of the Hedgehogs went on walkabout last night and did not come back while the other hog came out of its box and ignored the peanuts that I had put out and went foraging in the undergrowth and is now in another neighbours garden.
Sadly my 17 year old cat had to be put to sleep a couple of weeks ago
Also I have just noticed at least 6 pairs of frogs coupled up at the bottom of my pond
The colder weather due this weekend will probably stop this activity for a while but Spring is not far off
Had a pair of foxes in the front garden on Friday night/ Saturday morning about 2.30am. We were disturbed by the security light being activated. The foxes didn't seem to be upset by the light.
Last thursday morning at 6am had a fox came out of the passageway at the top of the drive and strolled casually down the middle of the road towards the dell.
The second hog is a bit on the small size and is possibly one of this years young. It also tends to stay in the box only coming to the entrance to have a meal. When I got home from work this afternoon at 4.30pm it was eating fallen Sunflower hearts from under my bird feeders so I gave it a quick check up and a meal.
As the evenings get colder I will be making sure that both hogs are not disturbed as I want them settled before they hibernate. Its still a good idea to make sure that there is always some food just placed inside the entrance hole which I will check or replace each day over Winter.
I just hope that both survive the coming months.
If your having a bonfire over the next couple of days please check it over first before lighting it, many hogs use woodpiles for shelter.
I gave it some cat food, cooked chicken and peanuts which it spent 10 minutes eating. I also found a couple of large worms on the path which I cut up into smaller pieces but the hog totally ignored them so my Koi have had a snack instead
The hog also ignored both my Hedgehog boxes and it is now resting in a hole under my patio