22/04/2010

Bursting with colour!


The warm weather has certainly woken our garden up! Just a few of weeks ago, it looked a little tired and in need of some tender care.

This week it looks splendid with blossom everywhere, late flowering daffodils and enormous amounts of bird activity as they devour the tasty food on offer. As well as the usual birdsong, chiff-chaffs could be heard chirping loudly too.

Finally, it was a delight to discover some rare native plants growing. Fritillaria meleagris, common name snake's head fritillaries can be seen enjoying the Spring sunshine.

14/04/2010

Busy day!


Volunteers have been busy today planting a hazel copse in the wildlife garden close to the entrance. We're hoping that this native species will provide a green and pleasant covering for this once bare area that will prove attractive both to the birds and wildlife as well as our human visitors.

Sightings today included: Gt spotted woodpeckers (2), long tail tits (2), great tits (6), blue tits (6), greenfinches (2), egyptian geese (2), swans (4), coots (2), parakeets (2), crows (6), jays(2), magpies (3) and robin(1).


04/04/2010

Attracting the birds in the city

Many visitors to our wildlife habit live in central London and don't have a garden. However, don't put that off you feeding the birds at home!

Purchase a simple window feeder (available from the RSPB, WWT and all good wildlife organisations), fill it with good quality food (premium sunflower seeds attract an array of birds) and place it in a good window, away from any ledges that can be reached by cats and wait.

You may be lucky and get birds visiting your home within hours, though it's usual to wait a few days. Be patient!

Once you start feeding the birds, remember to fill the feeder regularly: once they start visiting, they begin relying on you for food, so don't let them down!