Distant drums

A first for the year, a great spotted woodpecker drumming away somewhere on the far side of the valley. During most of our winters here on the Cych a GSW has been a daily visitor at the birdfeeders, but this year it has rarely put in appearance.

I assume that they breed in one of the veteran trees on the far side of the valley. There are plenty of them - big oaks and alders with lots of ailing, decaying limbs. Presumably, the woodpeckers have had a relatively easy time of it through this mild winter and haven't had to take their chances along with the other garden bird 'faces'.

That may change now. We've been free of snow here, but on the higher ground to the south and east it has snowed quite heavily and the forecast is for very cold temperatures. It may be that my drumming woody has jumped the gun.

Berry chilly weather

Not a gardening day today. It's grey, wet, cold and muddy out there and I don't think anyone who could choose, would be outside rather in by the fire.

In fact, it's the perfect day to start out on a new blog while watching the birds from the window. Over the last week or so our cherry tree has become the focus of attention from the garden's birds, or actually the thick covering of ivy that grows up the trunk to a height that's way above my head.

Throughout the day blackbirds, a couple of woodpigeons and a song thrush have been busy in the dense leaves of this ivy (Hedera helix) that covers most of the tree. They rustle about inside the dense foliage throughout daylight hours.

Every now and again one of the berry-gatherers will pop out for a moment for a quick look around before going back for more fruit. Together the mixed flock can forage in relative safety.

Purple-tinted droppings are scattered around on the grass under the tree and the nearby shed, evidence of just how much birds are relying on the little black berries at the moment. Ivy berries are very energy-dense - comparable with a Mars bar apparently . The fact that they ripen so late in the winter - long after other wild fruit has been eaten - makes it a must-have wildlife garden plant.