There is much talk these days about rewilding, but this word appears to mean different things to different people. Whilst I cannot compete with what has happened in West Sussex, one of their ideas is to let hedgerows grow not necessarily taller but thicker, and this seems like a great idea. I am certainly not going to introduce pigs, cattle or deer, neither am I going to embrace the idea of not cutting our lawn. Who wants a lawn full of daisies and dandelions, however good they may be for insects. No, I am going to continue concentrating on planting many more nectar-rich plants, native and ornamental and top of my list are more of the coneflowers I planted up in a new perennial border this year. Our bees are going to love them.
Now, as winter cold begins to bite the bird feeding dynamics have changed. Great Spotted Woodpeckers have returned to the feeders, making an appearance for the first time in many months. Greenfinch numbers are increasing, Siskins have left the deep woods and a Nuthatch has taken up almost permanent residence. Unfortunately, Woodpigeons are also gathering in huge numbers, many with only one thing in mind – don’t they ever let up mating even when it is this cold! In the meantime, my heart goes out to the Long-tailed Tits – such tiny birds weighing almost next to nothing. They never hang around for any time at all really, constantly on the move, but what really delightful birds they are.
In between times the Goldfinches crowd in, but there is nothing “charming” about their constant bickering. They would save so much energy by behaving themselves better! Mind you, they scatter once the local Sparrowhawk commences a “bombing run”. We have watched a large female coming in very fast and low, hedgehopping, before making a sharp, braking turn. I still remember vividly the day one took a cocky male House Sparrow, flew down onto the lawn to pluck it, whilst giving the whole family who were watching from the dining room the evil eye. On another occasion one crashed into a shrub a mere three feet away from me, before eventually emerging empty handed.
I am fascinated by the Nuthatches though. Normally only heard and seldom seen, they are now constantly at the feeders but again using up a lot of energy flying to and fro to their hole in a tree nearby. I suspect that they may well be storing up supplies to see them through the winter.
