Wildlife and Gardens Thread

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, Spudulike said:

Anyone heard a Cuckoo yet? Amazing birds. Not seen one for two years (North Cornish coast).

 

https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking/updates

 

Only ever seen one in my whole life, on Orkney of all places. Frequently hear them, though none this year.

[Free Falling Foxes]

I've been watching this nest box camera footage, streaming from a neighbours garden, for some weeks now. 

It is anticipated that the eggs will beginning hatching within the the next few days. 

 

[Free Falling Foxes]

On 23/04/2026 at 08:41, Free Falling Foxes said:

I've been watching this nest box camera footage, streaming from a neighbours garden, for some weeks now. 

It is anticipated that the eggs will beginning hatching within the the next few days. 

 

They are hatching as I type. 

[Ashley]

Any recommendations for fertiliser/grass feed etc? 

 

Recently had my garden scarified and other than one patch it isnt looking too bad. 

 

 

[Tommy G]

Just now, Ashley said:

Any recommendations for fertiliser/grass feed etc? 

 

Recently had my garden scarified and other than one patch it isnt looking too bad. 

 

 

@JonnyBoy

[brookfox]

20 minutes ago, Ashley said:

Any recommendations for fertiliser/grass feed etc? 

 

Recently had my garden scarified and other than one patch it isnt looking too bad. 

 

 

I always use “Miracle-Gro Evergreen Complete 4-in-1 Lawn Food, Weed & Moss Control”, no idea if it’s good or not but the lawns looking decent. Although using the full name has made me feel like I’m on the Truman Show!

 

 

[Bilsthorpe Blue]

On 13/04/2026 at 19:56, Spudulike said:

Anyone heard a Cuckoo yet? Amazing birds. Not seen one for two years (North Cornish coast).

 

https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking/updates

 

Heard the cuckoo this morning for the first time this year, we live on the edge of sherwood forest, also had a crossbill in the garden

[Sly]

I actually saw a living badger in my front garden this morning. I think they’ve set up a set in the large pond opposite our house. 
 

We’ve had otters, foxes, swans etc, however I’ve never had a badger! Until today. 

[Parafox]

On 03/05/2026 at 19:33, Sly said:

I actually saw a living badger in my front garden this morning. I think they’ve set up a set in the large pond opposite our house. 
 

We’ve had otters, foxes, swans etc, however I’ve never had a badger! Until today. 

You are Chris Packham and I claim my £5

[Parafox]

4 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

 

On 03/05/2026 at 19:33, Sly said:

I’ve never had a badger! Until today. 

Edited 4 May by Parafox

[Izzy]

On 15/03/2026 at 22:20, Izzy said:

And what it looks like today 

 

 

 

Decided to put new turf down in the end. Cost about £750 but so much quicker and easier than seeding.

 

Been watering it twice a day for the last 2 weeks and today was the first mow (had mower on highest setting so grass is still pretty long)

 

 

 

[Parafox]

43 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Decided to put new turf down in the end. Cost about £750 but so much quicker and easier than seeding.

 

Been watering it twice a day for the last 2 weeks and today was the first mow (had mower on highest setting so grass is still pretty long)

 

 

 

Lovely.

 

It'll be like the KP in it's heyday. Award winning.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 4 May by Parafox

[Spudulike]

48 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Decided to put new turf down in the end. Cost about £750 but so much quicker and easier than seeding.

 

Been watering it twice a day for the last 2 weeks and today was the first mow (had mower on highest setting so grass is still pretty long)

 

 

 

Looking great. Top quality turf and so much better than the nasty plastic stuff. Just need a couple of nice small trees and shrubs to compliment it. Perfect 

[Trav Le Bleu]

11 hours ago, Spudulike said:

Looking great. Top quality turf and so much better than the nasty plastic stuff. Just need a couple of nice small trees and shrubs to compliment it. Perfect 

The knights who say ni demand...

 

A SHRUBBERY!

[Free Falling Foxes]

On 23/04/2026 at 08:41, Free Falling Foxes said:

I've been watching this nest box camera footage, streaming from a neighbours garden, for some weeks now. 

It is anticipated that the eggs will beginning hatching within the the next few days. 

 

 

On 25/04/2026 at 13:51, Free Falling Foxes said:

They are hatching as I type. 

Update.

7 eggs were laid.

4 hatched.

One chick died after 3 or 4 days, another after 7 days.

The two remaining ones are now climbing out from the nest occassionally and stretching their legs and wings.

If all goes well, they should be fledging the nest completely late Sunday/Monday.

 

[Spudulike]

6 hours ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

 

Update.

7 eggs were laid.

4 hatched.

One chick died after 3 or 4 days, another after 7 days.

The two remaining ones are now climbing out from the nest occassionally and stretching their legs and wings.

If all goes well, they should be fledging the nest completely late Sunday/Monday.

 

Were the two that died being fed? Wondering if it's a lack of available caterpillars? I've been concerned about ours as they seem to be feeding them a lot of sunflower heart seeds which, although they won't starve, doesn't provide hydration.To assist, I put out some dried mealworms in a shallow dish soaking in water. They seem to prefer them to the dry seed but don't really know what's going on as I don't have a nest cam.

[Free Falling Foxes]

36 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

Were the two that died being fed? Wondering if it's a lack of available caterpillars? I've been concerned about ours as they seem to be feeding them a lot of sunflower heart seeds which, although they won't starve, doesn't provide hydration.To assist, I put out some dried mealworms in a shallow dish soaking in water. They seem to prefer them to the dry seed but don't really know what's going on as I don't have a nest cam.

I couldn't say why they died, other than it is unusual for all to survive. This could be due to lack of food, inexperienced parents, etc.

One year, we had 5 or 6 chick's ready to fledge. They were very noisy, seemingly healthy and being fed from the nesting box hole. We were convinced one evening that they would be on their way the next day.

The next morning they were all dead.  We assumed that the parents may have fed them something that had been sprayed with some garden chemical or another.

It was quite sad watching the parents still flying up to the box for the next day or two and appearing confused as to why no chick's were appearing.

Edited 8 May by Free Falling Foxes

[Spudulike]

39 minutes ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

I couldn't say why they died, other than it is unusual for all to survive. This could be due to lack of food, inexperienced parents, etc.

One year, we had 5 or 6 chick's ready to fledge. They were very noisy, seemingly healthy and being fed from the nesting box hole. We were convinced one evening that they would be on their way the next day.

The next morning they were all dead.  We assumed that the parents may have fed them something that had been sprayed with some garden chemical or another.

It was quite sad watching the parents still flying up to the box for the next day or two and appearing confused as to why no chick's were appearing.

That was a shame. I didn't see last years brood fledge but didn't find any casualties when I cleared the box out. Just hope the local moggies didn't get them as they destroy wildlife around here 

[Free Falling Foxes]

On 08/05/2026 at 14:53, Free Falling Foxes said:

 

Update.

7 eggs were laid.

4 hatched.

One chick died after 3 or 4 days, another after 7 days.

The two remaining ones are now climbing out from the nest occassionally and stretching their legs and wings.

If all goes well, they should be fledging the nest completely late Sunday/Monday.

 

 

On 08/05/2026 at 23:15, Spudulike said:

That was a shame. I didn't see last years brood fledge but didn't find any casualties when I cleared the box out. Just hope the local moggies didn't get them as they destroy wildlife around here 

Well, today was disastrous.

Both were alive and being fed by the mother around 09:30. When checked an hour later, one had died.

We looked at the camera feed again around 12 o'clock and the remaining chick had fledged.

That was good - we thought.

No. A little later we found it lying dead in some rain water that had gathered in a tub a few feet from the nest box.

We assume it had partly fallen/flew into it and couldn't get out and drown 

I scooped it out and laid it on some soil nearby. We noticed during our lunch the mother, with a caterpillar in her beak, flying down to it several times.

Sad to see really. 

Edited 15 May by Free Falling Foxes

[Spudulike]

1 hour ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

 

Well, today was disastrous.

Both were alive and being fed by the mother around 09:30. When checked an hour later, one had died.

We looked at the camera feed again around 12 o'clock and the remaining chick had fledged.

That was good - we thought.

No. A little later we found it lying dead in some rain water that had gathered in a tub a few feet from the nest box.

We assume it had partly fallen/flew into it and couldn't get out and drown 

I scooped it out and laid it on some soil nearby. We noticed during our lunch the mother, with a caterpillar in her beak, flying down to it several times.

Sad to see really. 

That is sad. Ours are still frantically feeding so I'm assuming they still have a few hungry chicks. They get through a couple of big handfulls of soaked mealworms every day. Although shared with a pair of Great Tits that must have a brood close by. Must be fledging soon.

[Free Falling Foxes]

15 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

That is sad. Ours are still frantically feeding so I'm assuming they still have a few hungry chicks. They get through a couple of big handfulls of soaked mealworms every day. Although shared with a pair of Great Tits that must have a brood close by. Must be fledging soon.

That's good to hear. I Hope they all survive. 

[Izzy]

Does anyone make their own compost? (I swear I'm turning into my old man )

 

The amount of grass cuttings we're producing won't all fit into the garden waste bin thats collected every 2 weks and I cba to take them to the tip.

 

I'm also using a shed load of compost as I'm renevating and overseeding my lawn so figured it might make sense to make my own.

 

Any words of wisdom from seasoned composters on here?

[FoyleFox]

4 hours ago, Izzy said:

Does anyone make their own compost? (I swear I'm turning into my old man )

 

The amount of grass cuttings we're producing won't all fit into the garden waste bin thats collected every 2 weks and I cba to take them to the tip.

 

I'm also using a shed load of compost as I'm renevating and overseeding my lawn so figured it might make sense to make my own.

 

Any words of wisdom from seasoned composters on here?

Tried and failed miserably.

[Jon the Hat]

5 hours ago, Izzy said:

Does anyone make their own compost? (I swear I'm turning into my old man )

 

The amount of grass cuttings we're producing won't all fit into the garden waste bin thats collected every 2 weks and I cba to take them to the tip.

 

I'm also using a shed load of compost as I'm renevating and overseeding my lawn so figured it might make sense to make my own.

 

Any words of wisdom from seasoned composters on here?

Grass by itself isn't going make very good compost, you need leaves, cardboard or other brown stuff too.

[Wolfox]

3 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

Grass by itself isn't going make very good compost, you need leaves, cardboard or other brown stuff too.

Egg boxes/ shells ana coffee grounds

 

ensure you get a reasonable composter, some rotate