The Wildlife and Birds that visit my back garden.

As I am new to the whole Blog thing, I thought I would give you some details about the area I live in and the wildlife and birds that can be seen here. I live in a small bungalow in Rivacre in Ellesmere Port. This bungalow backs onto the Rivacre Valley Country Park, so I'm fortunate in that I get a variety of wildlife that visit the garden. I always say though, no matter where you are, if you provide food and water, the birds and animals can be enjoyed by all :)

I have catalogued 61 Species of bird (including flyovers) but regularly get Stock Doves, Great Spotted & Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Coal, Great, Blue & Long tailed Tit (don't get Willow or Marsh) Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch. Goldcrest, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush & Blackbird. More seasonal visitors include, Siskin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, and Willow Warbler. Here are a few pics :-

COAL TIT

GOLDFINCH

 GREENFINCH

 NUTHATCH

Occasionally I have gulls in the garden, they regularly fly between the River Dee and the River Mersey, which a good roosting ground for them (Manisty Mount) is only 15 minutes walk from my bungalow! Here is a picture of a Lesser Black Backed Gull enjoying a biscuit :)

Here are a couple more having a good look around !!

It's never a dull day in the Buckley home, you just never know who is going to drop in :) I am hoping to get pictures of the Tawny Owls that nest at the back of my neighbours, they had 3 Owlets last year and you know when they have arrived because they squeak, like a dog's toy ball ....well that's what it sounds like to me :p watch this space.

Now then onto the foxes, I have had a family of foxes visiting the back for the last 5 years, they know there is food and as such visit every night. Last year Rosemary had one cub (Brad) and he came back into the garden recently after a long absence away, here is his pic.

Rosemary visits also, however at the moment I am hoping she has cubs to tend to, so here is a pic of her from earlier in the Year.

As it's getting warmer, butterflies, bees and the Wood Mice become more active. I am not very good at identifying some species, so turn to @Ryanclarkphotos for help on twitter as he knows his stuff as you would expect of a student studying Environmental Biology :) Here are a few pictures I captured last year and the Wood Mouse is from this year, I have called him Mr Bojangles as he has a poorly eye and is very tame.


COMMA

 GREEN SHIELD BUG

WOOD MOUSE

RED ADMIRAL

TAWNY MINING BEE

My dad, when he was alive, worked hard in the garden and taught me to respect your environment, I feel the work I put in looking after the plants, grasses, bushes and soil helps attract this wildlife and therefore benefits me as I get to study it close up. Rivacre Valley Country Park is not the best place to birdwatch, as we do have a lot of dog walkers, who unfortunately disturb the birds and wildlife, so if you were planning on a visit, I would recommend early morning when the valley is alive with birdsong :)

Just a couple of parting photographs, including a gorgeous double Rainbow in the front last Autumn....

and the laughing professor Yaffle, the Green Woodpecker ( I nicknamed him that because of Bagpuss), oops showing me age!! Sorry, not a very good pic.

Well, that's a little bit about me and the garden, hope you enjoyed.