8th August - Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath

The dry weather continues unabated, although it would appear that Four Marks has dodged the bullet of a hose pipe ban, for now!  We removed the garden pond and waterfall this spring, due to the mobility of our young grandson, in its place we have added a water feature, a fountain consisting of two bowls and reservoir about a metre high.  This has been used by several of the garden birds since we installed it, not least the Woodpigeons, who are quickly chased off if seen.

We also have several bird baths spread around the garden, on e of which has started to be drained daily, putting a camera trap on the bath has shown that this is down to the woodpigeons drinking it all, sometimes the bath has to be topped up twice a day.

Water is scarce around the village, the only natural water being found at the pond, but that is now very low, so it is difficult to see where the birds and animals get any water, the grasses being yellow and straw like, the ground bone dry.

There has been a pair of Bullfinches in the garden through the spring and summer, both male and female visiting the feeders and I also think there were young about too, but I was never able to see them.  Saturday one appeared on the top bowl of the water feature while we were sitting in the garden but didn't seem to be able to work out how to get to the water.

Sunday morning a couple of Blue Tits were bathing in the lip of the bowl where the water cascades out to the next bowl and the male Bullfinch appeared and watched.  Once the Blue Tits left, the Bullfinch moved in, he had worked out how best to bathe and went about it in style.  Later in the afternoon he returned for another bath, with the female in tow, she just watched.

This morning they were back and I was able to get some pictures, although the first few were through the window upstairs which played havoc with the light and exposure.

The male turns up first

And is then joined by the female

The female muscles and the male steps aside, she has watched and learnt from the male.

The female then leaves and the male takes over, I have been able to move downstairs.

It has the flow of water and the depth of the bowl into which it plunges.

Beak open

Turned completely over.

Time to dry off, you can see the bare neck.

The attraction must be the cool running water, all the other baths are static, this water stays cool.

Later on in the afternoon he returned again and this time I was able to get some video.

I am sure they will be a regular visitor now.

Other activity in the garden saw a Chalk Hill Blue butterfly go through the garden on Sunday the 7th.  Considering this used to be a chalk down field, probably not as surprising as the other two special butterflies this year.  This took the garden count to 21 and the Four Marks count to 31.

Finally as I went out to water the pots at the front of the house on Sunday evening I noticed a large bird coming over the house, heading west.  It would glide on flat wings with a few elastic like wing beats, both the head and neck were long as was the tail and I am one hundered percent certain this was a Honey Buzzard.  Not the first around the patch, but the first over the garden, the purple patch continues