Home & Garden Update – Tuesday 3rd June 2015
Privet Hawk Moth
I’m a bit behind just lately because we’re getting out more and seeing lots of things, it’s taking more and more time to write the blog and process the videos but we’re getting there slowly.
Over the Winter we have had the Chrysalis’ of 6 Privet Hawk Moths. For part of the time we kept them in the fridge at 4˚C so as they wouldn’t emerge too early. Well today the first emerged from the Chrysalis and it is a real beauty. We were hoping that they might emerge all together so as we could release them together. We would normally release them straight away but at the moment we have high winds and the night temperature is still on the cool side but there is an improving forecast for this week so we’ll wait and see for a few days. We have mixed up some special Butterfly and Moth food so that there is food to keep the Moth going. It is possible to raise and breed these Moths in captivity but that wasn’t our intention.
The Starling fledglings are growing and learning to feed themselves and they’ve been joined by another family. At one point in the garden today I counted 27 Starlings which may account for our neighbour telling us that she had “hundreds” of Starlings descend on her garden.
Who Thinks Wood Pigeons Are Stupid?
There have also been appearances of Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird and Robin fledglings in the garden as well this week. I think we may also have seen our first few Collared Dove fledglings in the garden as well but it’s a bit more difficult to tell them as, like most of the Pigeon and Dove families they don’t leave the nest until they are fully feathered. I have put a video of what I think is a Collared Dove fledgling on our YouTube Channel, see what you think?
Good To See A Song Thrush In The Garden Collecting Worms For Nestlings
Spring watch (BBCiPlayer) is good this year but to be quite honest, although I enjoy watching it, I find each series gets a little more childish (perhaps it’s just me accelerating towards old age). I fully understand why they do it – to engage more people with Nature – but really giving the animals and birds names and talking about things like “Ottergeddon!” I still watch it, though but I’d rather be out there, cos if you ain’t out there you won’t see it! If they can encourage one child or adult to get out there and experience if for themselves they would have done their job well.
Keep your eyes peeled and good spotting
Over the Winter we have had the Chrysalis’ of 6 Privet Hawk Moths. For part of the time we kept them in the fridge at 4˚C so as they wouldn’t emerge too early. Well today the first emerged from the Chrysalis and it is a real beauty. We were hoping that they might emerge all together so as we could release them together. We would normally release them straight away but at the moment we have high winds and the night temperature is still on the cool side but there is an improving forecast for this week so we’ll wait and see for a few days. We have mixed up some special Butterfly and Moth food so that there is food to keep the Moth going. It is possible to raise and breed these Moths in captivity but that wasn’t our intention. 
There have also been appearances of Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird and Robin fledglings in the garden as well this week. I think we may also have seen our first few Collared Dove fledglings in the garden as well but it’s a bit more difficult to tell them as, like most of the Pigeon and Dove families they don’t leave the nest until they are fully feathered. I have put a video of what I think is a Collared Dove fledgling on our YouTube Channel, see what you think? 
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