Of birds and bees

                      The cold northerly winds have persisted through the last few weeks and as I write seem likely to stay with us for the next while. This weather pattern has certainly influenced the arrival of migrants and sadly mean that I have yet to see one of our precious Turtle Doves.  Unless one arrives soon it will be the first year since we bought the wood that I have not seen or heard one. The numbers of other migrant species also remain low and there is less bird song in our wood this season. But life has to gone on and for our resident species this is the peak time for raising young. I have put up many nest boxes over the years and it is good to see that most now hold families of hungry young birds, in spite of the weather. As long as the parents can find plenty of food survival rates should be good.           

A Great Tit leaving the box after feeding the young inside

A different box with more Great Tit young inside

A Blue Tit in another box

The bees around the entrance to the inside of the Oak Tree

masses of bees swarming together

             Our apiarist friend has checked out the hives he maintains in the wood and reports them to be in good health. Many bee-keepers lost their colonies during the hard, cold weeks in December but ours in Crow Wood are doing well.  One really hot afternoon last week I came across a swarm with bees massing around the base of a dead oak tree next to the main track. A few days later the area was a lot quieter and it became clear that the bees had set up a new colony in a very natural setting inside the tree itself. There is no knowing where the bees came from although it is likely they originated in one of our hives - getting the honey out of the tree will be impossible, so this group will get to keep it all for themselves !

It is a very busy time indeed for the adults