Hi Annie
Yes, the water has been working quite well, but only because the cats have to duck down under the perspex at the same time – otherwise they are very good at stepping over it – but don’t seem to like getting their tummy’s wet – even the ones who don’t mind getting wet paws! The boxes are fine, they don’t even try to get into those, with the bricks in them to reduce the height of the tunnel – the hogs get in and out fine.
But one cat has been caught on camera trying to catch my frogs! That one obviously doesn’t mind wet paws because it got partially into the pond more than once! The first time it definitely came away without anything in its mouth, but sometimes the clip time runs out at just the wrong moment. The frogs are pretty good at diving down, so hopefully they did that and escaped.
Found a hog asleep in the feed box yesterday – obviously got caught out staying out too long! I still seem to have mostly males visiting although there is a smaller one who I’m not sure about yet – haven’t seen any courtship activity. So I’m pretty much resigned to another hogletless year! Although there is always a tiny hope!
Interesting that you mention copper tape. I planted a courgette in a large pot and it got badly eaten, but just managed to survive. I had some old copper tape which I put round the pot and it is growing again now. So I think it must work, a bit at least.
Yes, sadly there is a fair bit of strimmer activity round here, too. They probably think I’m mad going out and doing it all by hand. But I so often come across frogs in even comparatively short grass that it’s worth the effort.
That garden sounds horrid. Maybe that vine type thing is a hop plant and they are planning on trying some brewing?
Nice that you have a friendly blackbird. I have a male one here who peers at me and says ‘feed me’ and a robin who is often around if I’m pottering. I think it nested in one of my nest boxes. I didn’t like to look too closely in case I disturbed them. But there were some young ones in the bushes in that area afterwards. I’ve also had some very noisy starlings in the roof, luckily over the bathroom. I don’t know what on earth they do up there in the middle of the night – sounds as if they are re-arranging the furniture! But in the day time it started as little cheaps, but fairly rapidly progressed to more raucous starling sounds.
Glad to hear your garden is doing well. Nice to have lots of full borders for all the insects!
