Looking back on the summer, there were highs and lows. We had a good percentage of our nestboxes occupied and then lost quite a few yound, especially bluetits in the awful weather.

We then had an outbreak of Trichomonad parasite and lost about a dozen greenfinches. This disease mainly affects greenfinches and chaffinches. Despite regular cleaning of our feeding areas we dont appear to have prevented the disease. We have reported it to the RSPB and understand it is widespread at the moment and is causing a lot of Greenfinch mortalities.
More advise can be found at
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingb irds/health/sickbirds/greenfinches.aspThe highlights of the summer were 2 days spent bird ringing with Geoff Sheppard, our local bird ringer and secretary of the West Galloway SOC (Scottish Ornithological Club). Geoff had ringed about 200 barn owl chicks in this area by the end of the summer. Most had fledged from nest boxes made and put up by him with the support from local farmers. He is one of our unsung local wildlife heroes. In celebration of his efforts I have made a short film from the pictures taken when we had the privilege of joining him on 2 trips this year. The film also shows the ringing of 6 kestrel chicks.

The music is written composed and played by my son Mike http://www.mphmusic.co.uk

On 27th May 2007 I heard a commotion coming from the bird table in front of the webcam. When I went into the conservatory I found out the reason, a sparrowhawk had tried to get one of the birds feeding and had ended up in the conservatory. It nearly knocked itself out trying to escape but managed to find the open door eventually, not before I managed to take just one shot! Friday was beautiful here and as there was no Springwatch on ( yes of course we are watching it!) we went out for a coastal walk. We are still doing the Ringed Plover count for the BTO but didnt see any at all. We did see Stonechats, Herring Gull chicks and Fulmars though. We were just about to turn back when Pete shouted that he had found a chick on the beach. We watched it at a distance, but then it walked straight towards us, so I took lots of pictures and then we left it alone so its Mum could find it. I think it was an Oystercatcher, there are certainly plenty of them about here. It is pouring today and all the birds, especially the young ones are looking very bedraggled. Pete found a baby blutit by the burn this morning, dangerously close to being drowned. He picked it up and it hopped up his arm onto his shoulder and was then chrping to be fed. Pete quickly put it on a low branch, then at a distance, watched until its Mum came back and fed it.
Friday was beautiful here and as there was no Springwatch on ( yes of course we are watching it!) we went out for a coastal walk. We are still doing the Ringed Plover count for the BTO but didnt see any at all. We did see Stonechats, Herring Gull chicks and Fulmars though. We were just about to turn back when Pete shouted that he had found a chick on the beach. We watched it at a distance, but then it walked straight towards us, so I took lots of pictures and then we left it alone so its Mum could find it. I think it was an Oystercatcher, there are certainly plenty of them about here.

Well its been a while since I have posted. The intention was to update regularly, but so far I have failed. We were very busy before Christmas and since have had a lot of illness, thats my excuse anyway!

We now know who the regular visitors are to the Keepers Cottage wildlife garden. The stoat can be seen most days, either in the woods behind or in the garden. We feed it on chicken bones, but I havnt managed to get a decent picture yet.

The pheasant, we have named him Hoppity, finds refuge and food in our garden daily and now comes when called. He looks a bit of a state as he has a limp, hence the name, and a battered tail.

We see hares regularly in the field opposite but have only seen it in the garden twice. We now have both male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers visiting the garden daily.

The siskins are an occasional visitor....

..and look what the gales blew in on 4th March! A beautiful yellowhammer, quite common over farmland but not in gardens.

The lunar eclipse on 3rd March was brilliant, the skies are so clear here and the stars stunning, no light pollution.

Thats all for now, come and visit our new forum, we could do with some more members!