July nature notes - the month of the comet

July has been a month of celestial treats in the shape of comet NEOWISE, plus lots and lots of fledglings!

July started with jackdaw fledglings on the front lawn, polishing off some soaked sourdough scraps...

 
And of course starlings, being noisy, and a green woodpecker youngster eating ants on the driveway...

There was a steady trickle of newly fledged birds in and around the garden, but then all of a sudden we seemed to be surrounded by baby blue tits and great tits. I reckon there are a good dozen or so back and forth between the trees and the feeders, front and back gardens.

Later in the month a batch of blackbirds fledged from a nest somewhere nearby, and there has been a definite increase in woodpigeon and collared dove numbers, and the house sparrows have had a good year, which is great to see.

We have had sunbathing doves, blackbirds, robins and dunnocks, and dustbathing sparrows...

Of course, the real night sky treat was comet NEOWISE, on its once in 7000 years visit past our planet.

And towards the end of the month we were visited by a racing pigeon, resting up for a while on a neighbour's roof before heading off to wherever its home loft is.

The final days of July were hot and sunny, and the fields of wheat behind the house were harvested - dust and straw debris flying everywhere! The raptors were in attendance too - a pair of red kites, and a pair of buzzards.

And, finally, I've started a perpetual journal! Been wanting to do this for a while but just couldn't find the right journal. Great Art came good in the end - a 60-page Fabriano Drawing album, which I reckon will be just right for the job. For anyone wondering what on earth a perpetual journal is, it's a journal that you return to year on year. I have a double page spread per week in mine, and plenty of space to add many drawings over the next few years. I'm planning on mostly drawing whatever bits and pieces I find in the garden or while out walking. Totally inspired to do this by Lara Call Gastinger (@laragastinger on Instagram, check her out!). Kristin Link has written a great blog post about her. Here are the additions for the first four weeks.