Apples

It has been a very HOT and DRY summer as you have seen in previous postings. Despite the lack of rain the apple trees are full of fruit that might never get really ripe. If we cannot get a big harvest, they are already very appreciated by the wasps and birds :)

Nuthatch

A very nice little bird is the Eurasian nuthatch or wood nuthatch (Sitta europaea) . From what I have read it is the only bird that can walk head first down a tree!  

Flowers and bumblebees

The bumblebees have enjoyed the many flowers that have survived the drought thanks to my wife's hard work watering them every day. In particular the Calibrachoa or Million bells is a favorite! 

No blueberries:(

Due to the dry and hot weather most berries have just dried up like these blueberries. 

We got a bit of rain today but it is still extremely dry. Only the weed survive. 

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia )

Some time ago I took a very small plant of a Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ) from my father's garden. It did not do very well the first couple of years but earlier this year, maybe thanks to the warm weather, it was really a joy to see.

Wet and cold, dry and warm..

Spring was very cold and wet with flooded rivers and a much needed boost to the ground water level. It was therefore not a big surprise when the weather in May and June changed and it became very warm and dry. This has continued and July is now one of the warmest we have had in a long time. I remember 1959 as one of the warmest ever but it is possible that 2018 might be just as dry and hot.

There is still water in the well but the grass is more or less gone and many trees have gone into sleeping mood with yellow or brown leaves. No need to cut the grass on the lawn and the farmers are suffering and have had to cut the grass on all fields where they can find some food for their animals.

Snake in paradise :(

Snakes are not very common in Svångemåla but now and then we are either happy to see a Grass snake (natrix natrix) or less happy to spot a European adder (Vipera berus). A large sample of the latter enjoyed the sunshine at our gate the other day. It was very lazy and did not move even when we looked at it from just a couple of meters. They are poisonous but move normally away quickly when they feel the vibrations of someone coming.

Searching for food.

There are unusually many Common blackbirds (Turdus merula) in our garden this year. I have still not been able to identify where they are nesting but it must be very close to our house since they are walking around looking for worms and other stuff they can eat just outside our door.

 The technique is the same for most birds... tilt the head and listen carefully.

 The song thrush (Turdus philomelos)  uses the same technique and is often just as successful as the black bird.

Plenty of young ones in Svångemåla!

This little wagtail seems determined to make it although it did not sound very confident. 

A sibling sat in a bush not far away and sounded a bit more confident.

 The parents were close by and took turns feeding the little ones.