Four - nil

Every year, House Martins come and build their nests, and every year the House Sparrows pinch them. Last year 7 nests were hijacked and the House Martins didn't manage to keep any. Simon and Sally very kindly gave us a pair of artificial nests which we put up in the hope that it might give the Martins a head start.
Since we put them up back in March, something rather strange has happened. Our House Sparrow count has gone from 60 to 70 at any given time, to about 10 or a dozen. We don't know where they have gone (although next door still say they get loads) and we don't know why. It could be the removal of the conifer which we took down in February, but then their main roosting spot was on top of the shed in the Clematis and that is nowhere near the conifer. Maybe they have just admitted defeat when they saw Sal's Martin nests. Either way, it's done the trick. We now have 4 completed House Martin nests, which are all occupied by Martins, a fifth is being built as we speak, and they haven't even started on the pot ones yet! Thank you Simon and Sally!
Can you spot two faces?
Flying in
And while the Martins are just starting to sit on their eggs, the Blue Tits are just fledging. At least one fledged yesterday, and a busy parent was trying to entice the others out this morning, flying to the box with food
and then flying away without giving them anything.


Meanwhile, back down on earth, Breeze is showing a keen interest in all aspects of gardening. She is quite keen on hay meadows


And plant pots are a really big draw





Running away from them is particularly good fun

Oh, and as it's Wednesday, it must be time for Pilates.