30 Days Wild 2023 - Week 1

This post is late! Over a week late. But it's here. Life has evidently taken a front seat recently and blogging isn't a priority. So although I'd like to post my 30 Days Wild updates at the end of each week like in previous years, that isn't possible this year. 

30 Days Wild is an annual challenge run by The Wildlife Trusts to encourage us to participate in 'Random Acts Of Wildness' every day in June. In turn helping me to actually really enjoy June which is otherwise, this year in particular, too hot to cope with. 2023 marks my 7th year taking part in 30 Days Wild!

Unless you are completely new here you will know we are a very wild family, to begin with! However, it's not only an excuse to share nature and wildlife-themed photos every single day of my Project 365. It is also a fun way to mix up my wildness to include things other than just my obsession with photographing every bird that enters my garden haha. Beware though, this will still be a very bird-heavy post!

Here is our Week 1 of 30 Days Wild 2023.

Day 1 - June 1st
A surprising start to 30 Days Wild!
When seeing Mr H off to work at 6.30 there were 3 Mallards chilling on the path. 
Not a bird that has ever been around here, nor should be. 
One of the males seemed to have a poorly leg and kept sitting down but I needed to know if he could at least fly and hopefully head back to water as our road, though access only, is relatively busy with cars (going far too fast) and lots of dogs off lead so not a safe place for them to be.
A man started to come down the road with a dog after Mr H had pulled off in the car, so I tried to shepherd the Mallards onto the grass or even better encourage them to fly over the fence into the large school field. 
Thankfully they listened to me and took off. I kept an eye out for the guy with the sore foot in case I needed to contact the wildlife rescue but there's been no sign. I hope they headed back to the river and swimming has helped to heal him.

Day 2- June 2nd
We always leave a portion of our grass wild, but during No Mow May we let it all grow.
This was the result as of today and it is so evident how much it is needed.
Not only is there an abundance of bees and insects, but the birds adore it too.
Goldfinches eat the seeds from the Dandelions and Starlings run through the long grass routing for grubs to fly back to their nests.
Though we haven't seen them (or their poops) yet, I know from previous years that the Hedgehogs enjoy it too. 

Day 3 - June 3rd
Reading outside is one of my favourite things to do but I feel like I rarely get the time to, so I have to be intentional about it.
I decided that today I'd take an hour or two out of my day just to finish my book while sitting on the grass with Baker.

Day 4 - June 4th
It's inevitable that this project will be filled with birds. 
A huge part of my day, every single day, is spent with the birds.
From feeding, filling bird baths, watching, listening and photographing, birds mean a lot to me
and help my life exponentially.

Day 5 - 5th June
Our windows reflect the sky and trees across the road, as well as looking right through to another parallel window which has led to a couple of birds bumping into them.
Until I get something more permanent, I tacked up some black shapes to deter them.

Day 6 - 6th June
We went on a little family wander down to St. Paul's Monastery spotting lots of diverse nature and wildlife along the way.
Stand-out mentions go to the amazing Bee Orchid (which sadly, on our way home, had been cut down but council grass cutters - please leave green spaces to go wild!!), Treecreeper who posed lots for me and the bee who climbed aboard my hand to travel to the safety of a flower after having been sitting in the middle of the path.

Day 7 - 7th June
Rounding out week one with a trip to one of our favourite places, WWT Washington!
And what a visit it was!!
We were lucky to see their Bar-headed Geese chicks, the first in over 10 years to have hatched at Washington.
We then saw their adult pals, some Avocets, Shelduck with chicks, lots of squirrels, multiple Greenfinch, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Reed Bunting, Mandarin Duck, and Chilean Flamingos among many more not pictured.

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I hope you have been able to get outside, do something wild and appreciate how incredibly lucky we are to have the nature and wildlife we do. Look after it!
Until next time...

Check out 2022's posts below:
30 Days Wild // Week 1
30 Days Wild // Week 2
30 Days Wild // Week 3
30 Days Wild // Week 4

And for 2021's posts, see here:
30 Days Wild 2021 // Week 1
30 Days Wild 2021 // Week 2
30 Days Wild 2021 // Week 3
30 Days Wild 2021 // Week 4