Reminder to leave out fresh water for garden wildlife in hot weather

[OneBusyFinch]

With more hot weather forecast, a bowl or two of water in the garden for wildlife could be a lifesaver.

Shallow dish for hedgehogs (they can’t manage deep water)

Add some stones for bees to climb out if they fall in

Too up morning and evening — it evaporates fast

Bit of shade keeps it cooler for longer

Takes two minutes, makes a massive difference.

Big thank you if you’re already leaving out fresh water!

Big Butterfly Count

Hi everyone, I topped up my water dishes today! I thought the link above might interest posters on this thread, free to participate Big Butterfly Count is open for this summer online. You just need to spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot and count how many butterflies and moths you see, then log either on the website or you can download their free app.

I did it in my garden today, I was quite chuffed to count 7 butterflies (3 different kinds)! You can do as many counts as you like as well. Felt wholesome and it's useful data.

I never see anything use our water dishes. What am I doing wrong? It's a shallow big pot tray on the patio

I have a very fat frog who enjoys the big plant pot saucer I leave full of water in the shade

They may use them after dark or early in the morning. Please don’t stop leaving the water

The birds tend to ignore the birdbath. They prefer especially woodpeckers a hollow in a forked silver birch which seems to be always full of water. I can’t refill if it’s empty as it’s been warm here as it’s too high up the tree for me to reach.We are up north so not drastic heatwise.

A local cat keeps coming to my garden to drink some of the water I’ve left. Not seen any others. Hoping it’s not stray.

Yes @SurreySenMum26 thank you for leaving out fresh water. As @lmnabc says, it may be nocturnal wildlife - like hedgehogs, who are drinking it.

Evening bump - lots of butterflies using the pebbles in the bird bath to have a drink

I'd not seen many wasps this year but the small pot saucer I have down the far end of the garden with water in, has had at least two visiting wasps that I've seen drinking from it so they are around.

I've also had a visiting tabby cat that I suddenly noticed in the near darkness also drinking out the saucer.

I wish it had been a hedgehog though.

Quick bump - no let up in sight for this very dry weather

My neighbours cats perch awkwardly on the birdbath in my garden to drink from it. I know for a fact the neighbour leaves fresh water out for them because I can see it and they are also ignoring the ground level bowl I put out for hedgehogs etc. They just like the yucky water pigeons wash their feathers in instead because cats are weird

My cat doesn't drink from the birdbath but has convinced the houses behind us she is a stray. She is not.

Gotta love cats and their weirdness!

Bumping - it’s still so dry out there.

I put one of the cats' bowls out for bigger creatures and refreshed /cleaned the ttray-with-a-plate-in-it for any little creatures who need shallow water .

Untouched as far as I can see . (Fussy ain't they )

My cats would consider yucky pigeon wash water a delicacy !

Ahhh tepid with a top note of Avian Backwash said in a Leslie Phillips Voice

Just bumping with a personal tale. Have a hedgehog sleeping in a hedgehog house in my garden in a shady spot and it has been drinking thirstily every evening from the several shallow dishes of water I leave out in the front and back gardens (have a hedgehog highway in my back gate and garden wall and fences). It really is a lifeline because there are no other natural water sources it can access because not everyone has hedgehog highways.

Still not interested. I've tried leaving water out

the important thing is that you’re leaving out fresh water - thank you @Netcurtainnelly

I have been doing this already. I have free range chickens so there is always water out for them but I have been putting extra bowls and trays out too particularly since we have had hedgehogs in the past.
2 new wildlife-friendly water features this year:

1. a puddling tray for butterflies. Butterflies can’t land on water but apparently they like muddy puddles. I have an old tray that I put some pebbles, smaller shingle and mud in and then poured water over the top without completely covering the stones so that there are landing places. No idea if they’re using it but it seems like a nice idea for minimal outlay. Needs frequent topping up as it’s very shallow.
2. Tesco were selling some black plastic troughs that look like painted oak planters for £8 last week (reduced to clear). I bought one, dug a hole in a shady part of the garden, put the trough in the hole, added some large stones, bricks, old tiles etc to reduce risk of animals drowning and then filled with water. So far I have seen sparrows using it as a bird bath and my chickens drinking from it. Haven’t needed to top it up yet as it’s quite a decent volume.

love the way you write @Fakeplasticchimneyswhy ! Especially enjoyed ‘2 new wildlife-friendly water features this year’ 😁Thank you!

Bumping with next heatwave about to hit

There aren’t enough people putting water out. I see barely any in front gardens. A plant tray, a dog or cat bowl, even an old frying pan will do! Pleeeeeeease!

DP is being a wildlife treasure with his refreshing of bowls of water, bird bath and topping up of the small ponds with de-chlorinated water. There's a lot of plants life in them too so it's great for insects and spiders to hang out in. Lots of shade and sap available in the fig tree.

He's finished work for the day so is now back and 'farming his radishes'.

I've been having one out the front by the pavement for any passing who want a drink. 3 in the back.

So glad!