Hobbies and Crafts

The pics sound fantastic Maggie..........lucky you for being camera in hand at the right moment : )

Read this thread but haven't joined in before
Oh I wish I wish I wish you could see my photos !
Sat outside today doing my crossword (as you do..lol)
The Robin flies down into the pond to take his bath. Two feet away I was taking pic after pic, so tame.
Well pleased I am

Maggie

Daff........your little patch sounds heavenly : ))

We get bats some years flitting about in the dusk but I haven't seen any for a couple of years now : (

I spotted another swallow yesterday sitting on a phone line in the country side and my OH saw two at the allotments again.

Amanda x

Hi Folks,
Big feast for the birds today.
I turned out a flowerpot that contained a dead plant - discovered about 60 big fat white vine weevil grubs - collected them up and put them on a feeder - two hen chaffinches went into a feeding frenzy - collecting a beakfull, flying off, and returning. I think they must be feeding young.
Unfortunately, the robin didn't turn up, I was rather hoping he would.

Jude....My black Lab is the best. Had dogs all my life, from a deranged, but lovable Jack Russell, to a fabulous old Pyranean Mountain dog from a rescue centre. Mostly we've had labs, and I've loved them all, but I have to say there is something very special about my black lab. Don't think I've ever been so close to, or so in tune with a dog as I am with this one. I swear he reads my mind, and is by my side all day, every day. He is nearly ten now, and starting to show some white under his chin. We are growing older, and sillier together - that's ok.
I know this thread is about birds - so apologies.

Regards
Tec.

*smiles contentedly* we have loads of birds flitting in and out at the moment... I don't put feeders up, cos of the squirrels and of course my cats!! However, I do scatter my seed in the area outside the house... wooded, and part of the very edge of the wetlands here. Mr and mrs blackbird are so brave... they come into the garden all the time, each taking turns to act as sentry!! Then there is the robin... I have a back garden on and a front garden one, and boy is there trouble if they meet around the side, lol.

There are loads of birds I haven't got names for... I just enjoy watching them popping in and out of the garden and flitting from branch to branch in the trees that surround half my garden.... I do know the tree creeper, we have two different pairs of woodpecker... 3 different types of owl... and the crows, bless 'em, the noisy beggars!!

We also have bats around the side, but they don't roost in my house eaves.... they must roost elsewhere.. they only swoop on us occasionally, but they are wonderful to watch.

I love my little patch!!

Love

Daff xxxx

Tec.....your area sounds lovely:o)) Bet your pleased you have a best friend like your black lab:o)) l don't know what my Vic would do without ours!!

All this week Vic has been keeping aneye on the Mallard chicks, one family has 6 and the other which he found this morning has 11!!! the male was trying to mount the poor female again and again and it was nearly drowning, so Vic threw a pebble in some yds from it , which did the trick and she went bless her, l wonder how long before he catches up with her again.Nature is quite cruel!! :o(( l remember years ago we rescued a female from a river bank, she had a broken back, the vet thinks that was probably due to the male!!! she was put out of her misery poor thing!

Our garden birds are busying themselves else where, the doves and pigeons are still here and a couple of blackbirds and greenfinches,plus a robin and a couple of sparrows.....oh and a couple of jackdaws, which l know is'nt bad:o)

Must go have to go out.

jude :o)
Edit....Whirley, have your robins come back yet. How romantic of him to bring his mate to feed:o) x

Hi Folks,
The fly past of my two swallows didn't happen today - where have they gone?
Did see a buzzard hunting, but not much happening in the garden - few sparrows, greenfinches, and my regular doves..
Jude.......Yes we are very fortunate in this area for the variety of birdlife.
I think it is because there is such a range of habitat and terrain. The hills and mountains come down to the coast, then there are the broad leafed forests, and conifer plantations. The rivers and streams accommodate other birdlife. So we get the birds that frequent those areas. My best friend, the black lab, takes me for a walk most days, and we usually spot something interesting. Not always a bird - the other day he spotted a pine martin before I did, he dropped like a stone when I signalled him to, and I was able to watch it for some time.
I have yet to see a bullfinch in this area.

Dormouse.........Your trip to the Cotswold Water Park sounds good. Hope you get to hear the nightingale - I've never heard one - despite passing through Berkeley Square many times in my youth!!!

Tec

Buzzards are mainly found in the south west, think they got killed off in the south where I am cos of pesticides etc..but the RSPB have reintroduced them in this area now. I saw one close up in the wild when I was down in Dorset a while back. It was sitting on a farm gate. Amazing sight.

My Robin that used to come to my window seal for his cheese, was courting and bought his g'friend along too to feed her (part of their courtship thing I believe) but he has stopped coming for his food. OH recons they're probably nesting etc....I remember this happening last year too...surely they still need to eat??

dormouse, close as we live to Cirencester we have never been to the Cotswold water park. I will be interested to know what you think of it.

Was just out in the garden having a cup of tea with the gardener (Oh OK OH) and the Goldfinches (2) on the seeder were making such a din twittering away!

Hi to all from our very hot n sunny garden. 6 swallows currently eyeing up the workshops with a view to moving in. Last year's swallows are already spring-cleaning their favoured spot up in the rafters.
We have naughty house sparrows nesting in the house martin nest under the eaves just outside the bedroom window- noisy things!! No sign of the martins yet though so maybe the sparrows will have fledged by the time the martins come a-prospecting! Garden is full of birdsong today and I can see buzzards and ravens circling over the little wood behind our house.
We're off to Cotswold Country/Water Park (not sure on the name but luckily I'm not driving so don't need to know!!) next week to see the fritilleries in flower and hopefully hear nightingales singing nearby. Going to have to be an early start!!

Dormouse xx

Yehhhh:o)))

jude x

Bet you are looking forward to that Jude. Is it at Cotswold Wildlife park?

Hello Tec

Must add that the display was done without the rabbits, the handler had bait on lair (end of the rope), the whole thing was done in an outside arena/ring as a demonstration. The birds were fantastic and l have never seen so many different organisations from all over the country at one country fayre.
l still have'nt seen any swallows :o(( Of course it was the same pair...lol
You do get to see alot down/upyour way.
Our wrens are so quick, l usually forget they are about, might only be one.

Greenfinches been about this afternoon and watched them drink from my old bird bath:o)

Ann....we'll be in Cotswolds in June for the Zoo Keepers day:o))))

jude :o)

Hi Folks,

Jude - The Birds of Prey display sounds wonderful, I would love to see that, if only to see the various birds up close as it were.

Regarding the robins nesting in strange places - we once had wrens nesting under the saddle of an old exercise bike that I'd dumped outside the kitchen window - they reared three chicks successfully. Also last year there was a blackbird sitting on eggs in the small garden section of a Focus DIY store in Aberystwyth. She was nesting in a small shrub in a pot right opposite the automatic doors with lots of people passing.

Saw two swallows again today (the same two?)
Also a ringed plover on a rock beside a stream that runs off the mountain onto the pebble beach - and the heron flew across the field today.

Tec

We get buzzards sometimes being chased by seagulls and or rooks/crows.

The peregrine was an even better sight to see than the kestrel,well done and lucky you:o))

jude :o)

Your welcome Jen..........it's an exciting thing to witness.

Amanda x

Thanks Amanda xxxxx

Hello Jen...........when a " gang " of birds ie Rooks , Crows etc chase something like a Hawk its called " mobbing " and they do it to drive them away from their area , to protect their young and that sort of thing.

Amanda

Hi All
I stand corrected it was a Peregrine Falcon I saw this morning
but this afternoon there were 3 RedKites and 2 Buzzards
circling overhead
Why do Crows and Rooks chase the Kites and Buzzards ? can anyone tell me please
Jenxx

Saw two buzzards in the Cotswolds today, we seem to see as many as usual here.

Ann
Glos