Hobbies and Crafts

I think all our birds have flown back to Jane :-( I only saw them en masse for one day. She obviously runs a better class of bird hotel than me. Since the day we had a lot of birds all we have seen is the occasional pigeon or starling, though we did have a short visit from a goldfinch this morning.

What has surprised us is the lack of chaffinches - even OH has remarked on it and he is not the most observant of men. It's not just in our garden; we haven't seen them anywhere around here. We've lived here 17 months now and haven't seen a single chaffinch. They're probably all at Jane's as well! ;-)

Ha ha, perhaps those Magpies will start bringing me candles instead of pinching them !!!

We have had everyone in the garden this morning, including a pair of Pied Wagtails. It must be a good fifteen years since we had one in the garden. There was one who used to potter about on the drive but he never went out the back.

Since yesterday the peanuts have gone so the two pairs of Tits, blue and great, are all sitting in the bush, twittering.

The fat balls have all been eaten and the Sparrows are making a big thing of going up to the empty container and pecking at it, then sitting around looking disappointed.

Better go out and fill them up again.

M.

Thanks Rose, interesting and fascinating.

Hello all , I thought you might be interested in this item on the BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31604026

:-)

I told my birds Vera needed some visitors in her garden.They must have told all their friends and so they all arrived together :-D :-D.I bet you couldn't believe yours eyes Vera LOL
Glad you enjoyed your Birthday Meal last night <3
We have been out most of the day so who knows what has been happening here.I just know the feeder was empty and the windowsill was filthy ..It must have been a visit from the Squirrel :-S

Well done on all those birds finding you at last Vera and also I am so pleased that you enjoyed your birthday. :-)

What an amazing afternoon for birds in the garden :-D

2 collared doves, a pigeon, a blackbird, lots of starlings, a robin, a blue tit, a great tit, 4 or 5 sparrows and a dunnock, with a goldfinch flitting between our fence and next door's tree. I've seen them all in the garden before but never ALL AT THE SAME TIME :-D :-D

Has the local bird population found us at last or will I be back to an empty garden again tomorrow?

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes.

I have a lot of unhappy memories for this week and often don't enjoy my birthday much but this year I have had a lovely time. We had a pootle around a very good garden centre looking at things we might buy when we get the garden done, and had a light lunch there. Then tonight OH spoilt me with a lovely meal at a local hotel where I have eaten (and drunk!) far too much. Taxi has just brought us home and I am now going to bed with my book.

Goodnight all. :-D

Many Happy Returns Vera, hope you have had a lovely day.

M. X

Happy birthday Vera :-)

Ooh happy birthday Vers <3

I see it is your Birthday today Vera. Happy Birthday <3

I bet it was a Pidgeon Vera.We have that happen many times .You can almost see the outline of the individual feathers.But I have never had a dead pigdeon under the window :-D.
Thanks Graham for the link...I think it is a Dunnock that my Sister saw on the feeder.I have been watching today and am pretty sure she was right :-D

The window cleaner came this morning and just after he left I noticed the tray with all the food in was hanging off.Just as I went out to clip it back on the Blackbird landed on it and the whole lot ended up on the ground :-S :-S..I had only filled it up just before the Window cleaner arrived. So it was a brush and pan job to sweep it all up.I did notice all the bits that went into the cracks between the paving stones soon got gobbled up :-D

I have never seen a Black Pheasant .Lucky you Tec :-D :-D

I have heard of that before Vera. It was probably a pigeon and it seems was maybe stunned and then recovered. Lucky the window survived.

thanks for that Graham. wow Tec, lucky you makes a change from starlings and sparrows.

We have just come in and noticed that one of our conservatory windows has the perfect outline of a largish bird in flight. It could have been a pigeon or something else at least that size, and the marks suggest that it hit the window with a heck of a thump. I was sure there would be a dead or injured bird outside in the garden but there is no sign of him. Hopefully the poor thing was OK

Thank you Graham,

It is indeed a black pheasant. I live in Snowdonia, and wonder how common they are here, having never seen one before.

It has obviously been attracted by the spillage from my bird feeders.

Tec :-)

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/m/wildlife/768977.aspx


https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5059/5445078711_89eb742c15_z.jpg

Can anyone identify an interesting pheasant type bird that has taken up residence in my garden?

At a distance it appears to be black with bright red patches around, and beneath the eye.
On closer inspection it has a beautiful green/blue sheen especially on the neck and wings.
The beak is a cream colour.

This bird is not panicked by my presence, just watches me from a distance.

We have had ordinary cock pheasants in the garden, but they always take off as soon as anyone appears. The bird is heavier than the normal pheasant.

I am wondering if this bird has escaped from somebody's collection.

Tec

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/schoolswatch/schoolbirds/tellingbirdsapart/sparrows.aspx

Thinking of you and your OH Kandji. <3 <3 <3