Hobbies and Crafts

Yay, the birds are coming back :-D

I looked out of the window first thing this morning and there were sparrows on the fat balls and one on the seed feeder, a bluetit on the peanuts, a blackbird eating the mealworms and several other blackbirds, a robin and a thrush hopping round the patio.

I’m particularly pleased about the thrush as we don’t see many of them and he has been around on and off for several days now. I hope he/she manages to find a mate this spring. I could do with a few thrushes in the garden to get rid of some of my snails.

Hope you are feeling better now Gill

I'm starting to feel a bit better now Ann, still a bit achy for some reason, a bit like flu OH thinks it's the cold, but at least the sore throat has gone along with the earache so that's good.

The workmen weren't here today and according to one workman he said yesterday that there won't be anyone around for the next week, so hopefully the birds will come back. We only had a few various small birds today, but not many. The sun has been out so all the frozen hail and snow is finally starting to melt. The food didn't look as if it was frozen today so hopefully more birds will arrive soon.

Hope you feel better this morning Gill, sounds like you could be hatching a cold. So many around this time of year and generous people will ing to share. <3 <3

Pleased to see you have a few birds in your garden now Vera. Like Ann said they'll be back for more cake now. At least you know they're still around. I hope you see more tomorrow.

I've started with a terrible sore throat and earache, so I'm going to have an early night, maybe some sleep might help. I hope it's not the start of a bug :-(

They will be waiting for more cake tomorrow Vera :-( I just try and think to myself that starlings have to eat as well. I think they seem greedy because there are so many of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ waves to Gill

We had a chunk of fruit cake left that was getting a bit dry but had lots of fruit in it so I crumbled it all up and put it in a dish on the patio table. Guess who found it first? Yep, the starlings. They are so greedy :-|. There was still some left when they had flown away and I was pleased to see a couple of blackbirds come and have a feed.

I feel happier now I’ve seen a few birds back in the garden :-D

I'm here :-D

We haven't had many birds around either Vera. The Starlings though are just like yours, fly down grab the meal worms then fly away until more has been put out, but there hasn't been many of those lately either. I'm surprised we haven't had many birds these past few days as it's been really cold, but maybe it's like Ann said and there are more people putting food out so the birds can go anywhere for a feed.

How lovely to see the Robin having a wash Vera, we are still getting birds washing in our new water feature, except for the past few days as it's frozen solid. I did notice the ice that was forming in an overhang on our window sills is finally melting, so it must be getting a bit warmer now the sun is out.

Love the pictures on your blog Ann. Good idea to stay in doors if you have slippy roads, it's not worth taking the risk is it? A lot of the hail and snow we're had this past week has now frozen on the paths and roads, so we're staying in to.

Glad you haven’t got too much snow Ann. Ours seems to be melting a bit now.

As the birds don’t seem to be taking any seeds from the hanging feeder I put some on the ground feeder and within minutes I counted 9 starlings there. They seem to come from nowhere.

I was glad I defrosted the birdbath earlier as we have just watched a robin having a wash. The water must have been so cold but he seemed to be enjoying it.

Hope Gill is OK. She’s usually a regular poster on here and she hasn’t been around for a week or so.

EDIT. Just realised Gill has been on other threads :-)

we have some Vera but not a lot, it has laid and the road looks a bit nasty but we have no plans to go out. I think we may have more to come.

Have you got much snow yet Ann? I know it was supposed to be pretty bad in the West of the country. We have had more overnight but it’s not very deep. It’s fallen on top of yesterday’s snow which had iced over so it’s very slippery. I won’t be going out shopping today.

Got to go and defrost the birdbath now. Brrr....

Stay safe and warm everyone.

No snow here yet Jane. Maybe it will miss us who knows?

Ann have you got any snow yet? I think it is working its way up from the SWest now.
If we get it ,it will be overnight.
I will have a look at your pics. I have filled the window feeder twice today and defrosted the bird bath 3 times. No sign of the Squirrel today :-D. We never have any Sparrows here.Maybe just once or twice a year,and then they don't hang around .

Vera ,,it does seem strange that you haven't had many visitors especially being a 5* Hotel for the birds :-D.They must be incredibly fussy :-S

It is certainly strange Vera. We are only getting one or two goldfinches at the moment, I think because of the cold weather a lot more people put food out. the starlings do polish off the mealy worms if they get the chance, even though the plate is on the table right by the lounge window.

Lovely pictures as always Ann. Thank you for sharing them with us.

I am so jealous, particularly of your goldfinches. I haven't even seen a pigeon here today and even the mealworms haven't been eaten. Usually the starlings finish them off pretty quickly.

All I saw yesterday were 2 bluetits on the peanuts. There is still snow on the ground and it is very cold, but it is a nice sunny day so you'd think there would be a few birds around stocking up on food.

They clearly don't like this hotel very much :-|

I have just put some photos of birds feeding in the garden this morning on my blog. anyone who has not got the blog address please PM me.

Lol Jane you should have videod it.
We had 4 male and two big female blackbirds in the garden today, a black cap, a coal tit and at least one Great tit and a robin. Yesterday we had two robins.

We have an Alexa and it's good (when we remember to use it). It might just be a lovely pressie Liz. I just love it when I fancy a certain bit of music or old 80's stuff and a simple command delivers
:-D :-D

I had to laugh this afternoon as a Squrrel was trying so hard to get up on to the window feeder.It just couldn't get a grip on the window sill . I just kept seeing it's head popping up and then disappearing again as it slipped off the window sill :-D :-D. It gave up in the end

Don't stay out too long Magpie as snow is forecast for later. Still it may just be wet sleet. Hope you get what you want OH had Alexa for Christmas, He uses it for music and has set it up to turn on a radio and a light when we are away. You do need smart plugs for each thing you want to activate I think. (I don't take a lot of notice but I bought him the Alexa and one smart plug for Christmas with his guidance).

A lot of birds in the garden this morning. 4 blackbirds, 2 robins all after mealy worms. One blackbird kept trying to land on the fat balls but couldn't manage it.. there was also a black cap and a few sparrows.

Well, our birds are as busy as ever! We have moved the peanuts further away from the bird table as the two blackbirds were commendering it to the detriment of the little birds. They seem happier and busier!
Tomorrow we're off out weather permitting, to have a look at Alexa! Belated birthday present for me! Not quite sure if its what I want, we'll see! Friday our two + partners are taking us out for supper, which I am looking forward to!! :-)

Not many birds here at all over the weekend Vera, but if it turns colder as forecast I bet they return. We have had a blackcap visit most days and still get the goldfinches. As you say, maybe there are not many birds around your area generally, very frustrating. Worrying too as the birds are reducing all over the country because of the way farming has changed.