Hobbies and Crafts

Afternoon everyone:o)

Got back an hr ago from sons whilst the kitchen is being replaced:o)))) its looking really good, although a few mistakes by the supplers !!!! phone calls are required, fitter willdo that for us:o)

Bellblair....what are you like??

We have had one or two buzzards over head, ususally being chased, and they often bring the young this way aswell.

Vic was straight out into the garden to feed the birds, he even asked the fitters if they had thought of feeding them....he sounded very serious, but was joking!! lol

l agree about the Badgers, having the vaccination is much more humane. What needs to be done is to move a whole badger set away from an area where the farmers say they pass on TB, make it badger proof if thats possible and wait and see if any more cattle catch TB.....does that make sense......if they do, then its not the Badgers fault!! But probably an impossible task.

jude:o)

I disturbed 2 very large birds just now (either Buzzards or similar but not Kites).
They had brought down a pigeon and were busy eating it.The mess!!!!

Aww Helen, how horrid:o(( but spose they have to eat like us. My cat did that once with a blackbird in the kitchen the mess was unbelievable!!!
Where did you disturb them, in your garden??
Probably buzzards, they might be a wee bit bigger than a red kite.

jude :o)

It was just down the Bridle path across the road from me.The more I think about it I'm pretty sure they were Buzzards.I was taking the dog for a walk.
I was so close to them.

Hi all:o)

Heard on The One Show this evening that Perequin Falcons catch pigeons.Did anyone see the pair on the towers of Chicester cathedral, they've been nesting there for 8 yrs:o))

The birds have been in a huff today cause l've been gardening and they could'nt get to the seed. As l went outside with a cuppa the male Reed Bunting flew in and stayed there feeding, he's getting quite cheeky now:o)
The green woodpecker was in the big fir tree's making a right old din.
Madoc was as usual continuosly bringing out toys and standing there waiting for me to throw or kick, l think he had everything out of his toy basket (yep he has his own toy basket:o)) lol)...he's also got a new dog bed, very comfy too, the other one was one of those bead things, l thought it would be better for him as he has bad back leg, but he hated it...the new one he loves:o))
Been feeding a neighbours 3 cats for a few days, one is a great big fat tabby, the next is a white and marmalade about normal size and the next is a another tabby, quite skinny, she's got kidney probs bless her and an abcess under her chin so needed tablets. l could'nt believe how good she was to take tabs in cheese, my old Jimmy (fat cat) was hell on legs when it came to taking tablets....they are all different though.

jude

OK whose got my birds, only seen a few this week feeders are still full.

Bellblair....have they come back yet??
We seem to have lost a few, the chaffinches and sparrows and some of the blackbirds....all nesting no doubt, but we have suddenly acquired about half a doz (maybe more) greenfinches, male and female.
Hubby has seen swallows, the first was on Wednesday about 4-6 and today about 20 of them, wounder what kind of journey they had!

jude:o)

glad to see this one iis still going strong, thanks for keeping it going.

I have found out where all the sparrows have gone, they are on holiday in Lanzarote (and they were definitely sparrows not canaries!) We were feeding them on our patio, we'd put softened bread out and the families would arrive, we had 10 one day including three babies being fed by parents right in front of us, they were really tame, in fact we had to shoo them off the table when we were eating.

Ann
Glos

I saw a couple of rooks or crows (not sure which) busy in the top of of an old chimney pot on a thatched cottage this morning.Making the nest I think!

Hi Folks,
Much quieter on the feeders at the moment, but I did have doves looking for food at 6-30pm today - unusual. We have a healthy population of sparrows here - about 50/50 with the chaffinches.
Blackbirds have reappeared after two weeks absence. Jackdaws nesting on the chimneys - seagulls on the next house.
Jude........ interested that you've sighted swallows - none here as yet - we usually see them here around 14th April - last year they were very late, and I didn't see any until the 30th. They used to nest on the back of my house, but the sparrows evicted them two summers running, so we don't get them here anymore - sadly.

Tec

Hi everyone,
Its every quite here at the moment not many birds around must be busy building thier nests.
Have not seen any swallows here yet near the end of the moth for us.
Hope that you all have a nice Easter.

Hiya just a quickie....waiting for vic to come up here so he can read out an email to his sister(for me to type), lcan never read his writing....lol

Apparently the first sightings of swallows was 16th March,don't know where though.

We've had some green finches again, atlast, about 4 of them and loads of w/pigeons, they know where the food is, great big lumps!!

Vic was walking madoc the other day when madoc went to close to an electric fence, bless him he got a shock and has'nt gone near that fence since.

We have friends coming from Derby this weekend, the mother & father will be bringing their staffie called Binky, she's not good with other dogs so we have to keep them aprt, their son is also coming and staying at a camp site in Hereford, their dog is a blooming great big greatdane x mastive called Tan, he's massive and guess what..... he does'nt like other dogs either, so l think its going to be fun here!!!! both dogs are lovely with people though:o)))

Have a lovely weekend everyone:o)

jude

Fairly quiet on the feeders here too at the moment. Had one greenfinch and two great tits today, plus starlings on the suet and yesterday 2 goldfinches. And I was also surprised to see the female blackbird eating sunflower seed from a feeder. Not seen a blackbird on a feeder before.

Ann
Glos

Jude hoping that your week end went OK, the ducks have arrived here this week end just to fat away to get any good piccies there are 2 pairs of mallards. Other than that its very quite on the feeder front, the blue tits are working round the clock nest building in all nest boxes which is very good news.

So far the weekend has been brilliant :~)
My friend has alzheimers and it has been harder to understand her but we get there in the end, we've laughed alot :~))))

The 2 dogs Madoc & Binky are getting on well, although Binky does tell Madoc off everynow and then and they have had a couple of set too's.
Tan the mastiff x ridgeback did'nt come into the house...too risky...lol

We went Symonds Yat and saw the pereguins nesting place, fantastic views. Tan was with us and attracted loads of attention...he's BIG:o)))

nite nite

jude

Good morning all:-) Your doggie weekend sounds fun, Jude! I have absolutely nothing to report as it is rather SPOOKY.....not a bird in sight, and even the pigeons have deserted me! Even the parakeets in the park have stopped screeching!! They are all obviously busy elsewhere building their nests or having tea parties with their neighbours. I DO miss them though. Anything I can do to lure them back? BC XX

BC I think it is because with the fine weather there are more insects for them. Keep the feeders topped up though, when they have young they will be back for food.

Ann
Glos

I haven't seen this thread about in awhile so shall have to do some back reading.

I just wanted to tell that I spotted a Barn owl perched on a road sign ( by the edge of a busy road ) yesterday , broad daylight too.......my heart leapt at the sight of it : ))

In the garden I have a pair of Blackbirds starting a nest in my Bay tree . I don't know wether I should scare them off before they get settled . I have four cats and the next door neighbour has about 12 I think !!
Only one of mine could be a problem to the birds ( the other three are getting on a bit ) but her lot next door are bound to get them.........what should I do ?

Amanda

the trouble with blackbirds is that when they are grown they are out of the nest on the ground before they can fly properly, then the adult birds feed them on the ground so they are very vulnerable to cats.

Ann
Glos

So I guess that means that the fledglings would be vulnerable where ever they are nesting ?? Next doors cats keep out of my garden during the day as I'm usually out there ( or the dogs are ), I think I'll leave them alone , they might decide to abandon the nest anyway i suppose .