Hobbies and Crafts

The last of the photo's are on blog now, plus Yellow Thistle:o))

Magnolia...thats a pleasure:o)) we did'nt see Tobermory, that chapel sounds lovely and what a lovely idea:o)

Ann .......did you watch Country File the other day (think thats the programme), where this man had birds of prey and a Golden Eagle, he's trained it to fly with him when he's up in one of those winged motor thingies, the bird actually lands on the handle bars with him. Its so well trained, fly's off and finds the thermals for him:o))

jude:o)

Hi Everyone,
Jude......The photo's on the blog are wonderful - I have enjoyed them - yours, and others - very interesting.

My garden is yet again under siege from jackdaws, and magpies. This morning I had eight jackdaws, and five magpies at one time. I wouldn't mind, but the other birds, doves, finches, blackbirds etc, sit around watching, and not getting a look in.

Saw a heron today flying over - what a wingspan they have.

We seem to have aquired a homing pidgeon. He arrived yesterday and is feeding with the other birds. The bird is incredibly tame - I fed him by hand, and he flew up onto my shoulder, remaining there while I walked around the garden. Perched on the roof tonight.

Regards
Tec.

Morning all:o))

Thanks Tec :o)

This morning we had 4 magpies, usually only have 2, we think the other 2 are young. The woodpecker is still about and the babe.

l wonder how long that pigeon willstay with you,he's probably on route home and having a feed up, l would just love that, not so sure Madoc would though. How does Lanto react??

jude:o)

Pidgeon still with us - every time I go into the garden he flies down to join me - looks like I've got a new pal.
Ianto totally ignores him - but he ignores all the birds - we trained him years ago to leave them alone, actually I think he likes them.

Jude.....That plant MIGHT be a variety of something called Leycestria Formosa - or Himalayan Honeysuckle.
I've been going through the RHS A-Z of plants, it is described as having hollow stems.
Will keep looking as there are 6,000 photographs in the book. That's the nearest I've found so far.

Regards
Tec.

Tec.....Jean of Monmouth sent me an email and we are pretty sure its common name is Flowering nutmeg, l will add more to the blog re the plant:o))

As soon as we pick up the binoculars (well most times) Madoc is at the patio doors and frightens off what ever we are looking at, he thinks its the squirrel and will chase it. Don't know how to stop him!! other than catch him before he leaps off the sofa...lol

Does the pigeon have a ring on, can you read the number. There is a number somewhere to contact for lost birds, but don't know it now.

jude :o)

Tec....l have just looked back at google and yes you are right, l did'nt see the latin name though. l have written something on the blog.
Thanks for looking:o)
jude :o)

Just downloaded the photos we took in the Lake District. One day we got caught behind a NT castle when it rained (thunder & lightening as well), as we couldn't get back round the front to shelter we were under a sort of back door arch. In the gap between wall and ceiling there was a swallows nest and I have a photo of the swallow entering its nest, goodness knows how they all get in because the nest is really small, the babies must be tiny.

Morning all:o))

Ann that photo would look lovely on my blog:o))

Nothing unusual happening in our garden at the moment. The little sparrow os still squarking away on the fence or roof. l noticed when in Hay on Wye the other day that it had followed me and was still squawking on the roof of a shop!!! lol... do they all do it and why??

The squirrells are getting very dareing and will wait till the last minute before rushing off along the fence, nearly falling off in the process...lol we could see the siloette (sp) of one earlier climbing the 100ft plus fir trre in next doors garden, would have made a nice photo.
l'm wondering if our neighbour has has fish taken by Herons again....he's recently had alot of work done on the pond, someone did the work for him and spent weeks getting it dug deeper and replanting some plants etc, brilliant job, but as a zoo keeper said at Cotswolds zoo.....it does'nt matter how deep it is the Herons will wait and grab them as they come to the surfis.....we must ask him if he's had any probs!!

Ok must go the dor bell has just gone and l'm still not showered,

jude :o)

Will sort it Jude.


had a cheeky robin in the garden this morning and it looks as though the blackbirds are building another nest, We can tell it is the same ones as the female has no tail.

Ann
Glos

Swallows nest is on the blog:o))

l wonder who's cat got the tail?? hope they are successful:o)

jude :o)

Jude.......How nice that you have sqirrels - we used to see them here, but they disappeared a year ago?
Herons can be a menace if you have a pond with fish. I once lost three sizeable, and quite valuable Koi Carp to a heron. Solved the problem by covering the pond with chicken wire, though that does rather spoil the appearence of the pond.

Ann......Interesting that you have blackbirds nesting again now- I have a pair of doves that are "courting" again, so maybe another nesting.

The pidgeon is still with us - follows me all around the garden - even talks to me - gentle cooing. Now has a name "Wilfred"
I have twice in the past tried to return lost pidgeons. Niether made it home.

Today I found a huge toad in the garden - would easily cover a tea plate.
My dog sniffed it and trotted off to look from a safe distance. No wonder I don't seem to have so many slugs this year.

Regards
Tec.

Tec.....

after l posted that post about the pigeon, l remembered what our vet said when we found one a few yrs ago....basically it would'nt get home even if the owner came and got it!!! so l'm really pleased you have said this cause it means you'll probably keep it until it decides what it wants to do....yehh:o)

jude :o)

Hi everyone
Just been sitting in the garden having my lunch. I was watching a flock of swifts circling round when i noticed another large bird close to them. Closer inspection with binoculars showed it to be a Red Kite.
We are not far from Bucks where there are several now but was so pleased that I didn't even have to leave home to see it.
Take care
Von

von, how lovely to see a red Kite so close to home.
Tec, nice to have the toad eat slugs but he sounds gruesomely large!!
Ann
Glos

Wilfred has gone home!

Had his week holiday at the seaside - rested up - three square meals a day.........packed his bag - and went.

Bon voyage Wilfred..........you will be missed

Von.......I think that must be my Red Kite - haven't seen one for weeks - we usually have two or three around. Beautiful aren't they?

Ann...........That toad was the biggest I have ever seen. Even wondered if it was a native species. Even my wife, who is not squeamish, and loves all wild life, quickly beat a retreat up the garden.

Regards
Tec.

Sounds like the stuff of nightmares tec.

Tec
Yes the Kites are beautiful. It stayed for quite a while before it flew off.
We tried to take a photo but it didn't come out.
I'll keep the camera ready in case it returns.
I used to have a toad in the garden but haven't seen one for a while.
I could do with something to eat the slugs!!!
Von

Where have you all disappeared to?

It is very quiet here - birdwise - apart from the doves that seem to live in my garden, I've had a few sparrows, a robin, few chaffinches, one greenfinch passed through, and we do still have marauding jackdaws and magpies with young.

Went to deadhead the roses, but it was too hot out there for me.
It was then gently suggested that I could paint the hall ceiling instead!

I don't think so really............

Regards
Tec.

I'm here tec, been busy making birthday cards.

We have got a little robin started to visit us, not had a robin for a while, and lady blackbird minus tail is still around, doesn't seem to be a male around with her though so think she is having a phantom nest build!!!

Hello Ann........
Very quiet on this thread isn't it?
Haven't seen Y/Caz or Dormouse for ages.

Maybe your blackbird lives in hope of Prince Charming turning up.
My wife lived with such hopes once - then I turned up - oh well.

Tec.