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That must mean something Jane!!!!!

But what Ann?????

I only know up to 7 in the song and that 's because of my age. Who else remembers watching Magpie?

We were fighting with our new wi fi printer on Sunday so didn't get on here to say that having put up a niger feeder a month or two ago and having had a single visit that we know about of goldfinches a few weeks after and nothing since - yippee we saw another one on Sunday. The feed had been going down slowly, but I'd been seeing chaffinches at it from time to time so I thought it was only them.

At the time I said to OH that all we need is our little goldcrest to turn up and hey presto I saw one of those too. I'd thought that them being so tiny they could have suffered too hard in the winter, but it's lovely to see the little ping pong balls in the air again. They look like the snitch in Harry Potter.

Actually we haven't seen a kingfisher for a long time now. Hope we see one soon - they're easier to spot from a distance at this time of the year when the trees are still bareish as their bright colour stands out better. Harder to see their colour once everythings all bright greens again.

We live in hope.

I have never seen a Kingfisher or a Goldcrest so you are lucky Dizzie.

Morning all:o)

l have some photo's to add to the blog will do so asap.

and will get back on here later:o)

jude

3 photo's on from Crosskeys in The Valleys, from Vic's walk a couple of weeks ago:o)))

Jane ... can l put the recent photo you sent me on??
jude

Cant think why, but all our birds seem to have deserted us.

We've noticed this too Jean....l think they have gone to build nests:o))

Our little Robins are doing the sexy bit on the lawn ...swaying heads and bottoms in the air lol They are so funny.

Morning all:o)

The only time l have seen a gold crest was at Pulborough RSPB years ago and it was right at the gate entrance as you walk towards the main door, so much activity going on, the last place l expected to one.
Kingfishers are often see flying about if you stand on the Monmouth bridge (over the Wye), l've seen one twice there now and also at Slimbridge right at the bottom where they have the mud banks all set up for them:o))

Vic saw approx 50 Swifts or ? this morning on his doggie walk.

He's now on a ramble the other side of the river Wye, hopefully more photo's to come:o)

We have a number of birds that sit all huddled and fluffed up on the wall, yesterday it was a dove, this morning a chaffinch, they don't move about as much and then suddenly have a feed then fluff up again, wonder why??
l love the discription Ping Pong Balls :o))
see yeh

jude

Good morning

Are you all feeling uplifted by the milder weather finally returning? I know I am, I just don't do well with cold, dark and damp and it went on too long this time.
We had our first birding trip of the year a couple of weekends ago to the local reservoirs, blimey it was cold! I did a count of 23, the usual 'suspects' but it's just nice to be out and seeing them. As you will imagine, this is a good place for kingfishers with two favourite spots and we were lucky - well that's if quick electric blue and orange flashes count!

My best kingfisher sighting was at Rye Meads. We were in a hide overlooking a quite stretch of water when someone noticed a kingfisher sitting on a post. It was there for ages, only flying as far as the next post and back, we had a wonderful view through bins but at the time none of us had a camera which was up to par for a decent photo. I must go there again.

Our lone bluetit has started to bring a friend to the feeder this week. We have also noticed them flitting to and forth to the same spot in one tree so I'm sure they are nest building. I think it is house hunting season so that is most likely why they seem to be absent right now. We usually get increased activity on the feeders when they are feeding young as we are handy for a quick snack for the adults.

Jude, I spotted a puffed up wood pigeon recently. To be honest, I thought it was on it's last legs as I was able to get to about 4 feet from it but as soon as I lifted the camera for a snap it was off! I think it was just catching a few zeds!

My neighbour has been over to water her plants....she is borrowing my greenhouse:o) and told me about a sparrow hawk and a woodpigeon ......she watched the hawk catch it and devour it on her neighbours lawn...the usual, she did'nt have her camera handy!!

Island...yes the same here, we can usually get quite close to the puffed up ones!

jude

The past week or so it's only been drakes coming to remind me it's brekkie time. And there've usually been 4 of them - 2 bold and 2 who look all brave and then turn tail as soon as I open the patio doors. The bold 2 laugh at them being bothered about me and Buster and so they get most of what I put out. But I don't know where Mrs Duck is lately.

Could Mrs Duck be sitting on eggs Lizzie, or is it too early ?

goodness, the wood pigeons we get in our garden are bigger than a female sparrow hawk.

Ann....we are having a dispute about this, another neighbour saw the same thing and her son is pretty sure it was a Buzzard, which is what we think!!

jude

Another photo on the blog:o)

Vic did'nt take any today on his walk, it was raining and miserable:o((

jude

I suppose a buzzard could take a wood pigeon. But are they sure it was a wood pigeon, I assume they know the difference between a pigeon and a collard dove?

Hi All
The parakeets were visiting the large tree in the school grounds next to my garden today.
I do hope that they were not "househunting" as they are so noisy .
Take care
Von