Hobbies and Crafts

My OH once had a job at Sudeley Castle, where he had to feed the waterfowl. One little eider duck would come up to him and shake his trouser leg until she was fed!

Jude ,have just sent a couple of pics to the blog.

On my way:o)

jude

On the blog now:o)

Thanks Jane

jude x

We had a lovely day at Minsmere on Saturday.
Loads of wigeon, black-headed gulls and geese.
A first for us was a Great White Egret - having googled I see it has been sited at times there since 2008 so good to see it could be becoming a regular.

My spot of the day was a one legged dunlin hopping about - I expected t'other leg to drop down but no!

I saw some kind of Hawk swoop down and grab a bunny in the field!!!.( I think it was a rabbit ).It flew off quite low with the poor thing hanging in its claws.Have never actually see that happen before.

Dizzie do they leave much mess (the ducks) for you to clear up?

Island That must have been a sight worth seeing (the egret).

The birds are starting to return as it gets colder, starlings and sparrows a robin and the bluetits and one tiny goldfinch, a juvenile.

No Ann, I don't find the ducks leave too much mess. Usually there are only a few of them anyway. The most I had at once was 18, being the youngsters of three clutches of this years eggs. But now they tend to come in their smaller groups that they've begun to establish. We have a fair bit of space in this garden too, so there's not too much of a problem.

One of our neighbours doesn't like them on his garden, but he has a manicured lawn and doesn't even like trees and shrubs that drop leaves in Autumn. He has all evergreens and hardly anything flowering in his garden. So much so that his wife has put two tubs of geraniums for a bit of colour either side of the steps down their garden, but they're artificial!...

In about January/February of the past two years since we've been here we've also seen egret down at the river for a few days. I hope we'll see them again this winter. They are something different to look out for.

And as you say now it's getting colder there's getting to be more and more activity round the feeders. I've made me patent fat balls and hung them out for extra warmth and energy too.

This morning ,Chester (my dog ) was down the bottom of the garden mooching around by the compost bins that are hidden by trees.I thought he was a long time so called him.He stuck his head around the corner of the trees with a bone sticking out of the side of his mouth.When I got it ,it looked like some kind of bone from a leg and was fresh !.It was about 6 inches long and about the thickness of a stick of rock,maybe a bit thicker.I wonder what it was and where it came from??
I hope there are no more body parts there lol

Morning everyone:o)) long time since any posts on here. l'm not on as much at the moment.

A real one legged DUNLIN!! lol

Vic see a heron most mornings and sometimes 2, we both saw one the other day standing in the river waiting to pounce.
l suggested to Vic we take a picnic down oneday and just sit waiting and watching (with camera) to see what wild life there is about.....spring time would be nice:o)

Madoc is good, had his regular check up at vets, all his lumps and bumps are fine, just fatty!!

Vic is on a walk today somewhere near Llanishen (sp), about 15 mins from here, he did'nt take camera l have just spied it on the work top...dohhh.

We have loads of sparrows, a regular nuthatch , don't know how long for, but he does seem tolike our new feeders. Also the rats are back, don't think the stuff put down did anything:o(((

Hope Ianto is well:o)
jude

Nearly forgot....we went to the Westonbirt Arboretum on Fri....glorious:o))) absolutely beautiful, much better than l had thought it would be!
The acers in all therir splender of reds, oranges, yellows and bits of green:o)) The BIg Red, japeneese pines, Rhoderdenrums, conkers and pine cones everywhere:o) Also some amazing area's for children to explore build camps and generally play. Will try and get a couple of photo's on the blog.....if l remember that is!! lol

jude

I went there many years ago when I lived in Nailsea.It was beautiful.I have a photo somewhere of my daughter in her buggy.This would have been back in 1984 !!!

We were there last Monday Jude, we are members so go at least twice a year and twice a year if we can to Batsford arboretum as well. But this year the colours are truly glorious aren't they? I have loads of photos, will try and remember to send you a couple.


While on the train coming home from london today, waiting at Didcot Parkway station, we saw 3 Red Kites hovering.

We were only saying today, how despite the frost, our blood red Acer is still a sight to behold. Lost a lot of plants in the frost.

Although we have had a few frosts this week, the first one over last weekend was luckily a wake up call for me. Obviously did for the bean plants I hadn't taken out of the ground yet but I'd harvested the last beans anyway. I've got down to tidying out my greenhouse this week and putting the delicate things to bed until spring now. Last year, because of the snow, even in there I lost some things that should have survived in an unheated greenhouse, so this year I've bought some fleece to add to the protection for when it gets colder. And I think I still have some bubble wrap left in the garage from when we moved here so I'll wrap some pots with that.

The long tailed tits are back now in the buddleia and the feeder activity is increasing as the weather gets colder.

My acer is almost bare now:o( hope l did'nt mess it about by moving it a few weeks ago!
Yours are both lovely Jean:o))
No longtailed tits, not seen any for ages and ages and even ages!!
Our new feeders are being used well and a squirrell appeared this morning, very healthy looking too.
It appears we also have moles!!!! grrr
Photo's from Ann on blogg:o)

jude

Hello everyone.
We have no moles Jude but blooming rabbits ,taking a great interest in the new veg patches OH has just prepared lol.
Just popping off to have a look on the blog and then to see if there any more news on poor Daff.

Hi Jude

Yes, a one legged dunlin! We've always joked about 'one legged waders' and swans so I kept quite about this one as we were in a packed hide. I watched it for quite a while before nonchalently throwing in 'one legged dunlin over there' like you do. Not a stir LOL

Hi Ann,
How lovely to see those red kites - they're one of my favourites. Have you visited Gigrin farm in Powys? One day I'll catch Jude there lol
Hope you had a good time in London.

I'm quite envious of you people with your own outdoors and wildlife close by but mustn't grumble as I've had a pair of coaltits visiting my balcony feeder several times a day for the last couple of weeks :o))

Oh my word Ann l forgot to mention the Redkites...that must have a real sight:o)))

Hello Island....someone like you really into wildlife and you have'nt got a garden....aw bless you!!
Might be a good time to go to Gigrin soon as the weather is changing....!!
The people in the hide obviously thought "oh dear, someone does'nt know their birds" lol
We have coaltits, bluetits and greattits (l think):o))
jude

Jude
It's terrible isn't it? Don't get me started though LOL At least I can see trees.
No plans for Gigrin until april for us as it's just too far for a weekend. The kites will be coming in their hundreds now and the earlier low sun makes for some fab photos of the scenery.