Hobbies and Crafts

That was a lovely idea Jane.

On another subject are you not joining in the Easter egg hunt (no Pumpkins in it!)

We don't seem to have too many birds in the garden at the moment other than my lovely Robin who is still tucking in to the fatball lol.
It is such a struggle keeping some water without it freezing for the birds now.I often take my camera with me when I take Chester for a walk but at the moment it is so icy I am scared of slipping over and breaking it.My son saw a lovely Deer the other day ,and that would have made a great photo.
I don't know if I said but I took 3 fatballs down the lane when we had all the snow and hung them on the hedgerow.OH said anyone seeing them would have thought there must be some mad person around ....bit like the bird lady lol.But they are being eaten so I'm glad I did it.

Happy new year Tec, yes the birds are all very hungry, we have suddenly got a lot of Chaffinches in the garden, strangely they seem to like Nyger seed as well as the goldfinches. we also have a couple of greenfinches and the usual blue and coal tits, great tits, sparrows dunnocks blackbirds, starlings a wren, wood pigeons, C Doves and the robin visits occasionally.

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year to you.

Birds all hungry as expected in this weather - Lots of sparrows, chaffinches, and blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, etc.The squirrel joins them most days. Red kites around again daily.

Jude - Ianto is ok, his eyesight is failing and he stays very close to me now. Still enjoys his walks, but whereas he was always ten yards ahead of me in the woods, or on the mountain, now he stays right by my side.
He will only go in the garden if I go with him, it is rather sad, but apart from his eyes, and stiffness in his legs he is in good condition for his age.
He trusts me, and I will do my best for him whatever happens.

I hope Madoc is ok now - no more fighting with huskies I hope.

Tec

Ann....l would love one of those night camera/video thingies, just set it up and watch in the morning, hopeing there is something to watch of course.

Jane you need a camera in your pocket....do you have a mobile with one on?? that could have been a fantastic photo:o)

Your Robin is on the blog now, sorry for the delay, l completely forgot

We seem to be feeding the birds atleast twice a day at present, the snow covered quite abit so l had to scrape some away off the walls. Snow almost gone now though, more expected later!
Tec...how is Ianto??
Madoc had a tussle wuth a husky before christmas, he limped badly so had to have pain killer injection whic made him very lathargic and would'nt eat, but he's fine now. He does have alot of fatty lumps now and one has got bigger so that will be checked out.

jude:o)

I keep meaning to put this up, no birds involved but. The night before last when I got up to go to the loo (as you do, or I do) OH also got up and we wandered into the spare bedroom to look out of the window (we sleep in the rear, the spare is in the front), this was about 1am. We have seen a fox before visiting the neighbour opposite who puts scraps out for the birds. We were lucky again and the dog fox (quite a big one) came along the road and stopped to look around, no food there so he walked on, or rather ran, chased by same neighbours quite small year old cat. I would have thought the fox would attack the cat but he didn't just ran off with cat in hot pursuit.

I really really wish I had got my camera at hand this morning.(but I didn't) There was a buzzard just hovering over next doors garden with its talons splayed out,obviously ready to grab something.It looked amazing!

Thanks Jane....l have it, will add to blog abit later. Off to cook tea now:o)

jude x

Afternoon Jude,and all.I hope everyone has enjoyed their Christmas.
I will send my pic of the Robin.I did have to take it through the window so it could be clearer.I will do that know.

Hello Jane:o)

Yes please....send the photo, of course we would all love to see it:o)
Not been far away, just been busy, apart from Christmas then we were in Dorset.

Birds here have been feeding like crazy, loads of w/pigeons and c/doves plus the usual black birds, some are extremely bossy. 3 or 4 robins, chaffinches, couple of dunnocks and of course the jackdaws and crows. Plus 2 squirrels.
We now buy a sack of bird seed and another of nuts, plus the atora and fruit. l put a juicy pear out the other day...Madoc had followed me and picked it up to eat himself, cheeky monkey:o)) lol

Madoc spent the holidays with the dog sitter, she took him home with her and her parents:o)), when we got back yesterday there was a present for us.......a calendar with a different photo for each month. Its gorgeous:o)

Take care
jude :o)

I am sure that one goldfinch spends all day from daylight to dusk sitting on the nyger seed feeder eating. We have about five regular visitors but one we call Billy no mates seems to be a single one. He is already there stuffing himself (or herself).

I am sure we would all like to see that Jane.

A Happy New year you to you too.Not too many birds around at the moment,other than little Robbie .My fat balls are still there !!!!!!.
OH did see a Hawk take out a pidgeon next door the other day.I'm glad I didn't see it.
I have a nice photo of the Robin with the Fatball.

Jane, Jude is still around, if you have sent photos before just send them, I expect she has been busy with christmas.

We have been away and note that the feeders will need re-filling tomorrow, they lasted pretty well for three days though as we filled so many.

Hi Everyone,
I hope you all had a happy and safe Christmas.
The birds have enjoyed all manner of treats over the last few days, but it has been a full time job keeping the feeders topped up. Every day a squirrel turns up, sits under the feeders munching away quite happily, and surrounded by birds. They seem quite oblivious to each other. Strange how they know the squirrel won't harm them.

More harsh weather on the way I believe, so off to the seed merchant tomorrow to get stocked up.

Would like to wish everyone a Happy Healthy New Year

Best wishes,

Tec & Ianto

I have hung Fat balls on the trees at the bottom of the garden ,and on my whirley washing line and on a branch of a tree just outside the patio window.The Robin and I think Blue tit like those ,but the ones at the bottom the Magpies have had them away.They break the net bag and the fatballs just disappear lol
Where is Jude? I have a photo of the robin and fatball.
Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy and Healthy 2010 xxx

I have Ann....it's on top of the washing line post !
They don't usually get birds , my guess is that the poor birds are more desperate for food and so not as alert as usual ?

I can't put bells on my lot as the " hoard " of cats next door wear bells and are at war with my ones ( who get most alarmed at the sound of little bells ringing ) .

I'd only spotted the poor Robin ealier this week and was so pleased to see it bobbing about in the Rowen tree : (

Amanda, Oh dear, just doing what comes naturally though, poor puss, don't be cross with him. Poor Robin though. Have you got a bird table you can feed them on where the cat can't get to them?

I was looking for this thread a couple of days ago so I'm pleased you have bumped it back up Ann .

We have hardly had any birds about in the garden for ages , until this cold snap with all the snow . I put out fresh fat balls and started putting bread out again and to be honest I wish I hadn't.

I had the shock of my big fat white and ginger cat bringing in what I think was a Snipe ( biggish wading bird with a long beak ) luckily I think I got to it in time and after an hour of the poor thing being in a box in the spare room it looked lively enough to let it go....it flew away , I just hope it has survived...........two days later the rotton little black cat of mine caught and killed a Robin : (

Our birds are eating us out of house and home, we have topped up our feeders but they will probably need doing again tomorrow before we go, we have one feeder with black seed two with peanuts, one with suet bits, one with nyger seed two with mixed seed and three with fat balls, plus three bird tables and a ground feeder!!!

Today we have had besides the usual blackbirds and starlings and sparrows, two doves, one wood pigeon, 4 goldfinches, one black cap, several chaffinches, blue tits, Great Tits and Greenfinches.