Hobbies and Crafts

Me again

Take a look at the RSPB site:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/k/kestrel/index.asp

Look at the Merlin, Hobby and Kestrel.

Might help

jude :o)

Hello Maggie....have you found out what it was yet??

jude :o)

Oh my heart is still pounding... saw a bird on the fence, it caught my eye as it looked a little like a female blackbird only bigger, then I noticed a pale spot on its head. It swooped into the apple tree and took a sparrow ! We have a resident sparrowhawk which I recognise from its striped chest, but this one didn't have any markings that I could see. Any ideas what it could be?? Can't find anything in any of my books and I have 5 of them...I know it's nature but I hate it when this happens...need a lie down..lol

Maggie

Cooeee....more photo's on the blog fromJean. l would put more on but a few days ago l downloaded picasa and now l can't find me photo's nor work out how to put them on blog....grrrr

We are still getting loads of sparrows, sometimes 15 or so lined up on the fence or on the lawn. About 8 young c/doves, a few chaffinches are about again and a few greenfinches. A crow, the usual jackdaws and magpies, starlings, l think 3 female and male blackbirds, couple of robins and occasionally the dunnocks. There is always a bird or two bathing, or 2 pushing each other about to get ino the bath, so funny towatch:o))

Tec......our dunnocks are abit shy, the blackbirds are't though.

Sadly we had a female blackbird that flew into the patio doors the otherday, l put her into a box and covered it to keep her quiet, but she died a few hours later.

Maggie....l would say give the birds more time, sometimes they take to things quite quickly, but other times it can take months as Ann says. Maybe the bluetit puts them off, don't know really.....lol....remove it and see what happens.

l have a wild flower or weed that has self seeded probably fromthe birds seed, its yellow and quite pretty, when l can work it out l will put a pic on the blog, perhaps someone can tell me what it is. Also Jean can't remember the name of an 8ft tall grass she has, pic on blog:o))

Ok thats it.
Before l go....Tec, l am sorry to hear your wife is poorly, do hope she recovers soon!!

jude :o)

sometimes it takes months for birds to get used to new feeders. Not sure that the blue tit would put them off but I suppose it is a possibility. Our food doesn't last any longer because no matter what we do the wood pigeons find a way of getting onto the seed feeders.

Hi Maggie.........

Lovely to see you here again - I think it must be quiet in the garden for everyone............the weather doesn't help - but we don't get ducks here.

I'm sure the birds will find their way to that feeder in the colder weather - but I think you may be right about that blue tit attachment. Maybe it would be best to remove it if you can - I would.

Kind regards
Tec.

Hi all~~~~~not been on here as nothing to report..literally. The garden seems to be really quiet, I am guessing it is because all the fledglings have now fledged ! Even the food is lasting twice as long. I have seen a blackbird having a dip in my pond, but that is as interesting as it gets..lol

Just a question though. I bought a pretty bird feeder a couple of weeks ago. It is a dish on chains with a blue tit on it , you may have seen them ??
I have tried everything to get the birds to feed from it, but no chance. Perhaps it is the false blue tit that is putting them off ? Shame, as it looks so nice ..lol

Maggie

Same here Ann - very quiet - but they'll be back

Regards
Tec

Still here tec, not got many birds at the moment, one lone goldfinch, scruffy little robin, lots od sparrows and starling, about 4 blackbirds M&F, 2 wood pigeons and 2 Collard Doves are our daily visitors.

Ann

Sitting here watching the birds..............

But.........Where have all the twitchers disappeared too?

Was it something I said?

Regards
Tec.

Hi Folks,
Every time I go into the garden over the past week or so, a dunnock has followed me around, much like a robin does. It is constantly making a "peep peep" at me. Today it did the same but within a few minutes four others turned up - how odd?

Sandie.........Yes I know which Clydach you mean in the BBNP. My area is in the Snowdonia National Park, which is wonderful, until you want to make alterations to your property, then the Planning Dept are most particular - which is understandable sometimes I suppose. Small price to pay for being here. I spent many years all over the world, but would not wish to live anywhere else.

Regards
Tec.

Hi all
We always have robins always very cheeky but often quite tame , hubby plants the garden and they usually land on his spade or fork, left there whilst he's away, but soon come back and are around him when he's digging.
Haven't managed to hand feed them yet.
Tecwyn there are 2 Clydachs in South Wales ( I suppose you know this , but lots don't )
Where I lived was a village in South East Wales in the Brecon Beacons National Park,cos of boundary changes it is now in the county of Monmouthshire, but still in the BBNP , the other Clydach is in the Swansea Valley, South West.
Sorry that you wife is unwell, I hope with time you will both be able visit Glamorgan and possible Clydach.
Coincidence my son is in Glamorgan Uni:)

H

Hi Folks,

Lots of birds in the garden today, perhaps because the weather was so nasty this morning, but has cleared now. The greenfinches are also back.

Jude......It's brilliant that you have lots of sparrows around. We have had more baby sparrows this year than ever - pleased about that.

Ann.........We had an "ugly duckling" of a robin turn up a few weeks ago, but
now is quite smart - he is also very tame - I am hoping to get to hand feed him in time, as I have with several robins over the years.

Sandie...........I live in North West Wales, so am quite a way from Clydach.
All my maternal ancestors were farmers in the Vale of Glamorgan. I am hoping that one day I can get to that area to find some of the farms. Maybe I could do a detour then to Clydach. However, as my wife is very unwell, it won't be any time soon.........it sounds beautiful

Regards
Tec.

hi folks
Especially Ann, Jude and Techwyn who replied personally :)
Please excuse any typo errors as I am on hubby's laptop!

Jude I don't think thre is a monestery in Crickhowell !
I went to pay my newspaper bill this morning and noticed that they were selling a small paperback book on Clydach Gorge for £9,i,m sure you'd find more on the net that was in there.

Ann we still have my dads house in Clydach and did think of moving back there when he died , but my children were young and we didn,t want to move then from their friends,and it is 3 miles from the nearest town, the village school sadly closed quite a few yrs ago.yes it was an iddilc childhood,
We (just friends) useed to go for picnics on the moutains on both sides of the valley,goodness I wouldn't have left my children that far away from the house and for so long !We would be out all day !! and have the time of our lives,

Tecwyn, I don't know how far you live from Clydach,but it is well worth a visit, I am biased I know,but the walks and scenery are beautiful
There are loads of tourist guides about the walks around Clydach,
Shakespeare was supposrdly wriiten many of his works,while living in one of the many caves in the valley.

Over the last few days we have had a young robin visiting, he is a scruffy little soul, always looks bedraggled but he is very friendly and very inquisitive. This evening he was perched on the back of one of the chairs at the little garden table right outside our lounge window looking in at me.

Hi,

Sandie.......Clydach sounds wonderful, and if I'm ever in the area I shall make a point of visiting. You were also fortunate in that your parents took time to teach you the ways of nature and the countryside.
I was also fortunate in that way, as my grandfather, who was a real countryman, spent endless hours teaching me about birds, animals, all wildlife, trees, wild flowers etc. Consequently,I've had a lifelong interest in these things. I do sometimes wonder if anyone bothers, or has time, to teach todays children about such things. I do hope so.

Jude.........That wild bird food you bought sounds good. The one I buy is called "Feathered Friends" it costs £8-50p for a 12.5 kg bag. Contains - Whole Wheat, Black Sunflower, Striped Sunflower, Kibbled Maize, Red & White Millet, Black Rape Seed, Canary Seed, Hemp, Naked Oats,
Doesn't have Niger, or the Dari Seed you mentioned.

Regards
Tec.

OOoops me again....forgot to say Jean has sent me more photo's will get them plus others on blog asap :o)))

jude

Afternoon all:o)

We have been inundated with young sparrows this morning, loads of em, approx 20 or more, l think they have heard there is loads of seed here, bought some new stuff in Webbs near Halesowen on Fri, its for Gold Finches has all sorts in (hang on l'll go and look).........rite it has:
Black sunflower, Niger, Red Dari, Black Rapeseed, Yellow millet, Red Millet, Linseed, Naked oats and other small seeds.....not heard of Red Dari before. Can't see the make as Vic has cut the top off't!!!

The Crow was in the bath this morning did'nt see if he bathed or not though, would it be great if he had:o))

Ok must go, have a good day everyone. Been raining here but stopped for now!!

jude :o)

Hello Sandie....me and Vic must go and see Clydach one day it sound lovely. Crickhowell is lovely too, the old church and the monestry,(tis a monestry is'nt it?) we walked all round there some yrs ago.

Vic loved his walk last week on the Black Mountains:o)

He's at Fairford today so it was my job to feed the birds.....as soon as l got to the bird tables 2 blackbirds landed on the fence, bless em, l was abit late and l could hear them having a right go at me!! lol

Since then there have been quite alot of the usual flitting about everywhere. Got home from shopping about an hr ago to see blackbird washing in the bath. Still got loads of collared doves.
The woodpecker landed on the bigger table aswell, he usually just feeds off the nut.

l wrote this about 2 hrs ago, neighbour called in so only just finished it.

jude :o)

Sounds an idyllic childhood Sandie.

Jude, you have the weekend to recover now!