Hobbies and Crafts

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)

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.

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)

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)

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.

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)

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.

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)

Zoo Keeper photo's on blog, (atlast) more tomorrow:o))

jude :o)

When we lived in Bedfordshire we used to get Bullfinches in the garden, they were on the hawthorne hedge.

In the Lake District at the time share we have a welcome meeting (free wine and crisps, what's on etc. A young lady came to promote their predators experience, we didn't go as it was £35 each, it was to fly hawks etc. However the best bit was her companion at the meeting. he was the most beautiful Golden Eagle, tethered to her wrist like a hawk. He was very tame with her. When they walked out of the room he spread his wings wide, what a beautiful bird.

Hi Jude, thanks for putting my photos on your blog. I was so lucky to get them all. Just wish my camera was powerful enough to have filmed the eagle.......must invest in a better one.

We went to the isle of Mull while we were in Scotland and visited Tobermory (Ballamory) I was expecting it to be very commercialised and tacky, but it was a lovely village with a pretty harbour....The Spar shop was inside an old chapel complete with stained glass window. What a fantastic thing to do ! In fact the chaffinch photograph was taken in a castle grounds on Mull.

Ahh woodpeckers. We had one about 2 years ago and never seen it since, beautiful bird...

Maggie

Evening all:o)

This was way down, last post 17th june:o(

We had a ladybird indoors yesterday on Vic's t-shirt:o) A few bee's about not alot though, we have a bee house on the wall which has been used in the past but don't think so recently!
We also had tiny minisscule(sp) green caterpillers on one of our trees (in pot) eating the leaves, l sprayed it with house plant fingy and they've gone:o))

Isle of Mull what a lovely place for birds of prey....we went there as a family about 12yrs ago on safari and saw the Sea Eagle, amazing. Our daughter loved it so much she had her 30th birthday there on safari:o))

Have only seen a Bulfinch once and that was in the backgarden a couple of years ago here.

The woodpeckers are here nearlt everyday now and 5 or 6 times aday. The man in big house at the bottom of our garden has seen upto 6 at one time:o))))

Madoc has had a brilliant weekend with his pal Binky from Whitwell, they get on very well, although she did tell him off once.

We went to Hay-on-Wye today, Symonds Yat yesterday so have been quite busy. Whilst sitting drinking coffee and eating coffee cake (gorgeous) a young Nuthatch settled on the table next to us eating crumbs:o)

C yeh:o)

jude :o)

Hi Maggie,
It's good that you got to see a Bullfinch - maybe he will be back!
In all the years I've lived here, I've only ever seen one, for a fleeting few moments. If they eat fruit tree buds in Spring - I wonder what they eat the rest of the time?

How fortunate you were to see the Golden Eagle in Scotland - my daughter was on the Isle of Mull last summer and she saw a Sea Eagle.

This has been a very strange year for insects and things. I haven't seen so many butterflies, and different varieties for years. Also my garden has been actually "buzzing" with bumble bees, hundreds of them all over the honeysuckle until dusk on warm days.
Regards
Tec

Hi Tecwyn, strange you should mention Bullfinches. I have never seen one in my life until yesterday when one flew onto my fence.I chatted with my next door neighbour and she said she saw it last week while I was in Scotland. So my eyes are glued now. In my bird book it says they feed on fruit tree buds in spring(whatever that means..lol) But we have an apple tree nearby, so maybe that has drawn it here.
We too have have greenfly, the roses and my miniature Buddlia tree is coated with them...and you are right, no ladybirds anywhere...

Maggie

No seals today - but it was wet and windy most of the day, and the sea was quite rough.
Does anyone see Bullfinches in their area? and does anyone know what seed I can use to attract them?
Also........Several shrubs in my garden are infested with green/blackfly, and it occurred to me that I haven't seen a single ladybird this year - and very few last year.
Has anyone else noticed this?

Regards
Tec.

More photo's on blog:o)

jude

Hi Magnolia......yes please, l'm sure l can use them.

l had a gorgeous one from Jean (Monmouth) yesterday of a butterfly, she thinks its a Painted Lady, must look it up on google.

Tec....your dog sounds so faithfull bless him, Madoc won't drink whilst we are out, but if anyone comes in to let him out or walk him he will then. He's been very restless this afternoon cause we had a thunder storm, lightening the lot:o(((

Doves been bathing in my little b/bath this afternoon, camera was up here waiting to have photo's downloaded so no photo of that l'm afraid. It would have been cute too as he had his wing up in the air so he could wash that side of his body, atleast thats what it looked like, and the rain was washing under the wing:o)))

Off to the Zoo on Wednesday for my Zoo keeper day:o))), can't wait:o))

jude :o)

Hi all ~~~ just back from a week in Scotland, seen loads of wildlife, and midges !
Such a beautiful place. Saw a golden eagle but my camera is just not powerful enough to photograph so high up, such a shame. Took a pic of a young chaffinch in some castle grounds. It was obviously used to people as it just sat there on the fence twittering away..lol
Will email Jude with some other pics though and see if she can use them on her blog.

Maggie

Hi Jude........

Sorry............no photo's of the seals.........yes, I know........
hopeless. Didn't have camera with me. One of those times when you just wish you did.
But.......I will try harder. Actually, it will be difficult to get a good shot - they are so well camouflaged on those rocks - sometimes it's only when one moves or rolls over you see them. Really you need a camera with a good zoom lens - or I will have to crawl over the rocks on my belly, commando style............bit past that really. I will keep a lookout this week.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time at the Nature Park, seeing all those exotic animals - bet your grand son just loved it.

It's good that Madoc likes the kennels - we have a problem with Ianto - if I am not around, he simply refuses to eat. Which means that we can only go on holiday if we can take him - no trips abroad.
If I have to go away for the day, he sits in the bay window all day watching - won't move for anything - must keep his legs crossed?
It is a real problem - but he's my dog, and worth it.

Pics on the blog are brilliant.
Regards
Tec

Morning:o)

Got back from a few days at son's yesterday afternoon. Lovely time with grandson:o)

l still have some photo's to put on blog, one of young woodpecker drinking from bird bath:o))

Yes Tec......did you take any photo's of seals??

We went to Nature Park at Cannon Hill Birmingham Friday, great for kids:o)) l lost count of the amount of Magpies, they were everywhere especially as it was feeding time, they were pinching the food before the park animals got a look in (dead baby chicks etc).
Watched a pair of Lemur with their baby, gawd how cute was that:o)
A deer and 2 young beautiful, they all had darts in their rears with red tags on, wonder why that was!! Took pics not that good though. Porcu[pine were feeding on fruit, fascinating creatures, took pics last time we went.

Madoc is fine, he had to spend 2 nights at the kennels this time, but he just loves going anywhere and is so happy:o)) went berlistic when he got home though so he obviously loves US:o))))

Off to a car boot sale now. Have a good day everyone.

jude :o)