Hobbies and Crafts

The link is here:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/reedbunting/index.asp

Someone has asked to sponsor my blog, why would they ask that??

jude

Hello Ann...no not a black cap l know them, l'll get a link on the blog and show you:o)

jude :o)

Jude could the bird you saw have been a black cap?

DM....l think we saw fieldfare aswell and definately thrushes. Whist at Fancy view we heard a song thrush, l could see it but not a 100% it was a thrush could have been a blackbird, but beautiful voice:o)
Thanks for the link...l have one on my favourites.
jude :o)

Morning all,

Have been so busy lately, I've hardly had time to post - but I do read the threads!
Re collective noun for geese: I think I'm correct in saying it's a 'flock' of geese on the ground and a 'skein' of geese if they're flying. Don't quote me though.............:)

Jude - Speech House is well known for all the thrushes that gather on the field next to it - we saw several redwing, mistle thrush and fieldfares last time. Also look out for mandarin duck on a big lake nearby (sorry, don't know the name of it) as they are so exotic looking. Lovely birds to see.
Well done on the reed buntings. If you ever need help with bird identification, the RSPB site has a helpful guide:
www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/
It'll take you through step-by-step, ie what sort of habitat, size, colour, shape of beak, (all the things you notice of course, when you see an unknown bird for just a nano-second). lol

I don't know what kind they were Ann, I can't see very well and my binocs were in the dining room next to computer, very handy for looking at all my feeders. I go by the birds voice a lot now, know a lot by their song but these were definitely geese.
Once when we lived near a main road we saw a lot of Mallards flying up the road, as if following it, one after the other and quacking away. They were on the right road for Ogden Reservoir(sp) anyway, I think the geese were heading for there as well.

Caz xx

Ann....we did'nt go in, but we could'nt see a sign that said coffee etc, l was also busting for the loo and it was best to stay put!! lol

Welll.... we think we had a pr of Reed Buntings in back garden this morning. l was on the phone to my cousin and Vic came upstairs all excited, almost dragged me out of bed saying "there's a different bird out back,its by the dish, its by the dish". There l am with phone in one hand binocs in the other trying to converse with my cousin who's telling me a long story about his son, l'm mouthing to Vic to shut up!!!!! and there's this dear little bird the size of a sparrow with very black head and l'm sure black throat.....but of course it flew off before l could get camera!!

Will keep an eye out for it.

jude :o)

Jude, weird hotel that then!!

wow Caz, i love to see geese flying in a 'flock' (or whatever) (gaggle?)

could you see what sort they were? Brent? Canada/

Ann
Glos

Ann.......nope:o((

Caz .... its a lovely sight is'nt it to watch all those birds flying together, must admit l have'nt seen flocks of geese like that for ages:o(

Vic said on his dog walk this afternoon.....he met 2 staffie's(with owners), a very bouncy yellow lab,(with owner) a heron flew off in front of him and something else, but l can't remember what it was...doww


jude :o)

Hi everyone, I was so excited yesterday but didn't get to computer to tell you. I was having a cuppa in the kitchen when I heard this noise getting louder and louder. I have heard it before so knew what it was but this sounded massive. I looked out at the sky westwards as I knew where they would come in sight, and the biggest flock(?) of geese I have ever seen came flying over, one very long wavy line of them then a smaller one behind. There must have been 150 of them, then a few seconds later another lot came by, about 80-90 in this lot. My cockatiel sat on the window catch watching them and not saying a word, then when they had gone out of sight he just looked at me and said 'gone'. I must admit he gave me a good laugh.
It was noisy here yesterday morning about 5-30am, the fox was barking about two doors away and the owl hooting away on our chimney.
You say it's not been busy in a few gardens, our tree has been very busy last couple of days, the greenfinches are back, don't know where they have been but they always seem to be here.
Oh well another day tomorrow.

Caz xx

and did you get a cup of coffee then Jude?


Not much feathered activity in the garden at the moment, guess with the milder weather they are finding other food. Mum blackbird did have a long bath yesterday, actually she pops in most days for a wash but that was a long one, she also displaced an enormous amount of water!!!

Ann
Glos

Stephen......l still have'nt made any bird cake etc, at the moment the frenzy has settled down anyway now that the weather has changed, but it does sound good. My woodies would have a field day cause l dont have any trees in the graden only very young ones in large pots.

We had a couple of squirrels this morning and the youngster had a quick wash in bird bath, not seen them do that before:o)

Nothing new as far as birds concerned, we keep looking though incase something appears.

The other day though we saw Redwing in the fields beside Speech House, we called in there on our way back from New Fancy View hoping for a cup of coffee! took photo's but not very clear.

Have a nice day everyone and Bellblair hope you and OH are feeling better!!

jude :o)

Hi All, Just to let you know I tried out my 1st lot of fat balls on Friday. Well they're more like fat cakes lol. Poured fat seed content into a betaware type container. When semi-hard cut into slices.
I put a couple out in the garden. Checked an hr later - still there. That's OK, the birds will find them in their own time. Checked ½ later - GONE!
Had a look in the garden & fat cakes gone. But where they were, in the last of the snow was a trail of large bird prints. Ah, either pigeons or sparrows with large feet !! lol :o))
I put a couple more fat cakes out & kept an eye on the garden. An hr later 2 fat looking wood pigeons were there. They ate the lot, the other birds hardly got a look in! Was surprised they were able to fly off. lol :o))
I don't mind seeing the odd pigeon in the garden. But had visions of fat cakes = a garden full of wood pigeons.....Noooooo!
Different strategy required. Now push the fat balls into forks of branches of the green gager & plum tree at bottom of garden. The blue & great tits seem to like them. Also gives them room to feed whilst the sparrows squabble over the bird feeder. The 2 pigeons & pair of collared dove hoover up what spills to the ground. Equilibrium restored !

Steve

Hello Bellblair....ooops sorry, hope you both ok??

jude :o)

Jude you have passed your germs over not been doing very much OH has also got a cold ( MAn Flu ) Why are they alway worse than us lol. Birds are having a field day in the garden as I have put out some bread, along with all thier other bits and pieces. my birds dont get the bread normally as I turn it into a bread and butter pudding or bread pudding. The blue tits are getting very busy in thier houses. think that they have got the decorators in

shame there were no Goshawks but sounds as though it is worth visit, we have thought about it.

Ann
Glos

Ok if your not bothered l'lll tell you anyway:o)

New Fancy viewpoint:o) no Goshawks though,nor Hawfinches. Goshawks had been there earlier. We'lldefinately go there again. We watched about 20 chaffinches feeding from the feeders etc that are topped up everyday:o)

This morning Vic saw a longtailedtit, seems strange we get just the one everynow and then.
Hop along Woodie is about today, not seen him for a few days, he looks even funnier trying to chase the others about.
Dog is all restless today, Vic has gone to work and l think madoc thinks he'll beback any minute. He keeps coming in here and sitting at my feet.....bless him, he adores!! :o)

jude:o)

You'll never gues where l have been:o))??

jude :o)

PS ...Bellblair don't say a word!!! lol

Ann....bet he has a secret partner somewhere :o))

My thoughts exactly but vic kept on so l took em:o(((

jude x