Hobbies and Crafts

Did anyone see the baby cuckoo on the TV this evening, I think it may have only been on the South West ITV news. It's 'Mum' feeding it was a reed warbler. Eery time she put food in its beak her head nearly disappeared into its mouth!

Evening all:)

Hope l can remember everyone!

Jane... you have been a busy girl.Congratulations to your son, and how was the wedding...all sounds very posh!!

Rita...how exciting to have the little terns come back. The Peacocks sound fascinating, and l bet you did'nt have camera...lol

We have'nt had much in the garden lately.....apart from loads of blue/coal and great tits. Lesser spotted woodpecker (he's been around on and off alot lately) and sunbathing male blackbird, will put photo's of him on blog.
And loads of House sparrows:o)
Ann....l think the owl the other day was a Barn Owl.

think thats it, sorry if l have forgotten anything!!

jude x

Driving locally two weeks ago on the way back from a garden centre (5 minutes from home) driving down a narrow lane, golf course/fields on one side plus Army camp, and fields the other side. Two owls flew in front of the car across the road. About 11am, didn't see what sort theyw ere as it was too quick and they took us by surprise

I told you last month about the little terns that were now nesting in Caister on the beach/Dunes, I also told you that a friend had said they had gone. but she was wrong. I had a nice letter from a friend who lives near the beach she sent me a cutting out of the local paper
. quote.

The RSPB is providing residents and visitors to Caister with a special chance to see close up a breeding colony of little terns one of the UK rarest seabirds.
The Norfolk coastline is a stronghold for breeding little terns one of the national population currently standing at just 3.900 breeding pairs each year.
The colony at Caister have this year exceeded all expectations, with more than 40 nests and 30 chicks hatched.
Little terns can travel over 11 000 miles each year flying from their winter homes in South Africa in May each year to spend their summer on a select few locations on the UK coast, and with indivdual living up to 14 years these little sea birds could have covered over 100,000 miles in that time more than the average car.
The largest colony in the aera could be found at North Denes but this year birds have colonised a variety of locations along the Norfolk coast including Winterton.Caister and Eccles.
Due to the rarity of these birds the RSPB is providing round the clock protection at the largest colony at Caister and is using the new "flying" fence
To make a date with the little terns colony, look out for the RSPB's branded fishermans tent on Caister seafront every day from 9 am to 8 pm
until mid August. it is their job to support ther teams to help them breed successfully during their stay.
Many of the threats to little terns involve disruption to their nests, so it is important that everyone in the area knows to observe them from a distance.

Rita

ps I mentioned a Bird watching place in one of my writings and could not recall the name near Sea Palling it is "Winterton "

Hi Jude and everyone.I have been a bit busy just lately and just haven't spent as much time on the old pooter.Had my sons Graduation on Wednesday in Canterbury Cathedral :-D It was a great day.
Tomorrow I am going to a wedding at Queens College Cambridge.I have had the grooms sister ,OH and 2month old baby here from Dubai.So things have been a bit hectic to say the least.
Bird life in the garden is very quiet at the moment .I don't know why.
Chester has gone to stay at his holiday residence lol,as we are away for the night tomorrow.It is with a `lady who takes in dogs (just the one at a time) when owners are away.
I haven't seen much of the woodpeckers lately Jude,but can hear them quite often.
Off to bed now as I have lots to do in the morning before setting off to Cambridge.

I was on holiday on the isle of wight the week before last. .
we went on a tour to visit a working mill and while there viewed the beautiful grounds and small war museum. There were so many ducks. mallards and peacocks, it was funny to see some of the Peacocks standing on odd things. one was standing on an old army truck and peering through the window. another one was standing very still looked like a stuffed one people were taking photos of it till it moved and startled them I saw another Peacock perched on another old army car this time he was seated on the seat and looked like he was ready to drive it away.


Rita

Blinky eck, no one on here since the 12th July:o))

That photo of Janes is on the blog by the way, very good too:o)

The other day we were driving through the Wye Valley late, coming back from Dorset, and sat in the middle of the road was an Owl, just dazzled by our lights. it looked abit bedraggled to l got Vic to turn around....when we got back it had gone. l think it had caught something too, so definately a case of dazzled by the lights.So pleased it did'nt get run over:o))

jude x

shall look forward to seeing that Jane. We have had a tiny very young goldfinch visiting the feeder this week, so sweet to see it, it came on its own, I do wonder how they know at that age where the nyger feeders will be.

I see it's been a while since anyone posted ,so i will give a nudge here.I got a photo this morning from my bed looking out the window of 2 Woodpeckers and a huge Pigeon on the top of the dead tree trunk.
Jude I will send it to you.

Jane I missed you little note about the cakes Stork.

I use to do wedding cakes . birthday cakes etc etc and many Christening cakes the top request was for a stork on the top of the cake next came a baby in a craddle.
The wedding cakes. people wanted around the side doves.


Rita

Well no exotic birds in our garden but a lot of sparrows and starlings feeding the last few days. Oh yes and the crows that come down for bread on the bird table.

Up date on "The Little Terns "in Caister Norfolk. told you they were nesting on the dune in Caister on Sea.

I asked a friend who lives nearby how they were getting on. ? she said they have gone. they beleive they had come from South Africa , the neighbours say they came for a holiday.
She said it has gone very quiet since they moved on.


Rita

I have a Stork holding a baby in a basket from my Christening Cake.It is now 56 years old lol.Still little bits of cake icing hanging on to the storks feet!

It is very nice to see the Storks to think when I was alittle child I beleived babies came from Storks.
but there nest they are so big. I wonder if any other birds have nests as big as those.Storks. when you see the length of their legs you know why they need them so big.

Rita

Rita ,we saw a Storks nest on the top of a chimney when we were in Portugal.I can't remember if I sent a pic of it to Jude.There was one peeping out of the nest.
I haven't seen out heron for a couple of days now.Maybe it has gone off to raid someone other poor persons ponds.
Jude I am still not sure what the bird was I saw the other day.
Island,I think she said she was going to have a look on the Bird site to see if she could find out.
We are being pestered by the pesky thunder flies here today,and greenfly.I had to come in as they were driving me insane :-( :-(

They get lots of toruist visit Regents park and all take photos of the birds the Herons nests are hugh. you get lots of water birds there as well. many nest on the edge of the lake. there is an isle in the lake and your find most go for that.

A few years ago I went to Italy and we did a tour of France as well and other places and I actualy saw Storks in their nest on the top of houses near the chimney pots. I had never seen them in my life except in photo's in books.so I was thrilled to bits. I tried taking photos of them I was so pleased as I took many only to find I had not used the close lens for them so you got nothing you could really see. that did annoy me I take my new small cemra with me now whereever I go but even then I have forgotten to take it when I have gone out. sometimes and usually find I could have got a good photo.s

Rita

Rita.....you lucky thing:o)...we have a couple of Herons that fish along the Wye, l won't let Vic take our new camera, he's accident prone!! lol

jude:)

Island
The one I am asking about in near Sea Palling on the east coast of Norfolk.. you walk across the dune to get to it.

Jude I do take alot of photo's when I am away on holiday. but the day I saw the little terns I had gone to visit two lots of my neighbours, as I lived there for 22 years. and one told me about the Terns being now nesting at the bottom of the road I had lived in.. so I walked it was about three miunutes walk but did not take my camera with me. as I didnt expect anything of interest other than seeing my friends to be about.

when I go to stay with my sister in Hampstead we go to Regents park a lot and walk around it watching the birds. the trees were one day full of Herons. they have great big nests in the tress overlooking the regents park lake. I stood there taking photo's with an old camera I had. and suddenly I looked down and there was one Heron standing right beside me overseeing the lake... people were taking photos of the Heron with me there. of course I knew it was not me that wanted to take a photo of but this Heron.

Rita

Evening all:)

Rita.....not to worry, its not always easy to get photo's, l'm one of those saddies that often just walks around with a camera round me neck...l'm always in the back garden, if the neighbours can see me they are probably concerned...lol

jude:)

Hi Rita

Titchwell? Snettisham? both RSPB