Hobbies and Crafts

Glad I could help

Thanks Linda

You just beat me to it Linda
Fairly quiet here on the bird front.Nothing really to report at the moment.

Sent pm Ann

Linda :o) XxX

Still lots of greenfinch and tits on the feeders of peanuts and sunflower seeds. Had a greater spotted woodpecker yesterday. And the usual visitors of robin, blackbird and wood pigeons too.

Turned very cold here again today and the birds are back feeding, not seen so much of them while it has been milder.

*sigh*
I can't find the addy for Judes blog, can somebody help me please. I don't know where I have put it.

After ages not seeing them, the swans came back past our garden yesterday. Cob, pen and a grown cygnet with its plumage in the middle of changing from grey to white. Funny thing was that they had a white goose with them as if it was part of the family. Not knowing what to call it other than a white goose I had a look up to try and identify it and I think it may be an Embden. It was almost the size of the swans and had a long neck a bit like them and a bright orange bill. It may have escaped from a nearby garden along the river as when we were walking on New Year's Day we saw a garden that had a new small flock of grey chickens and some white geese.

Oh oh. As I type I can see a few small flakes of snow falling again. I hadn't noticed the sky getting so grey and heavy looking.

Had loads of bluetits in my garden to-day looking for food in the feeders. Unfortunately, they are nearly empty and I've felt too rotten to go out and top them up. Must try and do it tomorrow. I've given up with the fat balls - the squirrels just come and demolish them in one sitting, greedy b*****s, and they've been out in force to-day with the milder weather. Found an old Christmas pudding from last year in a cupboard and thought the birdies would love it, but I know if I break it up and put it out it won't last 2 minutes with squirrels, foxes and the dreaded rats about.

I nearly had a fit.I thought I had lost the thread lol
Phew!!! Here you are .All quiet in the garden at the moment except for the squabbling Robins and a few Blue Tits and Blackbirds.It's peaceful.Maybe because the snow and ice has gone they are foraging in other places.

Yes it has been mild here too but I think i read that the weather is to turn colder again soon.

New photo's on blog from Jean (Monnouth).......Orchids:o)

Hi....l'm in Worksop, can't stop :o)

jude xx

When we drive the stretch of A4 between Hungerford and Newbury we see red kites regularly too. OH drives it almost daily to work in Basingstoke, but I only go that way more occasionally. The other day on the way to London it's such a treat to see them.

It's turned quite mild here over the past few days. I went for a walk with my visiting friend and her dog yesterday and got so warm I had to take my coat off. At least the birds round here are having an easier time for a bit. I hope there's not too much more hard weather before the end of the winter but it's usually seems that January/February tend to be worse than before Christmas.

Morning all
Well at last the bird bath(water) has defrosted so the birds have plenty to drink and clean themselves in.
Bird feeders still have plenty in them, topped up with food on the table and patio.
Still lots of activity

Linda :o) XxX

Driving home we again saw the red kites, a lovely sight.

Morning everyone, back from our Christmas break in Sheffield. Had to drive over Snake Pass to get daughter back to Manchester yesterday and then back down to Wilts so a long drive and a very mixed bag weather-wise. Left Sheffield still in the snow and ice with another snowfall coming down. Not sure how much their ended up being we didn't wait to find out. By the time we got home last night it was raining, and overnight we seem to have had quite a lot more rain which has thawed most of the snow, there's only little spots of it left where it was thicker.

I shall be out in the garden soon to top up all the feeders again so the birds can get themselves caught up with being well fed while it's milder again. Some of the hanging feeders have not completely run out but it's the ground and table feeders that you can't put enough out on to last for days that I'll be able to get back to now that there's not ice on the steps. OH risked it on Christmas Eve before we left when we were both here but I've had to give those a miss on days when he's at work and I've been alone in the house. Mum had a fall in the ice and broke her leg badly in her garden many years ago feeding the birds and there was no-one to hear her calling and help her until a neighbour got home so I'm a bit wary of getting myself trapped down there. I think the ground feeding birds must have a particularly tough time when everything gets covered in snow so I shall be glad to be able to give them a boost again.

Hi
I've just heard a lot of commotion in a large tree that hangs over my garden
Looked out to see magpies squabbling.
Had a quick count and there were 22 of them. I've never seen so many at one time.
We do have a resident pair in the garden they must have had the rellies round!!!!
Take care everyone
Von

Persephone....l have saved the site to favs........it looks good:o)

jude

Evening all:o)

SSandie...l havegiven up worrying about the rats, we've had pest control here loads of times and they tell us not to feed the birds, well they don't say not to, just that feeding the birds feeds the rats too) and there's no way l'm not feeding the birds!!! Our rats come from garden at bottom of garden and the river across the road, so we'll never stop them!!

Jean...l know what you meanabout the blackbirds, daft are'nt they, W/pigeons do it too.. We only get one thrush so don't see them squabble. Weusually scatter suet on the ground and on the bird tables, we have to top up aswell. The bird bath freezes every so often so we top it up with warm water...the only birds we've seen drinking lately are the blackbirds.


Night night...l'm cream crackered!!

jude

We've been advised by pest controllers in the LA not to put food out for the birds,after a neighbour saw a rat climbing up his bird table.

I suppose they wouldn't get at hanging fat balls tho.

I risk it (tho it hate the thought of rats) and put food and water on trays on the foot high wall at the end of my patio.

We have a resident robin family , can see him now the trees have shred their leaves, they usually nest in our laurel hedge but he's out and about now.

The birds were busy today. Why is it that blackbirds and thrushes spend more time chasing each other away from food than eating any? Only bluetits seem to use our feeders, The bird table most sorts will visit. Most successful is that scattered on the ground. We had suet food in a peanut holder but it wasnt touched.