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The birds are sulking because we were away and they ran out of food, but they are gradually coming back and condescending to eat the food. The goldfinches were back this morning. Mind you we do see more of them if it is sunny.

Thank you for that Shaun, it is lovely.

A Christmas & New Year Wish For You All
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May all the sweet magic of Christmas conspire
to gladden your heart and fill every desire.
May this Christmas end the present year on a cheerful note
and make way for a fresh and bright New Year.
May the good times and treasures of the present year,
become the golden memories of tomorrow.
May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter and goodwill,
and may the year ahead be full of contentment and joy.
As you relish the goodies, which decorate every nook and corner of your home,
may the joy and festivities continue to radiate in your lives,
long after Christmas is gone and into the new year.
The gift of love.
The gift of peace.
The gift of happiness.
May all these be yours this Christmas time.
May the new year fill your home with joy,your heart with love
and your life with laughter.

With Love From The Folk On The Hill ( ie little mountain )
Our wish for you all <3 <3
Night Night
Shaun

Bird frenzy out there this morning. Woke to a light covering of what we thought was a heavy frost but which is actually snow. Had 6 goldfinches down on the feeders, a robin, greenfinch, Great tit, black cap, 2 chaffinches, sparrows and on the ground about 4 blackbirds and numerous starlings. Good job we bought a huge pack of seed yesterday.

Seen them in the Lake District Rose but not here. Love the little wrens.

Ann, there is always a pied wagtail up in the high street here, popping around. Today I had a grey wagtail in the garden eating seed, I've not seen one before so had to look in the book.

Also a lovely little jenny wren :-D

Just looked out and there is a pied wagtail on the lawn eating some spilled seed and other bits thrown out there. First time I have ever seen one in the back garden. Seen them in the road outside but not in the garden.

They are funny when they bathe aren't they? Don't fancy bathing in our garden at the moment - freezing fog but it doesn't seem to bother them. I was watching some starlings hoovering up the bits I'd put on the lawn this morning, I swear they had left one as lookout on the top branch of the apple tree, he/she was looking first to the left, then the right. When the birds on the ground finished feeding it flew off with them.

Its bath time in my garden,they,re having a great time,sitting in order waiting their turn (Think its called Pecking Order)have to fill the baths at least twice a day and refill seed containers and replenish the Fat Balls, Got a delivery tomm=orrow of Wild Bird Food and Fat balls (Cheaper if you buy in bulk) and its pleasant to watch as I,m on the putor looking through the window.**M**. :-D :-D

We have had a black cap visiting us the past few days and the blue and great tits are busy stocking up, as well as one starling that comes for the coconut and a couple of goldfinches, one chaffinch and one greenfinch. Now, this morning we have had a few blackbirds as well. Not as many sparrows as usual.Just a few. Oh and of course woody and a couple of collard doves and a magpie after the scraps. Just been to stock up on bird seed as it is 10% day for pensioners at the local garden centre.

We had a visit from a flock of long tailed tits this afternoon. Although they didn't stay long, at least we know they are around.

I agree with your OH Jane. I've stopped putting food out for the birds now because -

1. The squirrels get it
2. The wood pigeons get it
3. The mice get it (and probably rats)
4. The birds give up and go elsewhere :-(

Still, there are plenty of seeds for them to feed on in my garden at the moment :-D

I had the Green Woodpecker yesterday.It was having a great feast from the lawn for a good half an hour or so :-D.And i think I spotted a Gt Spotted one on the side of one of the big trees down the bottom of the garden.But sadly no visits from the squirrels.OH is very pleased about that :-| :-|

had a visit from Woody Woodpecker today. The green variety . A welcome visitor nevertheless
Shaun - Good plan. Will look to doing same when my present bird food runs out.
Take care everyone
Von

Hello Everybody.
Don't know if any of you have had the same problem but I bought a big bag of wild bird food in October and there's so much waist , my birds will not eat the kibbled maze or the wheat that's in the mix.
So I have made my own mix for a test and the birds go mad over it.
It consisted of porridge oats , currents ,sunflower hearts, kibbled peanuts and some lard. I melted the lard then added the rest ,put in a container until set then put out on the feeding station, like I said they went mad over it. So I'm going to get a load more of the ingredients and make a load of puddings for them.
Must go.
Hope you are all okay.
Shaun

Look forward to that Island.

My friend who has the pheasant in her garden came down one morning to find him in the kitchen, cats and dogs were a bit puzzled. the door was open, he seems quite tame so I wonder if her was raised by somebody not in the wild.

Morning all :-D

I'm not a pheasant plucker..........
enough of that lol

I have a new regular visitor - a jay, or two alternating as I have spotted two in the oak tree, is making frequent trips to my balcony. It polished off a tray of peanuts in a couple of days so I have replenished as I'm determined to get a photo.

It was quite shy a first and would fly off if I blinked. However.....it is getting a bit cheeky now and as I type it just squawked and jumped down onto the balcony floor. I shan't be leaving the door open unattended!
Photo to Jude when and if I have success. :-D

Had to chuckle, imagining the pheasants passing the message along."psst, shooting is starting, follow me" as they all scoot off to a friendly garden. :-D

Jane it is pheasant shooting season (October 1st to February 1st) what you saw today happens in my garden through the winter I call it my pheasants sanctuary and I find it funny :-D it doesn't amuse my OH though as he's normally one of the guns on the wagon/trailer :-(

It must be Pheasant shooting time.My friend lives down the lane opposite me and after visiting him this afternoon I followed a wagon of Men with guns and the 'Beaters'.
I did have a little chuckle to myself as there is a house up a long drive down the lane and `i spotted a whole bunch of Pheasants running around the lawn.They must have run there from the field for refuge :-D :-D :-D.They must be thanking their lucky stars today lol