Hobbies and Crafts

No Ann, I don't find the ducks leave too much mess. Usually there are only a few of them anyway. The most I had at once was 18, being the youngsters of three clutches of this years eggs. But now they tend to come in their smaller groups that they've begun to establish. We have a fair bit of space in this garden too, so there's not too much of a problem.

One of our neighbours doesn't like them on his garden, but he has a manicured lawn and doesn't even like trees and shrubs that drop leaves in Autumn. He has all evergreens and hardly anything flowering in his garden. So much so that his wife has put two tubs of geraniums for a bit of colour either side of the steps down their garden, but they're artificial!...

In about January/February of the past two years since we've been here we've also seen egret down at the river for a few days. I hope we'll see them again this winter. They are something different to look out for.

And as you say now it's getting colder there's getting to be more and more activity round the feeders. I've made me patent fat balls and hung them out for extra warmth and energy too.

Dizzie do they leave much mess (the ducks) for you to clear up?

Island That must have been a sight worth seeing (the egret).

The birds are starting to return as it gets colder, starlings and sparrows a robin and the bluetits and one tiny goldfinch, a juvenile.

I saw some kind of Hawk swoop down and grab a bunny in the field!!!.( I think it was a rabbit ).It flew off quite low with the poor thing hanging in its claws.Have never actually see that happen before.

We had a lovely day at Minsmere on Saturday.
Loads of wigeon, black-headed gulls and geese.
A first for us was a Great White Egret - having googled I see it has been sited at times there since 2008 so good to see it could be becoming a regular.

My spot of the day was a one legged dunlin hopping about - I expected t'other leg to drop down but no!

On the blog now:o)

Thanks Jane

jude x

On my way:o)

jude

Jude ,have just sent a couple of pics to the blog.

My OH once had a job at Sudeley Castle, where he had to feed the waterfowl. One little eider duck would come up to him and shake his trouser leg until she was fed!

The ducks have taken lessons from the cats. They've started following me round and tripping me up until I feed them. The garden can be completely clear of them and as soon as I open the patio doors one or two nip up from the river and holler to their friends. You can tell the occasional one not used to me. As soon as I approach with the tub of food they dash back to the safety of the river. The rest just come closer until their demands are satisfied. Lol.

l should think so too DizzieLizzie...lol :o)

Jane...why can't she transfer them to pc??? thats such a shame:o((

jude...still trying to sort videos for blog...so slow are'nt l, sorry...lol

Had to go out and buy more duck pellets today. Not many places have them so I had to go a little drive out. When I got to the place they only flippin' had a huge bag of sunflower hearts - weighed a kilo more than the bag we bought at the weekend and cost half the price. I have resolved that in future I will stock up from there. We've had some of their other bird food before when we've needed to buy something in addition to the duck pellets and it's always been taken very happily by the birds so maybe I can begin to impose a little bit of cuts on the bird feeding budget in future. I know I have to go a journey but the saving more than covers the petrol etc on the car. I'll have to be more organised and get a selection of things in one journey instead of popping out just for the thing I most need at the time.

Had to go out for the duck pellets - I was tidying out the greenhouse ready for the things that need to overwinter in there. I'd used the last of the pellets yesterday and thought I'd get more at the weekend but a couple of the ducks were up on the patio with me wondering why I wasn't responding to their requests. Couldn't stand the looks I was getting any more...

Jude my camera on my phone is **** .it is so old and black and white .I had a friend visiting from GR and she took a photo on her phone .but can't download them !!!!!.At least she has a record off them lol
I have to say I was dumbfounded to see the birds like that.It may never happen again.

You've all been busy:o)

Yes Ann, l'm the same l love this thread, l look most days, but don't always respond.

Jane..you must carry your mobile (has it a camera) or cmaera where ever you go, thats an order!! lol....what a sight that must have been:o)

Lizzie...bet your right chuffed to have daughter back home, good innit having them about:o)

You have your own nature reserve there:o)

Talking of grapes my neighbour called in the local garden centre for a mosey (sp) about and saw a grape fine with a note saying "anyone interested in wine making can have this vine, provided they give us a bottle of wine"...so she now has 5 gallons on the go and is need of bottles, we're saving ours fast and furiously:o)

We have'nt had any finches at all recently, hope it has'nt anything to do with the desease.
We do have 2 new bird feeder thingies, one is a small table the other a pressie to vic for his birthday from my sis one of those thingies with the poles and feeder etc hanging off....they took to them both very quickly and as they are new and clean, lets hope the finches return:o)

l used to look after parrots,budgies, cockertials etc whilst people went on hols....we had a large shed with an avery, loads of room, great cause we did'nt get too much noise:o)

jude:o)

Well ,what a sight I saw this afternoon!!!!!!.I went down the lane opposite here and there were 2 Red Kites sat on 2 fence posts in the horses field.About 50ft away .In the middle of the field was sat a Heron.Did I have my camera? ....NO!!
I watched for a while and saw the Kites take off.It was amazing.They were just so close.I could see all the beautiful colours in the wings as they took flight.

Well so much for my 'bird drought'!
Since Tuesday I've had a pair each of bluetits and great tits on the feeders, then this morning I was surprised and delighted to have a coal tit fly in three times. I was in the right place at the right time AND with camera to hand - now that makes a change eh? A bit fuzzy but it'll do for me lol

Ann,
I'm pleased that your thread is still going too. I only dip in occasionally but dip I do :-)

Lizzie
The novelty of parakeets wore off for me years ago when a boyfriends mother banished them - I took them in for all of two days.....O-M-G lol

At our old house in West London we used to have loads of parakeets (escapees from the local animal rescue centre that managed to survive in our locality) making noise in next door's pear tree. We loved it but she wasn't so keen because they made a mess of her washing. She hated that she couldn't just get rid of the tree, but I'd have moved my washing line.

Pleased to see the thread is still going. Only saw about 4 hawks in Tenerife this time and four noisy parrots that flew home most evenings chattering to each other as they flew.

Jane,
Wicksteed Park??? Oh my goodness.....we used to go there for the annual day out from junior school! You've taken me right back to the days when the air in the coaches was laden with the smell of boiled egg sandwiches LOL
I must look on google earth to see if or rather how much it has changed.

Island there is a large lake at Wicksteed Park ,just down the road.I think that is where the Cormorant was heading.I have seen a couple there before.I just find it bizarre as we are so far away from the sea.They are sea birds aren't they?

well you have been busy Lizzie lol.How nice to see your daughter back home again.I bet she has some stories to tell.
I am surprised we don't have more water birds here as next door has a mini lake .We used to get Canada Geese ,ducks and all sorts.It now just seems to be the Moorhens.

Bit of a bird drought going on here (City) lately but I did see 3 mute swans fly over yesterday which is not a common sight from my window.

Jane, do you have a reservoir or fishery nearby? Maybe the comorant came from there.

Jude, we ended up staying 12 nights at GF - it was a much needed rest and, as per, was fab.
I remember that film about the man who had cormorants to catch fish for him, he let them have one now and again to keep them interested.