Hobbies and Crafts

Jude ,maybe the little 'runner' was a partridge.I don't know.It was just brainless lol.It must have been exhausted running all that way up the lane.

We had a brilliant day at my sons graduation .Canterbury Cathedral was such a fantastic place to have it.I think I spent most of the time looking around and up at the amazing roof.James got a bit fed up having his Photo taken so much .He never likes being photographed.
The wedding at Queens College was wonderful,again an amazing place for such an occasion .After the ceremony all the guests were given a punt on the Cam with Champagne,Strawberries,Chocolate and Shortbread.Oooh It was lovely.I think we are just recovering from a very hectic week !
I haven't seen the Red Kites for a little while or the Buzzards come to that.Just the odd one or two.
OH is not too pleased as a rabbit has got into one of the veg patches and dug a big tunnel under the parsnips :-S :-S

Thanks Ann:o) hope all is well?

Jane....sounds like you had a lovely time, you must be very proud of your son. The champers and strawberries etc sound absolutely delicious:o)

Take care
jude x

Jane, that definitely sounds like a partridge to me. they do that. when running they look rather like a very small hen, often seen in a flock of abot a dozen.

Jane, that definitely sounds like a partridge to me. they do that. when running they look rather like a very small hen, often seen in a flock of abot a dozen.

Jane, that definitely sounds like a partridge to me. they do that. when running they look rather like a very small hen, often seen in a flock of abot a dozen.

Jean,I think the poor little thing had wandered off and was confused in the lane.When it eventually took off, it flew back down the lane across the field (hopefully back to it's family.The more i think about it ,I reckon it was a Partridge.

Haven't been on here in ages but thought I would like to tell you about one of our native falcons "Geraldine" she lost her tail feathers in an accident.

We all know that birds need tail feathers... I have been watching on TV tonight her tail transplant. They put her little hood over her to calm her and then they used superglue to glue these tail feathers from a dead falcon, by inserting them into where hers came out. Then she got put in a carrier for the night and now she is soaring around everywhere..... she had a free flight first in an aeroplane back to where she came from.

It was so sweet, such a lovely story to watch.

Persie

Perse that is lovely. How marvellous that it is posssible to do these things, no doubt before the transplant was perfected she would have been put down.

I expect so Ann... I find some of the animal stories so rewarding with what they do to help them.

Bit like when the albatross here in NZ had hurt it's webbed foot they made it some foam rubber jandals (thongs/flip flops) to wear whilst it healed... and our elephant that eventually died... she had little boots made to help her feet. I should rephrase that she had big boots made... looked a bit like Noddy's shoes. Kashin died end of last August, they had a huge memorial service for her. The Zoo was closed for the day.

Persie

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't been on for a long while and thank you for your concern about why that might be. I'm pleased to say that there's been nothing wrong, just that things got very busy there for a while between helping both kids move flats on the same weekend, having lots of choir performances (and the rehearsals to go with them), preparing for and holding the choir summer barbecue in my garden, having workmen in the house, and a number of other things going on too. So I haven't had the usual time to potter about on t'internet.

Don't we look different on the boards? It's nice that we can have a profile picture now. I'll have to decide on one and work out how to add it. I shall have to make time for a bit of a catch up. It's raining today so that might help. And aren't we post - emoticons and everything. :-) Oh, just tried one, do they actually appear as emoticons or as combinations of punctuation marks?

Anyway, sorry this is rather off topic, but good to be back.

Ooh, now I've submitted I can see it shows as a proper emoticon.

No problem being off topic Dizzie, just glad you are OK.

Perspone...l love stories like that too, thanks for that:o)

DizzieLizzie...good to see you:o) Hope you are'nt too k-nackered from all the activities etc you've been involved in, you are a busy girl!!

Be good to have a catch up when you can.
l quite like the changes, especially the emoticons

l'm just back from son's after a couple of days looking after grandson....phewww, l slept right through till 7.30 am this morning....can't remember the last time l did that....lol


Take care all :-D

jude x

A lethal strain of Avian Pox could devastate the population of great Tits,
The disease causes large tumour like warts, particularly on the head, eyes and beak which can damage the bird's sight and ability to feed. In Great Tits the warts can be up to 2 cms wide and so heavy they prevent the bird from flying.
Avian Pox has affected other birds such as wood pigeons,starlings and sparrows for many years but their warts are smaller and usually heal. The first clusters of Great Tits suffering from the pox were recorded in surrey and Kent but this year it has spread to areas including Oxfordshire and as far north as Staffordshire. Last year the public reported cases in 100 different areas with 40 more added since January. Many more are expected over the summer months.
It is possible the pox is an aggressive new strain and it is causing great concern because of the severe symptoms.
The Great Tit population in the UK is about 5.5million. They account for around 90% of the affected birds, but the pox has also been seen in small numbers of other species such as the blue, marsh and willow tits.
Home owners with bird boxes have been urged to clean them because the condition can be spread through contact with other birds or even dust and scabs from lesions.

Members of the public can report cases of Avian Pox by calling the RSPB Wildlife Enquiries Unit on 0767 693690 or visit the charity's web site.


I have copied this from the D Mail for information.

I heard about that on the radio yesterday Ann. I shall have to have a look out especially since we're not so far from Oxfordshire. Great tits have generally been in the majority around my bird feeders, to such an extent I don't take a great deal of notice of them. I shall have to think again.

On my ramblings with the hound today, since it was decidedly wet out there on the downs I didn't see anyone else. This may be why I saw more birds than the last few days on my walks. There were quite a number of kestrels hovering in the sky, I saw a buzzard taking off from a fence post (disturbed by approach of dog). As we were walking between wheat fields there were a lot of skylarks that obviously weren't too happy with Guinness being at such close proximity. Not being bright and sunny they didn't do their usual rise into the sky singing, they just moved to another resting spot.

Although it was raining I did see a couple of butterflies surprisingly.

Murder and Mayhem in the garden this morning.
I opened the bedroom curtain to see a hawk ripping a pigeon apart on the lawn.I know this happens ,but the sad thing was to see the mate of the poor victim stood by watching,plus another 'pair ' of pigeons .They were all stood around the Hawk .The pair of pigeons flew off and the bereaved one just standing looking at the pile of feathers.Tonight I have got a pic of a young pigeon just sat under our Bay Tree .I think he might be looking for it's parent.
I will send it to you Jude.Plus another pic of a Robin who found it's way into our house this morning.

Nature is cruel sometimes Jane isn't it? Poor pigeon and hungry hawk.

That is the side I find hard to deal with Ann.I know it happens .Just wish it wasn't in my garden lol.I tried picking up all the feathers ,but they just stuck to my gardening gloves .I gave up in the end and went to pick beans and carrots instead :-D :-D :-D
Have sent pics to Jude .

Evening all.....

Ann...the disease is still around then:( we have loads of blue, great and coal tits in our garden, will keep a closer on them now!!

Aww Jane thats horrible, poor birds, but yeh we all know its nature:((((
will go check the email.

Dizzie...you saw loads:)) camera???? lol

Take care

jude

jude

Sorry no Jude, it was pouring with rain. I got absolutely soaked. Me trousers are still hanging over the aga. Should have put walking ones on that dry quicker, but silly me had cords on - Lizzie dripping wasn't in it. I think it was because it was so quiet on the downs - no other idiots were out there - that there was more bird activity to spot. If I'm lucky I may have a picture or two from yesterday of a hawk once I get them downloaded/uploaded (whichever way it is) from my camera.