Hobbies and Crafts

Morning all:)

Suns trying to shine here:)

Dizzie....l can remember walking over the sussex downs when pouring with rain, not nice...lol
Not everyone is a nurd like me, my camera goes everywhere wrapped in a towel in me shopping bag or round me neck, wish l got a smaller one now, but love this one:))

The rain would have interested the birds too, we suddenly had 4 - 5 blackbirds looking for worms yesterday:)

Jane...your photo's are on the blog:) The collection of birds are Swallows, the pigeon is a young Stock Dove and the cheeky robin, is well Cheeky:o))

Take care:)

jude x

I was on the Wessex Downs where the Pewsey White Horse is Jude. I used to walk on the Sussex Downs though as Parents in Law lived in Sussex, and then years before that when I was a student in Brighton..

I was back up there again walking another section today. Didn't see any birds at all, but then there were whirlybirds in the sky instead taking people on the cheat's method of viewing the crop circles in the area.

Lor lumme, "whirlybirds" shows my age doesn't it? ;-)

Had my camera today, but took pictures of the general views and wild flowers instead.

Jude, have you not got a proper bag for the camera? Amazon do a reasonably cheap one (about £8. I think).

I used to love the Whirly Birds lol.That must have been on tv in the early 60's??

All peaceful in the garden today ,and no sign of the lonely Stock Dove Jude ,so hopefully it is fine.This morning when I looked out the bedroom window I saw a Moorhen on top of that dead tree.How did it get that high????I know I have had them on the top of my Yew Hedge before but not this high.It looked a bit daft with it's great feet plonking around up there lol

Ann...will take a peak:)

DizzieLizzie......oh the White Horse, gawd the times l have driven past that, never stopped though!

Whirlybirds....do you mean this.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5gVv8Q048

We liked the Sussex downs but love The Wye Valley and beyond:o))

Jane...bet the Moorhen looked really funny, blesss it...lol

jude

PS we had a Greenfinch on nuts earlier, first in a while:)

Jude they have got a couple. You will see there is a comment on it from me. When I bought it and first used it the bag was a tight fit, but I use it all the time and it has given a bit, it is a soft plastic. I have had no problem with it splitting or anything and I didn't find that it smelled.

Jude, the Pewsey white horse is only one of 8 white horses in Wiltshire and bordering counties. We have a closer one up the road on the A4 at Cherhill, and the Uffington one is the one most people think of at mention of white horses.

Yes, that's the Whirlybirds I was thinking about. All black and white and grainy...

There are so many lovely areas to visit in the UK aren't there.

Dizzie......Vic says we use the A350!! did'nt know there are 8 white horses!!

jude

Just googled the A350 to see what its route might be. Looks like your white horse might be the Westbury/Bratton one (where some of my ancestors come from as it happens). It's apparently at least 300 years old. The Pewsey one is a 1937 replacement of an earlier one which would have been about 225 years old. There are a series of paths that make up The White Horse Trail and we're in the Vale of White Horse. There's a Wiltshire White Horses website www.wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk - it includes all of them including the Uffington one which is in Oxfordshire as it's obviously a regional theme rather than a strictly county one.

Loads of Swallows tonight flitting and flying all above the garden.We have never had that in the 20 odd years we have lived in this house.I normally see them all down the lane.
I had nearly 30 Canada Geese fly just overhead this morning.I think they were heading for Wicksteed park and the big lake.

Hiya:)

Been meaning to get on here for a few days, did'nt realise it was 6th Augl was last here....time flies...!!

Vic saw 5 lorries full of racing pigeons on Fri, 2 lorries together had approx 6,000 birds on board, so roughly 14,000 birds eventually flew off.We saw some of the later ones go off, they could'nt go earlier cause of the cloud. A neighbour has one resting in her garden already!! unless he's decided he's had enough...lol

We had 3 Green finches in garden this afternoon, 2 robins, a pair of blackbirds, loads of h/sparrows, quite a few blue/coal/great tits, l watch them quite closely incase they have visible signs of that horrible desease!

Still not bought a camera case, its Vic birthday end of Sept so been getting bits for him.

Take care

jude x

Jude I had a racing Pigeon resting/lost for several days a couple of years ago.I eventually managed to see the number on it;s leg ring(after crawling on the lawn on my hands and knees).I contacted the Pigeon Racing People and they traced the owner.The bird was from Yorkshire ,but had only been let out of the racing lorry a mile from me.(It didn't get too far lol) The owner rang someone local to me and he captured it and it was sent back to Yorkshire by courier.
The Canada Geese I saw the other morning are now flying over our house about 5.30 am every day.I will take my camera to bed and try and get a pic.(I think it is a long shot though.
Just got a pic of a woodpecker on the side of the dead tree doing what woodpeckers do .Not sure how clear it will show as it was through my mucky kitchen window.I will send it to you Jude.I have a good Hawk Moth pic too.

That Woodpecker was back on the dead tree this morning ,pecking away and flinging bits of bark here there and everywhere lol.One day that trunk will fall ,and it will come our way.It is actually next door.I love it as it is like a lookout post and landing stage for lots of birds.It really should be taken down as I don't think it will be too safe for much longer.
Bird wise again it is fairly quiet in the garden.But the squirrel has been busy nicking the hazelnuts
:-( :-(

Morning all....just added the photos from Jane, sorry for usual delay...)(

must dash....

jude xx

Thanks Jude.That Moth was a whopper lol
This morning when OH came downstairs he said there was a huge Hawk sat on my whirly washing line.Now that would have been a great pic.Good job there was no washing hanging lol

Yes that would have been great:)) Saw one on a telegraph pole this afternoon, a beauty too:)

jude

Nothing much going on bird wise in the garden,except for lots of little birds that are the same shape as Wrens but a bit bigger and their movement is a bit twitchy.I don't know what they are.
My poor canvas canopy on the Gazebo was covered in purple poo.It must be the elderberries !!!!.Thankfully today's rain has cleared it :-D.Those berries must give the birds the trots lol

Not many birds around at all except for callard doves and sparrows an occasional robin and blue tit. Down daughters last weekend we did see a flock of long tailed tits which was nice.

Photo's on my blog from Jean Monmouth:)

jude:)

I think we need a nudge up.
Still quiet here (bird wise) I did see the Woodpecker yesterday have a good feast on the lawn.I have also noticed the Robins showing their faces again.Other than that not much to report.Except for one rogue rabbit !!!! Munching it's way around the garden lol