Hobbies and Crafts

Just back from Suffolk.Jude I have a few pics to send to your blog.A most beautiful pheasant in the garden where we stayed.I have never seen one like it before.Will send them on tomorrow.

Did you have a good time Jane? I know you said you resorted to Suffolk because of the journey to Dorset, was it as nice. It is years since we were in Suffolk

It was lovely Ann,but I have to say our cottage was so tiny.It was built in 1480 as a farm labourer's home.Way out in the sticks.A bit too far in the sticks for us really ,but the wildlife and the peace was just wonderful.Most of my photos were of birds .We had a rowing boat we could have used at the bottom of the garden on the Deben river .But there was a Swan with attitude so we didn't risk it lol.There was a wrens nest ,and I saw the babies ,I think on their first outing ,but sadly got no photo was in focus.Lovely photo of the swan though ,my favourite one from the whole holiday.
I think Dorset is more my choice ,but OH prefers Suffolk !!

Look forward to the photo's Jane:o)

DizzieLizzie......hope you don't too much agro from the voles, fascinating though:o)

jude

PS.... OooPs Jane good to see you back:o) my sister used to live in Ipswich. Sounds idylic where you were:o)

Some photos sent now Jude.

Oooo, just going to look, will sort them tomorrow though, l have a couple from Jean of Monmouth too:o))

jude

I don't believe it lol.The Red Kite was just about 20ft above me .I thought it was after the dog!!!!.(I'm sure it wasn't) and my camera was in on the dining table.By the time I dashed in to get it ,it was gone .


It has just been back ,but higher.OH has got some pics that look good.He will email them to me and I will pass them on to you Jude.

l've managed to get Jeans 2 on and one of yours Jane, l will try and sort the rest later....grrrr

jude
PS...One of Jeans is the Cat and her Kittens:o)) x

More photo's on the blog:o)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

jude

There were a couple of moorhens on the garden today celebrating midsummer solstice. I noticed as I was about to whizz into the shower so no time to attempt photo, but it was their private little moment after all.

lmho....lovely:o)

Thanks Jude.I love the cat flap pic lol,and the cat and kittens .
Those swans were a long way out at sea ,at Southwold.Heaven knows where they were heading!!

My Mosaics are on the blog now all finished:o)

jude

Will pop and have a look now Jude

.Brilliant Jude .They are lovely.Love the latest of the cat and kittens too.

Thanks Jane:o)

jude xx

Now that I've finished working - again - I had a lovely time sitting out on our new balcony furniture watching the birds yesterday. There was plenty of activity on the feeder and perhaps because I was up on the balcony instead of on the patio it didn't seem to slow down.

Having only caught glimpses occasionally of a greenfinch recently it was lovely to see a whole family at the feeder. Mum and Dad were whizzing around after a juvenile showing it the ropes and making sure it kept out of trouble. The young one actually landed and sat for a bit on the balcony railing, but since I had taken some family research up there to make notes I was not primed with camera. There was also a robin fledgling with a very silly punky hairdo where it still had a bit of down and new feathers coming at the same time. And now I know that quite a few goldfinches are coming regularly to the feeder - it's taken time but it's good to see them every day now.

The voles have been gradually encroaching across the end of the garden, but hopefully me being home now and down there more regularly will put them off a bit. Yesterday they didn't seem to be any further than the day before but for the past two weeks they'd been getting a bit further each day. Don't know what to do about it. Since they aren't common we don't want to get heavy with them. We quite like the little creatures and in some ways feel quite pleased to have them on our patch, but they are making a mess of that part of OH's lawn. We've never had a lawn before and OH is quite proud of it. If they would stay under the willow tree we wouldn't mind too much, but they've started to extend a bit further than that. We're hoping that they won't go too much further on the grounds it might make them easy prey.

Ah well - got to go feed my ducks now. Sadly mummy who had two ducklings only had one remaining the other day and I didn't see her yesterday so hopefully that one is still with us.

Well l'll be, was just thinking about this thread:o)
l took a video of a Song Thrush yesterday evening, he was sitting on top of one of the massive fir tree's, beautiful:o) l was listening to it about half hr ago when son rang, he asked why l was smiling!!! lol...he could tell by my voice:o) when l told him he said "oh yeh,right"...kids!
If l can l will put it on the blog, not sure if it will take videos though.

DizzieLizzie....like you l would love to have voles especially as they maybe rarer now, but can understand the concerns. Be great to set up one of those night camera's.....now thats a christmas pressie idea:o))) wonder how much they are?? Have you asked vermin control people, not to get rid of but for ideas's. Or some nature site??

We have been watching the sparrows, we have loads of them, atleast 3 families:o) s few greenfinches and a few chaffinches. The family of Gold finches have'nt been back:o( We took the niga seed away. it was never touched in about 3 months, perhaps we ought to try it again.

Madoc was at the kennels for 2 nights mon - tues. l put a tub of cut carrot in his night bag with a note for owner.....it read "some carrot for madoc, watch his take off when you say the word carrot", she was so amused by him she tried a biscuit in one hand and carrot in the other.....carrot wone everytime:o)) he's such a character, wish you could all meet him!

Off to do me bit at the charity shop this afternoon so must get a move on.
Hope the remaining duckling is ok!!

jude

Very rarely see any thrushes round here but the last few early evenings the resident blackbird has been seranading us beautifully.
We have a pair of goldfinches and a juvenile feeding at the moment. I did see one greenfinch using the bird bath, usually it is the blackbirds, sparrows and pigeons and doves that use it. Last week we had an inquisitive pair of robins but haven't seen them since we came back from our weekend away.

Jude it was longer than 3 months that the niger was untouched on our feeder. We were just about to give up when we saw one goldfinch so we left it and it remained apparently untouched again. But now we have regular visitors and the numbers are rising. Now we are seeing a greenfinch family and they are using it too, so are the chaffinches occasionally though they prefer some of the other offerings its seems.