Hobbies and Crafts

Squirrels!!!!! Naughty things.One in particular has been digging lots of little holes in the lawn ,then found the seed holder.I spotted it hanging upside down on the branch with it's paw stuck down inside the feeder scooping out the seeds.Then later it had got a friend to join it .The feeder was on the ground and they were both snaffling up all the seed.
I will just stick with fat cakes and fat balls at the moment.
The birds have been going crazy today.Whizzing all over the garden.No snow ,but just bitterly cold.

Pic sent Jude of a Newt I found on my back door mat.I thought it was dead but have now been told it was probably 'playing dead'.I put it in the bin and now feel really bad!!.I thought it was a lizard but have been told it was a Newt

Cant rmember if i had told this story before. We had tried all sorts to stop squirrels, a baffle board at the end of the line on which we hung the feeder, special feeders etc. The squirrels just made a blind jump trusting to luck they would land on the line the other side of the baffle which was too big for them to see round. In the end, we cut the bottom off a squash bottle, and put peanuts inside, leaving the bottle on the concrete slab near the bird feeder. it took them about half a day to work out that they had to lift the top off to release the peanuts, but once they knew, they never forgot. It did take their minds off the bird food! And was amusing to watch.

We have a parrot here that does not fly, known as the Kakapo and they trust humans completely. You can just hold them and they snuggle into you, there is the worry that they will become extinct so we are encouraged to look after them well.
One of them named Sirocco is on facebook, he thinks he is human some of the doc (department of Conservation) guys headed down a pier to go for a swim and they heard him plonking along behind them then they heard the splash and then worries what if he can't swim but no he was happily floating on his back.

Last year with the hot summer sun our Northland became very dry and the poor old Kiwis started coming out of their natural habitat in search of water. They tend to be a bit stupid and could easily be run over so everyone had to keep an eye out for them and assist them where as normally we are not supposed to touch them. They are very noisey with their feet you can hear them in the bush and if you are in the bush near them at night and you stand still they will barge along and stomp right over your feet. Their predators are weasels. stoats, rats etc.

Persey

Interesting Perse to read of birds unusual to us. Love the sound of the parrot that can't fly and thinks he's human.

We have had an influx of birds today, loads of starlings returned, greenfinches, chaffinches, a little robin, blackbird, first time seen for a while, lots of sparrows, bluetits, greatits and a coal tit.

A "murder" of crows Ann. I remember seeing a programme about Kakapos, Perse, I recall it was fascinating. The bird bath took a bit of thawing this morning. Poor old magpie was crumpling his beak on the ice. Not usually one to feel particularly sorry for magpies, but all life deserves water.

Hi Everyone
Birds all over the place today feeding like mad.3 Squirrels that have demolished the feeder yet again !!.and just a couple of hours ago there were a huge number of pidgeons that suddenly took to the air.Maybe a couple of hundred.I think they must have been in the back field .I have defrosted the bird bath twice today.Still no snow here(YET)

This weather makes me glad that the birds can get water from our waterfal and pond. We keep the water running all year and so it stays ice free.

Hi! I'm also in Glos and moved in the early summer. I'm not an expert on birds but we have a visitor which looks like a huge male robin - must be about 4x the size of Bob, our garden robin. Any ideas?
Had to defrost the bird baths today and blackbird had lovely splash!

Persey...l too love the sound of the parrot that can't fly:o))

Yep, we've got more birds than usual. 2 Robins 3 or 4 blackbirds about 6 chaffinch, LOADS of sparrow, 2 dunnock, collared doves and woodies:o) oops mus'nt forget a nuthatch and the tits. The squirrel has been about but not too often.
Bought some suet and gestive biccies:o))

Dizzie...you do make me smile:o)

Just filled in another report on wildlife and sent it to South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, they are always interested in what people see and record it, because oneday for what ever reason that bird or animal may not be there etc etc....so we've just noted the cormorants and l'll try and get some photo's, Vics going to to try and get some of the Heron too.

jude :o)

Hello Midland:o)

Could be a red wing or field fare, they both have red on them......look up Robin type birds!!

jude:o)

What is the bird that looks like a robin eating Midland? could it be a Bullfinch?

Are you happy to hint which part of Glos youa re in? I am in Ch****wn

Ann...is a bullfinch 4 x bigger than a robin.....lol

jude:o)

I don't think a redwing is either Jude but Midland di say it was a tiny Robin. Redwings have red under their wings and field fares are not red red so can't think of anything else.

lol...your probably right, it was just a guess. Here's what Midland said.....

" Hi! I'm also in Glos and moved in the early summer. I'm not an expert on birds but we have a visitor which looks like a huge male robin - must be about 4x the size of Bob, our garden robin. Any ideas?
Had to defrost the bird baths today and blackbird had lovely splash! "


HUGE male robin...lol

jude

Nearly went a purler on the steps today on the way down to see to all the bits and bobs down by the river. Although we don't have any snow at the moment (think it's could come overnight) I reckon one of the times I've taken warm water down to de-ice the birdbath I must have spilt a tiny bit of water. None of the other steps have any ice on at all and there's just a tiny patch about an inch across on one step (size of a big drip - or am I talking about myself now). Enough to give me a jolt and think about taking a bit more care in future.

The ducks and crows are being funny at the moment. A couple of crows come to the ground feeder. Ducks realise and shoo them off. Crows take a few steps back and wait their turn, occasionally trying to get closer to see if they can get in there. Ducks take a couple of steps towards them, crows hop back a bit again trying to nonchalantly hang around with head hung low and kicking their heels. I'd always taken crows to be quite aggressive in getting what they want but this has been a bit of a giggle. Might try and get a picture but don't think a still would do it justice.

When I went to see to the birds today the small bird bath was not frozen at all and the big one down the garden was slushy, so not much thawing needed today thank goodness.

Hi gang, I hope you're all keeping warm.

I'm intrigued by this huge robin - could it be a puffed up one? or is puffing up a spring pastime to attract the ladies?

Nobody's been to my feeders today. A wood pigeon nearly landed but was shooed off. Some gulls (probably black headed) were circlig the sky for a few minutes this morning.

They've had THREE white red kites at Gigrin over the weekend and hundreds of reds.

I suppose the cold weather has pulled the Kites in Island. Yes I am intrigued by this large robin. I am inclined to think it could be a bullfinch.

We haven't had many birds today either just one very persistent lonely coaltit.

Birds often puff themselves up in the cold weather Island. They can look fat and healthy when actually they are protecting themselves or suffering from the cold.

There we are then. It's a puffed up robin LOL