Hobbies and Crafts

We watched the Winterwatch this evening and I didn't like the mouse or the dormouse either but was fascinated by the foxes, the buzzard and the Jays and also the great tits inside the wire enclosure. All really very interesting viewing.

Last Summer we had a fox in our back garden!

I watched through the back bedroom window. I thought it was a dog with a bushy tail. It climbed on to the waterbutt and tried to climb up on to the brick wall but couldn't manage it.
It was only when the fox turned around and jumped down onto the ground that I could see the white chest and pointed nose, which was obviously a fox and not a dog. It looked very timid and walked up the garden path and down the drive.
I dashed into the lounge to tell hubby to see the fox, but it was too quick (or I was too slow) and the fox had disappeared never to be seen by me again.

That is one animal I have never seen in our garden.I know they are around and I think my neighbour at the bottom of our road has a Fox home (is it a lair?) at the bottom of his garden.I remember him saying that a couple of years ago he used to see the little cubs playing .Ahhh :-) Sadly though I have seen several foxes and Badgers that have been killed on this road :-(.

There don't seem to be quite so many birds about this morning.I wonder if it is because it isn't so cold this morning.Or maybe their little tummies are full from the last couple of crazy days of feeding !!!

Plenty of starlings and gulls, hungry as ever. A couple of magpies, a few thrushes and collard doves plus Mr and Mrs Blackbird who use our thick border shrubs as their home. They really are quite tame and came very close yesterday when I was clearing fallen leaves from the front garden border. I hoed a small section and they found worms

Still no little birds around and a full but ignored window feeder yet again this morning.
Many thanks Jane for the lovely bird photo's. Just a delight to see, and so hubby and I have now decided to wait until the end of the month and keep hoping that we also will be entertained by the birds antics by then.

You say it is not so cold today where you are Jane, it is really cold here in Cumbria and wet wet wet! :-) just been out to a farm shop complex, then a garden centre for lunch and then to the Colony shop, rained most of the day but not raining now.

Ann I actually went out without a coat on this afternoon.I think people thought I was nuts lol.But it was sunny and really hot at 8degrees ;-).
There are some great farm shop places up where you are .I know when we were on holiday I came back home with a load of lovely things (meat ) to pop in the freezer :-D

It really seems to have been a lot quieter today with the birds.I have had the usual visitors on the feeder but not quite as crazy.
Kandj ,glad you liked the pics .I'm just sorry you aren't able to enjoy the same with that window feeder .My OH says I am becoming obsessed .He keep finding me standing behind the curtain with the camera lol.

We get foxes in our garden:-| not that we see them but we do see their stinky poo:-( I think the rural fox is still timid were as the urban fox seem to be very brave and almost unafraid of humans.

It's felt cold in my corner of Essex today and again we have had rain :-(

Lesley x

Really mild here today and quite pleasant tidying up the garden, very different to yesterday when it was bitterly cold. Rain is forecast for the next couple of days.
That will put an end to my gardening efforts!

Jane thank you for the video, you really shouldn't have worried about it tonight:-| ;-) I think you have more blue tits than me so maybe we could both shoo some off to Yorkshire :-D

kandj at last our barometer is moving away from rain :-D

I will show MOG's uncle your video clip at the weekend.
Lesley x

Oh Stinky Fox Poo
If I let my dog off the lead he would find the first bit of that and do a lovely roll in it.Especially around his neck area which involved the collar :-S :-S.I remember driving home from the park with windows down and me gagging like mad desperately trying not to be sick.Then trying to get him up the stairs without touching any paintwork into the shower....I loved that dog but am so happy I don't have to go through all that anymore. :-D
Bed time for me now.Been a stressful day ...Another Leak .Plumber out tonight and British Ga* booked now for tomorrow.!!!

Lesley I have another clip from today with a bit of squabbling going on lol.There were so many coming and going I couldn't even keep count.It was crazy.

We have British Ga* chap here now sorting out that problem from last night and also doing the yearly service......I want my dinner !!!!.I just couldn't eat last night and ended up having a Banana .So I'm drooling now as I can smell dinner which is all ready but keeping warm until he goes.

Oh No! Not another leak Jane, you must be really cheesed off.

Lesley, I am more than happy to have any little birds from you and Jane. (still none visiting our window feeder). Unbelievable, but I kid you not.

Rain here most of the day as predicted, lots of starlings and wood pigeons and doves.

The blackbirds and thrushes loved the chopped apple that I put on the tray from the window feeder. Interesting to see the activity on the lawn today.

Ann, I hope that you have had less rain in Cumbria today and are enjoying your break with your family.

I've just watched another good episode of Hidden Kingdoms:-)

Thank you for the picture and video clip Jane, I had seen Mrs Blackbird on Ann's blog, again I amazed at how many birds you have use your feeder, I watched the video 3 times and couldn't keep count of how many birds there were :-S apart from blue tits were the other birds chaffinches and greenfinches?

Good Luck with man from the gas board.

Lesley x

What a dark afternoon it is :-S..I think the rain must be on its way.
Lesley I am unable to count how many birds too.Yes Chaffinch and Greenfinch(I think Green).I don't think there were any Gt Tits on the feeder in that clip.It all got a bit spiteful near the end bit .
They are getting like again now.It is that time of afternoon.

Touch wood we are all dry and no more leaks(until the next one :-S) :-D

Jane the birds definitely were jostling for space and food towards the end of the clip:-D I think dawn and dusk are always busy time for feeding.

Don't give up on your feeder kandj I'm sure when the birds find it you will hours of fun watching them:-)

I hope your staying warm and dry in Cumbria Ann and enjoying seeing your family.

Lesley x

Lesley, I am ever the eternal optimist but just wonder why we have no birds interested in the window feeder. It has been in place since 19th December....???
Perhaps tomorrow will be different. We have decided to keep it there until the end of this month and hope our very fussy little birds will make use of it.

The weather seems to be turning a bit rough here now and the wind is really beginning to blow.Have just topped up the food so that will have to last until the morning now.
I am off to Suffolk on Monday for a couple of nights with my OH so my son will be in charge of feeding.I will be sending reminders throughout the days as I know he is likely to forget :-S

OMG it is thunder and a bit of lightning here now....and BIG HAIL Think I might turn off the computer now

Well my Birdwatch was a complete and utter waste of time :-( I hope yours went/goes better kandj :-)

Jane so your visiting my part of the country, lucky you :-D we had the storm too but luckily it passed over very quick.

Lesley x

Birdwatch today was a washout as we had an hours storm with heavy rain and strong wind....... not a bird in sight! Much the same as you Lesley.

Hope you and OH enjoy your little break Jane and the birds keep your son amused.

Ann I hope you enjoyed your stay in Cumbria and seeing your Daughter and family.
We are off in the morning.Lesley I don't know where you live but we will not be too far from Aldeburgh.I think we will be going to Southwold,Snape,and depending on what the weather throws at us I would like to go to Minsmere Nature Reserve.We have seen a lovely Farmshop/Cafe at a place called Peasenhall,so will be calling in there to buy some of their produce to bring home :-D
Not a huge amount of bird activity today but I think the terrible rain will have had something to do with that.I did see though a Red Kite being chased off by a couple of crows and one of the Crows was actually nipping the Kites Tail Feathers !!!.

Will be back Wed evening .......Kandj, the Birds will come and go and my son probably won't notice a thing lol,which is why I will be texting reminders to keep the feeder filled up.I seem to be the only one really interested in them ,or I should say the only one who feeds them :-S

Yes thanks Jane, had a lovely time seeing some of the family, Luke now has 2 teeth through and Grandson's wedding is planned for October. However it rained every day with hail, sleet and a blizzard on Thursday. Did manage to get photos of snow on the Langdales though. :-)