Hobbies and Crafts

So much for my covered ground feeder that only allows in small birds!

As I said yesterday I've seen starlings manage to fly in and out of it but they are quite slim birds. Today I saw a fat pigeon standing on the grass and poking his head through the mesh to gobble up the food. I thought my robin was getting through an awful lot. Now I know most of it has gone down the throats of the pigeons and starlings. The only thing I can think to do is to put just a small handful of food right in the middle of the feeder so that the pigeons' heads can't reach it, but the starlings would still get at it as they seem able to fly right in.

The seeds in the hanging feeder seem to be going down quite a bit each day and I keep topping up but we've seldom seen anything on it. Now I wonder if the pigeons have found a way to get at those.

The bluetits are coming regularly to the suet cake and the fat balls, and occasionally one will peck at the peanuts, but no sign of anything going for the nyger seeds yet.

Feeling quite excited. Doing a bit of gardening just now, I saw the pair of goldfinches that OH had seen a couple of times. They were flitting round the shrubs in the next garden then one of them flew across and sat on our fence watching me. I stayed as still as I could and he was there for what seemed like ages before he flew away (probably a few seconds lol). I hope before long they will venture right in to the garden and use the feeder.

After feeling grumpy about the pigeons and starlings, that's really cheered me up.

Seedcake in the window feeder since early this morning and NO takers (as yet??) Good job that I am a patient person. It is sunny and much warmer today than yesterday and so I can't think of any reason why no birds are visiting our garden.

Vera, no wonder you were excited seeing the goldfinch on your fence, it's getting nearer so keep watching and waiting. I would love the finches or tits to come so we can see them close up but our window feeder only seems to have attracted one young male blackbird and lots of starling. I am ever hopeful though.

Hello Shaun and thank you for sharing your recipe and link, I remember the link from Ann's old thread but still enjoyed looking at it again today.

kandj I felt physically sick all day Saturday after hearing the horrific news about the Malaysian Airline :-( the last load of holiday washing has been done...you wouldn't believe how many clothes fit in a back pack :-0

Jane it sounds as though you and your family had a lovely time in London...belated Happy Birthday Hannah...yes the breakfast and dinner went down very well as did a real cup of tea :-D

Sounds as though you had a real nasty virus Jude :-( but it's good to hear you seem to be turning the corner...hope you've settled into your new home...with the ducks :-D

Hope your having a lovely relaxing holiday Ann.

Rubs shoulders with lucky Vera, I hope you enjoy your hamper.

Still plenty of birds in and out the hedge but not many on the feeders, a couple of weeks ago we had a covey of partridges in the garden now we only have a pair, I'll try and watch to see were they are nesting, MOG said he's seen female blackbirds sitting on eggs if so in 3 or 4 weeks we should start seeing the young:-D

Lesley x

Kandj,
I use the same mix and the birds go mad over it, if you have any aniseed extract sprinkle a little over the food, it will encourage them.

Black birds are busy gathering nesting materials , seen a Nuthatch picking moss off the roof so they are thinking about something as well.

Shaun

Shaun here in Essex we must be getting warmer brighter days if our blackbirds are already nesting.

Lesley x

I don't know if I imagined it ,but I thought I heard a Cuckoo today!!!

Jane I don't hear very well so haven't heard a cuckoo for years :-( when MOG stops watching the TV through his eyelids I'll ask him if he's heard one around here :-D

Lesley x

Check out this link folks, Golden Eagle spotted in Wales.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-12322874


Lesley~~ living at 1,397 feet it's still quite chilly although we have had lovely sunshine.

Kandj~~how's the feeding going, any takers?

Shaun

Shaun how spectacular, wouldn't it be lovely if the golden eagle returned to Wales.

MOG hasn't heard the cuckoo Jane :-(

Lesley x

Amazing video Shaun, thankyou. Only one starling interested in the window feeder, just pecked once and flew off. Will see if tomorrow brings in my fussy flock.

Jane, I am like Lesley and don't hear too well these days but I can remember when we bought our first house (a long time ago) it was on a new estate and backed on to farmers field and local wood. It was good to hear the cuckoo and listening to the dawn chorus was awesome.

Lesley I know how many clothes fit in a backpack because our daughter also went off on her travels and returned (12 months later) with dirty washing in tow ready for Mum to work her magic ha ha......... happy days, I remember it well.

Pleased to say the birds seem to be gradually finding their way to us. This morning there was a dunnock on the seed feeder, first one we've seen here. Mind you, he seemed a bit fussy; he was pecking at some of the seeds and throwing out the ones he didn't fancy, but the starlings on the ground soon hovered them up.

I was awake very early this morning and then somewhere around 5/5.30 came the lovely song from a Blackbird :-D.It was lovely.I suppose they will get going now lol

Shaun how lovely to have a Golden Eagle around.Is this anywhere near you?
We have the Kites and Buzzards ,and often the Kite will fly so low just over the house :-DI just love to see it.

It is a really foggy /misty morning here . :-S :-S I thought it was supposed to be sunny !!!.It is feeding time at the window :-D,but food is getting a it on the low side so I better top it up and then go and buy more.

Not one bird at the feeder........... not many birds around here, yet it is abright dry sunny day today.

Is it my imagination or are there more butterflies around already this year? Last year was a very poor year for butterflies but this year there seem to be plenty fluttering around already. I suppose it's because it was a mild winter.

I don't think I have seen a Butterfly yet Vera,but I have had a few ladybirds on my windows.Also the flies seem to be appearing ,just the odd one or two at the moment.
I have also had a couple of very sleepy wasps !!!.But I am wondering if they have been in the loft and then when the plumber was here with the ladder down all the time they have found their way into the house.

There are a pair of Doves (I think they are Stock? Doves)They are quite lightweight and very slender :-DThey seem to be busy in the hedge possibly gathering nesting material.I am now thinking it was one of them I heard and not a Cuckoo !!

The bird song is in full flow at the moment :-D :-D..just a shame about the A14 traffic noise :-S

I just went out to the bin and the Owls are very vocal.Hooting and also a screech ! :-D

Love to hear owls. Did hear two very vocal paraqueets this afternoon as they flew over

Are you still soaking up the sun and alcohol Ann? :-D :-D. ;-).You must have about another 5 or 6 days left now .
I Iust went to have another listen for the Owls ,but it is all silent now.

Evening:)

Vera.....doh.... l think it was Lesley that was poorly?
Lesley...hope you feel better now? (better late than never).

We've had 2 butterflies during the weekend, a few flies and some ladybirds. The ladybirds have hibernated in my spare room, every now and then about 4 or 5 appear on the nets, at the end of the summer we had hundreds out on the cream coloured walls.

Jim amd Jem still wait for food everyday, if l throw out bread etc they are there like a shot.

No owls:(

Off to Scotland for a few days on Fri so will be looking out for birds and animals we don't see here:-)...Madoc goes into kennels tomorrow afternoon, bless him :-|

The moles were'nt put off by the flooded grass, they are busy just under the surface again:)

Back to normal now thanks Kandj..:)

Nite nite

jude x