Hobbies and Crafts

Could you encourage a few of your birds to fly in this direction please Jane. A couple of days ago I took everything off the bird feeder, threw away old seeds etc., cleaned and dried everything. Then I put out lots of fresh stuff and waited. NOTHING!!

Today, lurking at the back of the freezer I found a home made fat cake, put it out and within minutes I counted over 20 birds in the garden :-D Unfortunately they were all starlings :-| They made short work of the fat cake and then disappeared and I haven't seen a bird since. None of the other food has been touched.

I'm thinking of applying for a start-up grant to set up in business as a fat cake manufacturer :-D

:-D :-D :-D

I think they might be here then Ann :-D

Well a month ago we had loads of sparrows a sparrow hawk has been seen and the sparrows have packed their little cases and gone somwhere.

ooh Maryanna .I do feel for you.Nothing worse than the smell of a cats poo or a Tom Cats wee.I remember many years ago when new had a cat ,a Tom would spray on the back door around the cat flap at night (we kept the flap shut at night) but the stench in the kitchen each morning was dreadful.What a shame about all your pots being smashed.

Ann I have tried to tell the birds that there are lots of people who would love to have them visit,but they insist on staying.I think they have invited all their families too.It's seems like Party Time every day !!!
Our big Ash Tree out the front was full of sparrows chattering away this afternoon.(at least I think they were sparrows)

Thanks Ann, I think we used something similar years ago when we had a Tom cat that used to visit.

I have used orange peel as well in the past on flower beds and the grass strip along the drive.

its a pain as blue pots don't seem to be the thing at the moment, the only ones I have found have either been huge or really expensive.

M.

You can get a spray called Stay Off maryanna. it seems to work reasonably well.

I was awake at 6am the other morning and could hear a Male Tawny Owl calling, we quite often get the male and female calling to each other, I have never heard them early in the morning before.

Last night he was calling from about midnight to 3am. ( Himself was keeping me awake with his snoring) amazing I could hear him over the din but the bedroom window was open.

We seem to have some more birds in the garden now, the sparrows are in residence in the Blackthorn now all the Doves and Pigeons seem to have finished their continual breeding.

I have seen more of the Blackbirds and Robins recently as well and a few blue tits.

The Magpies and Jackdaws seem to have widened their territories and still shout at each other from various rooftops trying to prove who is the tougher and can make the most noise but are further apart.

They were first in the garden though when I threw the remainder of the sandwiches left from the Little One's birthday party on Saturday onto the lawn.

I have had three of my blue pots broken recently, all planted up with Pansies and Primulas. I have them along the wall between the patio and the lawn. I couldn't understand how the first two ended up smashed, too heavy even for the wind that races around the garden.i was even wondering about the Magpies.

I solved the mystery this morning, the cat from down the road was sitting in one, doing its business, by the time I got downstairs another pot was smashed on the ground.

It seems to favour our doormats as well so we have to watch where we put our feet when we go outside.

M.

Glad to hear Kandj's OH is home. Hope he continues to improve now.

Will you just return all those birds you have kidnapped Jane :-D

I kept an eye on my window feeder this afternoon for just a few minutes and in that time I had Blue Tits,Gt Tits,2 Robins.Chaffinches ,a couple of Sparrows and Mr Blackbird !!!!.There seems to be a spell when they all want to feed at the same time.Needless to say lots of fisty cuffs .It seems to still be the Chaffinches that are the ones up for a fight :-S.I have also seen a few Goldfinch (not on the feeder)

Kandj's OH is home from hospital.He is still quite poorly but she is so relieved to have him home again .

Last year we had a Kestrel that used to sit on a post in the hedge just across the road from us.It would be there for ages .Saying that it might have been a Sparrow Hawk.I'm not sure which now :-S
The Red Kites have been around for the last few days.2 of them and really low over the gardens.

Kandj sent me a message to say that her OH is improving now ,but still in hospital.Poor Kandj has been having a tough time of late <3

We had a Kestrel sitting on the fence across the end of our garden this morning, unusual to see one close to the house here.

I think I'm living in a bird free zone. We were away at the weekend but the feeders have hardly gone down at all and I haven't seen any birds around today.

Kandj, I'm thinking of you and your OH. I hope he will soon improve. <3

Kandj sending you my thoughts and hoping that you OH will be better soon. <3 <3


Well still not seeing many birds here although I am sure that 2 days ago I saw a visiting sparrow hawk so no wonder the little birds are staying away. :-(

Our Kandj needs our thoughts and prayers as her dear OH is in hospital once more
Thinking of you both <3 <3

The birds have been going crazy on the feeder today.Maybe because it has suddenly got a lot colder .I've topped it up 3 times now today :-S

Graham :-D

Perhaps they had a masectomy :-D

Probably a pair then Jane? We have just the one. and strangely, today we had just one bluetit, they usually go in pairs. :-S

Thanks Ann.
Thanks Shaun for asking the help from your Brother to identify my Bird.Buzzard it is then :-D..I haven't seen it since.
It is fairly unusual for us to have Buzzards over us.They tend to always be a little further off.But it is the Red Kites we see more of.
I was just thinking that I don't seem to have as many Robins about as I usually do .I think there are just 2.

Photo of a buzzard on the photo blog Jane. This is what Shaun said in a PM to me.

Sending you a photo of a Buzzard for your blog that my brother sent earlier so it can be compared with Jane's photo which she thought was a Red Kite. Sorry to disappoint you Jane but your photo is of a Buzzard , 3 different wardens at the Nature Reserve say that your photo is of a Buzzard.