Hobbies and Crafts

No pretty bird here today (??), I hope you haven't enticed him to Gloucestershire Ann?

I reckon we are all jealous, I would love to see it. :-)

Yes AnnG, our next door neighbours have also had daily visits from this pretty bird. They agree that it is a Brewers Blackbird and none of us have ever seen one around here before.

This unusual colourful bird is not at large as a crow and it is definitely much prettier!

It has been around twice today, always on its own and funny to see its long legs lol

How sad the Budleia bush has been cut down (shocking even). We have two small ones in our front garden which I keep well pruned and under control but they do still attract many bees and butterflies which are always interesting to see.

I looked up Brewers Blackbird in our British bird books and it isn't in there. However I found it on the net. It is very like the American blackbird. My thought on seeing the picture of it was that I would probably looking quickly from a distance think it was some sort of crow. Very unusual, have you asked anyone else in your area if they have seen it.

Tess, what a shame that they have cut down the Buddleija, maybe they will plant a smaller one.

The Brewers Blackbird sounds fascinating Kandj. I had never heard of it before, but will now Google it.

2.50am on Friday morning - bedroom open so I could hear someone who sounded as if they were having a whale of a time with shears - clip, clip, clip.

Realised that it was coming from the back garden next door. They were chopping down the large Buddleia! :-(

I realised later that they had to do it overnight (if they were going to do it at all) because of the large number of bees it attracted.
So from now on I will see fewer bees and butterflies. Most of my weeds/wildflowers are at the end of the garden and my view is blocked by the shed. Can't see them from my window, have to wander into the garden.

Prompted by this thread, I was looking out of my bedroom window this morning and saw many magpies. Was able to count EIGHT at one time. All perched on a neighbours roof! Some were obviously young birds, but most seemed fully grown.
Don't think that I have seen so many in one small space at the same time before.

South Yorkshire AnnG,
Such a surprise and worth looking it up. Have bought some wild bird seed but hope this doesn't bring us mice like mentioned by others on here as I don't like mice!!

Which area are you in Kandj? It sounds beautiful, shall have to look it up.

Has anyone heard of a Brewers Blackbird?

Hubby and I have been amazed to see a beautiful blue/green feathered bird with yellow circles around the eyes. Never seen anything like it in our garden ever before. The legs are longer than ordinary sparrow types and we laughed when the bird tottered across the lawn. It looked like it was practicing wearing high heeled shoes lol

This new species looked similar to a kingfisher..... absolutely beautiful, but I googled and came up with Brewer Blackbird which fits the description and looks like the bird with yellow circles around the eyes that has visited for last 3-4 days..... a joy to see!!

We haven't had a lot of butterflies but more than usual. A lot of 'cabbage' whites, peacock and a small tortoishell. I am also pretty certain I spotted a Red Admiral but it was gone too quickly to be sure. We have planted a small Buddleija, says it is a miniature but it isn't that small. Has quite a few flowers on it, its first year and the butterflies seem to have found it.

Have been butterfly watching this year. Just in my garden and the one next door, where there is a huge buddleia growing.
Getting to know the names of butterflies too. I've spotted a Wall Butterfly, (or brown Wall Butterfly0, basking on the patio slabs, just outside my back door. Also several orange tipped butterflies, only the male have orange tips, the female have grey/brown markings.

Another lovely and numerous butterfly is the Peacock, they love the buddleia next door but I have also seen them on weeds (aka wild flowers) in my garden.
Have been able to identify just one marbled white so far.

Pretty sure that other species have been here too, just haven't stayed still long enough for me to note their markings.


This is the first year I have tried to note what butterflies I see, however there seems to be more than usual this year. Ditto bees too.

The wood pigeons make me laugh they sre so ungainly and don't seem to know their own strength when they land with a thus on the nearest bird feeder then flap their wings for dear life to keep their balance. The collard doves are a lot more delicate when they land. However they both have very big appetitites but luckily will eat the cheap seed.

I trod on a slug. Ugh. I was wearing my slippers! double Ugh. :-0
That's my latest wildlife experience. :-(

The birds are rather more pleasing.
Not a lot of little birds in evidence at the moment but pleased to hear the nuthatch again. I think the g/s woodpecker family have gone to play elsewhere.
Still plenty of collared doves and wood pigeons crashing onto the bird feeder stand.
I'm looking forward to the return of starlings.

Same here. Birds all seem ravenous. Maybe its the stocking up for winter time.
Also, a couple of years ago, we had a little mouse on one of the bird tables. He would come out at nearly dusk, and it was lovely to see. He climbed up from a shrub near the table. :-D

Only problem was, it was also near the shed, and by nibbled things, he slept in there.

Yes I have noticed that sparrows seem to be doing well this year.

The bird food certainly goes quickly at the moment. If I am late putting it out, a robin seems to make sure I notice him waiting.

The other thread was started in 2009, I am hoping it can be transferred but the title is a bit misleading so I thought maybe a new thread on the subject would be a good idea.

At the moment the birds, mainly sparrows, pigeons, doves and starlings, are eating us out of house and home, no sooner are the feeders refilled than they are empty again.

There are suddenly a lot of young sparrows so looks like they had a good year this year.

Another visitor to our seed feeder is a little field mouse which is so cheeky that when I walk up to the feeder it just sits and looks at me. (and I was really close enough to touch it.) :-D