Hobbies and Crafts

Mostly starlings and pigeons, doves, hedge sparrows, blackbird and thrush.

Nothing very unusual............... certainly no ducks! Jane can keep them with her lol.

That first list of 10 was overall, Ann. You left out:

England:
1. House Sparrow
2. Blue Tit
3. Starling
4. Blackbird
5. Woodpigeon

I think possibly on a tree jane, then maybe move it nearer when theya re used to feeding there. They will take some time to get used to it and feeding in a new place.

Top 5 birds seen Bird Watch 2016.
• England:
• 1. House Sparrow
• 2. Blue Tit
• 3. Starling
• 4. Blackbird
• 5. Woodpigeon
• 6 Goldfinch
• 7 Chaffinch
• 8 Great Tit
• 9 Robin
• 10 Long tailed Tit


• N.Ireland:
• 1. Starling
• 2. House sparrow
• 3. Chaffinch
• 4. Blue tit
• 5. Blackbird

• Scotland:
• 1. House sparrow
• 2. Chaffinch
• 3. Starling
• 4. Blackbird
• 5. Blue tit

• Wales:
• 1. House sparrow
• 2. Blue tit
• 3. Starling
• 4. Chaffinch
• 5. Blackbird

:-) :-) :-) :-)

Where is the best place to hang a Niger Seed feeder? On a tree or on a hook on the wall outside the kitchen window?.I have never had one before ,but bought one today as I have been seeing Goldfinch.At the moment it is hanging on the big hook on the wall. Haven't seen one Goldfinch at all today :-S :-S

I think the Ducks ,just fancied a different venue for a while :-D..Just one quick hop/flight over the hedge and they have a lovely little lake to swim in. I am just relieved they are not nesting in our garden as Thomas'the cat' could easily end their days :-S,and I wouldn't cope with that very well :-S.I do remember though a few years ago we had a whole family of Mum,Dad,and baby Ducks trooping though .I think there were 11 babies :-D

Jane, Maybe the ducks just like the look of your garden, away from others of their kind, who might choose the pond area.

For several years we had a wild duck nesting in our garden. I believe it was the same one each year, as she was mostly white, with a mallard drake mate. He visited most evenings and they'd go off together for a short while before she returned to nestle her eggs.
Although she could fly in over our high fence, she hadn't given much thought to how her babies would get out to go to nearby water source....... or perhaps she knew I'd open the gate very early one morning before the traffic started when people left for work.
The 12 ducklings ( out of 13 eggs)the 1st year were a delight to watch, but I couldn't care for them properly, so let them all go the day after they'd hatched.

It's a regular sight around here to see ducks at this time of year perched on roof tops, - bungalows or houses, they're not fussy, as they spy out suitable nesting sites.

it is always a shock to hear a thud on the window.I always dread looking out to see just what might be lying there..Pigeons normally leave a dusty kind of wing pattern on the window.
I was so pleased just now to see a group of Goldfinch in the tree just outside the lounge :-D..There must have been about 5 or 6 of them.
The window feeder had come off the window in the night and there was a pile of suet pellets on the ground.I decided to just leave them (much to Oh's disgust) He was saying that Rats might come for them.But I had a look just now and most of them have gone .So I am pretty sure it is the birds that have eaten them .
We have had 2 Ducks resting on the lawn this morning.Male and Female.They were here yesterday too.I am not sure why though as it is next door that has a little lake in the garden.Maybe they just judge things slightly wrong and land this side of the fence by mistake LOL

Strange that when we looked for marking on the window after the pigeon flew into it, there was no visible mark?? I think we need to go to Spec savers!!! Very odd.

Heavy rain and strong wind all morning, so not much activity bird wise here today.
It may all change as this afternoon is forecast to be drier. We shall wait and see.

Aaw, they do seem to make a lot of noise and still not be hurt. Bet it gave him/her a fright as well. Maybe it knew the answer to one of the crossword questions Lol!!! Glad you have both recovered anyway.

We have just had an awful fright. Hubby sat doing crosswords, I was catching up on last weeks newspapers and a pigeon flew into the lounge window, with a THUD!!!
I hardly dare look to see if the poor bird had broken its neck. I expected to see a dead pigeon underneath the window, but thankfully the bird has flown away. I am a wuss where dead birds are so I'm relieved this is one job less and we both are happy the pigeon wasn't hurt. I bet he has got a bad headache though!!! poor pigeon.

Just seen the forecast for the rest of the weekend ugh!

LOL Ann. Think OH got that one wrong :-D Sounds like you had a good day..I love some of the Per Una clothes .Not a lot suits me ,but occasionally I find something which is just right :-D :-D
We still have a blue sky here.What a lovely day it has been :-D

Yes it was great, lovely sunny day and lots of interesting stall. Not sure why all we bought there was cheese..... two lots of £10 worth, we have enough cheese for a month now but it was all very tasty. One of them was called 'black as coal' it was a cheddar, quite strong and is black, very tasty.

It was great to see the sun shining on the docks and everyone happy and smiling for a change. Had to call into M&S outlet though and got a couple of things for holidays, A Per una top, and cotton pull on lightweight trousers in rotal blue with a small orange pattern, also Per Una and £21 instead of £29.99. Himself bought a sleeveless pullover.

Has lunch in Wetherspoons which was not as crowded as we though it would be.

Had a chuckle in town, in the Eastgate shopping centre (indoor), there was a small group acting stories for children, who were all sitting wide eyed around them. We stopped to watch,and they were very good. A young girl in a blue dress, white collar, page boy blond hair, headband, a tall female wearing a crown and a dress with hearts on and a little child dressed as a white rabbit. So, I said to OH, what are they acting. Straight away he answered Cinderella!!! I am still laughing!! :-D :-D :-D :-D

It is certainly a warm and sunny day here today :-D :-D..Had lunch on the patio,and the birds are singing their little heads off :-D
Tomorrow looks like it will be a different day all together :-S..We are making the most of today. :-D
Today will be a perfect day for going to Gloucester Docks Ann.

I can't get warm indoors. I shall have to dig out a thicker sweater. Supposed to be sunny tomorrow. We shall see :-)

We hope to go to the spring food festival at Gloucester docks.

Champagne then LOL How about a bit of bunting too Vera. :-D :-D..if you have had one Blue Tit then ther must be more. around for sure.That little bird needs to put out some flyers and do a bit of advertising for you :-D

Maryanne.Do you know if Britians still do these Gardens?.Does Brtiains still exist??
I just remember how much enjoyment I had spending pocket money on new bits to add to my garden :-D

Yes it was a relief when Thomas came home.But it is that time of year now with baby bunnies and little birds.He hasn't eaten any 'cat' food for a while now :-S

The weather doesn't look good for the weekend ,so it could be a soggy Somerset for you :-(.I think tomorrow is looking the best day.

I have just filled the window feeder for the secong time today.I still just have the 2 Longtailed Tits.It has been a few years since I have had a big family of them visiting .
But it is nice that I have the Woodpecker still several times a day.The Blackbirds are getting quite feisty and a lot of stamping feet going on when they are on the feeder.The chaffinches too are often in battle with each other.it looks quite nasty sometimes :-S

Blue tits and great tits don't seem to mind feeding in the rain. but "three cheers for that bluetit Vera" Hip Hip..........! :-D

I think our birds must have brollies up if theya re feeding, it is very wet out there. at one stage this afternoon OH was missing I looked out and he was gardening...... in the rain!! :-S

I'm cracking open the champagne.........there's a blue tit on the feeder :-D. Only one but it's a start. I should think all the sensible birds are sheltering from the rain. It's cold and wet again :-(

Ah you were in Surrey not South West as I thought when you had sun. (and not susssex as I said in error earlier Lol!. I thought you were permanently Somerset now. :-)

Jane, I knew you would have had a Britains Garden !!!

Glad the cat turned up !

I think we were very lucky with the lovely sunshine we had here in Surrey today, it was so warm sitting up on the top patio which is very sheltered. Back to Somerset tomorrow and rain is forecast, great.

M.