Hobbies and Crafts

Hi Jane :-)

I expect they are sort of semi-tame, as they are probably used to holiday-makers feeding them :-) We'd seen him sitting on a tow bar of a nearby caravan earlier.

Yes, that's me on the beach connected to Kiln Park.
It was a lovely day, but quite cold in the wind.

I will be away now for just over a week . Off to France :-D... I must fill the window feeder.As usual it has been emptied once already today !!

What part of France are you visiting Jane? For many years we went at least once a year, but more often twice a year but we haven't been to France for a long while now. Wherever you are going, have a great time. I hope the weather is kind to you.

I've just refilled feeders and cleaned the bird bath - again. I do wish the pigeons wouldn't use it as their local convenience. :-(

Have a wonderful time in France, Jane :-)

Yes read about the travellers, nice photo of your BiL Jane.

Glad you got the robin out Jem and that you enjoyed Tenby.

Enjoy your holiday Jane

A bird feeder's work is never done Vera.

Kandahar, that bird is a mystery

We have been on Windermere most of the day with freedom of the lake tickets and it was another glorious day. Just sitting with a G&T now.

Just had a quick read back. I'm pleased the travellers have been moved Jane.
How shocking to abandon a poor pony. Your BIL will be glad to see the back of them. Have safe travelling to France and I hope you both have a relaxing time there.

Ann, Spending a beautiful sunny day on Windermere sounds great. Enjoy the G&T (or two). My neighbour thought the little bird could have been a Bullfinch and I have googled this but it wasn't like the bird that I saw........ very strange.

Vera, What a lovely gift from your OH Sister. I also have birds making a mess in the bird baths. Cleaning them out isn't one of my favourite things to do.

Hello Jem, I'm liking your Avatar I agree with Vera and wouldn't have liked having a
robin fluttering around so near to me, I think you did really well to help free the bird.

Blackbird, thrushes. sparrows, doves, pigeons and lots of starlings. All very hungry.

As well as making a mess in the birdbath the pigeons have now taken to pulling the blossom off the hawthorn and dropping it on the ground, usually accompanied by lots of leaves :-|. I think it is the same pair I see all the time. I should be pleased that they like it here but I rather wish they would move on.

While I was at the kitchen sink this morning a baby blackbird flew on to the window sill and stood there for quite a while watching me. He didn't seem the least bit fazed by me and it was lovely to see him so close. No sign of Mum or Dad but he was a strong little flyer so perhaps he was starting to look after himself. It was a lovely start to the day :-D

Morning all, I have had unusual (for us that is) a pair of crested tits on the feeders. I have not seen them in this area before. Constant filling of the feeders going on here the little devils are costing us a fortune :-D :-D :-D

Kandj, I see that LG has had crested tits in her garden, could that be what your little bird was (similar colouring.) Or another possibility is a jevenile Waxwing.

Vera I am very ambivelent towards pigeouns and Collard doves, they amuse me and annoy me in equal measures. How cute though to see a baby blackbird up so close to you. A similar thing happened to me while at daughters, she lives in a bungalow and I was looking out at the patio from our bedroom watching a very young blackbird just outside the window.

LG How lovely, we have not had those in the garden.

We think our great tits must have flown while we were away, there doesn't seem to be any sign of them now. :-) :-) :-) :-)

Just filled up all the feeders, now have to wait and see if the birds return to us.

I have never seen them before around here Ann. I did get my book out to check that they were definitely crested tits and it says they prefer northerly parts of the country

They look cute in pictures must be lovely to actually see them.
On our fat pieces feeder this afternoon we had a huge crow, never seen one on a feeder before.

It's a wonder that it held the weight :-0.

That was what I thought but it is quite a large metal feeder. It was on there quite a while

Are you back home now Ann and did you have a good time with your family?

I think the bird that I saw was a male chaffinch??? It had the pinkish chest and cheeks and longish tail. It looked very like the images I have just seen on the RSPB link.
It wasn't like any of the ones that LaGooner or you have mentioned
It hasn't been back again but the little robin is back bob bob bobbin along today!

Hi Kandj, I thought I put it on here when we got back on Sunday but it must have been one of the other threads. We had a lovely week, every day was dry and most of them were sunny, Thursday, when we went down windermere was the best day. I will put photos on the blog later. Glad you have sorted the bird out anyway. :-)

Just put my Lake District photos on my photo blog if anyone is interested.

Just one solitary Magpie has shown up again. We only ever see just one here.

Hope Jane and OH are enjoying France. Can't remember when Jane is back home.

I'm off to have a look at your photo blog now Ann.

I hope that Vera and Jem and others who pop in are well today.

Wonderful photographs as always Ann. Thank you for sharing your week in the
Lakes this way. I love the bluebells and the walk by wild garlic. It does smell strong doesn't it? Good to see that your daughter is enjoying her life after her heartache.
Little Inara, looks a real cutie Ann. It's hard to think that she will soon be a year old!

Kandje yes that last year has certainly flown. Compared to Adam she is very big for her age and even some 12-18 month clothes are too small for her. She even has a lightweight jacket with a hood that fits her except for the sleeves which have to be rolled back..... it is a 3-4 year old!! Sizes are weird these days. We took up a dress for her from Debenhams, it is 18 months to 2 years and is much too small. Annoying as not cheap and bought ages back so no receipt and label with price removed.

Glad you liked the photos, the wild garlic was really strong and the bluebells everywhere were beautiful. :-) :-)

Hi Everyone :-)

Well, I just have to tell you all ....

I have had AMAZING action in my garden today!
I have had a family of fledgling starlings, up to 5 at a time sitting on the branch of tree that I used to make my makeshift feeding station with, all being fed by their parent.

The parent was taking mouthfuls of fat ball, and feeding it to it's hungry babies :-)

I managed to take some pictures through the closed window, from a distance, but didn't manage to get them all at the same time.
I filmed them too, first on my phone. I got them all feeding on that, but from a distance. I then ran to get my camera, which I zoomed, but by then I only managed to get a couple at a time!

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/51217692

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/51217860


I also had a bird I've never seen before. It is obviously from the dove / pigeon family. It is like the collared doves in shape and size, and makes the same whirring sound when it flies. But it was a darkish grey with a lighter bit near the tail between it's wings. It also had quite a bulbous bit above the beak and very white.

I also managed to get that one on the phone which I have managed to edit a bit to see it closer. I'm hoping one of you could identify it for me. The picture is not a great colour match though.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/51218139

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/51218207


We are still having the collared doves, usually 2 now, but a third comes quite often too. I think the pair are nesting in the elderflower tree at the bottom of my garden.
Mr and Mrs Blackbird are in the hedge, as are the many sparrows.

Also a mob of jackdaws :-D and a magpie came to feed.

So, a very busy and noisy back garden :-D :-D :-D :-D