Hobbies and Crafts

I saw the egret in one of the water channels which drain the marsh.
They have such long thin beaks, which it was using to probe the mud.

I must have passed that spot dozens of times over the years, but never seen one.I have seen a heron, a few years ago, but they do frequent this area, especially if people have a well stocked pond.

Suet block has obviously been tackled by something, when I've not been looking...probably starlings, as I haven't seen many other birds lately, but there is still a fierce, howling wind blowing, so the smaller birds are probably sheltering.

Small birds don’t like the wind do they. Although the goldfinches seem to feed while clinging on to the feeder for dear life.

We had two very amorous collard doves in the apple tree today. Although I imagined the female was thinking ‘I only wanted breakfast’! :-D

No Lovey Dovey things going on yet in our garden yet Ann.Although the Woodpidgeons seem to be around a bit more now so no doubt our Trellis Fence will soon become the courting and nooky spot for them :-D. I am never quite sure how they manage to balance when at it !

There seem to have been lots of blackbirds in the garden today, though they were almost all male. I can see a few squabbles breaking out over the couple of available females ;-)

The blackbirds have been making us laugh today. They have been pecking at the suet balls that are in a feeder hanging from a tree and they look so ungainly, clinging on for dear life. I have never seen them on there before. They are usually pecking around on the ground underneath the tree.

They also seem to have taken a liking to the large shallow dish I put the cake crumbs in for them. After they had finished almost all the cake but before I could get the dish in to wash, it poured with rain. Since then they have been drinking from this bowl rather than the bird bath they usually go to. I think cake flavoured rainwater must be some sort of blackbird delicacy :-)

I might have seen a Goldfinch :-D. But not totally sure it was.It was a little too high in my tree but it did look like one.I hope it was:-) Still have the blooming Magpies :-S

Fingers crossed Jane they are usually picky eaters though and really only go for niger or thistle seeds.

Strangely enough we saw a goldfinch in the garden yesterday. Perhaps they are making a bit of a comeback. Our goldfinch was on the niger seeds and later we saw one standing on the edge of the birdbath. Of course it might have been the same one.

The sparrows seem to have got used to the change of seed feeder at last and are now using it. The blackbirds and thrush seem to love the big shallow dish I put on the patio table. Originally it had stale crumbled fruit cake, then it was the stale end of a granary loaf in crumbs and today they went mad for a couple of crumbled up cheese scones. The blackbirds are quite funny. They fly down to the dish and if it is empty they keep bobbing their heads up and down, looking first at the dish, then at the house as if they are saying “Come on, get some more food in our dish” :-)

The trouble is the table is now decorated with bird poo and needs a thorough scrub :-|

Jane, can you please keep the magpies in your area. We seldom see them here and I’m happy to keep it that way.

'our' blackbirds do that in the dish on the patio table Vera. Funny aren't they. Not quite so many blackbirds in the garden now I think ours are getting territorial.

Ann, when I was aged 15, I inherited my grandfather's pet Goldfinch, Joey. (the bird was ringed and aviary bred, but grandfather that side of the family was descended from travellers a few generations before and I expect the things they were used to lived on through a few generations!). Apart from the Niger seed in his finch mix, which he loved, Joey's absolute favourite seed was the large, round Hemp seed. He would empty his seed pot, scattering seed all over the place, ignoring the rest of the seeds till he had found every one and polished them all off!

My OH's Dad used to keep finches (cage bred). That was in the 60s/70s. They seemed happy enough and of course we keep budgies in cages. I suppose it wasn't cruel if they were not captured from the wild. Not sure that he had goldfinches though. They used to sing. I think he had canaries as well.

I also knew someone who used to keep finches though I am sure he didn’t have a goldfinch. He did have one without any feet. I wonder if he was born like it. It was strange to see but it didn't seem to worry the bird at all. He balanced on the perch on his stumps quite happily.

We parked in a town car park today and as I got out of the car I could hear a bird singing away beautifully. I looked around and eventually saw a robin in a tree singing his little heart out. I guess he was trying to attract a mate :-)

I am not keen on seeing birds in little cages,I think the same with Hamsters /Gerbils etc. When we have been to Italy I have seen many cages hung on the outside of a house with Canaries in.Enjoying the sunshine and singing away.
My Uncle Jan used to have a Budgie called Joey and he would let him out of the cage and Joey would sit on his head for ages.I know that they can be wonderful company especially for housebound and elderly.
Annx your Goldfinch Joey certainly knew what he liked :-D :-D. The birds that use the window feeder always eat the suet pellets first and when they are gone have to make do with the Sunflower Hearts. Bits that are chucked out onto the ground are eaten up by the Sparrows and Wood Pigeons. The ground around the feeder is all white with poop and will need a good hose down . The Bird Bath has has a good clean out this morning.It was so filthy.But soon the Wood Pigeons will use it and use it for a toilet too :-S Dirty Birds. Have they no manners ! :-D

No need to worry Vera. Magies are still with me :-S

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I haven't posted for a while. This morning there were 2 Jackdaws and a Blackbird minding there own business foraging on the lawn. A Magpie flew by and I was surprised to see the 3 other birds leave PDQ. :-0
However, less than 5 mins later another Jackdaw on the lawn was attacked my a Magpie and was soon joined by another Magpie and they viciously continued to attack the Jackdaw. I thought it was a goner but luckily it managed to free itself and flew away :-D :-D
Never seen this happen before usually they all play nicely only the squirrel manages to scatter the birds ;-) ;-)

I haven't actually seen a magpie attack other birds although I know they go for the small birds and nests. However, when I magpie flies over the garden I too have seen other birds fly off the seed containers. magnificent looking birds but not noce!

Good to see you on here Von. :-)

It sounds like there are lots of birds around for everyone at the moment. I've just been watching a Robin on our feeder. Now almost all of the outside work is done on next door's extension the birds have started coming back, although there doesn't seem to be as many Starlings lately, just one or two at a time, plenty of blue tits though which is lovely to see.

I had a smile when you said the Blackbirds like the cake flavoured rainwater Vera. The Blackbirds around here only eat what's been dropped underneath the feeder, I've never seen one fly up to the food.

I didn't know you could have Goldfinches as pets Annx, my nan used to have a minor bird who copied everything anyone said, it was really funny to hear sometimes. I should imagine you would never have any secrets with one of those around.

We had a budgie when I was little and my dad used to let it out of the cage to Jane, he would fly to his hand and sit there for ages. My mum wasn't so keen on caged birds either, but I think that's probably because of all the mess under the cage as she was the one who had to hoover it up every day. The one we had was very noisy to. Funny the things you remember isn't it?

I've not seen a Magpie attack either AnnG, but I've heard them trying to get into other birds nests, it sounds awful, especially when you can see the Blackbirds flying around, trying to stop them, of course the Magpies always win. I found half an egg shell on the patio the other day, but didn't know what type of bird it came from, it was only small and white, it was quite upsetting to see. A few years ago I saw a baby blackbird on the grass along the hedge, he couldn't fly so must of been very young, I wondered then if it had been knocked out of it's nest, there was an adult male feeding him. The baby walked under the hedge and I never saw him again, I often wonder what happened to him.
Sandra loves Canaries and loves to go to Waterworld, a water feature place near us, as they have lots of animals and birds there, which she loves to see.

The poor Jackdaw Von, I'm pleased to see he got away from the Magpies in the end.

I don't know if you know Gill but it is usually the male blackbird who feeds the baby. If one is weak and one strong he will feed the strongest and ignore the other one. the female meanwhile is off making a second nest for the next brood and I think it is not necessarily with the same male.

After me saying I never see any Starlings(I still haven't ) but have heard a right racket going on in some tall trees in my neighbours garden. Starlings for sure!

2 Buzzards today over our house. I haven't seen Buzzards for ages . At first I thought they were Red Kites but then I noticed no V shaped tail . Also Buzzards have a special cry. Magpies still around :-S

Lovely to see buzzards Jane and right overhead too. Yes they sort of speak don’t they?

Buzzards do have a special cry Ann. I recognise the sound now .They haven't been around today. They fly much higher than the Red Kites)