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[yogini]

The old gardening bug hits again!!  what a joy to have some sun and warmth.  Big windy here (weather not me) but nice and warm!!  Just come in for a quick cuppa!!

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[Joyce]

Sun, warmth!  Whatever are you speaking about.  It's blooming cold here, wet, windy.  Even the birds are indoors!  Not a cheap nor a flutter.  Oh no I lie just saw some pigeons soaring in the wind!

[CLKD]

I was warm enough to shed 2 layers whilst weeding, walking, carrying that bucket today ... then I slept for 2 hours! 

[Meggie]

Yesterday it was fantastic here - 26 degrees, and I planted seeds ready for the garden - Butternut Squash, Courgettes, Melons.  The Seed Potatoes are "chitting" well and will be planted soon - we have 5 varieties this year - OH loves spuds !

Today however, rain, rain and more of the bloody wet stuff.

Chickens are now on 4 eggs a day.

Meggie

[CLKD]

One of ours laid a tiny egg yesterday  ....... they are tucking into layers mash as I type .........

[catweazle]

Hubby and I went for a lovely walk yesterday in the pennines along the canal towpath. The sun was shining and the birds were singing, it was like heaven on earth.
Then we went along a quiet country lane.... In the lane there were literally dozens and dozens if not hundreds of dead toads!  Squashed as flat as cardboard. I've never seen anything like it. They'd obviously been run over by vehicles but it was really weird seeing so many of them 
I saw one little chappie that had made it across the road but he seemed to be the only one.

Anyone else seen anything like this? Was it mass suicide? 

Catweazle x

[Bette]

I think toads are known for always using the same route, whether there's a road in the way or not. I think there have been some instances of "underpasses" being built for them when a new road has been put in and have heard of enthusiasts "rescuing" them and taking them over roads. Sounds as if you've found a place where that's needed. Might be worth seeing if there's a local group you could contact or maybe the RSPCA?
Gloomy day here today, although the sun's just coming out - had some lovely sunny days recently.
Saw the first swallows while out walking this am so summer must be here!
Bixby x

[Taz2]

We have this near us Cat and there is a trusty band of volunteers who help carry the toads across the road each night, in buckets, so that they can get to their spawning ground. Toads, like frogs, return to the pond where they were "born" to spawn themselves and this can create many problems if a road is in the way! My neighbour filled in her pond five years ago and still, every spring, the frogs come back by the dozen and spawn in any water they can find such as a puddle. Here is the info about our local toad migration http://archive.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/2008/3/7/127420.html

Taz x

[CLKD]

Frogwatch - Charity dealing with amphibians.  A shock no less !

I found tiny tadpoles in our top pond yesterday 

[Meggie]

Hi All

I visited a friend a couple of days ago.  Whilst there she brushed her hair and put the bundle of hair from her brush onto the outside window-sill.  She asked me to watch.  The window was wide open and whilst drinking our coffee a beautiful blue tit came onto the window-sill and stranded the clump of hair so that it was loose - she then flew off with the whole clump and took it to make her nest.  It was absolutely beautiful to watch - isn't nature amazing. 

Afterthought - the little birdies are going to be nice and cozy in their hair-lined nest, aren't they.

Meggie

[CLKD]

After my spaniel died hubby took down the nests that Autumn to find her hair had been used inside - I had never seen the birds taking it but it was there 

[CLKD]

Where is everyone this morning  - I have birds fluttering around, the thrush is seeing off the robins when he comes for meal worms, they have to nip in underneath and grab what they can!  It's chilly again too ..........

[Deefor]

I'm here!  Yes, it is chilly again, isn't it?  I really thought spring was here...

I bought some dried mealworms for the birds, but they don't seem very impressed.  Perhaps it takes them a while to get used to them?  Or should I soak them?

Still, at least something has been eating the niger seeds.  I haven't seen them at it yet, but the level in the feeder is definitely going down.

[CLKD]

Soaking the meal worms might help.  The birds need as much liquid as possible and they won't take dried food into the nestlings in case they choke.  However I can't keep up with giving them live worms 

[Deefor]

Yes - it can become an expensive game, can't it?!

Thanks for that - I'll try soaking some.