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[CLKD]

That's lovely.  Wild birds seem to say 'thank you' ……….. our robins and black birds have bought their fledglings to feed beside me, showing them how to do it  ………

Lots of damsels round our ponds laying eggs but no dragons yet …….

[Meggie]

Is it OK to put on the birdfeeder, the fat that I have taken off my piece of ham (cooked in my slow cooker)?  Not really sure whether to or not !!!

Meggie

[Taz2]

Good question Meggie. It's all to do with salt content as wild birds can't get rid of it and it causes problems with their nervous system. Some advice here http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/scraps.aspx

Taz x

[CLKD]

No!  I tried that many years ago and the birds were not interested.  It ended up dripping all over the patio 

[Joyce]

Our house martins appear to have abandoned their nest. No sight or sound of them in over a week, no droppings on doorstep. They built it right above our boiler vent, though that never stopped them when they used to build them years ago.

[Taz2]

What a shame CG. Have you had lots of wet weather preventing insects flying?

Taz x

[Rowan]

Just love this, posted on FB this morning.

<div id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=686158934754928" data-width="466"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=686158934754928">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Panorama">Panorama</a>.</div></div>

This is an embedded link.

[Limpy]

Had a Red Kite about 12' from bedroom window earlier today.
OH raced to get camera - battery was on charge.
By the time he got the battery, Red Kite was nowhere to be seen. 

[CLKD]

Found an active wren's nest yesterday 

[Joyce]

Still very quiet with our house martins. A little activity, but not like years ago. It's been quite cold here, not many midges about. Mind you I suppose it saves me washing doorstep on daily basis. Got brush sat out at the back in readiness though, in case they change their minds.

[ariadne]

Saw something interesting in Spain. We heard a lot of alarm calls from sparrows and goldfinches that were nesting in the villa garden and we saw it was because a kestrel was circling and then landed on a tree.

As we were watching, the kestrel flew up under the eaves of a neighbouring apartment block and clung with wings open, to a house martins nest trying to reach the babies. It couldn't cling on for long, nor could it reach into the nest and had to fly off.

It returned again the next day and once again, we were alerted by the alarm calls of all the nesting birds as it circled overhead.

We mentioned it to a birdwatching friend who said he had never heard of a kestrel clinging to a nest like that.

Ariadne xx

[CLKD]

Interesting!  Kestrels usually eat voles, mice etc..    ……….. by hovering then dropping onto their prey.  Obviously the surrounding birds were aware!

Our wrens shout like fury when the cat wanders by the nest 

[Joyce]

My post from this morning has flown the coup. 

Been washing doorstep! House martins are alive & active. Though sure babies pop bums out the nest & splat on our doorstep. 

Have other birds, tits I think, nesting under roof at front of house. Certainly a lot of twittering going on in guttering. Thankfully not in loft space. Wonder how the local moggies haven't had a go at them yet.

[CLKD]

Babies do pop bums over the edge of the nest and literally 'shoot' their pooh away from them.   Anywhere they can aim it  - I was nearly missed at breakfast recently, the pooh landed on the arm of the chair I was sitting in 

[Joyce]

Lucky you!