We decided to go to the pub yesterday lunchtime. It was just the type of day to sit by the log fire with friends and watch the rain lashing down outside.
Part way there I noticed a woman on the grass verge. She looked like she was trying to "shoo" something along. Slowing down I could just see a young hedgehog bustling along in the gutter. I stopped and asked if she needed help and she said that she had nearly run it over but wasnt sure what to do with it. I explained that I was a contact from the local wildlife hospital and she looked rather relieved. Anyway I picked the little fella up as there was no way he was big enough to face the winter and the fact that he was out in daylight showed that he was not in the best of health. I passed him to a surprised and slightly reluctant OH in the passenger seat and we carried on to the pub. While he went in to order the drinks I found a suitably sized empty box in the boot plus an old t-shirt (emergency supplies) and popped him in there before phoning the wildlife hospital so they could have a place ready for him. He was lovely. I would put a photo up but don't know how. Anyway, he settled into his new hutch well and at least he is safe for the winter.
The woman was worried that he might bite her!
Taz x :)
Hi, Residual Heat, thanks for the invite - will try and find it now. I love the exchanges of different experiences and ways of saying things. I much prefer 'loo' to 'John' or 'toilet' for instance.
Hi Residualheat, I've got one for you. My mother, born in Manchester, used to say "Don't act like a gutter-snipe". Have you heard of that term?
It's getting time for the bluebirds to begin their nest and we are so hoping they will use our new 'home' for their babies. I put out a fruit and nut mix and they love it. We are due for some tropical warmth this week (73F) so the birds will enjoy the respite from the bitter cold of last week.
Fed up with feeding all the pigeons and starlings in the neighbourhood. I’ve been trying to encourage birds like robins, blackbirds (my favourite) and the smaller birds but as soon as I put anything out, which is twice a day, the hoovers come down and everything is gone in 60 seconds. I’ve been putting out porridge oats or muesli in lard with nuts and sultanas and dried mealworms. And the bloomin’ magpies – thieves. They take the food and hide it. Thinking about not bothering any more. :(
Sleepless
but the speckeldy laid it into my hand on Tuesday morning so I've been wrong for nearly a year ::)
The lake is hidden away, and there's a huge willow tree I sit beneath, in summer I'm almost hidden away by a curtain of foliage. It's very peaceful, I make a lot of drawings and then try to capture the atmosphere later in watercolour...just recently I've been doing these at 3.00am! :)
So rare too - you are lucky.
Bixby x
Did you use medication?
Ours mutter when on the nest box a sort of soft noise with the odd purr as she begins to settle ...... we have 4 hens, got 5 eggs on Thursday :o
Oh Meggie ;D I think it's known as a gimlet eye ???
............................................. He had to dig up a huge amount of garden as the urn had moved quite a way. Apparently this is what happens and is the same thing that causes stones to move around in the soil too...................
Taz x :hug:
I used to have a massive grass plant, i loved it when the birds stripped it for nests, i also put dog hairs out for the birds. I was supposed to have mated again but i fell out with the stud dog owner. :( Eddie. x:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: .... what an interesting life you have Eddie :o
How is Ginger Rogers progressing on the treatment?
Well Said! How's the chicken this week?
......................... How's the chicken Meggie?
They've never been successful for me. Today I melted some very cheap lard, added sunflower hearts and out-of-date sultanas and let it set in tubs, with string through the middle. I've hung them up, but only a robin found them before it went dark.I also bought a half coconut (£3 something) stuffed with suet and bits and have barely seen a bird on it!
I got one of these today and it has not attracted any interest apart from the dog who wonders what it is.
What's Haiku ? ???
Do they make any noise?
Taz x
It's all to do with "upwash" http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/nature/q0237.shtml
Taz x
You need to beat him to it next year.
Saw my first geese today, they are back early, usually Oct.
I'm so excited - just saw a fox in the garden! I know they're common and we definitely have a "resident" one which OH has seen several times but this is the first time that I've seen him. :yipi:
Bette x
But isn't that "nature"? :neutral:
There are lots of cats around us and I'm sure that they kill an awful lot of birds - our garden is a bit of a refuge, I think, as our dog doesn't let them hang around long enough to do much stalking. I sometimes find a heap of feathers which "was" a ring-coloured dove (we've got lots of those too) but I think that's the work of the hawk I see around.
Bette x
I think the red-tailed kites are beautiful and we have a pair that circle over the school playground each morning. There are so many around here though that you don't really take much notice. It's strange how quickly we have got used to them.
Penny - I have had to shop around for sunflower hearts. So many of them are not whole hearts but little chippings which, if you look at them, are not easy to eat. I have found that Gardman have been consistently good though and not badly priced. Seed like everything else gets stale and I think that the pre-bagged stuff, especially at garden centres, is not always that fresh.
Taz x
Thanks Taz. The sunflower hearts I buy are the best you can get around here and I buy it from a specialist Birdfeeding shop. I've been buying them for several years from there and the birds usually love them. The shop sells everything for Bird lovers - boxes, feeders, books, every sort of food you can imagine ...... that's all they sell.
I might mention it next time I'm in there and see what they say. Knowing my luck they'll say "you're the first one to complain" . I always get that ::) and then you feel stupid. Yesterday I mentioned to the man that I've bought countless sacks of potatoes from that the latest bag was very poor and all black in the middle ..... that's what he said too!
But the man with the potatoes ought to have offered to replace the bag! one doesn't know until one cuts a spud open or if, as happened to me many years ago, a visitor sliced a 'baked spud' and found it black in the middle >:( - usually means that the bag has been frosted!
Been outdoors all day weeding, moving hellebores, clearing ....... frogs are purring, birds are singing ..........
read the info on Nyger seed - interesting :thankyou:
Glad you got the spuds replaced. He then needs to go back to his supplier ::) ........ when anyone says 'you're the only person who has complained' reply 'I'm the only intelligent customer you've had in recent months then?' ;)
Luckily, no hosepipe ban here ...... yet.
I've just planted half a row of onions ........
I'm opening the garden to the public soon :o 8)I have this picture in my head of your garden. If I lived nearer I would come to see if it was right ;)
Picked a bowl of roses from the garden for the lounge this morning :-*
Nature is full of surprises!
Hope it makes it greyhound gal. Was there only one blackbird? It wont have flown the nest as they are removed by the parents about two weeks before they can fly. The parents park their young in bushes and continue to feed them until they have grown their flight feathers and tails. It is a strange system!There was only one chick but we regulary saw both Mum & Dad going in to feed it. No sight of it for over a week now, nor the parents so hope it's ok. The baby sparrow is still there and doing fine :)
Taz x
Animal, vegetable or mineral? Could be an eel did it wriggle, occassionally they will surface to grab air.
I think statistics say we all swallow a good few spiders in our life time. Mainly when we are asleep :o :o :o :o :oNot in my world I don't .... Now where's the Sellotape !
Honeyb
x
Nyger seed = goldfinches :-*
Silly pigeon parents - they obviously took their eyes off the nest for a minute or two. Carrion crows are very intelligent. It is unusual for them to take a live chick at this time of year - they still prefer carrion even though they have moved to the inner city. I would have thought a magpie would be more the culprit. Upsetting either way.
Taz x
Do your leaves look like this PN http://www.turning-earth.co.uk/leaf_cutter_bee.htm
Taz x
How big are they in comparison to a blackbird?
I have never seen red squirrels though, only greys, and I'm on North Lancs coast, so I guess I'm just a bit too far south, seen them round Silverdale which is only a few miles further up.
Are there other sheep in the field Limpy? If not it could be a pet that's escaped. They can roam for quite a way.Taz - There are other sheep in the field, they are just starting to lamb!
Taz x
How great that you managed to get it out Hurdity. Is there any way you could make the cover foolproof? We had to cover ours after starlings kept falling in.
Taz x
You may enjoy this Meggie http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Stag_beetle#p00gms29
Taz x
You may enjoy this Meggie http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Stag_beetle#p00gms29
Taz x
That's unusual Limpy. They normally perch higher up than that and not in view so they can swoop down really fast. Is this a new addition to your "flock"?
Taz x
They mew at other times too though - most of the time.. wheeling over the house. Perhaps they are saying "give us some grub" ;D
Dorothy - could it have been a crayfish claw?
Taz x
Maybe clear out the box to get rid of parasites etc.? DH does ours every Autumn. The bird may be sitting to judge wind direction, how warm it will be - don't want to cook those fledglings ;)
We have Blue Tits taking moss etc into the bird box, very early isn't it??
Do you feed live ones CLKD?
Taz x
Do you feed live ones CLKD?
Taz x
Oh dear, meno brain very bad today...I've just been trying to work out why anyone would provide food for dead birds... ::)
>wave< Taz ……… I over-ordered meal worms yesterday ::) so any early nesters should be OK here - either that or we need a really cold spell.so I assumed you were thinking that the early nesters would be ok due to your mealworms
I do hope he (it does look like a he) is ok.
We are going to be away for a couple of days so he will have to look after himself. :(
I do hope he (it does look like a he) is ok.
We are going to be away for a couple of days so he will have to look after himself. :(
:lol: :lol: What does a "he" magpie look like??
Taz x
I was given 2 jars of 'peanut' butter for the birds: the black bird has tried it. However, with half the World starving :-\
The wren is in and out of the meal worm tub helping herself. Sparrows are chattering away in one direction, starlings squawking in the other :)
It is quite difficult to tell. The swallow makes a next like a cup and the housemartin's is totally enclosed with only a small hole to get in and out of. This might help http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/22527420
Taz x :)
When I use slug pellets I put an up-turned wire hanging basket over the area to stop birds/hedgehogs/cats - one only needs a small area for the pellets, no need to throw them every where.
I soaked dried meal worms this afternoon and they are now in a dish outside the back door ;) ………
Blood worms can be found in compost heaps. Drop them into the water and watch the newts devour them :o …….. you may find that very small pieces of cat food works too.
Maybe on the feet/beak of a bird which dropped the critter …..
Yoga ???? ;D
Honeybun
X
Alright - here you go then https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWC19OdpnUQ
Taz x :D
They are very territorial and once a territory is established it remains theirs for the rest of their life - at least for part of each year http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/b/blackbird/territory_and_social_behaviour.aspxThanks Taz, this one is quite a bully, he doesn't seem to be eating anything in our garden, just chasing off the starlings so they can't have it either ;)
Ours spend lots of time fighting and defending their spot against each other and the starlings nip in and take all of the best grub while they're sparring off against each other.
Taz x ;D
Limpy - redstarts! How lovely! Hen Harriers! Red Kites. Originally thought you must be near some upland moorland somewhere north but red kites too?? I've no idea where in UK!!
If you really do have 'hen' harriers then please report them.
Let us know how you get on! What time's the joiner 'due' in the morning?
We have lots of bats in our roof too! At least two species - Pippistrelle and Long-eared I think.
Hurdity x
My house martins have all left now. :'(
I have lovely pink ice plants too CLKD. My Geraniums are still lovely and so are my day lilies.
Sparrowhawk will take 1 bird at a time ;)
Maybe she was just passing through!
They are really pretty - I love it when they descend on the trees in the garden morning and evening.
We will have a flourish of sunflowers from under the feeders, weather allowing ;D. When I measured them yesterday they stand 2" already. If you don't want them there, leave them grow a while then hoe them up - anyone with a rabbit or caged bird close to you?
Maybe the tray was too shiny? Could the birds not grip properly or did it look as if there were birds already present? Whatever, I would be back off to the shop for a refund ;-).
Why would birds want to eat food off a tray, after all it might well get wet and go 'off' ………..
I use the Droll Yankee feeders with the circular clear plastic tray underneath. These seem to work quite well. You can buy small or large trays depending on what you want. I have a small one under the sunflower hearts feeder because the doves tend to perch on the large trays and eat the hearts really quickly and also scare the small birds off. I have the larger ones under the black sunflower hearts/seed mix feeders. I have to fill all of my feeders twice a day. The mess underneath them even with saucers is really annoying. They don't like anything shiny Hurdity so I'd complain to the RSPB about this product!
Taz x
It's really annoying when they stop visiting and you can't always see the reason. Mine have been constant all winter but some have been absent - no siskins this year and only the occasional wagtail. The fieldfares and redwings are mostly still in Russia apparently and there has even been sightings of swallow and swifts which are thought to have overwintered here rather than bothering to fly off to their normal winter holiday spots. Which type of seed do you feed and what birds do you want to attract?
Yes Hurdity, the robin sings at night most nights here. There has been a lot of research into this I believe - it's thought that the increasing traffic noise in the daytime means the robin's song travels further during the night time hours and the fact that in lots of places, here included, street lights are on all night has changed the behaviour of robins (Robins are related to the nightingale). If you go into the centre of Reading during the evening and night there are robins sat on many of the lights singing away. The large light fixtures in the middle of roundabouts attract them too. This is a recent article about city robins singing at night http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31505672 and the RSPB view on it http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/funfactsandarticles/watchingbirds/behaviour/nocturnalsong.aspx It does sound rather poignant but mine didn't shut up until three this morning!
Taz x
There are a lot of birds that haven't arrived this year, i.e. blackcap - sometimes we've had a pair when the weather is cold. Also long tail tits and gold-finches are rare visitors ……….
Oh I would have loved to see a sparrowhawk at my feeders Taz, even if a bird had been taken!!!
::) Limpy - sparrowhawks eat what exactly ?
Oh I would have loved to see a sparrowhawk at my feeders Taz, even if a bird had been taken!!!
Yes Hurdity it's really good seeing a Sparrowhawk killing something :o
When "a bird had been taken" results in lots of feathers being scattered as the bird is carried off, sometimes blood on the ground. Can't comment on the state of the other birds because they disappear for half a day. Hey, in this weather they don't need the food anyway :-\
I think the most ever found in one nest box was over 60!
Taz x
I put some crumbs out for the birds,looked out of the window and a robin appeared, then another one. It was a lovely sight, cheered me right up ;)
Our siskins have arrived this week too and there is a different finch in amongst the flock - looks a bit like a Twite but difficult to see with all of the chattering and fluttering going on. How the goldfinches hate them!!
Taz x
:-\ nope. Buzzards are different to red kites. Some kites don't have the fork in the tail. I've been watching both sine 1975 ;) when we lived in Wales. I have followed them across the UK ………
http://www.yorkshireredkites.net/index.php/red-kite-info/is-it-a-red-kite-or-is-it-a-buzzard
I saw a Barn Owl further along the A64 single carriageway section, bringing my Barn Owl tally for the day to three. Lucky me.
'dog is moulting' - good for birds' nests then ;D
After my dog died we found 3 nests with her hair inside.
Our cat has just brought in a dead baby dormouse :(
Hurdity x
Well we see Oyster Catchers in our bird bath :poke2:
And Bald Eagles nesting in our chimney pot, & they are feeding on Red Kites :lol:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
I didn't post the actual film! We use slug pellets Hurdity, the way to stop hogs is to put the pellets under a brick where slugs/snails congregate.
I saw a jay yesterday when I was walking my dog in the field. I just saw this flash of blue then it alighted in a nearby tree and I could see it clearly. What a beautiful bird :)
I didn't post the actual film! We use slug pellets Hurdity, the way to stop hogs is to put the pellets under a brick where slugs/snails congregate.
I didn't post the actual film! We use slug pellets Hurdity, the way to stop hogs is to put the pellets under a brick where slugs/snails congregate.
The trouble with that is the slugs eat the pellets and then slide out from under the brick where they are eaten by the hedgehogs who still ingest the poison. It's a tricky one to resolve. It's also thought that the ingestion of the poison even if it doesn't kill the hedgie affects their fertility. Some info here about slug pellets and alternatives although I know they don't seem to work http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/slug-pellets.html
Taz x
Oh BJ that's a whole thread on it's own ::) ……. :'(
I know it's difficult. My mum loved hedgies but insisted on "real" slug pellets as does my husband. It didn't used to get to me that much until I had a call to pick up one suffering from metaldehyde poisoning. It was horrible to see it suffering but I also appreciate that gardeners take great pride in their plants and veggies.
Taz x
Did U - dream of cows ;D
Goldfinches love nyger seed Hurdity, once they find it they keep coming!
S x
I have the Reading Red Kites overspill flying over my garden. T
Taz x
That would be geese then :-\ ……. kites don't make any noise unless they are being harassed by rooks and don't fly in formation ::)
Think I'll wait a while before I have my lunch BJ, just need to get that image out of my mind! :)
S x
Kee-WICK Kee-WICK. I've got the male calling in the oak tree at the minute - will send him round! ;DYou mean TERWIT Taz. yes send him round to say hello to my TERWOO
Taz x
Slowly unless a bird is behind them ? ::)
No, they were out in the garden. Two babies the first night, parent the next night and then the other parent :'( (http://:'().
It really was so sad and my sister is still down about it. She says she should never have encouraged them in the first place. Blames herself, just like you did Taz. Hope you are feeling brighter today. :hug: (http://:hug:)
PN x
We have a recipe page. It tastes like chicken, apparently ;)
It's difficult keeping the feeders clean. I do mine weekly but still have two today with trich which saddens me.
I wonder what the male bullfinches did with their females? Must have lost them somewhere..
Taz x
Is that outdoors? I tried many years ago but they didn't like our plot. We had over 20 indoor plants which have whittled down to 5 over the years. As we are running out of space it's probably for the best ::)
AAHH - honey fungus! How about raised beds, at least 4/5 feet with lots of new compost in? Viburnum and clematis are well known for keeling over without warning >:(. It is so disappointing when they have appeared OK then gone!
I'm confused, why wouldn't you talk about gardening on this thread?!
S x
Our frogs are in the ponds ..... I take care if I go into the garden after dark though :o - do yours purr BJ?
Thanks for that link Taz, but given that the thread hadn't been posted on for two years I can see no problem with us having our very short garden conversation on this thread. All things to do with nature is of course relevant to plants be they in a wild or garden situation or indeed an orchard or a piece of old grassland at the back of someones garden.
I really can't see why it would be a problem for anyone and indeed why anyone would feel inclined to police this issue in this way.
Borrow a Jack Russell bj? :scottie:
Well these poor little robins must be exhausted. They are still feeding the fledglings and at the same time building a new nest. It's about 3 feet above the first. I wonder why they don't use the same nest? They are devouring the Flutterbutter, I love Robin food and seeds from the feeder.
I've watered a few times this week and they have followed me round almost tripping at my heels, digging behind me as I move.
Your husband needs a :kick:. Probably a wren. Fly fast away from the nest quite close to the ground. Mum has one but we can't find out where the nest is.
Keep an eye out, she may well build another nest! Infact, he will build several until the female is satisfied ......... one should always pull a bonfire apart in case there's a hedgehog sleeping at the bottom. Are you allowed to burn in your area, we aren't.
Lots of wood pigeons and collared doves and some very healthy looking squirrels.
A huge rook landed on the fatball feeder and it broke - the feeder not the rook! I have never seen one so close up before, absolutely massive it was :o
I would love your nuthatches Hurdity - they are exquisite little birds - have only ever seen one here once in the garden that we can remember, and not that many more in a lifetime - mainly in woodland. Is your woodpecker green or spotted? These only visit us once or twice a year in the coldest days of Winter & always spotted, never the greens.
I would love your nuthatches Hurdity - they are exquisite little birds - have only ever seen one here once in the garden that we can remember, and not that many more in a lifetime - mainly in woodland. Is your woodpecker green or spotted? These only visit us once or twice a year in the coldest days of Winter & always spotted, never the greens.
Greater Spotted are the ones - they breed round here as we back onto open fields and live on the edge of a small village in rural SW England, and now come to the feeders every year during the breeding season. However we haven't seen or heard the Yaffle at all recently. They used to visit regularly and feed on our patch of semi-wild grassland at the back but now you've got me thinking and wondering whether we haven't had them for a few years - definitely not this year.
Hurdity x
Today's warm sun seem to have woken up the flies. The house is full of them.
My JR would guard her grub to the point that she couldn't eat and growl ;D
Great news Taz, are you going to buy it a house? :)
Any dog which guards it's food bowl and snarls, no matter whether the snarl is directed at another animal or a human, is an unsafe dog. Ask any reputable dog trainer or any animal psychologist.
DH just found a newt in downstairs toilet -a first in 37yrs living here. Thought it was dead but it slowly warmed up in his hands. It's now been given new home 'down yonder dyke at the base of a adler tree'. Think we need to start filling some access holes! :)
Sadly our beautiful female collared dove was attacked by something, probably a sparrow hawk - feathers every where :'(
The thread has taken a detour into the call of nature today ;D
My Gran wouldn't have a bird in the house, not even on a C.mas card, even the budgie lived in a cage in the porch ::).
I haven't seen a swallow yet :-\ .........
Yaffle in our wild patch yesterday - flew out of a small apple tree where it was trying to peck a hole in a blue-tit nest box, which my husband had strengthened with an aluminium plate to stop them! Today watched same yaffle eating ants on our neighbour's lawn - watching him (or her!) for ages from upstairs window - such beautiful birds and I love their call :)
Hurdity x
I think 1 of the male blackbirds is calling his young out of the nest, it's not the usual alarm 'there's a cat around' call :)
Two families of blue tits off and on our patio after meal worms. The 1st two are really tame in that they land at my feet, the other 1 sits further away. If they see each other, there's feather-cuffs ;D. Robin on my shoe as I type. Blackbirds around. Great tit also close by, he asks, I give.
Yaffle in our wild patch yesterday - flew out of a small apple tree where it was trying to peck a hole in a blue-tit nest box, which my husband had strengthened with an aluminium plate to stop them! Today watched same yaffle eating ants on our neighbour's lawn - watching him (or her!) for ages from upstairs window - such beautiful birds and I love their call :)
Hurdity x
Good move to fit the metal plate as the greater spotteds do love a tasty baby bluetit. Not sure about the Yaffles though. I know their main diet is ants but I've always wondered what they eat in the winter?
Taz x 😊
I had the fright of my life last night. :madeyes:
It was about 10 o'clock & we were watching TV, the back door was open to let the breeze in, fans were on in the lounge to let the air circulate. The dog dozing etc etc...
I heard some sort of noise, almost like a rustling but wasn't sure if it was coming from the telly, the fans or the snoozing dog. My hearing isn't so good since my ear op earlier this year so I decided to ignore it. But it started up again. I realised it was definitely coming from the back door so went out to investigate.
I didn't want to turn on the light as I knew that would attract all kinds of creepy crawlie flying critters.
There was something small moving by the back door (but inside the room) I thought it was some kind of frog/toad but it was making a scratching sound as it tried to climb over the door to get back to the outside world.
Then I could just make out its shape & colour. Black/brown with pincers ahhhhhhhhh oh no it's a stag beetle. :o :o :o
Members from years gone by may remember my fear of these critters. They use to fly over my head & chase me down the lane to the pub around this time of the year.
Anyway hubby came to the rescue & managed to deposit the critter safely back out into the garden.
Needless to say the back door got firmly shut.
It's a wonder I didn't have nightmares last night.
Cazi xx
I think your hearing must be great, to hear a beetle in another room, there are only two beetles I'd hear in the house, one had Paul McCartney in it and the other is made by Volkswagen :o
The penis hangs below the skirt Taz ........ male is up on his feet showing all he owns. Girls are closer to the ground.
It has probably flown with the mother PF. We haven't heard/seen our wren for a few days now, probably off moulting ::)
Taz - there's always an exception to the Rule and he is feeding with gusto. Tnx for the Link but I can never access it ::)
Earlier we had rain :o and now gentle drizzle. There were adult frogs everywhere ;D ......... jumping for joy?
That's fine. It's there this evening,
Does anyone have any tips on how to prevent large birds namely magpies and pigeons from raiding the bird feeders. Last winter we had the feeders in a relatively open area until Monty Don from Gardeners World advised that the bird feeders are best placed in areas which give the little birds cover. The feeders were placed under and close to a wisteria and honeysuckle which are growing along a wall. The little birds do come and feed but those large birds still manage to shake the feeders so the food goes on to the ground until the feeders are empty. The local visiting cat does not come so much now as the sun is off that part of the garden until the afternoon. The cat did not catch the birds but deterred them. Any advice please? Thank you.
I feed all year too. At present they aren't bothered with the meal worms ........ but are busy on sunflower hearts and peanuts. Getting the scales and a bowl ready for later ;-)
Getting the scales and a bowl ready for later ;-)
Lovely.
We had a Fieldfare in the garden about a week before christmas. Had to get the book out to look it up as we have never seen one before.
Gangan x
Two Hoots is it a female? My male Tawny sits in our tree hopefully calling for a female each night..
Taz x
Starlings can be stunning!
Wow! You have all the best birds - red kites flying overhead, waxwings in the supermarket car park!!! What next?!!!
Hurdity x
Ah, now that I do know.Just like humans really 🤣
The dogs bark but the vixen screen.
Oh me too Birdy,I hate all hunting,killing wildlife for fun is beyond meAww we have two partridge that visit our garden regularly,also some beautiful pheasant but living in the country,the estate that we live on do shoots and I actually stood at my bedroom window and watched men shooting them,I couldn't bear it,was crying it upset me so much,why breed a bird just to shoot it?when you see them flying for their lives it's heartbreaking,I HATE hunting,if I'd a gun I would've shot them
I'm exactly the same. I think it's vile raising animals, releasing them into the unknown then murdering them. 😩 Pheasants are such lovely creatures. I see so many killed on the roads here as well.
It's really high,the fencing is bamboo like,could they climb that? Every night we see him,then he's gone in the morning,we're dumbfounded
I saw a magpie on a nest this morning. Sitting tight.. How did you see it as, round here anyway, their nests are domed? Maybe it was having a rest in someone else's ;D They are lovely birds though but get a bad press.
It really is taz, I know the crows are protecting their nests etc but can never get my head round,why the kite doesn't go,right!!had enough of you lot lol
Don't say beetle,I've a real phobia,never seen a may bug til I moved down here waaaaaaaaaaaaa HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE THINGS?!?!
You may put out some kind of 'scent' when sitting outdoors.
I like the scratchy noise they make crawling on the wallpaper..🕷️
Taz X ;D
Not really expensive. We saw them at The Bird Fair years ago and bought it from One Stop Nature Stop on the North Norfolk Coast road. Have a look-see on the web and compare, as there are several types now. Ours has colour in the day and b/w at night. Takes stills or movies. On a small stand and totally water proof. The ones we have run on 4 small batteries. We view it via the lap top [somehow ;D]
JL may sell them as will various bird watching shops, maybe RSPB? or Simon who does the wildlife films for the BBC whose surname escapes me
? King ?
Oh! make sure that the camera you choose is compatible with the laptop/computer that you want to down load videos onto ;-)
A few years ago we used to have House Martins, but not recently.
Now we have Blackbirds, starlings, sparrows and bluetits nestling mostly.
They don't frequent doorsteps very often ;D😆😂
Taz x
Yes I have taz2 , there are quite a few around, a couple of years back local farmers dug trenches and locked gates to keep the coursers out and they have thrived since x
They don't frequent doorsteps very often ;D
Taz x
They don't frequent doorsteps very often ;D
Taz x
Take a look at my profile photo, it's a squirrel looking in my kitchen from my doorstep ;D
Take a look at my profile photo, it's a squirrel looking in my kitchen from my doorstep ;D
Take a look at my profile photo, it's a squirrel looking in my kitchen from my doorstep ;D
OMG - I thought it was a cat Two hoots. I'm so sorry oops.
The peregrines have laid 4 eggs. They are a bit late this year but I thinks it's because they have had scaffolding & builders working on the cathedral roof. Thank goodness they have finished now.
I have a confession to make :-\ ........
It's because you can't see it's beautiful fluffy tail ;D
Watch out pigeons ;D
Taz x
;D
Oh Taz you've just made my day x
The Norwich Cathedral ones are doing well too
That's so strange Jaypo, we have gangs of them chasing through the hedges chirping most days and have a couple of nests in the soffits around the house and I'm not that far from you xWe have everything but,such a shame,even had a woodpecker making a racket on the telegraph pole,got a sore head just watching him :o
I haven't seen a sparrow for years😢 they were abundant when I lived in Aberdeen but here in Wiltshire I never see them AND we're rural,does anyone know why that would be?plenty of the tit family,wagtails and swifts but that's it as far as little birds go
I woke early this morning, that's usually not good but today the blackbird was singing right outside the window ;D wait a minute was it the blackbird that woke me ::)
Orchids should regenerate if seeds set ........... but Contractors 'get away' with so much these days >:( :'(
Off to feed our hedgehogs ........
No Taz, just heard the commotion.....then when we went out into the garden, Two were dead on the floor! 😢
Just tiny little chicks, all bare and pink....
Such a shame....felt sooo bad for the blackbirds! 🙀😢😭
I was thinking, and maybe if we hadn't have gone out, they probably would have took them.
Have you found any spittlebugs Jaypo? :)No,been raining since we got here😏 goinhome tomorrow,so will have a look round our garden,quite exciting 😀
Wasps round the apples - already!
Keep her on a lead?
Slugs - we have hedgehogs and we use pellets in the pots where they can't reach the slugs ..........
Been watching an adult woodpecker feeding a young one on the bird feeder 😍 x
I have loads of starlings but that's because I feed them breakfast and tea ;DCan I come to yours for breakfast please😆
They have wholemeal breadcrumbs, crumbled digestive biscuits, grated mild cheese and soaked, chopped sultanas together with any food scraps, leftover cat food etc. They're so noisy though when up to 30 descend into the garden at 5 in the morning!!
Taz x :)
All my chickens were rescued,knew this farmer who always let me know if he had any going for slaughter and I'd come get em,they became so tame but were probably the most spoiled hens in the uk,the best of everything,miss having them 😔
Froglife informs me that what I saw with the sudden stiffness and fitting the other night is unusual.
——
Oh yessss, do tell, CLKD.....you been naughty? ;D
Little muntjac deer in the garden,why won't it let me cuddle it 😢😆
That's what I can't understand,the entire garden is completely dog proof,our tiniest dog can't get out anywhere and the fences are high enough so our German shepherd can't jump over,it baffles me 🤷♀️They can squeeze under quite small gaps in fencing. Sometimes they scrape soil or grass away over time to make the gap a bit deeper. We have put a Hedgehog Highway in our new fencing which three hedgies use but the other one prefers to squeeze himself through a slight gap under another part of the fence. Look for telltale poos around the gap. Have you got water down for it?
We have niger in flower ;-)
Oh, cute ;D Taz!
6 long-tailed tits on the feeders an hour ago - mostly babies! Yaaaay - at last! Did you send them up here? The fat robin baby was at the bird bath earlier. Just stood on the rim bobbing indignantly. Didn't go in. Must be male ;D
I have been puzzled for the last 3 months and have to admit I am no wildlife expert.
We have a large tree in the garden that seems to have attracted Magpies, for the last three months there has been a strange noise like a kitten meowing and at the same time there are Magpies flapping around in the tree.
When I first heard it I thought it was their young but after not hearing it these last couple of weeks it has started again, wouldn't they have all fledged weeks ago?
I have been puzzled for the last 3 months and have to admit I am no wildlife expert.
We have a large tree in the garden that seems to have attracted Magpies, for the last three months there has been a strange noise like a kitten meowing and at the same time there are Magpies flapping around in the tree.
When I first heard it I thought it was their young but after not hearing it these last couple of weeks it has started again, wouldn't they have all fledged weeks ago?
Some birds have much longer breeding seasons, and some breed practically all year round, such as Collared Doves.
Two male and one female bull finches checking the flowering plum tree for tasty shoots today :)
Yes Taz,I can assure you,I've enough for everyone,before I take in my washing I've to flap it loads of times otherwise I take even more in :o I won't kill them so you can imagine it's a nightmare trying to catch them all off the ceiling to throw outside,we've got nets over our door frames now,so hopefully that will stop them :)
Maybe the end of the cull if the first good thing to come out of leaving Europe :whist:
My hedgehog is back :) :)
>:( >:(
Barnacle,you should set up cameras,we have them all over(business security) but I scroll through all the night time ones,it's fab,still not seen a fox or a badger though :(
I am glad that we don't get deer in the garden, we are 2 miles from the woods so they get into my friends large garden first :D
How much room do you have in the freezer? Do you grow your own veg . ;) :whist:
Oh no,how awful Taz ,the poor little thing :'(
Ok,here's something I'd like your opinions about,my stepson is here for the weekend,announcing he has a pet hedgehog,I said,did you catch it and now it's your pet? >:( No,apparently you can buy baby hedgehogs and keep them as pets!!! He's read up how you clean it's spines and feet and how to bathe it but I'm not happy,surely kids have enough wild animals to choose to keep in cages >:( >:(
Yep. Parents have to be responsible.
Hedgehogs don't live long if you feed them to badgers or put them into the road ;-). You may get a surprise and get fond of the little critter. He may have found his niche ;-)
I haven't seen a may bug this year yet. I really like them. Their underneath colouring is so pretty. I can see they can appear a bit alarming though if you're not that keen on insects. We call them Mizmadoors.I haven't seen any this year either Taz...... maybe because I haven't walked to the pub for a pint of cider lately :'( :'(.
Taz x
I had a close encounter with a Tawny Owl last night. It swooped down on something in the field that i was walking next too. My dog's face was a picture, she was like "what the f..k was that?" :)
They are lovely. Beautiful markings underneath and their real name of Cockchafer should give you a giggle 🤣
Taz x
I've waiting until now to report: in case anyone was eating : the SPIDER :o
I take a glass of chocolate milk to bed. Last night I swallowed half with my tablets, then in the early hours, another few sips. When I picked up the glass at 9.30 guess what was lurking :o ;D ......... the SPIDER : thank goodness I hadn't drained the milk :-X
Aww geeze clkd,feel nauseas now ;D
Does anyone know how to keep crows off bird feeders,bar shooting them,they are so agile,hanging upside down off them,emptying them >:(
Same with starlings ........ I spent a lot of the day going 'shhhoooo' in a loud voice ;D
Half a blue egg shell on the path ? blackbird ?
Half a blue egg shell on the path ? blackbird ?
Most likely.
I had two hedgehogs in my back garden last night. They were making a very odd noise. Is it too early for breeding?
Foxes were screaming here this afternoon,what's up with them :-\
We are lucky as we have loads of both here. Mind you the Starlings are a bit of nuisance as they nest in our roof. A bit noisy.
Huge flocks of Canada geese flying past........bye bye
Haha I'm so glad of this thread, I said to my OH last night.........did you know Canada geese are NOT migrating when you see them fly in formation ::) I felt such a smarty pants ;D (whispers.......thanks Taz ;D )
Dormice - pretty little critters? Well apparently not!
The Romans brought dormice to England, they liked them soaked in honey so built special small honey pots for them to gorge themselves in B4 being eaten. Now apparently a larger variety has appeared across parts of the UK and it will: like grey squirrels killing our Native reds : eventually take over so that our 'native' dormice will die. They are already endangered and although not indiginous; not many critters are in this country, William has a lot to answer 4 ;D ; it would be sad to have spent £Ks on conservation to have it all go to waste :'(
They don't often touch badger road kill though :-\
;D
I have an oven, heated after making bread - any help?
Interesting that out of 4 there was 1 cock, usually it's 85% cocks in each brood. Any interesting coloured feathers, if so contact the local trout lakes as they are lovely for fly tying ;-).
Obviously you don't have foxes or badgers!
How are those chickens Barnacle? Do they roost in trees?
Ha,penguin,have you read back at what my OH has had to do so I can feed the birds but NOT the crows. We're still winning the battle clkd
Bought those vibrating things :o ;D TO DETER MOLES ;D you stick them beside the hills,they've got thousands of 5* reviews on Amazon,anyway 3 new hills ;D think I saw my OH sobbing in his shed ;D
I'd love to see a possumOh Jaypo . . . (whispers) there was one posting on the Memory Worries thread earlier ;). What a pity you missed it :D
What kind of size are they, Labrador or Alsation? A quick snack, cat or small dog :'(
Off 2 put the hog cam out, top up the water bowls and throw some treats around 8)
Actually: grey squirrels can be set free with a Licence from DEFRA - go figure. Best to put them to sleep as they kill our red squirrels :'(. Tiggy Winkles had a Licence for several years as do most Vets..
All is forgiven, little dog next door, when you wake me up yapping when you have your late evening toileting in your garden and when you yap at me for daring to go into our garden. No rats ever since you came to live next door!Anyone got a small yapping dog I can borrow?? Mine will happily kill water that comes out of a hosepipe but isn't quick enough for a rat. Not keen on poison in case dog eats poisoned rats.
;D. that is quite unusual though several years ago, my sister had a buzzard snatch 2-day old chicks from in front of her. She phoned me in shock, I was shocked 'cos she rarely contacts me :D
Did he get his hair piece back or was it used as nesting material ?
I can't grow outdoor orchids here ........... they are so delicate looking but quite sturdy in the correct setting. Did the rose grow over your front door?
We have red kites over here daily. We also had a heron yesterday, crawking as it was chased off by crows!
;D. best place for a 🐿 - did it get out or did. U do the Big Rescue? 2 hedgehogs here at 10.45 p.m., eating the meal worms . Do U have a night camera Joaniepat?
Yep. I talk to it when I'm around the garden. It's had a long drink and lots of grub, now preening on the apex.
Smaller birds enjoying the mixed grain 8)
;D - mayB take a photo and check on line for gourds/🎃 ?
That sounds like my 🎃 ;D. Some flowers will be male others female, on the same plant ;). Do U have pollinators regularly?
I think squirrels might be predators of birds nests, but not sure. Taz will know 🙂.
JP x
Is "covid" now replacing "corvid" on everyone's spillchucker? Wouldn't surprise me 😂.
JP x
They weren’t there late afternoon! Still daylight. Have to check in the morning. Unless they have sneaked into the main attic, where we store stuff. Intrigued as to how they got in. Windows and doors have been replaced. No windows in the attic.
:o mice :o ;D. - off to the pet shop then C.C.?
Do U have a night/day camera to watch the door?
That's fine. If U hadn't have seen it ......... Nature takes over, often these birds rest then fly away.
Slugs >:(. In pots. Under pots. In the ice plant leaves. Never in the hedgehogs :bang:
I never think about taking birds to rescue. It will be stressed when handled, especially if it's about to die. Let Nature take over. Mammals are a different matter.
We had an injured pigeon, that was probably hit by a car, under the hedge in our front garden.
Rather than leave it to be hit again or wander the road we rang the RSPCA who gave us a incident number and told us to catch it, put it in a large box and to take it to any local vet. Caught it with a large towel, into a box and rang the vets and off we went. What happened at the vets i don't know.
It's still there,sitting in the undergrowth over the fence,who would I call?
Taz - what do you cleanse the ground beneath the feeders with?
We had the fox back in the garden two nights ago,sat and peed on the lawn,then when the dogs went out they both peed exactly where it did ;D
Did anyone read about those monkeys throwing the dogs from a great height in revenge for the dogs killing one of the monkeys babies? Omg,I'm not a fan of those monkeys at the best of times but now >:(
We had a blue tit with an overgrown beak - top over bottom - for 3 years, didn't see it after July . 5 male blackbirds here, they spend more time chasing each other than eating ::) which leaves room for the 11 pigeons ........ now, where's my air-gun :-* ;)
Nope. Rescue centres such as Tiggy Winkles have a Special License >:( to release non indigenous species. As do most Vets..
Omg the wild birds round here are so fussy,they go through sunflower hearts like there's no tomorrow,so because they're so expensive for a 20kg bag I bought some cheaper but still prime mixed bird feed,so two feeders with sunflower hearts,all gone,the one feeder with the new mix........the opposite of all gone and I've just bought 20kg of it >:(
3 toDo U get bears C.C. - there's talk of re-wilding Scotland with Bears and Lynx :o
I used to hang those rotating spirals on our windows,just with some blue tack,they certainly helped 100%
I am yes/no about bullfinches that peck the flowering buds of fruit trees ::)
Sadly this virus is everywhere. Despite poultry owners keeping birds under cover, although I did see a 'flock' of cockerels in Snettisham free ranging. I sent an e-mail to the village Vet Surgery but didn't hear back >:(What were you wanting from the Vet CLKD? - perhaps the RSPCA might be in a better position to help
Sadly this virus is everywhere. Despite poultry owners keeping birds under cover, although I did see a 'flock' of cockerels in Snettisham free ranging. I sent an e-mail to the village Vet Surgery but didn't hear back >:(
All poultry keepers had to maintain strict hygiene rules which meant that ducks, geese, chickens, quail were to be kept shut in a shed with a covered run. No access to free ranging at all. From about November. We were there at Easter when restrictions were in place across England.
Aww I've not seen a Robin in ages :(
Yes we had a baby robin earlier in the summer, quite fun watching it learn to fly. Papa robin often comes and bounces along the wall when I go out in the car - he knows I keep a pot of meal worms in the door pocket and comes out to demand them.
Think she said it had a moustache Taz ;D
'cos our male does most of the feeding ............ first the mate then any young hopping around 'cos she'll be on her 2nd brood. He will feed her when she pops round to see how he's doing ;D
Octopus - 🐙. - I would run a mile and keep running :o
It is the scuttling - goes back to our cave days when we didn't know what was at the back !
What's the difference between a house sparrow? Aaaahhhh geeeeeze ;DDoes this help https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/birdwatching/how-to-identify-birds/so-you-think-you-know-your-sparrows/ ;D
We've had beautiful goldfinches on our feeders this last couple of weeks,they are soooo pretty
Jaypo if you end up missing your starlings you can have ours if you want! ;D
8). hopefully the sparrow hawk isn't around :o
Wonder if they are seed eaters or if they prefer meal worms?
Me too but I'm really annoyed that September has been so hot! ;DYes,how dare it ;D
Sadly found a young hedgehog that had died in the night, still soft. Full of fleas of course. Probably a late arrival ......... under a pile of leaves .
In a way we are 'cheating ' a bit.... About 5 miles away is a nature reserve which is a small breeding ground for the turtle doves,so I think they mind of popped in on a day out! We love the dollars doves they seem so gentle.
It's when they all stop suddenly and you're left going.......ok what's happened?!?! ;D Then 2 minutes later they're all at it againCould well be a hawk going overhead. Our local sparrowhawk can clear our nut feeders in seconds when it goes by.