|
|
Post by Chuckles on Mar 29, 2007 16:54:20 GMT
What I thought was a slug on the path turned out to be a 'message' from a hedgehog! That did make me laugh yakram ;D ;D I've seen loads of bees and ladybirds this week and the birds are singing thier little heads off  |
|
|
|
Post by grannyjanny on Mar 29, 2007 18:56:54 GMT
Today I saw a song thrush in the garden. We haven't seen one for years. It was so exciting.
Janet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yakram on Mar 30, 2007 10:05:36 GMT
The wildlife keeps coming. The dayshift was pretty busy, but the nightshift is getting very vocal. Two owls were hooting for what seemed ages, spoiling my beauty sleep, and boy do I need that.
I hope the mouse/mice that got in the greenhouse at work over the weekend and ate all my pumpkin, pea and bean seeds took note!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Apr 1, 2007 16:59:15 GMT
Well I am a little confused. Spring is definitely here but our Starlings haven't come back yet which is the one sign that is missing.
We have got slugs which are happily munching my clems, butterflies, bees and the bumble sort, birds are nesting - but the starlings are missing. Either there has been a mass destruction of starlings that I haven't heard about or my worms obviously aren't good enough for them anymore.
Not only me though - the neighbours haven't seen any either - one friend being rather happy as they nest over her back door and she has to run the gauntlet whenever she goes out.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Yakram on Apr 3, 2007 18:50:49 GMT
I bought a low level meshed 'table' to put bird seed on for the ground feeding ones. Before I went shopping I put a handful of seed on the table. When I returned I saw something on the table from the kitchen window; looking through the binoculars I saw it was a very contented and happy fieldmouse, stuffing its face, bold as brass, and taking its time. I hope it wasn't one from work!  Sat in the garden yesterday, entertained by he aerial antics of hoverflies. Good to see them back. |
|
|
|
Post by isabella on Apr 3, 2007 20:15:49 GMT
When I was moving things around in my greenhouse at the weekend I found this - a Chrysalis (sp.) - it was inside a sac thingy attached to the bottom of a seed tray of pots. I knew we had a caterpillar in the greenhouse somewhere because things were getting chomped! It is quite a large chrysalis - about an 1"1/4 -!"1/2 long! Two questions - 1) any idea what it might be? 2) what shall I do with it now?  |
|
|
|
Post by isabella on Apr 3, 2007 20:18:29 GMT
When I was watering my window - box at the weekend I saw a huge Bumble bee (gorgeous) go into a hole in the wall  I didn't see it come out of the wall Should I be worried? |
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Apr 3, 2007 20:47:18 GMT
Worried that it might be in your house or worried that it might be nesting Isabella? If it's nesting I'd be thrilled - we had a nest a couple of years ago and there weren't many bees at all. It's probably just looking for a site, but if it does nest there won't be swarms of bees. Just try and make sure that you remember to tell people if there is a nest so that they don't disturb it, and keep your little one away from it too!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by isabella on Apr 3, 2007 20:52:59 GMT
I wouldn't mind a nest in the wall at all- it's out at the front of the house so not worried about the grandchildren. I really don't like wasps nests - we had one in the roof by the spare room window and I couldn't open the window all summer  I have seen little Bees go in the wall at other times - not the same place. This Bee was beautiful ;D |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 4, 2007 6:06:15 GMT
I had a huge bumble bee in the conservatory yesterday. Most bumbles are almost certainly queens at this time of year. They over winter in holes in the ground and the warm sun and smell of flowers usually brings them out.
I'm pretty sure that most males are killed off by the cold so your female bumble will be looking for a new nesting site.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Apr 4, 2007 10:04:07 GMT
Well no sooner do I say that the starlings are still missing than they arrive in force - they were sampling the worms in my lawn yesterday afternoon.
A quick question as well for all you bird lovers - why do birds wipe their beaks on tree branches.?
I see it so often and I have no idea why.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by andy on Apr 4, 2007 11:15:31 GMT
It could be just to clean it RF...or even wipe their noses !!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Apr 4, 2007 11:24:38 GMT
It could be just to clean it RF...or even wipe their noses !!!!! Like it Andy - well I never thought of the obvious  RF |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2007 11:27:29 GMT
Took this last weekend  |
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 22, 2007 7:37:22 GMT
I've saw a couple of swallows at Acle Bridge... now here's a thing: why do they bother crossing the Channel, let alone some then flying the length of Britain?
There's no shortage of mossies in France, or Southern England for that matter - why add to the huge round trip by venturing North?
Or is it that when you can fly 6000 miles, flying is what you do?
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by 4pygmies on Apr 22, 2007 7:55:43 GMT
I dunno..but I'm glad that they do - our first swallows are always an event - I love to hear them twittering away in the barns - we have several pairs back now. I just have to make sure the tarpaulin's in place over the car..... ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Apr 23, 2007 21:31:05 GMT
The Blackbirds are so active in the garden at the moment, guess there nesting. They have been collecting bits off the garden and from the pond, made a right mess in the top of the plants getting at wet soil to cement thier nest  Love um really |
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on May 8, 2007 19:38:53 GMT
Heard the cheepings of baby jackdaws while on an evening mooch just now... so they're more 'advanced' than I thought - some pairs are still nest-building...
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on May 10, 2007 7:14:51 GMT
I have been watching the birds nesting around here and it looks as though some started really early, as I saw a baby blackbird being fed on the lawn and yet a thrush is nesting in our akebia near the back of the garden and a wren and a blackbird are nesting next door in our neighbours ivy.
Makes life a little difficult for us as we can't sit at the back of the garden because of the thrush flying in and out and shi - making a mess all over and if we sit on the terrace it is a low flying corridor for the wren and the blackbird.
Isn't nature wonderful!!
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by nightowl on May 10, 2007 7:43:29 GMT
Don't have birds in my garden  cos of my murderous moggy! Can't have a bird-table or birdbath cos it would only lure them to their deaths In the absence of birds he gives a lot of attention to my fishpond! I'm on my 4th batch of goldfish now but these ones seem to have him sussed out cos they've survived much longer than any before There's a fish tip . I got these as tiny babies from a friend's pond and they seem to have a better survival instinct than shop-bought fish. Maybe goldfish not totally brainless after all ;D nl |
|
|
|
Post by Yakram on May 23, 2007 16:16:52 GMT
We've had an anxious few weeks as blackbirds nested in our small garden, and there are a few predators, of four legs and two legs and wings. Thankfully the babies have now fledged, although still in the garden hidden away. We've gone through a lot of 'dried worms' and wild birdseed.
Have had great fun with a wood pigeon: when it comes into the garden and spies me, it walks away as if it has its hands behind its back and is whistling, and hides behind a pot. When it thinks I'm not looking it saunters out again, then nonchalantly (sp?) walks away again when it sees me. This can go on for several minutes until one of us gets bored!
|
|
|
|
Post by madonplants on May 23, 2007 16:34:48 GMT
We've had an anxious few weeks as blackbirds nested in our small garden, and there are a few predators, of four legs and two legs and wings. Thankfully the babies have now fledged, although still in the garden hidden away. We've gone through a lot of 'dried worms' and wild birdseed. Have had great fun with a wood pigeon: when it comes into the garden and spies me, it walks away as if it has its hands behind its back and is whistling, and hides behind a pot. When it thinks I'm not looking it saunters out again, then nonchalantly (sp?) walks away again when it sees me. This can go on for several minutes until one of us gets bored!Who normally wins, Yakram? Keith |
|
|
|
Post by Yakram on May 29, 2007 19:41:18 GMT
Madonplants (Keith) wrote: Who usually wins? (the pigeon contest). Reply: Me, 'cos I clap my hands to sound like gunshots; the pigeon cracks his wings in reply as he disgustedly flies off empty. The fieldmouse still sits bold as brass on the bird table, even though we go quite close. The blackbirds are nesting again , this time right outside the kitchen window in an obelisk covered with Clematis sieboldii, Akebia quinata, and Clematis armandii. My pots have been raided for JI No.3 (only the best) to line the nest, and all the moss has been pulled up from round the pond - it took me ages to nurture that - little vandals! |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on May 29, 2007 20:12:45 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on May 30, 2007 14:58:23 GMT
Couple of todays visitors   |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on May 30, 2007 17:18:02 GMT
What fantastic photo's Chuckles - thought I would try and do my bit as well. Not nearly as good but I caught a Blackbird sunning itself today and a Busy Bee    RF |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on May 30, 2007 18:49:59 GMT
Black bird is good photo RF, he don't look to happy though does he ;D
Busybee ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on May 30, 2007 19:06:41 GMT
Thought so myself for a while - I walked past it three times before I saw it and it never moved.
Just after I had taken the pic., it woke up, shook itself and hopped off. Perfect model!!
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Spruance on May 30, 2007 20:49:02 GMT
We have a female blackbird that has taken to walking up and down the (outside) kitchen window ledge, and perching on the back door handle, waiting for raisins. Not quite as bad as the one where we used to live. It used to tap on the window with it's beak!
I'll have to try to snatch a quick photo of Mrs. Blackbird, if she will let me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Juliet on May 30, 2007 20:52:54 GMT
Ooh, that takes me back, Spruance - when I was little we used to have a squirrel which knocked on the back door for nuts & used to take them from our hands. My parents called it Cheeky Lovely bird photos btw - I particularly like the one of the Starling's bottom back! |
|
Love um really 
cos of my murderous moggy! 
