Summer Watch 2010

WS -

Lai

I used to have a tropical fish tank Lai and breed Killifish. The males have stunning colour variations. Do you let the guppies go or net the fry?

It can hard to get pictures in a tank. I usually put the camera straight onto the glass.

Thanks for sharing it brings back memories!

SM

We are currently letting them go - some are surviving and some not if too many survive they will have to be given back to the shop, sadly!

I will try more photos this week - thanks for the tip.

Lai

Yesterday evening I was chatting to SM on skype and let the boys out when I heard a commotion going on in the garden, I looked out to see two blackbird fledglings trying to escape Nero and the garden. I rushed out to get Nero in to keep the little birds safe and to watch to see if they could fly high enough to get over the fence and back into the tree I presumed they had come from.
Mum and Dad were watching their little ones struggle and I was getting more twitchy because they couldnt get out. The smallest one kept hiding and the other plumper one moved around but kept settling on some old hanging flower pots. They were not affraid of me at all, infact I could go right up to them but was worried I would scare mum and dad off. They kept flying in to try and encourage the chicks to try and fly out but it was getting impossible for them.
I finally decided that as it was starting to get darker and I would need to let the boys out I had to do something. By this time I couldn't see the smallest one anywhere, I checked all the bushes and every inch of the garden and he was gone, so I presumed he had managed to get up and out somehow but the largest one was still sitting on the flower pot that was hanging up, so I decided to try and move him to the fence under the tree, amazingly he let me lift the flower pot off the hanger and walk across the garden with him, he was just looking at me and appeared not to be bothered, he may have been a bit frightened and was just keeping quiet or maybe he did trust me. Anyway I got him to the fence and put the pot on top of the post hoping he would flap into the tree. I checked on the pot at midnight and he was still on it fast asleep, so I left him there as I knew he was safe and mum and dad were still around.
When I checked this morning at 5.30 I found the pot on the floor smashed, at first I panicked and started hunting for the little chick, then I saw him sitting in the tree but he was all alone, I couldnt do anything as I had to get ready for work but at least he was safe there. checked him again at 7.30 just before I left and he was still in the tree but this time with mum feeding him, I was so relieved, dad wasnt there at that time and neither was the other chick that I could see but I am positive he is safe as well.
When I got in from work today I went straight to the tree to see if anyone was there, they had all gone but what a relief to know that he was back with his mum and dad who put up a very brave and consistent effort to get their chicks to safety and keeping an eye on them and I am still positive that the other chick is with them as well.
THE SMALLER OF THE TWO BLACKBIRD CHICKS

THE PLUMPER ONE

MR LITTLE

I AM NEVER LEAVING THE SECURITY OF THIS FLOWER POT

The wind seems to always blow any of Bentleys fur into the corner of the garden and the little Blackbird was getting covered in it but he wasnt bothered.


MR LITTLE HIDING

MR LITTLE SITTING BUT HE IS OK

THE BLOB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PICTURE IS THE LARGER CHICK IN THE TREE THIS MORNING

Both chicks are the same reddish Brown colour that mum is, I dont' know if they will stay this way and be females or if their feathers will change and their beaks become yellow to match that of dads but whatever, I wish this little family well.
littlewid-x-

What a fantastic effort LW. Well done No wonder you were tired out tonight after all that. Wonderful pictures to, after all your efforts I hope your little family stays safe, and well
WS
PS Sorry about the Button could'nt resist it

The button made me smile WS but I must let you know that SM had to put up with a running commentary of what was happening through skype I have not seen them again so I am hoping they are all happy wherever they have flown too but they are a little family I will always remember.

littlewid-x-

what a rollercoaster Littlewid - it's always hard to know what to do to help without interferring so the parents don't abandon the chicks. A great story and some lovely photos - thanks for sharing with us and I hope they both survive.

I wonder what Nero made of it all?

Lai

LW, you did good girl! Though when you were out I did hear a lot of paws and claws scuttling on the wood floor wondering what on earth mum was upto!

SM

It is hard to know what to do in that situation but it was obvious that the plumper one was not making any real effort to get out and I was worried he was going to be left behind and then there was the dogs, I new Bentley wouldn't go for them and I was certain that Nero wouldn't kill them either but he has a big playfulness about him and he would have chased them around and they would have died from exhaustion or fear so I had to step in and do something without spooking mum and dad at the same time, so I had to pick my moments of going in the garden. Luckily it all worked out well for the Blackbird family, SM just had to keep listening to all the paws tap dancing on the floor over the skype and I tell you, SM has alot of patience because it went on for quite a while

littlewid-x-

This is one of our visitors to the feeder, a male spotted woodpecker. We see the males more often than the females. He likes the nuts and the fat balls/suet cakes.









Lai

He's a handsome fellow Lai if you look at the first picture, on his wing in between the first bit of white and the second bit, there is a yellow colour, to me it looks distictively like a little bird......or is it just my eyes playing tricks
littlewid-x-

No you are right Littlewid, I think this is a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. I am not good on Woodpeckers the Lesser Spotted has no red underneath and that's as much as i know!

Lai

Great Pics Lai you have a better Camera than we have, and your closer or the zoom is greater than I've got. Your right the Lesser Spotted has no red underneath, and also it's only 6 inches in length, a lot smaller than the Greater spotted which is between 9 & 9/12 inches
WS

great pictures

I've been trying to get pictures of the visitors to my feeder but they are very elusive

Isn't it always the way PPH, I was out yesterday and was trying to capture a Butterfly but every time I got it in focus it flew to another plant or leaf and then the same thing happened, I must have tried about 6 attempts but it fooled me every time in the end I ended up with just the pretty flowers.

littlewid-x-

Lovely flowers Littlewid - butterflies are just impossible to photograph

Lai

Thanks Lai, it probably didn't help with Lara telling Kian to be quiet so he didn't frighten the Butterfly..... rather loudly
littlewid-x-

Ahhhhh that's so sweet

We've just had a record number of 10 Jays coming to the feeders - the whole family they all fight like crazy and I know they aren't the nicest of birds but it was so funny to watch as they all hopped around and battled over who got the pick of the tray on the ground. Sadly couldn't get all 10 in one photo - but will keep trying.

Lai

I bet that was a funny site, how brilliant would it have been to get all 10 in one photo.....oh yes please keep trying

littlewid-x-

I went for a walk today with my cousins wife and Nero, we went to the Highdown on the South Downs. They have a lovely little cafe there that don't mind dogs, infact they cater for them with water bowls and dog treats outside by the tables and chairs and inside where you buy your coffee and scrummy cakes they sell home made dog biscuits . Anyway we were sitting outside and hiding in all the hedgerow was a gorgeous tortoishell cat, she was fast asleep until I took her picture.

I think she belongs to the people who own the hotel that is there, she definiately didn't look like a stray or ferral cat but she was having a nice snooze until I woke her up.
Nero had a good time too, he had been running for ages and then had a good rest himself.

littlewid-x-

Nero is so gorgeous with his woolly legs -

Lai

ps glad you managed a cake as well as the walk - sounds perfect

Only a few ducks left now everyone else has left





The Heron came in and sat very still until some people came along and sadly it flew off before i was ready

so a couple of blurry shots




Lai

They are lovely shots Lai, I love the Heron ones, it must be really hard to capture birds in flight. The Ducks look happy swimming around and having a little preen. I've been missing this thread, i've enjoyed the summer watch pictures, we'll soon be starting our own Autumn watch thread with September just around the corner, it doesn't seem possible does it.
littlewid-x-

Autumnwatch already

Can't believe it

Lai

Great photos Lai and LW, glad you had a lovely time.

I was just thinking when will we be having Autumn watch also! Doesnt time fly is there going to be a televised Autumn watch this year, does anyone know?

SM