Spring Watch 2010

Great photos WS - i've almost caught up just one more episode and Unsprung to watch over the weekend. I am loving all the things they are talking about.

Lai

Thank you for the wonderful pic WS. I too still have it all to catch up on, apart from the first episode, so like the others, I hope to watch it all this weekend hopefully.
I will also try and check out the cams, it would be lovely to catch a glimpse of the otters. The Kestrel chicks are gorgeous.

littlewid-x-

Latest Pics from the Spring watch Web Cams some from last night, and some this morning just taken
1st the Swallows this am

Thats the Mother on the left their asking where's my breakfast

One trying its wings out on the edge of the nest. I thought it was going to fall out


This is the Avocet, last night that is nesting in a scrape on an island, it has 2 chicks a first for SW

and another from last night of the Wrens nesting in the workshop of the SW studio

WS

For those who havent yet watched their recordings of Springwatch. Simon has made an appeal for any recent news or sightings of Black Foxes, just in case any of you have any information
WS

Thanks for all those lovely photos WS - sadly no black foxes here

Lai

Gorgeous pictures WS, I am really missing these cams, so much keeps happpening that is stopping me from catching up and looking at the cams, still need to catch up with last weeks, never got round to it over the weekend and i'm recording this evenings as well.
So many wonderful birds to watch so thank you for the pictures. Sadly no black foxes here either.

littlewid-x-

I've been trying to get a photo of the Bullfinch for ages not good but he is beautiful







Lai

This poor Jay is wet through - bad hair day for sure, in fact you can hardly tell it is a Jay. They are normally very beautiful birds although they don't have a good bird song I've tried for days to get him in long enough to take a photo and today he did, shame about the weather!!!








Lai

Lai they are wonderful, I don't know how I missed this one until now, but I am so glad I didn't miss them. I so wanted to see the Jay and there he is, he may have been having a bad hair day but he is gorgeous and the Bullfinch is so cute, he looks quite chubby or he's fluffed up, so lovely.
Thank you for posting them, they have made me smile.

littlewid-x-

Nice shots Lai, it's so hard to catch the small birds they flit in , and fly off so quick. You can tell they are not impressed with the weather, bu they are lovely looking birds
WS

It's not raining and the Jay and Bullfinch have just been for breakfast - i've got to replace one of the feeders the Jackdaws have broken it by hanging off it the perches have come apart







Lai

Some more great shots Lai Thanks. We are haveing trouble with our Fat Ball feeder it's long cylinder type hanging from a hanging basket bracket. We keep finding it on the floor. We also used to hang two 1/2 coconuts with the special bird food Mrs S makes one vanished all together, and the other one was also on the floor so we had to stop useing it. We get a wide selection of birds on the feeder. Sparrows, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Long Tail Tits, and others including Magpies, Jackdaws, and even Crows. We kept trying to see what was taking the feeders, but because it's so close to the window it's difficult, the slightest movement puts the Birds off. So I decided to dig my old Camcorder out, I set it up this morning, and left it to run. I've just been checking it, at times there were as many as ten little Birds 4 or 5 on the feeder, and as many again sitting on the flast roof above waiting their turn, all different species mixed to gether. The Magpie came in for a nibble then a Jackdaw. At last I spotted the culprit it was a large Crow It landed on the flat roof hopped down onto the top of the bracket then started to pull the feeder off by the wire it hangs from. So now I'm going to have to devise something to prevent it. We dont mind it feeding, but it,s spoiling it for the little ones, and after this last winter they need as much help as possible. I would put the Video on but at the moment because it's an older camcorder I cant find a way of connecting it to the PC
WS

That's it WS - our culprits are the Jackdaws. As you say it spoils it for the little birds! Well done for finding out it was Crows. I am sure you'll think of something.

Lai

Wonderful pictures again Lai, I love these two little birds the Bullfinch really looks all puffed at the chest again, he reminds me of a little bird wanting to be a big bird, he is so cute and the Jay isnt having a bad hair day today, I hope they keep visiting so we keep getting pictures.

WOW WS I bet that recording was something to see, what a shame you cant get it on the forum, it would be lovely to see, I'm not very techie but there may be a way......thinking cap on WS. These Jackdaws do seem to be the naughty boys of the birds and as you say, after the winter and the breeding season the little birds really do need all the food they can get before winter comes again.

littlewid-x-

I'm thinking LW. Will try to come up with something
WS

Good on you WS, I have faith in you for hatching a plan, keep your cap on.

littlewid-x-

Foiled the Crows I put a peice of wood over the top of the Hanging Bracket now they cant get the right angle to get the feeder off. I could hear all the little ones saying 3 cheers for WS
WS

Just been watching the S W Web Cams there are some lovely views of the Spotted Flycatcher nest they have 5 nestlings, and one parent is flying in with food then passing it to the other to feed the little ones, but I keep missing the pass of the food









WS

WS - that's great news for the little birds - i am impressed and i bet they are too.

Our jackdaws are greedy and noisy, they start at 4.30am and at least 20+ come in and fight and screech over the food. They hang off the fat balls, and annoy Pete that early in the morning. The dawn chorus is beautiful but not when it is added to by the Jackdaws

Well done WS Ooooooooooooh lovely fly catcher photos WS thanks for posting

Lai

A couple of more S W pics the Swallows feathers are through wont be long before they fledge


The Kestrel Mother feeding the chicks Poooh thats messy nest


WS

Love the Swallows, they are beautiful. The Kestrels are messy little things very cute looking though at the moment

Thanks for posting WS

Lai

I know Lai if you see the nest on S W it's really uggh
WS

I just love this little Bullfinch. He has taking to sitting in the tree for hours, and he just looks so handsome, yesterday we had two males at the same time. Normally they feed on the ground but he is happy taking the sunflower hearts from the feeder.





Lai

Wonderful photos. We really don't get a wide variety of bird life here. Wish we had some more, would love to see some different birds as well as the regular.

Brilliant you won the day for the little birds over the crows WS now they can all feed happily
Loving the pictures off of Springwatch, I still need to catch up with their cams so i'm really pleased you are posting pics for us to see......mind you, that nest is messy

Lai, gorgeous pictures again of the little Bullfinch, I do love him your place sounds right noisy in the morning, but I would love to wake up to all those birds, it must be amazing to hear and see.

Thanks for all the lovely pictures WS and Lai......keep them coming....Please

littlewid-x-