Signs of Spring

Just lovely Lai I adore the one of the Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch all feeding together, such a beautiful photo. The chicks look so cute and I bet your going to enjoy seeing them grow up. Wonder if the other chicks will be a little less elusive as they get older?

littlewid-x-

Such lovely photos as always Lai!! I love to see all the birds you get in your garden. Trying different bird feed to attract different birds, but still only sparrows, starlings, blackbirds and collard doves ... also the odd wood pigeon (which are HUGE).

Thanks Anne-Marie. We find different birds come during different seasons, although having said that it seems to be a total bun fight at the moment.

You are so lucky to have Sparrows, we had one visit some months ago and i got so excited, but I've not seen it again. Also no Starlings at all which is sad as we used to see them.

I am amazed the wood pigeons can fly they are so huge and fat.

Lai

I don't know how everyone else is doing with their birds and fledglings but we are being eaten out of house and home the fledglings sit in the apple tree chirping noisily whilst their parents endlessly use the feeders, and return to feed them.

It's wonderful to see and to listen to, but we've had to buy a couple of squirrel proof feeders, not to stop the squirrels but the crows, jackdaws, jays and magpies. So at the least fat balls and suet cake are not being taken by them in a matter of hours.

The 3 pheasant chicks are all doing well and flying a bit now, they like the long grass and made me jump when I came face to face with them, you can hear them chirping away but not see them until they leap up and fly off a few feet! All dogs barred from the garden now. We also found another tiny pheasant chick which must have only been a day or two old, I am not sure who it belongs to, or where it is now, it went off to the veg patch

The heron comes in and has a good look around in the evenings, but we are hoping he is not getting these little babies.

Gimpy the lame Buzzard is busy being a parent so hasn't visited to look for worms recently.

Having seen the bit about a bee house on Springwatch we found one at the Garden Centre, (I know we were supposed to make it, but this seemed easier ). We put it up yesterday, so I'll be keeping an eye on that now.

It's all go here, just a wonderful time of year to watch wildlife in the garden.

Lai

No youngsters yet!

But lovely to see them ............ thanks TB

Lai

Great to see the Puffins, and other Sea Birds
Thanks TB
WS

Know the feeling Lai. Our shopping list this weekend read, Milk, Fat Balls, Meal Worms, Suet Pellets, Fat cakes, Sunflower Seed, Peanuts, Bread. I'm dreading whats coming up for Tea .
We have loads of little fledglings, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Greenfinches, Sparrows, and Starlings, its really comical watching them trying to coordinate landing on the feers, and watching the parents feeding them. Wilma, and Fred the Woodpeckers are not visiting as much now so I think any little Bam Bams have fledged, but we have'nt seen them yet. We are not having to much problem with the large Birds, but I have had a batle with a Crow that kept unhooking the Fat Cake, Fat Ball, and Nut feeders off the Feeding Station, dropping them on the floor so they opened, then eating all the contents. After numerous attempts I finaly solved the problem by cable tying the handles to the feeder station arms.

WS

I got up this morning went into the kitchen and saw outside a casualty of our french windows. A fledgling Great Tit was lying on the ground looking very dead. I thought I would sort out the dogs and then bury it, but when I returned 5 minutes later it was sitting up again



So I sat inside and kept an eye on it for 20 minutes so none of the big birds could come and get it and then it fluffed itself up, walked around a bit and flew off back to the apple tree.



What a relief, I was so pleased to see it alive and well and able to fly.

Lai

that is such good news and so glad that its alright. brilliant photos too

That happens a lot with us Lai. Last week we had a Baby Chaffinch just outside our window, I'd heard a bump it had flown into the window, and was stunned. Like you we kept an eye on it for about 20 Mins to make sure it was safe from predators, then Mrs S went outside to check on it, it came round, and flew off. Hopefully it was OK after. I think this happens a lot with the young ones, untill they can fly properly. So fingers X thats two that are safe now

WS

Oooooo hope Mrs S didn't muddle up your tea with the bird food then WS

How lovely the little Great Tit was ok Lai, he looks so cute, he was obviously a tough little one

Has anyone else noticed how low the birds are flying at the moment? they seem to fly right towards the cars or just above the roof. It's so scary driving in the early morning and early evening. I've had a few near misses and a few breath holding moments. I've not known them to fly so low before. I am wondering if there has been a good hatching this year and if it's all about competition for food or are they just getting braver and less scared of traffic?

littlewid-x-

This morning in the veg patch - another Mrs Pheasant who is sitting happily between the beans and the spinach on eggs we hope. She is quite happy for life to go on around her. Needless to say the dogs are banned! With her is a baby bunny that is not supposed to be there, eating its way through the veg and strawberries





Lai

It's funny how these birds make us duck in our cars and then let out a sigh of relief when they are ok. Owls are low flyers though aren't they Doogs, it was obviously also in hunting mode to be that low. I have also noticed how much slower they move out of the road now, the amount of times i've come to a dead stop is unbelievable.

Gorgous photo's Lai hopefully she is sitting on eggs and they will all be ok. Lets hope the little bunnie doesn't disturb her too much. You'll have to let us know how things go if she lets you.

littlewid-x-

no to be honest it wasn't Doogs it was in with the strawberries

Going to check on Mrs P and the rest of the wildlife later - one becomes in a very short time and then there will be no fruit and veg left

Lai

I think its your own fault Lai. You know how one attracts a load of other
WS

You're on sparkling form today WS -

Lai

Any update on Mrs P Lai :?: Hope she is doing ok. So many baby bunnies around at the moment.....not good for your veg Lai but they are so cute

littlewid-x-

See Lai thats another you've attracted
WS

Mrs P has moved from the veg patch - she must have wanted to lay some eggs but then she got up and went to the feeder, I went and checked where she had been and no evidence of eggs which is a shame. She is around and about and Fizal is in pursuit (mind you, he's like that with all the hen pheasants) so maybe there is time yet for some more chicks.

WS -

Lai

Shame about no eggs Lai, but at least the Dogs can have a run round the garden now
WS