What have you seen
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I was looking out of one of our windows this evening and a Swallow flew past!! This seems very early in the year for one to be about in S.Cumbria.
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Another miserable day of rain today in the south west. hope it is better where you are.
At least I got to watch the Blue Tits make up their mind which box to use, then start collecting nest material . It has been a blur this morning with non-stop activity.
The weather is dreadful the light is poor, the iso is on max at 12800, so not a lot of detail, just a record of action.
Both birds have been in and out all morning, so the nest must be just about ready for the lining material. Time to gather some of the daughters husky's fur. Lots available.
It looks like we have several pairs nesting in our garden this year. So far there are Dunnocks, Robins, Wrens, Sparrows in the garage roof, Blackcap quite close and Blackbirds. Unfortunately our long standing male with the white tail feathers that has nested for the past 5 years has not been seen this year so far.
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Good pics BM, they have certainly been busy.
Our bird box hasn't been used for the last couple of years, even though I cleared it out after the last time it was used.
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Fabulous pictures BM. Blue tits are such lovely little birds.
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Thanks Nevers, Brue and H&T
I seem to be following in the footsteps of Greylag and his Redpolls, which I enjoyed very much, but housebound at present and in need of entertainment, which the garden birds are providing.
Update on the great Bluetit nest project. I guess this is probably the first nest built by this pair and they have not stopped again all day. They have collected so much, that they can no longer get in the hole very well and have to force more material through. The box looks like it is full up to the entrance, with material sticking out of the hole.
First cup of tea this morning was enjoyed with 7 Goldfinch on the feeders and for the first time since I have been feeding the birds, a pair actually took to the Niger seeds. Our regular female Blackcap came along as usual, but accompanied now by a male. Also about half a dozen Long Tailed tits have become regular visitors, spending several hours on the fat balls and surrounding bushes. What absolutely gorgeous little birds these are.
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Our group of long tailed tits has stayed close to us through the winter, it will be interesting to see if this habit persists. Previously we got occasional visits as they combed through the trees and bushes. They now seem to like the feeders and our habitat.
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Great pics again BM.
Our winter flocks of Long Tailed Tits have now been replaced by just one pair that come and go all day long, probably nesting not too far away. The only time we get Goldfinches is when we put seeds out but the starlings come mob handed and scatter them everywhere. Another regular visitor is the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and the occasional Nuthatch also pays us a visit.
Just going to take the dog now, in-between the wet weather.
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Lovely photos again BM. I've never seen any long tailed tits in our garden although I have seen some in our local park, and we had some on a feeder we put out while at Hunters Moon club site.
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Thanks for the info RedKite, but whereabouts are they?
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Sorry Bluemalaga we are in the Lot France. Quite a few Black Kites flying around local town yesterday. Just to make you laugh got all excited when I saw what looked like birds of prey in the distant from our kitchen window got the binoculars close by and to find 5 parachutes coming down in the distant.
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May I ask if you are inthe caravan or live in the area. It seems to be a place several members visit.
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No we live here now full time but will be over in UK in September for a visit to North Devon and West Somerset with the caravan.
Have got resident kestrels flying over our small field and the birdsong in the morning is getting better have been very quiet due to the weather.
Hope to get away in June to the next Department of the Tarn to visit the Foret de Gresigne as very good for birds of prey also to check what butterflies are in that area, will be visiting the Brenne in May so will see what is about, will try to get some pictures and put on here after our visits.
A good area to visit and plenty of wildlife about never know what you are going to see next.
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We are just planning our first trip. Not sure where to go just yet, Somerset levels or East coast.
Just read that a Hoopoe hasbeen spotted today justnorth of Bristol just 5 miles from home.
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Seen a few near where we used to have our apartment in Spain but never seen one in the UK despite being in the south.
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Morning visitors, Siskin on feeder and 2 Gold Finches pinching nesting materials from the planter
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BM
Garden is very quiet, Just Tits and Gold Finches....Redpolls long gone.
We watched a par of Dunnocks bringing in nesting material and they chose a small bush by back door....not a good spot...too close to the door.
Nest is a work of art...they laid 3 eggs over 5 days and were never seen on the nest...now the nest is deserted. What do you do with 3 blue eggs and a lovely nest? I know, just leave it.
The Blue Tit who slept in the nest box, every night since November has not tried building a nest, just comes and goes.
New dog means I cannot Peregrine watch this year.....really miss it.
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Nice to hear what's about in France, RK. We love La Brenne, our first ever area visited many moons ago. What campsite do you use as we've always struggled to find a really conveniently placed one, usually ending up at the one in Vendoeuvres, which is ok? Don't like the one at Ls Blanc but many years since we were there.
Hope to call in at La Brenne next May.
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Had a few visitors in the garden in the last couple of days. Sorry the pics are a bit foggy, they were taken at an angle through the window.
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Hi OP, sorry for the late reply.
The jar feeder is called Wild Bird Peanut Butter we get it from B+M, only £1.99 and that includes the green cage and perch.
If your store does not stock it, Wilko sell one similar for £4, this also includes a holder in the shape of a little house. HERE
Lots of birds love it especially the woodpeckers. I had to fit the guttering cover above it to stop the starlings and magpies.
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