What have you seen
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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.
Thanks Nevers, will get some.
Butterfly's in the garden this morning, Red Admiral, Peacock and Little Tortoiseshell. Uplifting to see.
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This fine weather has brought out the Peacock Butterflies up here, We saw lots yesterday in High Stand woods and again today near Dumfries. There were also at least 3 Woodpeckers hammering away this morning in the woods,
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We opened the blinds this morning just as a Sparrow Hawk flashed passed the feeders. Fortunately for every other bird, they were unattended.
Following this, we noticed that the Bluetits were no longer carrying sticks and grasses to the nest box but were helping themselves to the Husky fur donated by the family Malamut "Jake" as a lining material, which we stuffed into an old feeder.
Several beak fulls went inside the box before the courtship began.
The female appeared to be shivering with wings slightly down to the side. Then the male brought her a sunflower heart before the deed was done. Looks like we will get to see the youngsters fledge as the box is about 10 metres from our kitchen window with the opening facing us.
The van is packed up ready for a week on the Somerset levels with trips to Greylake, Westhay, Shapwick and Ham Wall planned with Steart Marshes as an option if we get time. Hoping to hear our first Bittern Booming this trip.
How did your American Bittern spotting pan out Oneputt? looks like it is still about over there.
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That looks like a happy couple BM, thanks to your help with the nesting material.
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I tried a piece of toast and a a duvet with the OH, but it didn't work out as well.
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Something a bit different, seen on our visit to the lovely Trebah Gardens in Cornwall this week and I might also put a few extra pics in the story section later. Gazing into the beautiful koi pond a newcomer in the shape of a freshwater sturgeon. Not a very clear photo, but I tried my best as he moved around. The gardens are looking stunning just now, lots of lush new growth and colour.
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BM enjoy your break in Somerset you will be around my old stomping grounds and plenty to see also possible the Cranes, very envious.
Have had two nightingales singing this early am 1 in front of the house and one behind in next door's field even managed to spot one with the binoculars, they are singing again this evening.
We have a pair of blue tits nesting in a nest box attached to a post next to OH's shed very busy now feeding the chicks and at last some oak trees are out in leaf so should be some caterpillars about for the chicks.
Lovely pictures of Trebah gardens brue not been there.
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Thanks for the great pics Brue.
I had two unusual sightings today.
The first was a Newt I spotted on the path alongside the main road. It may have been ill as it hardly moved when I picked it up and placed it in the grass.
The second was a Field Mouse that I spotted in a flower bed when in St Annes. It kept nipping out for any crumbs that people had dropped when eating their butties.
Sorry no pics.
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Stroll across the moors down to the Ribble today. Common Sandpipers moving through and sand martins taking residence. Snipe still displaying on the moors, lots of wheatear on the drystone walls, swallows flying round the farm buildings, what a change from last week!
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Nothing really startling today but interesting all the same. Lots of Buzzards, and the odd Red Kite, Lapwings, Oystercatchers and our first sighting of a House Martin. In the hedgerows our first BlueBells, clusters of Violets including a patch of white ones, and still plenty of Primroses in bloom.
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Set up today at Old Oaks site at Glastonbury. What a lovely site, thefirst cuppa was enjoyed in the company of a pied flycatcher. Quite a surprise, it landed just a few feet away. Hadn't even got the camera out.
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It has been a rather wet day here and so I decided to watch the garden birds from the comfort of our conservatory. I did see a Bullfinch but unfortunately it was very camera shy.
Here are some less shy birds.
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Nice pics NAS, but what on earth do those Lancashire woodpeckers eat? Brings back memories of that old classic about ants, rubber trees and high hopes.
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The weather is not as good as last weeks forecast but dry enough to get out to local nature reserves near Glastonbury.
we had 5 sightings of bittern yesterday probably only 3 birds. Marsh harriers appear to be nesting close to the left side of the Avalon hide at Ham Wall. We had a great display when a second pair got to close, ariel battle took place for about 2 minutes.
Bitterns heard booming all over the marsh 19 males recorded and 4 others at greylake.
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I have yet to see a Marsh Harrier BM. That aerial battle sounds impressive.
After the second day of cleaning a load of bird droppings off the car paintwork, I decided to make some drastic changes. No more suet blocks as they attract the starlings and magpies, just stick with the seed feeders, peanuts and the Birdy-Butter for the woodpecker.
Also I need to removed the starlings favorite perch, our tv aerial, which protrudes over the drive where I park the car. Today I fitted a new aerial in the loft and it works perfectly. Just need to take the old one down now when we get a fine day.
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For years now we have had a flock of up to 25 starlings around and often the garden was covered with them. About 3 weeks ago their was a flock of several thousand arrive probably getting ready for migration back to Europe. After these migrants left I have only seen a single starling around the garden so don't know whether the rest went with the main flock.
We have two good marsh harrier spotting areas. RSPB Strumpshaw always have a few but NWT Hickling Broad (where they roost) has had as many as 32 at one time.
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Although the weather could have been kinder, we have just returned from a lovely week at Old Oaks campsite near Glastonbury, the only down side to this site is a very slow internet, everything else is 5 star. The hope for the week was to visit Ham Wall and hear Bitterns booming which happened over and over again with 19 males counted on the reserves.
Woke up one morning to a cuckoo calling from a tree opposite the van. All the usual sightings on the reserve and an abundance of birds onsite.
Due to the limit of five pics, I will share over two posts the variety of species on view Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Great White Egret which are nesting on Ham Wall
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Our last visit to Ham Wall was rather disappointing for most of the day with very little activity across the reed beds.
However the walk back to the car provided the highlight of the week when we came across an absolutely beautiful little bird, a Mealy Redpoll which we had seen on an adjacent path but lost sight of it which was very disappointing until we realised it was feeding within 6 feet of where we were standing. The little beauty just carried on as though nobody was around as a small crowd gathered. It only flew off when a pair of Lesser Redpolls turned up to chase it away.
The Swallow and Sand Martin feeding frenzy over the water kept me interested for ages trying to get any sort of pic. Not going to own up to how many pics it took but I would have needed a mortgage to pay for film and Dev costs pre digital.
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Thanks OP
I am trying to obtain Lexar Image Rescue 5 to recover a days pics that I Deleted User by mistake. I have thrown away the packaging from my card purchase which would have a serial number to activate the download that I have found.
The best pic of the Bittern were taken as one flew up in front of us as we walked towards the Avalon hide. It flew over the heads of a couple walking in front of us who had no idea the bird was above until I called out for them to look up.
So if anyone has a serial number that I can use, I would be very grateful.
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Thanks if anyone has tried to find a serial number that I requested, I have just found the leaflet with my dedicated number.
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and grow to 2000pounds or more ! need a lot of bread crumbs & a gi-normous frying pan there