Magpies busy day

Miss squirrel is not thinking about her babies when she is in the garden, she throws herself about on the feeding station, one of these day she will fall off. She does concentrate on what she is doing though, if you look closely at the first picture you can see her tongue sticking out just a tiny bit, I know a few people that do that when they concentrate. I wont name names you know who you are!

The Magpie is back it has spent most of the time in the garden to day, it has tried the peanut butter,

It had to look first to work it out












Then it got the hang of it.

Then it played with a coconut shell

Was sociable with a squirrel







The the magpie seemed to get tired so it hopped back up onto the cross bar and sat there for a while.

Todays photo of the day

A yawning Magpie

It flew away soon after I think it must have gone to wherever it sleeps for a nap.

Until tomorrow...

Robin was lacking in something

I don't know where he has been or what he has been doing but this morning when Robin came into the garden he was lacking something! He had no tail. Nothing not a feather to be seen where a tail should be. He looked very down in the beak, he was not his usually bubbly self at all. He looked at me with sad eyes instead of the mischievous look he usually has. No doubt he has been somewhere he shouldn't have been, or he has had a close call with next doors cat. I bet he will soon be back to his usual self.

Todays photo of the day

Robin with no tail.

Until tomorrow...

The Small tortoiseshell butterfly

Todays photo of the day

Two more shot of the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly that visits Tony.

The butterfly is still coming into Tony's room and I still cannot get a decent shot of it, I am trying though!

Until tomorrow...

Only squirrels and pigeons

The garden is very quiet again apart from the squirrels and of course pigeons there is just nothing about.

Todays photo of the day

This is one of the young male squirrels sitting high up in the sycamore tree.

Hopefully there will be more to photograph soon.

Until tomorrow...

Just call me "Norah"

We had a bus ride to Leeds this morning, just to go on the market and get cheap fruit really. It was very lacking photography wise, I usually manage a couple of snaps but today nothing in fact I never even took my camera out of my bag.

When we arrived home my legs and back ached so much I didn't feel like going down to the garden. I washed up the few pots there was, put some clothes in the washing machine, stripped and changed the bed, then decided to have an hour on the computer.
I glanced out of the window and noticed Miss Squirrel was at the top of the feeding station again. I picked up my camera and went into the Kitchen to see if I could maybe get a couple of shots.
As soon as I looked out of the window she knew I was there.

I did take quite a few shots I wont bore you with too many,

I like the facial expression on this one

Not very lady like but at least it gives a good view of her enlarged nipples so you can see she is definitely either soon to give birth or has already done so and is feeding.

Todays photo of the day

Just call me "Norah"

This old bone was in the garden when we moved into the flat, all the female squirrels have gnawed on it when they have been pregnant, I have guessed it is a calcium thing. Unless anybody knows better?

Until tomorrow...

Butterfly in the flat

I don't know why I bother going into the shed during the day there are no birds it must be too hot for them or they just cannot be bothered.

The squirrels can be just as bad they either don't come at all or they come in groups of four and you don't know where to look.

The Sparrowhawk is still around Tony saw it and was furious because he could not get his camera in time to take a photo when it took a small bird from the feeding station. The Sparrowhawk always seems to come when he is cooking so cannot keep a camera handy because of condensation.

Tony does have a new friend though, it is a Butterfly! It keeps flying into our flat through any window that is open but always settles in the room that Tony is in, if it cannot find Tony it just leaves.
Maybe I should ask Tony to come and sit in the garden maybe he would attract a few more butterflies at least it would give me something to photograph!

Todays photo of the day

Tony's new friend

A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly.

Until tomorrow...

Berries and Bee's

As I wandered round looking for inspiration for something to photograph I noticed the brambles in the corner of the garden. Hmm blackberry jam, pies, and tea I thought, I decided that I would take a picture then in a week or so take another to see how they were coming on.

Today's photo of the day

I wasn't the only one interested in the brambles the Bee's were taking a good look and collecting the last of the pollen before the last few blossoms fell.

Until tomorrow...

Mrs Squirrels disappeared

Miss Squirrel has been spending a lot of time in the garden, she has turned out to be a really cute squirrel.

Mrs Squirrel has not been seen for a long time now I think she may have gone to the great squirrel playground in the sky.

There is going to be more squirrels before long because Miss Squirrel is pregnant.
She climbed up the feeding station today and reviled her swollen nipples, I don't know if she has given birth yet or if she is due to very soon.

 Miss Squirrel can hear the shutter on the camera, she turned and looked at me  so I took another photograph, she wasn't bother she had other things on her mind.

Todays photo of the day

Miss Squirrel certainly put her foot in it.

She was in such a rush to get to the nuts and sunflower seeds she put her foot right into the suet.

She didn't let it bother her she just carried on eating.

Until tomorrow...

What happened to the weather?

This morning I awoke to the sound of rain, I suppose we cannot complain we have had a couple of weeks of sun and the garden really does need some water. Our brown stubby grass is beginning to look a nice shade of green, maybe it will resemble a lawn if it rains tomorrow as well. Then I would like just a little more sun.

The garden has been void of wildlife again today except for the two squirrels who seemed to enjoy the rain. I expect they were happy for the cool shower after all the hot weather.

I have to say though I am not a fan of thunder and the extra loud crash this morning just as I was getting out of bed sent me right back under the covers. I don't mind lightening but thunder no, just not for me thank you. It must be the unexpected bang because I don't light fireworks for the same reason. I like the colours and the flashes but not the bangs.

So there has been no great photographic treats taken today, I have had a pyjama day.

I managed some of the acrobatic squirrel from the kitchen window, I could not decide which one to use so you pick which you like the best.

Todays photo of the day

The Acrobatic Squirrel  Returns.

He is not at all shy.

Until tomorrow...

Sad Dunnocks and Aniseed balls

There was a very sad looking young Dunnock in the garden today. Most of the time was spent lazing about on the fence until it suddenly made a swift flight across to the sparrow bush where it stayed, it was still there when I went back indoors.

Todays photo of the day

The squirrel found an aniseed ball in the garden, 

I don't think he liked it very much from the look on his face.

I can hear some of you asking what was an aniseed ball doing in the garden ? That is something you will have to ask Tony.

Until tomorrow...

Parrot bars for a treat

Todays photo of the day

The squirrel really enjoyed the parrot bar.

The parrot bars I buy from Wilkinsons, they are made of sunflower seeds, nuts and honey. The squirrel liked it so much that when it managed to work it free from the tree it ran away with it no doubt to hide somewhere for later away from the other squirrels.

Until tomorrow...

What can I say except "poor little bike"

Doesn't the sun make people do some silly things?

What can I say but Yuk!

Todays photo of the day

Gypsy caravans traveling along the main road towards York.

Until tomorrow...

No birds just bees and hoverflies

Todays photo of the day

Hoverfly on the sparrow bush

Until tomorrow...

Home from home

Todays photo of the day

The shed where most of my photography takes place.

Until tomorrow...

The monster in the corner

Todays photo of the day

I think it is a Cobweb Spider, also called funnel-weavers due to their web - a flat, tangled silk sheet with a funnel shaped tube at one side.

Until tomorrow...

Legs keep rocking

Todays photo of the day

Legs of rock?

I don't understand why anybody wants to wear tight striped leggings, when they twist round they make your legs look twisted. It just amused me the sign saying Audio and her legs making me think of sticks of rock.

Until tomorrow...

A very quiet garden

Just a quick few lines the garden is still very quiet,  the birds must be hiding somewhere cool.

Today's photo of the day

A Macro shot of a Bee collecting pollen.

Until tomorrow...

Wakefield's buildings

There are some useful buildings in Wakefield

There are some interesting buildings 

some old fashioned buildings that have been turned into restaurants.

However my favourite buildings are

Todays photo of the day

The numerous coffee shops we have in Wakefield.

Until tomorrow...

car boot sales and car washes.

There was no car boot sale at York today so we tried out the one at Temple Newsam at Leeds. I have to say I did not enjoy it as much as York.

Tony enjoyed his sandwich though.

We dropped Elvira off at home, then stopped in at the car wash that the Wrenthorpe Rangers U15 Team  were holding to  raise funds towards the cost of their European Tour.

They have a car wash at Wrenthorpe working mens club every few weeks they charge £3.00 per car and they do an excellent job.

Todays photo of the day

The carwash crew.

They looked like they were enjoying every minute of it, they really played up for the camera.

Until tomorrow...

The things you see written on vans.

I often look out for signs on the road that amuse me, I have seen some good ones but the one written on the rear of a van delivering to the shop this morning really made me chuckle.

You must have seen the vans that say 

"no tools left in this van overnight"

I don't know if they were having a laugh at there expense or whether it was a genuine sign but it read,

"no buns left in this vehicle overnight"

Todays photo of the day

The writing on the van made me chuckle.

Go on admit it, you laughed didn't you?

Until tomorrow...

Mr Blackbirds bath day

The garden is still very quiet, the sparrows are beginning to come out more so are the dunnocks. The blue tits and great tits have been in a couple of times but the coal tits have not been back yet. Mr Blackbird is still calling every day, today he had a bath.

 In our garden there is a dustbin lid full of water, an old pot sink full of water and a bird bath, a small dish on the feeding station and a shallow dish for the small birds on the floor. Where did Mr Blackbird decide to have a bath? Yes you guessed it, in the shallow dish.

Todays photo of the day

Mr Blackbird taking a bath.

This is one of a few photo's I took but this is my favourite one.

Until tomorrow...

Tweeting in the garden

There was much tweeting outside the kitchen window this evening, I looked outside to see 2 dunnocks on the fence having a stand off.

There was a lot of tweeting , wing waving and jumping about.

Todays photo of the day

A Dunnock disagreement.

The dunnocks flew off in different directions, the garden was quiet again. 

Until tomorrow...

The babies are growing up

The young starlings are beginning to show new markings, the feathers are making them look as though they are wearing waistcoats.

Todays photo of the day

A young Starling showing off his new waistcoat.

Until tomorrow...

Swollen ankles and high temperatures.

The garden is still quiet, I don't think the heat is helping now, today it was up in the high 70's again.

I have swollen ankles and nice red patches with walking so tomorrow I will take it easy I will sit and read a little, write a little, go to the shed and see what I can photograph. Drink plenty of fluids and just lounge about. Tony will probably say "just a normal day then".

Todays photo of the day

Mr Blackbird spitting water into the water dish.

These birds can be so uncouth at times.

Until tomorrow...

A wimbledon champion and a bee's bum.

I really don't know what to say, it was just too hot , the tennis was on, Good one Andy.

Todays photo of the day

A bee's bum

What can I say? That just about sums it up for today as far as photos went.

Until tomorrow...

Daydreaming of better days

The birds in the garden are very tatty now I think that must be why they are all in hiding. Mr Blackbird appeared earlier today he looks so scruffy, he looked like he was daydreaming on the fence. Maybe he was remembering how good he used to look. Never mind Mr Blackbird you will be handsome again soon.

Todays photo of the day

Mr Blackbird daydreaming about when he was handsome.

Until tomorrow...

The answer to a question.

While out and about in the car I spotted this picture, it answered a question as to why a bicycle has another name.

Todays photo of the day

So that's why they call it a push bike!

Until tomorrow...

Not every garden has one of these.

The garden was very quite today the birds must have been dining else where.

So today you will have to make do with a different kind of sparrow...

Todays photo of the day

A sparrow bush bloom.

One day I will find out the real name of the bush and surprise you as well as myself.

Until tomorrow...

Up on the roof

It's all happening in the garden today,

The starling wars over food continue

The dunnocks are dancing round the garden

Mr Blackbird is getting scruffier by the day,

The lonely magpie is still hanging around on his own

However up on the school roof love is blossoming... 

Todays photo's of the day

At least it keeps them out of the garden.

Until tomorrow...