A little bit of tolerance

Mandona is beginning to tolerate Rusty, she allows him to sit on the fence now while she eats from the table. Before she would have chased him away as soon as he appeared. Pretty Boy does not seem to be calling as much at the moment I wonder if he is getting pushed out a little.

Todays photo of the day

Rusty on the fence & Mandona on the table.

Until tomorrow...

Small bird and a long lens

Today I spotted a garden resident that I have not seen for a few months, A little Jenny Wren. I could hear the wren before I could see her. I first saw her on the ivy but could not get a shot of her there as she kept disappearing deep inside. The next time I spotted her she was on the big sycamore tree at the bottom of the garden, I was in the shed so the sycamore was not too far away for the 150 - 500mm lens to capture her. I still had to crop the picture but I am pleased with the end result.

Todays photo of the day

Jenny Wren

Until tomorrow...

It's official...

It's a boy, I know you have all been dying to know. Well the wait is over, it is official, the third squirrel is a boy.

Todays photo of the day

Meet Rusty.

I decided against Russ and named him Rusty instead to avoid any complications in the future. 

(I thought if I wrote Russ was hanging from the crossbar in all his glory this morning, someone might choke on their coffee knowing I have a brother called Russ. After all we are a bit of a strange family.)

So anyhow the squirrels all have names Mandona is the only female, Pretty Boy and Rusty both males. I am already thinking about what to do if we get any more, Tony thinks I should catch them and dab them with paint.

Until tomorrow...

The sky at dusk

Todays photo of the day

Stratocumulus Clouds.

I took this picture just because I liked the pattern, then discovered that the same pattern had been on the news the previous night on BBC with Paul the Weatherman. That is how I know what they are called.

Until tomorrow...

What happened?

The garden has been very lively with squirrels today, Pretty Boy and Mandona have both been to eat and chase around the garden like children playing tag.

Then the third squirrel would appear which makes Mandona chase the squirrel away from the garden when ever she see's it.

Today the squirrel was getting wise it would stay out of sight until Mandona had gone then it would rush into the garden grab a nut then run away before she came back.

However on one run the squirrel mistimed the run, Mandona had her head in the nut box, the other squirrel did not see her, it shot down the garden grabbed a nut from the other box, rushed back passed Mandona still with her head in the other box and over the wall out of sight. Mandona stood up with a nut in her mouth, jumped up onto the nut box, looking around the garden she knew something had happened she just didn't know what.

Todays photo of the day

Mandona looking startled.

Until tomorrow...

Any one for a mystery tour?

Tony spotted this beauty as we rode through Altofts towards Stanley Ferry. It was in fantastic condition for it's age. I am not sure the drivers behind the car liked it as much as we did.

We also discovered today that some council workers do have a sense of humour.

Todays photo of the day

This council van was in front of us for a while, it was a tatty rusty old van. Written on the bottom right side corner of the van was   MALCOLM'S MYSTERY TOURS.COM  as you can see in the small insert top right.

I bet Malcolm didn't get many customers.

Until tomorrow...

Russ or Winifred which should it be?

I managed a better picture of the mystery squirrel today. I think it is another male. The squirrel appears a lot slimmer than Pretty Boy who I have to say is a bit on the podgy side. This squirrel has a longer face and just look at those fingers he should be a piano player with fingers like that. (Yes I know I am drifting again,).

Todays photo of the day

The newest squirrel in the garden

I have yet to decide on a name, Tony suggested Russ ( Russ Conway) or Winnie (Winifred Atwell) if it's female.

Until tomorrow...

A stranger in the garden

I spotted a stranger in the garden today, at first I thought it was Mandona. except this squirrel only had a brown face not a brown body as well. The squirrel did not want it's photo taking and it was extremely timid. He/she would not let me get a good look so I do not know wether it is male or female.

Only time will tell.

Todays photo of the day

A very timid squirrel

Until tomorrow...

Pretty Boy on a nut run

Today I caught Pretty Boy on film running up and down the fence taking all the Hazelnuts while Mandona was nowhere to be seen. She will be so mad when she comes to the garden and finds the dish empty.

Todays film of the day

                           





Until tomorrow...

The monkey nut thief.

Sammy Crow sat on the school roof waiting for his chance to swoop down to take a monkey nut. The squirrels will turn them round in their paws to see if the are good and worth opening. If the squirrels decide the nut is not worth it they toss them to one side. Sammy is not so fussy and when the squirrel moves, the crow flies down into the garden and takes the nut. He will either take the nut to the rooftop or back to the tree where he will eat the nut, enjoying every bit of it.

Todays photo of the day

Sammy Crow

sitting on the rooftop biding his time.

Until tomorrow...

The sparrowhawk is around.

Once again the garden is quiet, the Sparrowhawk was about so the small birds were in hiding. All except this brave male sparrow that decided he was too hungry to stay hidden any longer.

The lure of the suet balls was to strong to resist, at least if the sparrowhawk returned and took him  the sparrow would die a brave full sparrow not a snivelling hungry sparrow like them in the bushes.

Todays photo of the day

The brave sparrow

He lived to tell his tale, to all the other sparrows and to his children in the long winter nights.

Ok I know I am losing the plot again.

Until tomorrow...

A little bit of sunshine.

The garden has been very quiet of late, maybe it's the cold weather , maybe it's the neighbourhood cats, or maybe I am just going down at the wrong time of day. What ever the reason I am not getting many photographs.

Today all I saw was sparrows so that is what you get.

Todays photo of the day

A male sparrow

 Sitting high in the lavender bush soaking up the small amount of sun that shone.

Until tomorrow...

Christmas decorations

The christmas decorations have been appearing in the shops recently. I cannot believe that people like christmas so much that they decorate before the end of November. Driving down the road there are christmas trees in house windows.

The decorations in the Ridings this year are as usual colourful and sparkling.

Todays photo of the day

One of the decorations in the Ridings

It really is just a load of baubles.

Until tomorrow...

The Squirrels are living in harmony

This morning Pretty Boy was the first squirrel spotted in the garden. He was probably getting his share of the food before greedy Mandona appeared.

It wasn't long before Mandona rushed into the garden too. Mandona however left pretty Boy alone she came closer to the flats sitting on the fence between the two gardens.

She poses so nicely, she looks like butter wouldn't melt, let me tell you now it is all an act.

We had another popular visitor today, this is who has been chosen for,

Todays photo of the day

A Female Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The hole, Tony made in the leg of the crossbar to fill with peanut butter, is growing larger. The Woodpecker pecks around the hole to make sure she takes all the peanut butter and in doing so increases the size of the hole.

Until tomorrow...

Meet Mandona

Just a quick blog today and instead of photo of the day here is

 film of the day

                         


Until tomorrow...

Double trouble

Pretty Boy the male squirrel, we think has moved in, has been joined by a female squirrel. They are easy to tell apart at a glance just because of their colour.
Pretty Boy is mainly grey, Mandona is more brown.
                                                                                                                                                                                 


Pretty Boy

Mandona

The male is called Pretty Boy because when I first saw him I said 'what a pretty boy'. The female is called Mandona which means 'Bossy' in spanish.
The two squirrels were playing chase round the tree this morning, according to my squirrel books, (yes I have books I need to know these things)this is a type of foreplay. So fingers crossed more squirrels in the future.
The Mandona is very bossy she obviously rules the roost. Pretty Boy gives in to her, she has first pick of the food, she takes the hazel nuts.

She had two in her mouth when I took this photo.

 I noticed today Pretty Boy had not managed to get a hazel nut, I put three on the fence for him to take. He must have been watching , he rushed down to take the nuts, in his haste he knocked them off the fence, all I got was a photo of Pretty Boys paw on top of the fence, He must have been so upset.

Todays photo of the day

Pretty Boys Paw.

The nuts shot off in all directions, I can imagine what went through the squirrels head, can you?

Pretty Boy climbed slowly back up the tree, he sat on a branch looking very sorry for himself.

 I am happy to have squirrels back, I know it is not Miss Squirrel. However it could be her daughter or son, life goes on.

Until tomorrow...

Happy days.

Peanut butter has always been popular in the garden with the birds and squirrels. I was surprised however when Tony called me into the kitchen to watch the magpies eating it. They were so competitive about the peanut butter they fought over it. Two of them came to an agreement though the picture shows how.

I am also pleased to say the squirrel who was moving into the tree at the bottom of the garden has come down to the garden today to eat his fill.

Todays photo of the day

Pretty Boy the male squirrel who has moved in.

Until tomorrow...

Buds in Autumn

We have never managed to find out what kind of bush the Sparrow bush really is. I am going to try again to find out, it is a very strange bush it seems to have no set season for budding and flowering. It flowered all through spring , summer and is now budding again.

Todays photo of the day

The Sparrow bush in bud again.

I am really getting a bit desperate for photograph ideas.

Until tomorrow...

A waiting game

I would not have said the weather today was too cold but still no squirrels to see.

Todays photo of the day

The shelf on the fence filled with seeds and hazel nuts for the squirrels.

If you fill it they will come.

Until tomorrow...

Great Tit and nothing more.

I am going to stop mentioning squirrels because every time I do they disappear. I am more sure that the weather plays a part now. When it is cold we do not see them, they don't mind the rain but they do not like the wind or when it is very cold. So they are not out again however I have every faith that they will reappear if the weather warms up or if they are hungry enough to need to come out to look for food.

I have not been able to take many pictures at all today there has been very little in the garden but I did manage to get a couple so ...

Todays photo of the day

One of several Great Tits visiting the garden.

Until tomorrow...

Strange clouds in the sky and happenings in the sycamore tree.

The Starling photo has a strange blue tint to it which no matter how I try I cannot get rid of it.

I wonder if it could have anything to do with the strange coloured clouds over Wrenthorpe yesterday?

Todays photo of the day

Strange clouds in the sky over Wrenthorpe.

Oh and guess what? yes they are back, a young male squirrel was spotted today taking leaves up to the higher branches of the sycamore tree at the bottom of the garden. Tony and I watched him for quite a while we just could not make out where exactly he took them. I went down into the garden for a closer look, I think he is taking them into a hole round the back of the tree. So not only do we think they are back we think they are moving in. Oh I do hope so.

I will let you know more as it happens.

Until tomorrow...

A bit of free advertising

Walking round Leeds we spotted a good bit of advertising. I have never been to this establishment however my son has been to one in Wakefield and he seems to like it. So if you are in Leeds and are feeling hungry maybe you should try it.

Todays photo of the day

A bit of free advertising for Frankie & Benny's

Until tomorrow...

Time for a fire.

We have been doing some rearranging indoors I have a new wardrobe Tony has some new things for his study. There was a few things to get rid of so Tony decided he would have a fire to get rid of as much as he could.

Todays photo of the day

Tony with his fire.

I did get a little bit worried when he began looking towards the shed, especially because I was in it at the time!

Until tomorrow...

Greedy birds.

It doesn't matter how hard we try to stop the feral pigeons coming into the garden to eat the bird food they keep coming back. 

If I am in the shed they sit on the surrounding roof tops canoodling until I go back up to the flat. Before I am inside with the door shut they are in the garden guzzling the food.

Todays photo of the day

Two canoodling feral pigeons.

Until tomorrow...

A dismal day

The squirrels are still missing, the garden is dismal and cold. There are very few birds around then suddenly the garden was brightened a little by this small bird.

Todays photo of the day

A Goldfinch brightness in the garden.

Until tomorrow...

They've gone again

As the brainiest among you may have realised the squirrels have disappeared again. I hope it is the cold weather just keeping them away, that the are snuggled up somewhere warm, that when they are hungry enough they will return again.

So for the meantime I have to find other things to photograph and write about. You have to bear with me some of you may think at times I appear to have lost the plot, I probably have but don't worry I always find it again.

Todays photo of the day

Starling in the big fir tree outside the bedroom window.

Until tomorrow...

The escape of the trolly.

On a trip to Tesco we noticed once again the trolly parks were not being cleared. The trollies were overflowing across the driving areas.

One trolly had even managed to escape the car park altogether, crossed the road and was away down the main road.

Todays photo of the day

I wonder how far it got before the trolly wardens caught it and took it back.

It would have some tales to tell the other trollies about its adventures.

Until tomorrow...

Trouble causes in the garden

The Magpies are still hanging around the garden, the lonely one has teamed up with 3 more. They swoop into the garden emptying it of all the small birds sometimes I think they are doing it just for fun. They stand on the school roof surveying the area as if looking for mischief to cause havoc on other garden. 

Todays photo of the day

A mischievous Magpie.

Until tomorrow...

Cheeky things these squirrels!

It is so good to have squirrels back in the garden, even if they are cheekier than ever.

Playing hide and seek

Having a chocolate treat.

Todays photo of the day

Getting in your face as if asking for more.

Until tomorrow...

The return

The first day of a new month, no need for words look who's back!

Todays photos of the day

Until tomorrow...