Missed Jay and captured Bullfinches

There was excitement in the garden today when a large handsome Jay landed on the fence. It only stayed a moment, but I got a picture,

of its back end and legs, as it flew from the garden.

I did manage some better pictures of Squirrel when she came out for lunch with The Red Man

I am not sure The Red Man was very good company,

Squirrel was quite happy just eating all the nuts.

The Bullfinches visited the garden again, this is the third time I have seen them and this time I was closer so I took lots of shots to make sure I took at least one good one.


The Male Bullfinch was not bothered by the camera at all, in fact he seemed to play up to it.

The Female Bullfinch was a little more timid it took a while longer to get a decent photo of her, the difference in colouring made it harder as well.

Then I even managed to take one of them both together on the bird house, it may not be a great shot but I like it.

I have decided to call the Male Bullfinch "Arnie" because he'll be back.

The list of young birds is still growing we have a Dunnock,

and a Collar Dove.

 Squirrel stood in the garden looking round this afternoon,

she wondered what was happening I think, all these noisy babies in the garden, where was she going to get a bit of peace now?


Until the next time...

An exotic encounter

This morning we had to nip into town to collect a few things. I don't like town on a saturday morning because it is always busy so it really was only going to be a quick visit.
 As you know I always take a camera if I go into town or anywhere for that matter. This morning I am pleased I did.
On the precinct there was a stall run by "Morely Exotic Animal Rescue" . They had a few animals with them so of course I took the opportunity of photographing a couple.

Marmoset Monkey

Meerkat

(originally named "Sergei")

Then the last one I photographed was being held by a 2 year old boy whose mum said it was fine to take the photo,

A Bloody Big Spider.

I was pleased with the pictures it is always good to have something different to photograph.

A couple of hours later Tony shouted me from the kitchen to get a camera, so I grabbed a camera and walked into the kitchen.

I looked out of the window and in the garden was a beautiful pair of Bullfinches.

Male Bullfinch

I didn't manage to photograph the female she was too well hidden in the grass. This is the second time in a week they have been in the garden I hope they will be back. Hopefully they are nesting close by or looking for a nesting site.

Until the next time...

The rain didn't stop the birds

Today the weather was so wet and the rain continued to pour, I had to go into the garden to save the plants from drowning by moving them back into the Greenhouse. It was a shame I could not save the three snails I found in the sink. I did take them out and put them on the ground just in case but I knew it was really too late.

I put a bit of food out and filled the nutboxes, I was surprised how quickly the birds appeared.
The Blue Tit was first,

Followed quickly by a Robin sporting a fancy new style,

Then I spotted a new addition to the garden, a young Blackbird

There were young Sparrows being fed by parent birds.

So it didn't matter that the rain came down the garden is still a busy place with plenty to see.

Until the next time...

Oh the noise is deafening

The garden makeover is making progress, the digging has been completed around the Greenhouse and gravel has been put down. It is beginning to look very posh. Tony really is doing an excellent job and of course I am doing a good job of fetching, carrying and watching.
The sparrows made good use of the earth before it was covered with membrane and gravel. They could be seen throughout the day rolling about enjoying dust baths, I imagine they must have been a bit miffed when it was covered over.

Almost a week after telling you about baby sparrows I am now pleased to tell you we have dozens of baby starlings. They are making a racket from dawn till dusk.

Watching them being fed by the parent bird is like watching a horror movie at times, the parent bird must be so scared watching that wide open beak coming towards it,

Then when it get's near enough to grab the food,

It makes a lunge for it,

grabs it and just will not let go

it holds on to the food, taking hold of part of the parents head

gripping on for all it's worth

refusing to let go

Then when the parent bird does finally escape the young bird just shouts for more.

and more

and more

The parent just cannot get a break, even when they are quiet the young just stand waiting for more.

Hang on a minute! Who's the impostor on the end?

Until the next time...

A first sighting and something strange at the bottom of the garden

I am pleased to announce the arrival of our first sighting of babies in the garden!

Early yesterday afternoon (wednesday 14/05/2014) on the garden fence.

I managed to capture on a photograph one parent bird and two babies.

The Sparrow Family

The first baby was enjoying the feed while the second baby watched and shouted for a turn.

The Sparrow Family

The parent bird has a short rest before flying away to search for more bugs to feed the chicks. I will have to go and stock up on live mealworms now I know the babies are out.

The Struggling Starling

This Starling seem's to be having a bit of a struggle with it's nesting material. The straw would not bend where the Starling wanted it to. In the end it just flew away with the straw hanging out of it's beak looking like a long droopy moustache.

The resident Magpie is appearing all over the garden, he is not the slightest bit bothered by us and just walks about looking for food.

The Resident Magpie

After he has had a look round and eaten enough, he will sit and watch, sometimes on the shed roof, or on the fence (where the Squirrel usually sits) and watches me in the shed.

The Resident Magpie

 He doesn't seem to bother anyone else in the garden and they all seem to tolerate him so as long as there is no problem he is welcome to stay.


Most people have fairies at the bottom of their gardens, but not us, oh no just look what we've got,

The Red Man

I don't know either! Ask Tony.

Until the next time...

The strange resident

The weather just lately has been wet, wet and then wetter. According to the papers we are still going to get a heatwave this summer, it is going to be up to 75 degree's. Do excuse me if I don't believe them, at the moment the weather people are on a par with politicians.
I am fed up of people pushing leaflets through the letterbox saying vote for us and we will do this, no vote for us and we will do that and then no vote for us and we will do all that and more. They are all as bad as each other, I am tempted not to vote for any. However I have decided where my vote is going and nothing will change my mind so they can take their leaflets and stuff them.

Right rant over.

I am still waiting for an appointment for my tooth pulling out if I don't get one soon I will be handing a pair of pliers to Tony and saying go on do your worst.

I went to Roundhay Park at Leeds with Elvira a few days ago, we had a little stroll round the gardens then Elvira showed me the tree that has been planted in memory of her daughter Jean who died of Cancer a short time ago. The tree is a Willow tree it is a lovely spot over looking the lake. We went to the cafe for a cup of coffee then Elvira brought me home. I enjoyed our time out and hope to do it again soon.


I had a go at making some peanut butter so it didn't have as much salt in as shop bought. I hoped the birds would like it, well the Starlings did it went down a treat.

Some of the other birds in the garden preferred the live mealworms, always a favourite with the Robins but this time some of the Starlings decided it was a good meal for hungry chicks.

 There are also the one's that like the raisins,

Last of all we seem to have gained a resident Magpie, the bird has lost most of it's tail feathers so is having problems flying.

Until the next time...