General Chat

Having finally given up on the possibility of getting back to sleep, I rose at 6am this morning, put the kettle on to boil and raised the kitchen blind.

A pair of Robins were hopping round on our large back lawn with their newly fledged brood, the youngsters red breasts still at the stubby brown stage. Two had mastered this flying thing, disappearing out of sight, then swooping in to land just slightly heavily, others practised take off and landing, between the line post, the tall hedge and the grass.

A family of young Hedge Sparrows, possibly spurred into action by the young Robins, emerged from the hedge to join them, exploring the green expanse, whilst their parents took the opportunity for a quick bath and spruce up in the bird bath.

The young Jackdaws, that have been occupying the unused copper chimney, were now walking across our roof and could be heard cawing loudly.

Blue Tits were busily searching the fir tree for food to take back to the bird box for their growing family.

A hen Blackbird flew in, she would hold her head to one side, listening, quickly stick her beak into the grass to retrieve another titbit until she could carry no more, flying back to her nest in the hedge on the other side of our garden.

I must have stood watching for a full half hour before the Magpie twins arrived loudly announcing their presence. This was too much for the smaller birds, which were quickly taken away by their parents.

I have to admit Carol I do the same, especially when I cannot sleep and wake up at early tick tock....I open my blinds in the livingroom which has a lovely view of my front garden.....I can watch them for hours, fascinating.....

I can sometimes sit at the kitchen table and watch the buzzards circling over the field at the back.

OH took son home on Monday after 'Mummy sitting' the previous day when OH returned his first words were 'left Francis of Assisi' up there.

As soon as son walked in front gate - in the side garden there was a 'coo' and dove landed on his shed.

Son goes in and comes out of house with large tin he keeps seed in, dove landed on table. waited for the feed to arrive and began to feed. Son did not move whilst she fed - OH was most envious.

Apparently last week Penny as he calls her kept calling from shed roof so in the end he put some more seed on table - no - kept calling - so in he went again and came out with the peanuts - that's better!!!!!!

He says he shouts at the pigeons/crows and talks softly to the others!! Has an arrangement with neighbour if he is away overnight etc that she fills the bird bath.

We have a good selection of birds to watch....The only thing missing again this year are our housemartins..2 yrs running now no birds back to nest....A pair of doves like to follow the OH down to open bird table ready for her bits of left over pastry.. The doves also love mashed potato...As do the starlings ,jackdaws,etc etc... Our favourites to watch are the goldcrests in the conifer trees...We have 3 trees about 30/40 ft all different in the back garden and down the bottom end past the ponds there are another 3 with dovecote under them....The ponds are looking sad now..Lost all our fish,,even big koi was at bottom with big gash down his side...All the others have gone..Found 1 red/white goldfish with tail and half back bitten off,,showed Terry opposite a game keeper and he said MINK....Won't restock..At 82 not worth it......Nature eh????....LES.