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Post by murphthesurf on Mar 19, 2017 10:54:37 GMT
Today it's the lovely little Wren, a.k.a. Troglodytes troglodytes! The first line of the write-up says 'the Wren is the shortest of all UK garden birds. Although not the smallest, an accolade left to the Goldcrest (*), which weighs in at just six grams, about the weight of a two pence coin.' (*) As Northy told us on Feb. 22nd. I had always thought the wren was our smallest bird. The wren's voice is also mentioned - 'Compared to its slight appearance, the Wren boasts an incredibly loud voice. According to Wikipedia, it is ten times louder, weight for weight, than a cockerel'. Here you are: voice.gardenbird.co.uk/all-about-the-wren/?utm_source=GardenBirdAnd hands up everyone who remembers that there was a wren on the back of the old farthing coin, which was 1/4d in old pennies…….. ...... I have, of course, only learned this last fact from history books on British coins , honest, guv.
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Post by murphthesurf on Mar 19, 2017 11:08:55 GMT
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Post by felonious on Mar 19, 2017 14:23:36 GMT
Well well well I spotted a second pied blackbird this morning on the edge of the field. It was in flight so I didn't have a chance to get a good look at it but I'll be on the lookout from now on.
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Post by Northy on Mar 19, 2017 17:34:28 GMT
male sparrowhawk sitting on the fence at 6.15 this morning, no dawn chorus today
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 19, 2017 18:47:10 GMT
Started to crop it this week, still a bit small but couldn't resist. Omelettes, stir fry, and chicken, potato and wild garlic soup. Great stuff.
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Post by murphthesurf on Mar 19, 2017 20:25:47 GMT
male sparrowhawk sitting on the fence at 6.15 this morning, no dawn chorus today B*st*rd!
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Post by murphthesurf on Mar 19, 2017 20:26:57 GMT
The hawk, not you, Northy! xxx
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Post by Northy on Mar 20, 2017 13:42:06 GMT
Cocoa and spiced rum flavoured crisps from tesco's finest range, think my taste buds are in love, and fell out with my waist
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 20, 2017 15:57:34 GMT
I planted a tree yesterday.
Well a minature one at least. Kilmarnock Willow.
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Post by Northy on Mar 20, 2017 16:12:13 GMT
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 20, 2017 16:16:33 GMT
Cocoa and spiced rum flavoured crisps from tesco's finest range, think my taste buds are in love, and fell out with my waist Rum and Chocolate potato crisps??? What will they think of next, this is beyond man's imaginings.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 20, 2017 17:37:35 GMT
Cocoa and spiced rum flavoured crisps from tesco's finest range, think my taste buds are in love, and fell out with my waist Rum and Chocolate potato crisps??? What will they think of next, this is beyond man's imaginings. I can imagine Hobgoblin crisps Hamageddon
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 20, 2017 17:41:24 GMT
Rum and Chocolate potato crisps??? What will they think of next, this is beyond man's imaginings. I can imagine Hobgoblin crisps Hamageddon Good spot Rog, I'll be on that, I have an inside line with the pub's snack man. Check a 'Savoury Snack Chart' thread near you soon if the search proves fruitful. Wednesday is crisp order day.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 20, 2017 18:03:52 GMT
Well if they choose independence and get back into the EU I guess I can always climb up it and do a 35 hour week or sell cheap baccy from it !! Actually, I sit on clay (obviously) and I wanted something that was thirsty because I get a waterlogged back lawn.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 20, 2017 18:46:18 GMT
Well if they choose independence and get back into the EU I guess I can always climb up it and do a 35 hour week or sell cheap baccy from it !! Actually, I sit on clay (obviously) and I wanted something that was thirsty because I get a waterlogged back lawn. Far enough away from your foundations I hope. Eg half a mile. :-?
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 20, 2017 20:13:41 GMT
Well if they choose independence and get back into the EU I guess I can always climb up it and do a 35 hour week or sell cheap baccy from it !! Actually, I sit on clay (obviously) and I wanted something that was thirsty because I get a waterlogged back lawn. Far enough away from your foundations I hope. Eg half a mile. :-? A good 45ft. There's no underground pipework for a good 50ft. Kilmarnock willow As I type she's sitting in an inch of water so she'll either drown or love life. I've been told that with a lot of excess water she might grow bigger than a 'miniature' so if I see any ground level suckers branching out I'm to cut 'em off.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 20, 2017 20:26:36 GMT
Far enough away from your foundations I hope. Eg half a mile. :-? A good 45ft. There's no underground pipework for a good 50ft. Kilmarnock willow As I type she's sitting in an inch of water so she'll either drown or love life. I've been told that with a lot of excess water she might grow bigger than a 'miniature' so if I see any ground level suckers branching out I'm to cut 'em off. I didn't think you'd have been irresponsible with your planting. But we had a really nice willow in our moist back garden. Distinct memories of the old man scratching his head at the cracks in the garage wall. One year an elephant hawkmoth caterpillar stripped the leaves which was a bonus.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 20, 2017 20:59:35 GMT
A good 45ft. There's no underground pipework for a good 50ft. Kilmarnock willow As I type she's sitting in an inch of water so she'll either drown or love life. I've been told that with a lot of excess water she might grow bigger than a 'miniature' so if I see any ground level suckers branching out I'm to cut 'em off. I didn't think you'd have been irresponsible with your planting. But we had a really nice willow in our moist back garden. Distinct memories of the old man scratching his head at the cracks in the garage wall. One year an elephant hawkmoth caterpillar stripped the leaves which was a bonus. Thanks for the info I figure if the wet patch disappears and becomes dry-ish she might go hunting for more moisture. It'll be interesting having a look in a years time when we enlarge the patio to see if anything has made a b-line for the house.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Mar 20, 2017 22:06:16 GMT
Started to crop it this week, still a bit small but couldn't resist. Omelettes, stir fry, and chicken, potato and wild garlic soup. Great stuff. There's a station toward the end of the railway in Wales that I volunteer on and it's situated close to a ravine with some spectacular falls. The surrounding plateau and hillside is completely carpeted with wild garlic and when it's all in flower the sight an smells are truly stunning. I'm guessing that the micro climate must be just about perfect for it to grow in such vast quantities. I took some pictures when I was last there i'll try and find them.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 21, 2017 10:54:32 GMT
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 21, 2017 19:26:34 GMT
Wild Garlic and brisket with a dash of Old Empire in the slow cooker has worked out rather splendidly.
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Post by potterinleeds on Mar 21, 2017 20:52:52 GMT
Continuing to dig out an ice house by hand near Selby - down 9 feet 5 inches now. Leeds was sat under a vast black cloud of snow and hail this morning, but beautiful sunshine around Selby had got many hawthorn hedges suddenly greening up - a lovely sight. Elder bushes coming into leaf too.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Mar 21, 2017 21:03:27 GMT
Snake's Head Fritillary. That is all.
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Post by Northy on Mar 22, 2017 6:47:37 GMT
had rabbit ragu last night, it wasnt sweet and fluffy anymore 😀
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Post by chuffedstokie on Mar 22, 2017 7:06:49 GMT
had rabbit ragu last night, it wasnt sweet and fluffy anymore 😀 The french quite like their rabbits, usually with some decent merlot thrown in for taste. 🙄
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Post by felonious on Mar 24, 2017 18:27:34 GMT
I've been treated to some fantastic aerial acrobatics from the lapwings today, apparently it's their pre courtship rituals. The dive bombing was ace.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Mar 24, 2017 18:42:47 GMT
I've been treated to some fantastic aerial acrobatics from the lapwings today, apparently it's their pre courtship rituals. The dive bombing was ace.
Fascinating in display like that they are. A lot less common nowadays. Peeeewit
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Post by felonious on Mar 24, 2017 18:47:39 GMT
I've been treated to some fantastic aerial acrobatics from the lapwings today, apparently it's their pre courtship rituals. The dive bombing was ace.
Fascinating in display like that they are. A lot less common nowadays. Peeeewit Sound and vision. There were six of them late this afternoon they'd cleared the crows off the field. I thought the dog was in for it
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Post by Skankmonkey on Mar 24, 2017 18:51:36 GMT
Fascinating in display like that they are. A lot less common nowadays. Peeeewit Sound and vision. There were six of them late this afternoon they'd cleared the crows off the field. I thought the dog was in for it A lot fewer skylarks these days as well.
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Post by felonious on Mar 24, 2017 18:54:59 GMT
Sound and vision. There were six of them late this afternoon they'd cleared the crows off the field. I thought the dog was in for it A lot fewer skylarks these days as well. Haven't been up there for a while but there's a few over at Bateswood in your old neck of the woods.
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