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Post by cheeesfreeex on Nov 1, 2018 18:15:33 GMT
I think I reported Goldcrest sightings along the cut on here during the summer. At the time it wasn't a massively confident confirmed spot, under an hedge from 20/30 feet away. But today during the daily constitutional I came across a Goldcrest nest {poetry in itself}. It was alongside the towpath seven feet up precariously placed in the fork of a young ash. The most delicate of things no bigger than a tennis ball, with an indentation for the clutch of 9-12 eggs they sit no bigger than a normal chicken egg. Fascinating thing made from moss, lined with sheep/dog hair. Googled Goldcrest nests and the pictures were exactly like the one I found, even down to the colour scheme, mossy green outer, white-hair lining. How do they know how, when, where etc to keep doing this? Isn't nature brilliant.
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Post by marylandstoke on Nov 1, 2018 19:36:52 GMT
An Arctic blast is on the way, so it's time to check birdtables, feeders, etc!Garden Wildlife Direct say: 'This weekend we're set for an Arctic blast - Help your garden birds survive by stocking up on high energy food and provide shelter in your garden.' They then list the usual sort of products, but I've ordered some of these which I've never noticed before - so I wondered if anyone else might be interested in knowing about them: Premium Mealworm Suet Pelletswww.gardenwildlifedirect.co.uk/bird-suet-foods/bird-suet-pellets/premium-mealworm-suet-pellets.htmlAlso spotted sth else new, so am going to try one and see if they like it: Peanut Butter Mug, £2.99- A bird peanut butter in a reusable glass jar. The peanut butter contains no additional salt and is specifically made for birds. (Cheesy loves peanut butter - what's the betting he'll buy one for himself………. ) www.gardenwildlifedirect.co.uk/bird-suet-foods/peanut-butter-mug.html
Also find (at least here) a heated bird bath so there is also always drinking water. Often the birds seem to find the drinking water the first priority. I love love my suet feeders but heaven forefend the mafia (our local flock of starlings) find them first. It’s amusing to watch them trying to work out how they can feed off it but when they do it just gets really expensive really fast. oh, and a word to the wise, careful how you order your peanut butter suet plugs.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Nov 1, 2018 21:16:24 GMT
Not wishing to be a killjoy or owt, and I'm sure folk on here give it plenty of thought, but recently seen a picture of a dead blue tit ensared in the fat ball netting. And there's a general RSPB warning about all kinds of feeders. Interestingly there's a picture on that warning of a Starling trapped in a metallic 'spring' like feeder. Killing through kindness is a big issue i fear. ww2.rspb.org.uk/.../rspb.../336457-rspb-warns-about-the-dangers-in-bird-food-packa...
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Post by murphthesurf on Nov 1, 2018 21:49:04 GMT
Not wishing to be a killjoy or owt, and I'm sure folk on here give it plenty of thought, but recently seen a picture of a dead blue tit ensared in the fat ball netting.And there's a general RSPB warning about all kinds of feeders. Interestingly there's a picture on that warning of a Starling trapped in a metallic 'spring' like feeder. Killing through kindness is a big issue i fear. ww2.rspb.org.uk/.../rspb.../336457-rspb-warns-about-the-dangers-in-bird-food-packa... Excellent point, Cheesy --- fatballs in that plastic netting are sold all over the place, but surely it should be illegal to sell them - the netting can be lethal as birds can get their legs/feet tangled in it & can't get out. If I ever buy any fatballs that have it, it gets cut straight off & thrown away. I usually make my own fatballs, but do back them up with bought ones sometimes. I tell you another thing that makes me furious - booklets with ornamental garden things when they sell MIRRORS for garden walls - which fool thought that up? One with a penchant for birds with broken necks? They're something else that should be banned.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Nov 1, 2018 22:01:35 GMT
Not wishing to be a killjoy or owt, and I'm sure folk on here give it plenty of thought, but recently seen a picture of a dead blue tit ensared in the fat ball netting.And there's a general RSPB warning about all kinds of feeders. Interestingly there's a picture on that warning of a Starling trapped in a metallic 'spring' like feeder. Killing through kindness is a big issue i fear. ww2.rspb.org.uk/.../rspb.../336457-rspb-warns-about-the-dangers-in-bird-food-packa... Excellent point, Cheesy --- fatballs in that plastic netting are sold all over the place, but surely it should be illegal to sell them - the netting can be lethal as birds can get their legs/feet tangled in it & can't get out. If I ever buy any fatballs that have it, it gets cut straight off & thrown away. I usually make my own fatballs, but do back them up with bought ones sometimes. I tell you another thing that makes me furious - booklets with ornamental garden things when they sell MIRRORS for garden walls - which fool thought that up? One with a penchant for birds with broken necks? They're something else that should be banned. I take the moral high ground on this one a bit Murphs because I don't put food out for the birds.. for a variety of reasons. Primarily I have chickens, rat control is a constant issue, but also wild birds transfer lice, mites, etc to the poultry, and I've got a cat so encouraging garden birds felt a bit like entrapment. The birds come anyway, in abundance and interestingly what I've found since I've stopped feeding them is that the nestboxes and hedges are used more for nesting. My theory is feeding encourages birds of all ilk, including scavengers/predators so that vacinity becomes unsafe/suitable to nest. This year there was multiple nestbox occupation:Blue Tits and Great Tits simultaneously and Wrens and Chiff Chaff in the hedges. No Robins this year {that I saw}. Dunno, just a thought. My folks have an array of feeding stations and are well blessed with loads of things... seen a Wryneck in their garden. But on the downside also seen the imprint of an owl crash on the kitchen window. It lived to hoot another day.
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Post by murphthesurf on Nov 1, 2018 22:02:28 GMT
There are several threads (and people, mentioning no names) on this MB which would really suit that last comment, MD!
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Post by murphthesurf on Nov 1, 2018 22:12:49 GMT
Excellent point, Cheesy --- fatballs in that plastic netting are sold all over the place, but surely it should be illegal to sell them - the netting can be lethal as birds can get their legs/feet tangled in it & can't get out. If I ever buy any fatballs that have it, it gets cut straight off & thrown away. I usually make my own fatballs, but do back them up with bought ones sometimes. I tell you another thing that makes me furious - booklets with ornamental garden things when they sell MIRRORS for garden walls - which fool thought that up? One with a penchant for birds with broken necks? They're something else that should be banned. I take the moral high ground on this one a bit Murphs because I don't put food out for the birds.. for a variety of reasons. Primarily I have chickens, rat control is a constant issue, but also wild birds transfer lice, mites, etc to the poultry, and I've got a cat so encouraging garden birds felt a bit like entrapment. The birds come anyway, in abundance and interestingly what I've found since I've stopped feeding them is that the nestboxes and hedges are used more for nesting. My theory is feeding encourages birds of all ilk, including scavengers/predators so that vacinity becomes unsafe/suitable to nest. This year there was multiple nestbox occupation:Blue Tits and Great Tits simultaneously and Wrens and Chiff Chaff in the hedges. No Robins this year {that I saw}. Dunno, just a thought. My folks have an array of feeding stations and are well blessed with loads of things... seen a Wryneck in their garden. But on the downside also seen the imprint of an owl crash on the kitchen window. It lived to hoot another day. Sounds like a great set-up. You're doing all the right things, Cheesy! And because of the garden birds my cat is a house cat - she's never, ever allowed out & never shows any interest in it whatsoever (thank goodness!)
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Nov 1, 2018 22:19:11 GMT
I take the moral high ground on this one a bit Murphs because I don't put food out for the birds.. for a variety of reasons. Primarily I have chickens, rat control is a constant issue, but also wild birds transfer lice, mites, etc to the poultry, and I've got a cat so encouraging garden birds felt a bit like entrapment. The birds come anyway, in abundance and interestingly what I've found since I've stopped feeding them is that the nestboxes and hedges are used more for nesting. My theory is feeding encourages birds of all ilk, including scavengers/predators so that vacinity becomes unsafe/suitable to nest. This year there was multiple nestbox occupation:Blue Tits and Great Tits simultaneously and Wrens and Chiff Chaff in the hedges. No Robins this year {that I saw}. Dunno, just a thought. My folks have an array of feeding stations and are well blessed with loads of things... seen a Wryneck in their garden. But on the downside also seen the imprint of an owl crash on the kitchen window. It lived to hoot another day. Sounds like a great set-up. You're doing all the right things, Cheesy! And because of the garden birds my cat is a house cat - she's never, ever allowed out & never shows any interest in it whatsoever (thank goodness!) Cheers. Not quite the Good Life. But I do try. I'm lucky in my location for now. It's all a bit wild, so wildlife comes. I think of those fragile feet on frosty metal feeders. And weep.
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Post by felonious on Nov 2, 2018 6:51:19 GMT
I take the moral high ground on this one a bit Murphs because I don't put food out for the birds.. for a variety of reasons. Primarily I have chickens, rat control is a constant issue, but also wild birds transfer lice, mites, etc to the poultry, and I've got a cat so encouraging garden birds felt a bit like entrapment. The birds come anyway, in abundance and interestingly what I've found since I've stopped feeding them is that the nestboxes and hedges are used more for nesting. My theory is feeding encourages birds of all ilk, including scavengers/predators so that vacinity becomes unsafe/suitable to nest. This year there was multiple nestbox occupation:Blue Tits and Great Tits simultaneously and Wrens and Chiff Chaff in the hedges. No Robins this year {that I saw}. Dunno, just a thought. My folks have an array of feeding stations and are well blessed with loads of things... seen a Wryneck in their garden. But on the downside also seen the imprint of an owl crash on the kitchen window. It lived to hoot another day. Sounds like a great set-up. You're doing all the right things, Cheesy! And because of the garden birds my cat is a house cat - she's never, ever allowed out & never shows any interest in it whatsoever (thank goodness!) In the heat of the summer the stray cat took to lying in an unused sagger which still had last years soil in it which was placed fairly close to a couple of feeders. He completely ignored all the bird activity going on around him it's much easier to howl by the back door when hungry
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Post by murphthesurf on Nov 2, 2018 10:13:01 GMT
Sounds like a great set-up. You're doing all the right things, Cheesy! And because of the garden birds my cat is a house cat - she's never, ever allowed out & never shows any interest in it whatsoever (thank goodness!) In the heat of the summer the stray cat took to lying in an unused sagger which still had last years soil in it which was placed fairly close to a couple of feeders. He completely ignored all the bird activity going on around him it's much easier to howl by the back door when hungry Do you ever let him into the house, Fel? Or not because of the doggy? (I know you feed him, though. Thank you.)
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Post by felonious on Nov 2, 2018 11:05:27 GMT
In the heat of the summer the stray cat took to lying in an unused sagger which still had last years soil in it which was placed fairly close to a couple of feeders. He completely ignored all the bird activity going on around him it's much easier to howl by the back door when hungry Do you ever let him into the house, Fel? Or not because of the doggy? (I know you feed him, though. Thank you.) He sleeps here under a covered walkway on one of the dog's old beds and alternates between restaurants here and next door. I've even spotted him heading across the field to another neighbour. He's brilliant with the dog like most cats. Dogs, even German Shepherds, know their place in the presence of an animal with sharp claws and an air of unpredictability
He did stay in the kitchen when we had the beast from the East earlier this year. He ignored the cat litter on the second night and shat on the floor so he's banned now
Generally he's not interested in the house only the food coming out of it.
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Post by felonious on Nov 2, 2018 17:49:13 GMT
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Post by chuffedstokie on Nov 2, 2018 18:04:14 GMT
Sad day today on the journey into work. I came across two cats that had been knocked down. Stopped for one of them and got it off the road (under the railway bridge in Kidsgrove) and another one in Old Butt Lane. Normally a rarity but two, very unfortunate. 😢
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Post by Northy on Nov 5, 2018 8:58:07 GMT
Out running early yesterday morning and just running past a small boat shed on Marbury mere and a heron took off about 10 feet in front of me and still had a fish in its beak, must have disturbed it just after it caught it and before it had chance to eat it.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Nov 5, 2018 17:57:34 GMT
Sad day today on the journey into work. I came across two cats that had been knocked down. Stopped for one of them and got it off the road (under the railway bridge in Kidsgrove) and another one in Old Butt Lane. Normally a rarity but two, very unfortunate. 😢 Coincidence or cats confused by loud bangs and taking flight? Seems a lot of cat calamaties at the moment. Adding to your two casualties, a mates' cat got knocked over on saturday {broken pelvis}, and my mog turned up yesterday with a head wound, not too serious it seems but he never gets injuries {touch wood}.
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Post by potterinleeds on Nov 5, 2018 18:31:27 GMT
Mixed mob of blue tits and long-tailed tits breezing through the garden this morning. Misty day up here - bonfire smoke merging with murk now to soften the edges of everything, dim orange glow of bonfires, damp air - primeval stuff.
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Post by murphthesurf on Nov 7, 2018 9:30:27 GMT
Morning, folks! Today we have: Waxwings
I think they look a bit like jays - their faces do, anyway. They love berries, so that's a really good reason why we should all plant Rowan (Mountain Ash) trees, Hawthorn and Cotoneasters / Pyracantha in our gardens if we can. Plus: Fancy them being able to fly here from RUSSIA - how amazing. It says: Will we have a Waxwing Winter? 'Pink with a crest and a tendency to be very tame and extremely photogenic, the fruit-eating Waxwing is an irruptive species – depending on food supplies in its usual northern European wintering area it can move many miles west and south in search of food and do so in large numbers. These irruptions don’t happen every year and are triggered by poor wild fruit crops in Russia. There have been reports that after a dryer than usual summer, the fruit crop in Russia and east is poor and this will probably drive good numbers of Waxwings to winter in Britain.'Here's a bit more info + some pics of waxwings for you: voice.gardenbird.co.uk/a-garden-birders-waxwing-winter/?utm_source=GardenBird
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Post by Northy on Nov 7, 2018 11:20:12 GMT
Morning, folks! Today we have: Waxwings
I think they look a bit like jays - their faces do, anyway. They love berries, so that's a really good reason why we should all plant Rowan (Mountain Ash) trees, Hawthorn and Cotoneasters / Pyracantha in our gardens if we can. Plus: Fancy them being able to fly here from RUSSIA - how amazing. It says: Will we have a Waxwing Winter? 'Pink with a crest and a tendency to be very tame and extremely photogenic, the fruit-eating Waxwing is an irruptive species – depending on food supplies in its usual northern European wintering area it can move many miles west and south in search of food and do so in large numbers. These irruptions don’t happen every year and are triggered by poor wild fruit crops in Russia. There have been reports that after a dryer than usual summer, the fruit crop in Russia and east is poor and this will probably drive good numbers of Waxwings to winter in Britain.'Here's a bit more info + some pics of waxwings for you: voice.gardenbird.co.uk/a-garden-birders-waxwing-winter/?utm_source=GardenBirdUnfortunately the wood pigeons around here seem to have taken a liking to our pyrocanthea this autumn, they are going down the branches like it's corn on the cob. I've yet to see a waxwing, planted 3 holly trees and 3 pyrocanthea the last couple of years hoping to see them ....
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Post by murphthesurf on Nov 7, 2018 11:37:10 GMT
Morning, folks! Today we have: WaxwingsUnfortunately the wood pigeons around here seem to have taken a liking to our pyrocanthea this autumn, they are going down the branches like it's corn on the cob. I've yet to see a waxwing, planted 3 holly trees and 3 pyrocanthea the last couple of years hoping to see them .... Wow! Good on yer!
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Post by potterinleeds on Nov 11, 2018 18:49:37 GMT
In Stafford over the weekend, lovely walk across Doxey Marshes. Plenty of birdlife, especially smaller species, and I'm pretty sure I saw a cormorant flying around too (although it may have been a shag )
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Nov 11, 2018 19:53:47 GMT
Morning, folks! Today we have: Waxwings
I think they look a bit like jays - their faces do, anyway. They love berries, so that's a really good reason why we should all plant Rowan (Mountain Ash) trees, Hawthorn and Cotoneasters / Pyracantha in our gardens if we can. Plus: Fancy them being able to fly here from RUSSIA - how amazing. It says: Will we have a Waxwing Winter? 'Pink with a crest and a tendency to be very tame and extremely photogenic, the fruit-eating Waxwing is an irruptive species – depending on food supplies in its usual northern European wintering area it can move many miles west and south in search of food and do so in large numbers. These irruptions don’t happen every year and are triggered by poor wild fruit crops in Russia. There have been reports that after a dryer than usual summer, the fruit crop in Russia and east is poor and this will probably drive good numbers of Waxwings to winter in Britain.'Here's a bit more info + some pics of waxwings for you: voice.gardenbird.co.uk/a-garden-birders-waxwing-winter/?utm_source=GardenBirdUnfortunately the wood pigeons around here seem to have taken a liking to our pyrocanthea this autumn, they are going down the branches like it's corn on the cob. I've yet to see a waxwing, planted 3 holly trees and 3 pyrocanthea the last couple of years hoping to see them .... I've heard making a fake apple tree: a bare branch with ripe apples stuck on it acts as an attractor. Never tried it myself. They do seem to favour supermarket car parks with thorny berry bearing shrubs. Reports a couple of years ago of a flock around Aldi/Wickes on Victoria Road.
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Post by Northy on Nov 20, 2018 8:50:16 GMT
Out for the run on Sunday morning, and running through Anderton Woodland park on the way back, we were treated to a 'silver fox' running across in front of us, quiet late for him to be about and there were quiet a few dog walkers about. Oldest fox Ive ever seen I think.
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Post by felonious on Nov 20, 2018 8:57:06 GMT
Out for the run on Sunday morning, and running through Anderton Woodland park on the way back, we were treated to a 'silver fox' running across in front of us, quiet late for him to be about and there were quiet a few dog walkers about. Oldest fox Ive ever seen I think. There was an article on the BBC last week about a tame silver fox that's been visiting houses somewhere. They think it's a pet that's either escaped or been kicked out.
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Post by marylandstoke on Nov 21, 2018 19:40:45 GMT
Attachment DeletedThink I have mentioned our slightly larger back yard birds in a previous post. Thought I would try and get you a pic. These are the latest ‘babies’
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Post by chuffedstokie on Nov 21, 2018 21:48:30 GMT
The owls are back. Almost to the same day as last year. 7pm til about 8.30. What a great sound.
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Post by potterinleeds on Nov 30, 2018 22:52:16 GMT
This morning was the first for about a week up here without murky, damp mist and drizzle. At 7.30am or so, I was staring out onto the back garden, and that pinkish light of 'just before dawn' was catching the red breast of a robin sat on the wooden handle of a garden spade. The extraordinary in the ordinary - a simple sight, yet stunningly beautiful.
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Post by murphthesurf on Dec 12, 2018 19:52:50 GMT
An Arctic blast is on the way, so it's time to check birdtables, feeders, etc!Garden Wildlife Direct say: 'This weekend we're set for an Arctic blast - Help your garden birds survive by stocking up on high energy food and provide shelter in your garden.' They then list the usual sort of products, but I've ordered some of these which I've never noticed before - so I wondered if anyone else might be interested in knowing about them: Premium Mealworm Suet Pelletswww.gardenwildlifedirect.co.uk/bird-suet-foods/bird-suet-pellets/premium-mealworm-suet-pellets.htmlAlso spotted sth else new, so am going to try one and see if they like it: Peanut Butter Mug, £2.99- A bird peanut butter in a reusable glass jar. The peanut butter contains no additional salt and is specifically made for birds. (Cheesy loves peanut butter - what's the betting he'll buy one for himself………. ) www.gardenwildlifedirect.co.uk/bird-suet-foods/peanut-butter-mug.html Righty-o….. time for an update on those new birdy treats of suet pellets with chopped-up mealworms (oooo, yum!) in them which I ordered a couple of months ago…… just in case anyone else wants to try them:Predictably, being a new thing, they sat in their dish on one of the birdtables for a week or two before anybody deigned to take any notice of them, but now all of a sudden they've all decided they love them, and they've eaten all 12.75 Kg of them in no time at all! Ordered another 25 Kg of them yesterday + the same of sunflower hearts. The 25 Kg of peanuts arrived last week! (It stings like 'ell when I press the PayPal thing, but it's fabulous seeing them all coming into the garden and filling their little faces.) GANNETS!
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Post by Northy on Dec 13, 2018 17:09:11 GMT
The sun rising and just appearing over the skyline in Stevenage is always a wonderful sight 😁 Cars frosted over this morning
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Post by Northy on Dec 21, 2018 10:05:11 GMT
Cyclone heading to Mauritius this weekend, lads been evacuated to the mainland yesterday, he said the animals could sense it and were all taking shelter like this land crab, animals seem to sense things far better than us, I wonder why.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Dec 24, 2018 16:28:41 GMT
Took myself on a brief visit to Apedale Railway take a few pics and see what's going on. Very busy santa specials being run and everyone enjoying themselves. I can confirm that the Robin population is doing extremely well in and around the area. Decided not to go down for the mine tour but had a damned good couple of oatcakes in the cafe instead. 🌯☕
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