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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 24, 2016 10:39:11 GMT
The sunflowers are looking fab as well. Just up the lane from here some clever sod has grown some which must be about 8 foot high. I usually get one or two sunflowers growing in my garden each year, when the birds have carried seeds from the bird tables and dropped them. Also found a very healthy baby oak tree last week, about 14" high, growing in one of the borders in the garden, courtesy of one of the squirrels - again. Got to get it out sharpish now and put it in a pot to keep it growing until I can find someone who wants it - after all, it's an English oak! Can't bear to dig it out and just throw it away. I grew two (from the same sort of start) to about 5 feet in height 4 or 5 years ago and then luckily heard of a local project where a new wood was being planted - the people organising it gladly took the little trees and I was glad they went to such a good cause. Talking of squirrels, you've never lived until you've seen one running off down the garden with one of the birds' suet fatballs (again from the tables) held tightly in his front paws! Talk about Barry John! Happens quite often, and luckily I put loads of fatballs out, so the birds never go short. Nice... Ever considered having a go at Bonzai-ing an Oaklet?
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 11:32:52 GMT
I usually get one or two sunflowers growing in my garden each year, when the birds have carried seeds from the bird tables and dropped them. Also found a very healthy baby oak tree last week, about 14" high, growing in one of the borders in the garden, courtesy of one of the squirrels - again. Got to get it out sharpish now and put it in a pot to keep it growing until I can find someone who wants it - after all, it's an English oak! Can't bear to dig it out and just throw it away. I grew two (from the same sort of start) to about 5 feet in height 4 or 5 years ago and then luckily heard of a local project where a new wood was being planted - the people organising it gladly took the little trees and I was glad they went to such a good cause. Talking of squirrels, you've never lived until you've seen one running off down the garden with one of the birds' suet fatballs (again from the tables) held tightly in his front paws! Talk about Barry John! Happens quite often, and luckily I put loads of fatballs out, so the birds never go short. Nice... Ever considered having a go at Bonzai-ing an Oaklet? Not yet, Cheesy, on the basis that the cat would no doubt find a good use for it!
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 11:53:34 GMT
Spent most of bank holiday weekend doing volunteer work on the old railway on the Welsh coast. 7 miles of quiet valley to play in and in no specific order on view were Bats, woodpecker, Buzzards, and Red tailed kite by the dozen. (almost as common as sparrows). Didn't hear the cuckoo but then I'm not sure if it's still their time of year. Add into the mix the usual squirrels and other ground dwellers it is always a relaxing place to visit. Oh, and the barn owls in a proper old welsh stone barn. Brilliant. I've never forgotten a song they taught us at infants' school (yes, THAT long ago!) about the cuckoo - it mirrored the 'notes' of the cuckoo call in the first two words of the song and also the change to its song at this bit as the cuckoo's song changes from the two 'classic' notes to two different ones later in the year. It always helps me to remember the cuckoo 'schedule' through the summer: Cuckoo, cuckoo, pray what do you do? In April I open my bill In May I sing night and day In June…….. I change my tune
In July away I fly In August……… away I must. So it might have been a cuckoo you heard in August, Chuff - just before he left before the colder weather started setting in - or would normally be expected to start setting in.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 24, 2016 11:56:08 GMT
Nice... Ever considered having a go at Bonzai-ing an Oaklet? Not yet, Cheesy, on the basis that the cat would no doubt find a good use for it! In my experience Bonzai's thrive outside, greenhouse in deep winter. The indigenous trees and pine type Bonzai's don't really thrive inside.
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 12:01:07 GMT
Not yet, Cheesy, on the basis that the cat would no doubt find a good use for it! In my experience Bonzai's thrive outside, greenhouse in deep winter. The indigenous trees and pine type Bonzai's don't really thrive inside. She'd still find it! She's an 'indoor' cat - she's never been allowed outside (and consequently never wants to go out) because I want the garden to stay full of birds!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2016 12:07:57 GMT
Spent most of bank holiday weekend doing volunteer work on the old railway on the Welsh coast. 7 miles of quiet valley to play in and in no specific order on view were Bats, woodpecker, Buzzards, and Red tailed kite by the dozen. (almost as common as sparrows). Didn't hear the cuckoo but then I'm not sure if it's still their time of year. Add into the mix the usual squirrels and other ground dwellers it is always a relaxing place to visit. Oh, and the barn owls in a proper old welsh stone barn. Brilliant. Community service?
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 12:19:01 GMT
Spent most of bank holiday weekend doing volunteer work on the old railway on the Welsh coast. 7 miles of quiet valley to play in and in no specific order on view were Bats, woodpecker, Buzzards, and Red tailed kite by the dozen. (almost as common as sparrows). Didn't hear the cuckoo but then I'm not sure if it's still their time of year. Add into the mix the usual squirrels and other ground dwellers it is always a relaxing place to visit. Oh, and the barn owls in a proper old welsh stone barn. Brilliant. Community service? BLAST! Wish I'd thought of that!
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 12:32:00 GMT
Spent most of bank holiday weekend doing volunteer work on the old railway on the Welsh coast. 7 miles of quiet valley to play in and in no specific order on view were Bats, woodpecker, Buzzards, and Red tailed kite by the dozen. (almost as common as sparrows). Didn't hear the cuckoo but then I'm not sure if it's still their time of year. Add into the mix the usual squirrels and other ground dwellers it is always a relaxing place to visit. Oh, and the barn owls in a proper old welsh stone barn. Brilliant. Community service? Oh DON'T……..
Went to Newcastle one afternoon about 5 years ago and there were 2 or 3 young guys in one of the subways, scrubbing the graffiti off the walls. I was SO impressed at their obvious hard work and public-spiritedness, and as I walked past I gave them a dazzling smile and said "You're doing a great job, chaps - keep up the good work". I was going to also add some unpleasant crack about the 'low-life scum' who do all the graffiti but I was past them by then. It occurred to me later that they were probably doing Community Service….. possibly for graffiti-ing...... and that I could very easily have got my face filled in.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Sept 24, 2016 12:47:00 GMT
Community service? BLAST! Wish I'd thought of that! All voluntary,honest.
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Post by felonious on Sept 24, 2016 19:24:53 GMT
I watched a little of nocturnal Keef's programme last night and there was a fantastic shot of a bat flying into a web and taking the spider.
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 20:09:02 GMT
I watched a little of nocturnal Keef's programme last night and there was a fantastic shot of a bat flying into a web and taking the spider. A little bat suddenly started zapping round our sitting room one evening a couple of summers ago - must've somehow come in through the kitchen window, which was wide open. Bloody hell. - And you thought we were noisy at the Brit today - you don't know what noise is!
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Post by felonious on Sept 24, 2016 20:13:29 GMT
I watched a little of nocturnal Keef's programme last night and there was a fantastic shot of a bat flying into a web and taking the spider. A little bat suddenly started zapping round our sitting room one evening a couple of summers ago - must've somehow come in through the kitchen window, which was wide open. Bloody hell. - And you thought we were noisy at the Brit today - you don't know what noise is!
Vampire?
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 20:16:49 GMT
A little bat suddenly started zapping round our sitting room one evening a couple of summers ago - must've somehow come in through the kitchen window, which was wide open. Bloody hell. - And you thought we were noisy at the Brit today - you don't know what noise is!
Vampire? I didn't stick around to find out!
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Post by chuffedstokie on Sept 24, 2016 21:26:17 GMT
I watched a little of nocturnal Keef's programme last night and there was a fantastic shot of a bat flying into a web and taking the spider. A little bat suddenly started zapping round our sitting room one evening a couple of summers ago - must've somehow come in through the kitchen window, which was wide open. Bloody hell. - And you thought we were noisy at the Brit today - you don't know what noise is!
Did sound good today didn't it. Still a bit hoarse. 😧
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 24, 2016 21:39:20 GMT
A little bat suddenly started zapping round our sitting room one evening a couple of summers ago - must've somehow come in through the kitchen window, which was wide open. Bloody hell. - And you thought we were noisy at the Brit today - you don't know what noise is! Did sound good today didn't it. Still a bit hoarse. 😧
FABULOUS !!!!!!!!! I wouldn't mind, but I'd only just got my voice back after the Bournemouth game last season.....
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Post by chuffedstokie on Sept 27, 2016 18:50:39 GMT
What a sunset this evening. Going down behind Mow cop castle and outling the entire ridge. Stunning cloud formations turning a really vivid orange. Brilliant.
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Post by felonious on Sept 28, 2016 7:55:21 GMT
What a sunset this evening. Going down behind Mow cop castle and outling the entire ridge. Stunning cloud formations turning a really vivid orange. Brilliant. Caught sight of it out running in Trentham and looking out towards Hanchurch. Magnificent.
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Post by felonious on Oct 1, 2016 18:52:37 GMT
I stepped out a little late with the dog at eight this morning and a huge balloon was going past the field at the front of the house......Red Letter? written on it.
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Post by felonious on Oct 1, 2016 19:02:40 GMT
The sunflowers, cosmos and nasturtium are still looking good although this wet colder spell will get to them soon. The Choisya on the drive is having one last fling..... a couple of years ago when it was in full bloom I spotted two elderly walkers half way up the drive having a look at it
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Post by chuffedstokie on Oct 1, 2016 19:35:50 GMT
Back in Wales this weekend on the railway. Never seen so many red kites and buzzards. Once the rain had gone and the sun came out they were riding the thermals in numbers. Very very impressive.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Oct 6, 2016 22:59:02 GMT
15,000 air miles in each jar of 'local' honey, I've been reliably informed.
Didn't get the Orchid named after me, it's a very localized colour variation of the 'Common Spotted', but not a distinct new species. I've heard it from the top.
It's drawing in nah.
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Post by felonious on Oct 7, 2016 7:47:47 GMT
I usually disturb one heron going onto the fields in the morning but the last few days it's been two, together in the middle of the field. Never tire of watching a heron take off and fly into the distance
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2016 7:52:54 GMT
I usually disturb one heron going onto the fields in the morning but the last few days it's been two, together in the middle of the field. Never tire of watching a heron take off and fly into the distance I bet they are surprised to see a grown man walk out into the middle of a field, FT news paper under one arm and extra soft toilet paper under the other every morn
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Post by Northy on Oct 7, 2016 8:36:09 GMT
Lots more Herons about these days, see one almost every run along the canal, one last night on the far side (natural bank up into woods) ankle deep in water and frozen staring as the water
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Post by felonious on Oct 7, 2016 16:14:42 GMT
I usually disturb one heron going onto the fields in the morning but the last few days it's been two, together in the middle of the field. Never tire of watching a heron take off and fly into the distance I bet they are surprised to see a grown man walk out into the middle of a field, FT news paper under one arm and extra soft toilet paper under the other every morn I look like a tramp during the morning walk but at least the dog is well groomed.
On the subject of the toilet roll every week or so I do come across a pile of human shit on the path, I shit you not. It makes dog shit so acceptable
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2016 16:32:51 GMT
I bet they are surprised to see a grown man walk out into the middle of a field, FT news paper under one arm and extra soft toilet paper under the other every morn I look like a tramp during the morning walk but at least the dog is well groomed.
On the subject of the toilet roll every week or so I do come across a pile of human shit on the path, I shit you not. It makes dog shit so acceptable
Not surprising up the neckend of Cobridge
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Post by felonious on Oct 7, 2016 16:43:15 GMT
I look like a tramp during the morning walk but at least the dog is well groomed.
On the subject of the toilet roll every week or so I do come across a pile of human shit on the path, I shit you not. It makes dog shit so acceptable
Not surprising up the neckend of Cobridge Is there a field in Cobridge?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2016 16:50:32 GMT
Not surprising up the neckend of Cobridge Is there a field in Cobridge? It's one huge minefield
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Post by felonious on Oct 7, 2016 17:08:02 GMT
Is there a field in Cobridge? It's one huge minefield Just the place for the all night pharmacy then?
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Post by felonious on Oct 15, 2016 12:06:33 GMT
The sun has got his hat on, hip hip hip hooray
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