Monday, 28 October 2013
A new broom sweeps clean...!
Apologies to any blogs I have stopped following, but I've not been around anyway! I'm preparing for the future and a new start!
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Around Par... St Andrews & Par Beach Pool
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I actually heard a Greenfinch today...!!!
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Muscovy Duck
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Robin
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Chiffchaff posing as a Reed Warbler!
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Chiffchaff posing as a Chiffchaff!
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Distant GS Woodpecker
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Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
The plight of the Swift
Please, please get involved. I sent a report in yesterday and was very surprised to receive a telephone call today advising me that mine was the first received from Cornwall. Click on the link to find out how to report your Swift sightings to Stephen Fitt - RSPB ...
http://www.cbwps.org.uk/SwiftsFORM_2011.doc
http://www.cbwps.org.uk/SwiftsFORM_2011.doc
Friday, 17 June 2011
Thursday, 16 June 2011
I wonder if anyone can shed any light? I am having problems with my blog. I can look at the blogs I follow, but I can't leave a comment "as me"; it just puts "anonymous" or boots me out! I can't view my followers either. I can sign into my blog and post, but when I click on another blog it forgets that I'm signed in ????????????????
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Rare bird at The Copse!
Well, as it’s officially “summer” tomorrow, I thought maybe I should put something on my blog!
I did do a brief head count today, the main highlight being the first sighting of a Greenfinch in the garden for a good while, hence the “rare bird” heading! It was a good looking; healthy male and I hope he stays that way!
I saw 3 Jays this morning, which is only the second record of 3 together around the garden since I started keeping records.
Our 3 Dunnocks were up to their usual antics of courtship rituals and chasing one another around the garden, flapping their wings. It appears that the (Polyandrous) female likes to show the males her lady parts – bizarre to watch!
The Collared Doves were collecting nesting material from the garden, favouring left over twigs from the patch where the mint grows. Maybe they like the fresh minty scent! They were then seen copulating, again. I'm sure they have done enough of that over the last few weeks and usually on top of the bird table roof for some reason!
2 Great Tits were collecting the dog fur, which I threw out for them last week when I groomed Hesper!
Things are hotting up! I love this time of year :0)
A Dunnock from last year...
Well, as it’s officially “summer” tomorrow, I thought maybe I should put something on my blog!
I did do a brief head count today, the main highlight being the first sighting of a Greenfinch in the garden for a good while, hence the “rare bird” heading! It was a good looking; healthy male and I hope he stays that way!
I saw 3 Jays this morning, which is only the second record of 3 together around the garden since I started keeping records.
Our 3 Dunnocks were up to their usual antics of courtship rituals and chasing one another around the garden, flapping their wings. It appears that the (Polyandrous) female likes to show the males her lady parts – bizarre to watch!
The Collared Doves were collecting nesting material from the garden, favouring left over twigs from the patch where the mint grows. Maybe they like the fresh minty scent! They were then seen copulating, again. I'm sure they have done enough of that over the last few weeks and usually on top of the bird table roof for some reason!
2 Great Tits were collecting the dog fur, which I threw out for them last week when I groomed Hesper!
Things are hotting up! I love this time of year :0)
A Dunnock from last year...
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Monday, 28 February 2011
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
Strange behaviour:
This morning I saw a female House Sparrow feeding a male House Sparrow; presumably a "food gift" as part of a mating ritual. I had to blink and look again, as I thought my eyes were deceiving me! Pity I didn't have the camera at hand, as I'm sure no-one will believe me. I googled it and bizarrly found an account of a male copulating with a female (obviously!); the male holding a feather in his bill and the female holding a flower petal (how odd), but nothing of a female offering food gifts, as males do in exchange for mating. I've heard of liberation ladies, but this takes the biscuit :o) I'm baffled and I was sober, before anyone asks!
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This morning I saw a female House Sparrow feeding a male House Sparrow; presumably a "food gift" as part of a mating ritual. I had to blink and look again, as I thought my eyes were deceiving me! Pity I didn't have the camera at hand, as I'm sure no-one will believe me. I googled it and bizarrly found an account of a male copulating with a female (obviously!); the male holding a feather in his bill and the female holding a flower petal (how odd), but nothing of a female offering food gifts, as males do in exchange for mating. I've heard of liberation ladies, but this takes the biscuit :o) I'm baffled and I was sober, before anyone asks!
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Sunday, 6 February 2011
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Female Shelduck at Par Beach Pool
Thanks to Andy Carey for the use of his lens to get me a little closer, as this one was taken in poor light and on the other side of the pool.
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Sunday, 19 December 2010
This and that…
Life on the back doorstep has improved a little lately; not just because we have a Moorhen living in & around the garden or the 2 female Blackcaps & 1 male Blackcap; the visit from 12 (yes 12!) Long Tailed Tits & 1 Greenfinch, which are scarce in our little area this year; the 21 Blackbirds I counted one morning & 56 Starlings, all waiting to be fed, but also because mother gave me some new slippers, which have enabled me to sit on the doorstep again with a little relief from the cold! They are 3 sizes too big (I’m a size 3 & the slippers are a 6!). I can wear enough layers to fend off a Shark attack, let alone frost bite. I just need some mittens to match now (in the right size of course); oh & a nose protector & the sores will be a thing of the past (I wish)!
Having said that I’m a little sad to say that I saw one of the young Rats this morning & it wasn’t looking too bright. I suspect someone local has put poison out. Its body was deformed; it moved very slowly & looked at me as though it was willing me not to hurt it. I just let it feed & kept very still so as not to alarm it & cause it to scurry off in pain, in the cold when food & warmth is hard to find for all wildlife. Finding food must be even harder in that condition. I can’t bear to see any animal suffer. There must be better ways to deal with "the problem" (not that it is a problem for me). For this one, I just hope the end comes soon.
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Happy Starling... Waiting for the food.
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I saw few Greenfinches in the garden this last summer & not looking good. I am quite sure they perished so I'm pleased to see this one.
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Life on the back doorstep has improved a little lately; not just because we have a Moorhen living in & around the garden or the 2 female Blackcaps & 1 male Blackcap; the visit from 12 (yes 12!) Long Tailed Tits & 1 Greenfinch, which are scarce in our little area this year; the 21 Blackbirds I counted one morning & 56 Starlings, all waiting to be fed, but also because mother gave me some new slippers, which have enabled me to sit on the doorstep again with a little relief from the cold! They are 3 sizes too big (I’m a size 3 & the slippers are a 6!). I can wear enough layers to fend off a Shark attack, let alone frost bite. I just need some mittens to match now (in the right size of course); oh & a nose protector & the sores will be a thing of the past (I wish)!
Having said that I’m a little sad to say that I saw one of the young Rats this morning & it wasn’t looking too bright. I suspect someone local has put poison out. Its body was deformed; it moved very slowly & looked at me as though it was willing me not to hurt it. I just let it feed & kept very still so as not to alarm it & cause it to scurry off in pain, in the cold when food & warmth is hard to find for all wildlife. Finding food must be even harder in that condition. I can’t bear to see any animal suffer. There must be better ways to deal with "the problem" (not that it is a problem for me). For this one, I just hope the end comes soon.
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Happy Starling... Waiting for the food.
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.I saw few Greenfinches in the garden this last summer & not looking good. I am quite sure they perished so I'm pleased to see this one.
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Tuesday, 14 December 2010
An unusual addition to the garden life list!
Today, we added Moorhen to the garden life list! Just before leaving for work this morning I noticed an unusual shape in the tree and it was being hassled by a Jay. I was amazed when I realised it was a Moorhen. I have always thought it was possible that a Mallard may drop in on the stream that runs down the rear of the garden, as they pass over frequently, but never expected a Moorhen to add to the list!
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