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A charming Charm Goldie Hopefully when this cold weather finally abates we'll have a decent spring- we're about due one

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Quite right, Goldie. Let's get the bad stuff out of they way BEFORE the season starts properly.

We wouldn't want a repeat of April 2012.

Yesterday after the Snow had disappeared I was watching the Starlings in the Garden when this particular Starling decided on a different approach to get the Suet pellets by going into the cage head first, I was really pleased to have my Camera ready Goldie

That's certainly a novel,if dangerous, way to go about getting your scran

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I expected it to get stuck Wurzel My Husband's going to put some tin foil over the the top of the feeder he 's bothered the bird could injure it's self, it's been back a few times and done the same thing, we think it's the same bird , none of the others try it. Goldie

Please be careful, Goldie. I remember having to rescue a green finch once from a feeder like that. If I hadn't found it it would have died and I would have been heartbroken.

Thanks for that info essex, I think it's best we get a new container and quick because the the Starlings arrive every day for feeds and I've noticed the silver foil has disappeared already. Goldie

I'm pleased that others have alerted you to the risk of your Starling getting stuck - a new feeder does seem to be needed. I'm reminded of an extraordinary incident in our garden, some years ago. A young Blackbird had got stuck behind some netting attached to 0ne of our boundary fences.

The mother Blackbird came to our patio door, calling loudly until we went to see what the trouble was. She then led us across the garden to where her youngster was trapped, so that we could free it. She became concerned when we spent a few moments examining the bird for possible injury but was then highly relieved when we returned it to her.

Mike

Hi! Mike you'll be pleased to know that the bird food container has a lid. I save various small jars and bottles I've finished with to put any oil in left over from cooking and when I went out into the garden today I saw my Husband had used the lid from one which fitted perfectly It's even added colour to the garden with the lid having a strawberry on it
It was amazing what you said about the Black Bird, I love to watch them bathing, they always use the same Bird bath although I've three I must admit to spoiling them a bit , each morning I feed them Grapes, only a few but they wait on the patio for them each day. My neighbour a cross the road got me into feeding them the grapes, her BB's have competition with the Thrushes, who can get there first.

It's been a lovely day today and we've managed to sort out the back Garden, Spring is definitely here. Goldie

That's great, Goldie! I can see you spoil the local birds, I'm sure they appreciate it. I'm glad you've had a nice day there, we deserve a bit of sunshine, don't we?

Definitely essex, Some nice weather forecast for us for the next couple of days, Unfortunately I've promised to go to the shops tomorrow with my cousin, wouldn't you just know it. Goldie

Beautiful day today, I set off to Brockholes NR with high hopes of seeing some Butterflies, nothing!
There was very little wind and the temp was 15c so it was very disappointing, still it's the first day we've had that's been truly warm so may be things will start to move now.

I did see a new born Calf, not too sure what kind of Cow the Mother was but she'd a fair pair of Horns I assumed may be Highland bred.

I also saw a small frog, a very horny frog, could be a young Toad
We also watched the Reed Buntings building their nests , loads of them so the day wasn't bad, Spring was definitely in the air even if the Butterflies weren't there. Goldie

You were right the second time Goldie it's a toad

I'm sure the butterflies will reach you soon Goldie Your cow intrigued me, unusual looking horns which reminded me of a breed I'd seen years ago. There was a TV documentary about rare breeds and how they were introducing an ancient breed of cattle and it looked like yours so I think it was the original Longhorn Hope that helps

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I do like the toad, Goldie. I see them a fair amount round here - sometimes pretty large ones, too. I'm glad to say they like slugs. Your first butterflies cannot be far away now!

Dave

Thanks Millard, glad you like the Toad, I thought it looked more Toad than Frog, I've seen large ones at Hall-Lee-Brook in the ponds there and boy were they noisy I just heard them and went to see what the noise was all about, of course they were mating.

Hi! Wurzel, we were fascinated with the cow and there was a small herd of them , people were all around'
especially with there being a young calf. The Mother was in the enclosure on her own with the Calf the other's were in an adjoining field , they were a really lovely colour too, (unusual) but those horns were super no wonder the cow was kept separate from the rest, if they annoyed her I can image what would happen.
Brockholes is unusual because it's on the banks of the River Ribble, which is a flood area so they're building it gradually, it covers quite a large area, with cycling tracks, lovely walks and a large area for Children also areas for bird watching, so I'll definitely be going back there again, ( I saw my Orange Tips there last year)
Not forgetting the floating Restaurant which I've mentioned before.

Thanks for that maverick, the weather here is awful at present, windy, wet, miserable, ideal only for Toads and Frogs Goldie

I'd love to report I'd seen a Butterfly here but nothing yet and Snow's been forecast for over night especially in Cumbria so the Butterflies will definitely be late here, better now then in the middle of Spring though. Goldie

You were lucky to see the Reed Buntings, Goldie!

Hi! Janet, we see lots of Reed Buntings especially at Penn Flash but if you get the chance to visit Brockholes when we get some decent weather ( I went in May and June last year) you'll find lots of Butterflies as well as Unusual birds. Brockholes is the first turning for Preston off the M6. Goldie

I've just come back from Hall-Lee-Brook and I knew before I went there that it was unlikely to see Butterflies today. The weather is Sunny and shady the Sun popping in and out between very dark clouds but the wind is from the East and quite strong and cold, even the Birds are keeping a low profile

I took this shot of a Bee in the corner of a pane of glass waiting for the Sun to emerge and sheltering from the Wind. The site of my garden beginning to come to life is always cheering though The forecast is good for the rest of the week, I just hope the cold wind drops. Goldie