Morning/evening all: Lovely day here. Sunny, warm, cactii are beginning to bloom. Will be keeping one eye on the volcano and the other on EJ while doing other things tonight (hmmm...). Should be interesting. Lots of chat about the volcano on the last page of the previous week. Off to start dinner; back later!
A first for me....Magpies and Starlings at the feeding station in the garden, finishing off an old coconut shell filled with suet and seeds, that had disintegrated, then I stuck together again on a lower branch with good footholds.....not to mention the ever present Wood Pidgeons who seize every opportunity, if I let them. I have goldfinches usually in twos and threes, but always males, never females, so I think they must be eggsitting permanently. Chaffinches and greenfinches on the other hand are almost always in pairs, either one couple or more. Assorted tits make up the list of players, except the odd one or two birds that I have yet to put a name to. Not counting the blackcaps that left many weeks ago.
I found out that my local pet store, sells sunflower hearts in 20kg bags and I bought one. A useful tip for the dedicated, bird feeder it works out a £1.90 per kilo, instead of £2.85 loose. At the supermarket, brands are much more. If this sounds a bit over-the-top, you have to bear in mind the weight of dog food that some households consume!
P.S. Re female Goldfinches....the images on Google are confusing, but this one on this link is showing that they look very similar, so there....I have not been looking closely enough (probably).
Some of the other images on Google, say female Goldfinch, but to me they look like Greenfinches.
http://www.thewesternisles.co.uk/birds/goldfinch-6.htm
On the male Goldfinch the part of the red face of which is just above the bird's eye extends back several mm behind the eye, but on the female it only reaches the front of the eye or extends just one or two mm behind the eye
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
What a charming pic of the peregrine chicks, Sandy. thanks for that.
jsb: Have been wondering about the sexes of the Goldfinches, as we sometimes now have as many as four or five on our feeders ... we're very excited, as had none at all last year. Had no idea what sex they were as they all look the same to our ignorant eyes- will try to look harder now after your info. Thanks.
Another feed at Brighton. Slightly concerned about the viability of the other two eggs.
If they are not viable, I wonder at what point she will decide to give up incubating them & throw them out. At least the two chicks look nice and healthy.
Alan: I tried Google searching for 'xxxxx xxxxxxx lookalike' which was fun, no obvious link to DC and Star Wars, oops Star Trek, but if he succeeds, he might not yet have considered what the years in office did to Tony Blair. Premiership seems to have a habit of piling on the years, bird watching on the other hand, must be the best option on that score, as long as one does not become too obsessive. The best lookalike I saw was an almost identical Prince Harry, but better not post the link, since RSPB would take a dim view of links to 'model agencies' being posted on their turf. Where does Tracy Island stand on coalitions, by the way.
Afternoon all,
Thanks for the pics of the Brighton peregrines Sandy. I was trying to get a screenshot yesterday but did not succeed.
Sorry you are feeling a bit under the weather Lindybird. This changeable weather does not help.
jsb : Tracy Island is ambivalent towards coalitions as long as there is someone sensible behind them pulling the strings.
Happy Mothers Day to those in the parts of the world it is taking place.
This morning we had a nice walk round Barwell Country Park as the weather is much improved.
Managed to get this nice pic of nesting Great Crested Grebes from the Kingfisher hide:
aquilareen this is really nice and Happy Mothers Day from me too. I will include EJ in this as well. Have yet to catch up with last week's weekly and yesterday's daily chat. Ironing mission again for the holiday I hope we are going on. Woke up the news this morning that several Italian Airports closed so keepig my fingers crossed.
Margobird
aquilareen brillian Osprey Party broadcast. Whole lot more interesting than what is still happening here in the UK. Hope MiL will be OK must be quite a worry for you.
Lindybird sorry you are feeling a little poorly, hope you start to improve soon. Take it easy.
Not a very nice day in Poole, cloudly and chilly and my garden birds are eateing me out of house and home again.f
Morning all: Thanks for Mother's Day wishes. Mine's just starting - just spoke to daughter and we're aiming for an early brunch to avoid the crowds.
AQ Yes, what are Welsh potatoes? Do they sing Land of My Fathers while cooking?
OG; You're putting us all to shame with all this early morning ironing!
Lindybird: Drink lots of water and rest; hope you had a pleasant walk and coffee. We had masses of fun the other year when Sarah Palin was McCain's running mate. Tina Fey (a comedienne on Saturday Night Live ) did multiple brilliant take-offs of Palin with phoney debates and media interviews. She even looks like her. I tell you, it made the whole campaign much more fun given that Ms. P herself provided soooo many jaw-dropping opportunities.
Sandy and Alan: Thanks for pix of chicks and birds!
Off to start organizing myself; must remember to wear comfy-but-brunch-appropriate shoes 'coz Oro is bound to take me for a sprint.